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

3 February 2025
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 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 University’s complete list of regulations.
 
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. 

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.

Description
This course offers an advanced examination of marketing practices on the Internet. It draws specific attention to the role of online, mobile, and social media marketing techniques on contemporary business practices. The course prepares learners for using digital marketing platforms and decision making in the modern workplace. You'll learn through a combination of theoretical study and hands on experience with online tools, such as Google Analytics. Concepts will be drawn from a variety of sources to help understand how the Internet can be used as not only a communication tool, but also a medium of exchange and engagement. Theories and concepts will be drawn from a variety of sources to aid in your understanding of the role the Internet plays in organisations' marketing endeavours. The course extends the existing marketing offerings by going into far greater depth with online and digital media.

Learning Outcomes
On completion of the course, it is expected that learners will be able to: 

  1. Understand, describe and apply the core concepts associated with digital marketing.
  2. Demonstrate how to utilise online marketing platforms, such as Google Ads and Google Analytics, to make business decisions.
  3. Critique the impact of digital marketing on business decision making and on business outcomes.
  4. Explain the differences between the different digital marketing tools and assess their appropriateness for use in a particular business situation.
  5. Explain how digital marketing can play a role in the future of business practice to reach and engage with a diverse population base.

Description
This course enables learners to delve into the core principles and practices of developing effective digital marketing strategies. A focus on strategy development and enabling strategy implementation, this course equips participants with the essential skills to navigate the dynamic landscape of digital marketing successfully. Throughout the course, learners will understand the importance of strategy as a foundation for the other courses in the program in order to develop a strategic framework for digital marketing that encompasses market analysis, audience segmentation, competitive positioning, and goal setting. You will gain insights into leveraging various digital channels, including social media, search engine optimisation (SEO), content marketing, email marketing, and paid advertising, to achieve set strategic objectives. 

Learning Outcomes
On completion of the course, it is expected that learners will be able to: 

  1. Understand the importance of strategy development in digital marketing.
  2. Create a digital marketing strategy that aligns with wider organisational strategies.
  3. Develop key goals for the strategy and understand how best to achieve these goals and measure success
  4. Describe and evaluate the key elements needed to effectively implement a digital marketing strategy and monitor the various elements within it
  5. Draw on relevant literature, case material and real-world examples, including kaupapa Māori work, work that speaks to Pacific Initiatives, or other culturally relevant cases to build a deeper understanding of the importance of digital marketing strategies.
  6. Effectively manage different digital marketing elements to align with the strategic vision and adapt the strategy, as needed.

Description
This course aims to increase learners’ expertise in social media marketing and content creation. It focuses on key areas such as developing effective social media strategies, creating engaging content, and leveraging social media analytics for business success. The goal is to provide learners with techniques to build communities and drive engagement whilst effectively measuring the success of both paid and organic campaigns. By covering these key topics, the course seeks to enable learners to develop and execute effective social media and content creation strategies in today's dynamic and competitive digital landscape.

Learning Outcomes
On completion of the course, it is expected that learners will be able to: 

  1. Understand the role of social media in modern marketing (Including ethical and legal considerations in the age of AI) and the significance this can play for brands in all parts of their lifecycle.
  2. Create and curate engaging content for social media platforms, along with exploring the technologies available for content creation.
  3. Explore and critically analyse best practices for building and managing social media communities, along with the importance this plays in a wider brand communications strategy.
  4. Learn how to measure and analyse the effectiveness of social media marketing efforts, from both a paid and organic perspective by understanding key metrics and how these can be optimised to drive success.
  5. Draw on relevant literature, case material and real-world examples, including kaupapa Māori work, work that speaks to Pacific Initiatives, or other culturally relevant cases to create culturally responsive social media content.
  6. Develop strategic social media marketing plans tailored to specific business objectives whilst optimising effectiveness.

Description
This course equips learners with strategies and techniques for navigating the role that search engines play in the dynamic landscape of digital marketing in contemporary organisations today. This is achieved through initially exploring the importance of creating an appropriate balance between Search Engine Optimisation (SEO), which is organic traffic, and Search Engine Marketing (SEM), which includes paid generated traffic. The goal of the course is to consider the best practice and methodologies for managing the search engine algorithms whilst establishing effective keyword research. You'll gain insights into how to enhance online visibility and drive targeted traffic to websites. The course also encompasses key aspects of search engine marketing (SEM), including paid advertising, ad copywriting, and campaign optimisation strategies. Learners will gain insights into the intricacies of content optimisation, link building, PPC (Pay-Per-Click) advertising, and analytics interpretation. You'll also develop a holistic understanding of both SEO as organically generated traffic versus SEM as paid traffic. This comprehensive approach empowers learners to craft robust digital marketing strategies that leverage organic search and paid advertising channels, fostering customer engagement and achieving sustainable business growth in the digital era for advertisers and businesses of any size.

Learning outcomes
On completion of the course, it is expected that learners will be able to: 

  1. Understand the fundamental roles of SEO and SEM in digital marketing, including their respective impacts on online visibility, website traffic, and customer engagement.
  2. Explore advanced techniques for conducting effective keyword research, employing SEO best practices, and implementing PPC advertising campaigns to enhance website rankings and attract targeted audiences.
  3. Research and develop proficiency in content optimisation strategies, link building techniques, and ad copywriting skills, enabling students to create compelling digital assets that resonate with both search engine algorithms and human audiences.
  4. Critically analyse and interpret key performance indicators (KPIs) and analytics data to measure the effectiveness of SEO and SEM efforts, identify areas for improvement, and optimise marketing campaigns for maximum ROI.
  5. Draw on relevant literature, case material and real-world examples, including kaupapa Māori work, work that speaks to Pacific Initiatives, or other culturally relevant cases to effectively develop search engine success strategies.

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.

FAQ

This postgraduate online digital marketing certificate will give you the skills you need to take your career to the next level and take on roles such as Marketing Manager, Analyst, Strategist, Media Manager, Brand Manager, Digital Marketing Manager, Content Creator, Platform Specialist, Social Media Manager, Copywriter and more. 

The overall cost of tuition fees per 15 point course based on the 2025 fee schedule:

  • for domestic learners is $1,130* incl GST
  • for international learners is $4,550* plus GST if applicable.

Total programme investment for 60 point programme based on the 2025 fee schedule:

  • for domestic learners is $4,520* incl GST
  • for international learners is $18,200* plus GST if applicable.

Please note that the fees are charged on a per year basis and the amount charged reflects the number of courses/points enrolled in the current year. These are based on the 2025 fee structure and subject to revision – you can learn more about the University of Canterbury’s Tuition fee structure here.

Student Services Levy costs
Each year university students around Aotearoa New Zealand are charged a Student Services Levy (SSL) in addition to their tuition fees. All the SSL money collected can only be used for the benefit of students - never for academic or administrative costs.

The SSL is automatically calculated on how many points you enrol in per academic year, capped at a maximum of 150 points. Tuihono UC | UC Online learners are charged a reduced SSL rate, which is 20% of the usual on-campus student levy. This is calculated as $1.94 per academic point in 2024. You can learn more about the Student Services Levy here, and more about UC Support Services here.

In this postgraduate online digital marketing certificate you'll study four 15-point online digital marketing classes, starting with an online course of Digital Marketing (MBUS626). You'll then explore Digital Marketing Strategy (MKTG641), Content and Social Media Marketing (MKTG642) and how to ensure Search Engine Success (MKTG643). 

There are a range of options you can use to finance your Postgraduate Certificate in Digital Marketing,  which you can learn more about here.

Learners have access to the same support services as on-campus students, including academic advising, technical support, and library resources. There are also great resources for both Canterbury based and remote learners at the UC RecCentre. Learn more here.

Learners also have the support of our Tuihono UC Learner Experience team

Whether you need advice finding the right course for you or support with the enrolment process, we’re here to help! Contact our enrolment support team for course information, technical help and enrolment support.

Applications for this online programme are made online through our Tuihono UC | UC Online website – please sign up for updates to stay in the loop about when applications open. 

The Postgraduate Certificate in Digital Marketing is a standalone professionally relevant qualification but is also a good pathway into further postgraduate study, including UC's on-campus Master of Marketing (coming soon!). 

Options include our on-campus master's degrees in business or commerce majoring in marketing, which you can apply to credit 60 points towards at the discretion of the relevant University of Canterbury faculty Dean. Read the full requirements in the UC general conditions for credit regulations.

We are also developing our online offerings - if you'd like to hear about our latest news and offers, join our mailing list

Yes, our online PGCertDigiMktg is a real university qualification.

Successful learners will graduate with a Postgraduate Certificate in Digital Marketing from Te Whare Wānanga o Waitaha | University of Canterbury, and be eligible to attend graduation! You can either receive your testamur (qualification certificate) on-stage, or elect to receive your certificate in the mail.

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