
The School of Government offers a wide range of undergraduate, postgraduate, and professional programmes in public policy and public management.
Located directly opposite Parliament in Rutherford House on Victoria University of Wellington’s Pipitea campus, the School is ideally situated to help build capacity in New Zealand’s public sector.
Academic prospectuses
Information about our programmes, courses and people.

Public Policy and Government
Learn how government works and how to make it work better. Find out how and why policy decisions are made, who they're made for, and how they can be most effective.
Find out moreAvailable subjects
- Public Administration
- Public Management
- Public Policy
- Restorative Justice Practice
- Social Policy
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Bachelor of Commerce
BCom
3 years
360 points
Wellington campuses and online
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Graduate Certificate in Restorative Justice Practice
GCertRJP
4 trimesters for part-time domestic students
60 points
Pipitea, Wellington
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Graduate Certificate in Commerce
GCertCom
1 trimester of full-time study or normally 2 if studied part time
60 points
Wellington campuses
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Graduate Diploma in Commerce
GDipCom
2 trimesters of full-time study. Or normally 4 trimesters for part-time domestic students.
120 points
Wellington campuses
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Bachelor of Commerce with Honours
BCom(Hons)
Duration: 2 trimesters of full-time study. Or normally 4 trimesters for part-time domestic students.
Points: 120
Type: Coursework
Schedule: Daytime lectures
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Graduate Certificate in Commerce
GCertCom
Duration: 1 trimester of full-time study or normally 2 if studied part time
Points: 60
Type: Coursework
Schedule: Daytime lectures
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Graduate Diploma in Commerce
GDipCom
Duration: 2 trimesters of full-time study. Or normally 4 trimesters for part-time domestic students.
Points: 120
Type: Coursework
Schedule: Daytime lectures
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Master of Commerce
MCom
Duration: 3–4 trimesters of full-time study. Or normally 6 trimesters for part-time domestic students.
Points: 180
Type: Coursework and research
Schedule: Daytime lectures
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Doctor of Philosophy
PhD
Duration: Minimum 3 years full-time study, or at least 6 years if studied part time
Points: 360
Type: Research
Schedule: Self-directed research
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Postgraduate Certificate in Public Management
PGCertPM
Duration: 1 trimester of full-time study. Or normally 2 trimesters for part-time domestic students.
Points: 60
Type: Coursework
Schedule: Block format
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Postgraduate Certificate in Public Policy
PGCertPP
Duration: 1 trimester of full-time study. Or normally 2 trimesters for part-time domestic students.
Points: 60
Type: Coursework
Schedule: Block format lectures
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Postgraduate Diploma in Public Management
PGDipPM
Duration: 2 trimesters of full-time study. Normally 4 trimesters for part-time domestic students.
Points: 120
Type: Coursework
Schedule: Block format
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Postgraduate Diploma in Public Policy
PGDipPP
Duration: 2 trimesters of full-time study. Or normally 4 trimesters for part-time domestic students.
Points: 120
Type: Coursework
Schedule: Block format lectures
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Master of Public Management
MPM
Duration: 4 trimesters of full-time study, longer for part-time domestic students
Points: 180
Type: Coursework
Schedule: Block format
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Master of Public Policy
MPP
Duration: 4 trimesters of full-time study, longer for part-time domestic students
Points: 180
Type: Coursework
Schedule: Block format lectures

Undergraduate study
Watch a presentation on how you can change the world through the study of public policy at the undergraduate level (40 mins). Read more under the Study menu.
Watch the videoCareer View
View the latest edition of Career View for Public Policy and Public Management—a publication full of career and employment information for students.
Policy Quarterly
Read the latest issue of Policy Quarterly—a journal produced by the Institute for Governance and Policy Studies for both specialist and non-specialist readers.
New Zealand Governance and Policy
Explore our New Zealand Governance and Policy collection which provides easy access to a wide range of print, visual, and audio policy research resources.
Latest news
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Upcoming and current events
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