A UC Online Digital Marketing student takes notes while listening to an industry expert. A UC Online Digital Marketing student takes notes while listening to an industry expert. Wananga landing
Postgraduate

Postgraduate Certificate in Digital Marketing

02 October 2024

From online consumer behaviour to SEO, learn the skills you need to develop effective digital marketing strategies and progress your career as a professional marketer. With our flexible online digital marketing classes, you’ll gain the advanced practices you need in this exciting and ever-evolving industry.

HOW TO APPLY

Price

Domestic learners

$1,130* per 15 point course

International learners

$4,550* per 15 point course

*Fees outlined are based on the 2025 fee schedule and are subject to revision each year. Prices include GST where applicable. Non-tuition fees, such as the Student Services Levy (SSL), will also apply.

Qualification

PGCertDigiMktg
60 points

Duration

1 year part-time
6 months full-time

Entry times

14 July 2025
2026

Overview


Dynamic and fast-paced, a career in marketing is exciting and internationally relevant. Learn the skills you need to grow your career as a digital marketing professional, studying online at your pace. 

In our online Postgraduate Certificate in Digital Marketing, you'll learn how to draw on your understanding of marketing and consumer behaviour to leverage AI and other appropriate technologies to help create effective digital marketing strategies, driving audience engagement through compelling content development and storytelling. You'll become a data-driven marketer, learning how to interpret digital marketing analytics for search engine success through SEO and SEM.

For a creative career where no two days are the same, join us online to advance within the exciting world of marketing, graduating with an industry-relevant university qualification.

Already thinking about your next step? Graduates may be eligible to credit 60 points towards our on-campus Master of Marketing (coming soon!).

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Requirements


To ensure that our learners have the necessary background and experience to succeed in our online postgraduate digital marketing certificate, you will need to have completed one of the following:

  • A bachelor's degree in marketing or related discipline with at least a B Grade Point Average in your 300-level or equivalent courses OR
  • At least five years of practical, professional, or scholarly experience in a relevant field

(Note: Your eligibility will be considered upon enrolment, with successful applicants approved as students by the Amo Matua, Umanga | Executive Dean of Business or delegate.)

If English is your additional language, you are also required to meet UC's English language requirements.

For the full entry requirements, see the Regulations for the Postgraduate Certificate in Digital Marketing or use the admission requirements checker

Unsure about your suitability?
As part of our application process, your eligibility will be assessed by our marketing academic team to make sure that your academic and/or professional background meets the entry criteria. Unfortunately our Tuihono UC | UC Online team cannot confirm your eligibility before your application is submitted, beyond referring you to the requirements above. We are happy to help answer any general questions you have about the programme or online learning, however. You can get in touch with us here.

Course requirements
There are four courses in the Postgraduate Certificate in Digital Marketing (all of which are compulsory). All learners will begin by taking Digital Marketing (MBUS626), and full-time learners can study Digital Marketing Strategy (MKTG641) concurrently (in the same term).


Structure        


The Postgraduate Certificate in Digital Marketing can be studied part-time over one year or full-time over six months, subject to course availability. The programme's four online digital marketing classes must be completed within two years. All learners will begin by taking Digital Marketing (MBUS626), and full-time learners can study Digital Marketing Strategy (MKTG641) concurrently (in the same term).

Time commitment   
Unless otherwise stated, Tuihono UC | UC Online learners study across terms, rather than semesters. We have four terms per year which consist of nine-weeks of study (including a one-week study break), followed by a two-week period of marking and feedback.

Part-time learners complete one 15-point online digital marketing class every term, requiring approximately 18.5 hours of study per week. Full-time learners complete two 15-point online digital marketing classes every term, requiring approximately 37.5 hours of study per week. Study time includes taking in course material, reflection time and writing assessments. Our postgraduate digital marketing certificate is flexible, enabling you to plan your study around your other commitments. 

Upcoming term dates 
Our current learning dates can be found below (please note: these dates exclude our period of marking and feedback). 

  • 3 February - 6 April 2025
    • Study break: 3-9 March 2025
  • 28 April - 29 June 2025
    • Study break: 26 May - 1 June 2025
  • 14 July - 14 September 2025
    • Study break: 11-17 August 2025
  • 29 September - 30 November 2025
    • Study break: 27 October - 2 November 2025

Please note: these dates are provisional and may be subject to change.

Begin

A UC Online student uses a laptop to learn about SEO as part of the Postgraduate Certificate in Digital Marketing.

Start learning with our online course of Digital Marketing, where you'll dive into the role of online, mobile and social media marketing techniques in contemporary business. Learn the skills you need through a mix of theory and hands-on experience with online tools like Google Analytics. 
 

Course taken: Digital Marketing (MBUS626).

Develop

Grow your learning through three online digital marketing classes that will develop your expertise in digital marketing. Explore strategy development and implementation, techniques to build communities and drive engagement, and how to effectively grow SEO and SEM.
 

Courses taken: Digital Marketing Strategy (MKTG641), Content and Social Media Marketing (MKTG642) and Search Engine Success (MKGT643). 

Finish

Complete your studies and graduate with your postgraduate digital marketing certificate, from Te Whare Wānanga o Waitaha | University of Canterbury!


What you'll study


You'll study four NZQF level 8 postgraduate courses for the Postgraduate Certificate in Digital Marketing, starting with an online course of Digital Marketing. Learn online to graduate with a Te Whare Wānanga on Waitaha | University of Canterbury qualification.


Our people


The Postgraduate Certificate in Digital Marketing is coordinated by Dr Ekant Veer, with contributions from other industry professionals and Te Whare Wānanga o Waitaha | University of Canterbury academics.

Headshot of Ekant Veer, Professor of Marketing at the University of Canterbury
Ekant Veer
Professor | University of Canterbury

Ekant Veer is a Professor of Marketing in the Department of Management, Marketing and Tourism at Te Whare Wānanga o Waitaha | University of Canterbury. He is a multi-award winning teacher and researcher having been named in the Top 40 under 40 Business School Professors worldwide; an Ako Aotearoa Tertiary Teaching Excellence Award winner; UC’s Teaching Medal awardee in 2017 and six times winner of a UCSA lecturer/staff of the year award.

His work looks at the role that marketing can play in both driving social change and community wellbeing as well as what impact digital technology plays in consumer interactions and their sense of identity. His research has been published in numerous international journals and he was the Associate Dean of Postgraduate Research from 2019-2023, supporting the learning journey of UC's research ākonga and supervisors. He was also the founding Kaihautu | Director of Te Pae Rakahau | Canterbury Knowledge Commons from 2020-2022, which sought to bolster relationships between the university and our wider regional partners.

Stay updated


If you’re keen to know more, stay updated on when enrolments open or ask a question, please sign up for updates below. 

Cap & minimum enrolment threshold: a minimum number of learners is needed for effective interaction and feedback, while a maximum cap of learners ensures high quality learning and support. If the minimum number of enrolments required for a course isn’t met, or the maximum cap is exceeded, learners will be given the option to defer their study or receive a refund.

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