The most common graduate programme, following the award of a Bachelor’s degree, is a Master’s degree. It may be of 1 year’s duration, where the programme is based on taught coursework, or of 2 years’ duration, involving the completion of a research-based thesis/dissertation.
Alternatively, other programmes offered by New Zealand universities are graduate diplomas and certificates, typically of shorter duration and smaller scope than a Master’s and primarily oriented toward professional development.
To qualify for further studies i.e. a PhD programme, a Master’s degree is typically required.