Postgraduate Diploma of Professional Practice in Social and Community Services
Enhance your professional expertise for practice in Aotearoa New Zealand through applied learning and developing culturally responsive practice to prepare for roles across diverse social, community, and health sectors.
The Postgraduate Diploma of Professional Practice in Social and Community Services is expected to begin in July 2026, subject to approval by the Tertiary Education Commission (TEC).
Why study the Postgraduate Diploma of Professional Practice in Social and Community Services?
The Postgraduate Diploma of Professional Practice in Social and Community Services (PGDipPSOCS) is designed for internationally qualified social workers and human services professionals who want to strengthen their professional knowledge and prepare for practice in Aotearoa New Zealand. This programme prepares qualified social, community, and health professionals for practice in New Zealand and is not a first qualifying programme of study.
Enhance your transition into professional practice through applied learning that deepens your understanding of the social, cultural, and policy landscape of New Zealand’s health, social, and community services.
You’ll take part in workshop-based learning, community engagement activities, and applied projects that connect classroom learning with professional practice. These experiences incorporate indigenous learning approaches and include field trips to develop further understanding of ethical, culturally responsive, and inclusive practice supporting wellbeing and social justice.
Graduates build on their existing professionally recognised qualifications to be well prepared for roles across social, community, and health services, including casework, family and youth support, community coordination, and programme delivery in government and non-government organisations.
You can also study Professional Practice in Social and Community Services via the 60 point Postgraduate Certificate (PGCertPSOCS) or the 180 point Master's (MPSOCS).
Degree information
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Plan your study -
Entry Requirements Candidates for the PGDipPSOCS must have:
- qualified for a bachelors degree of the University of Waikato or a qualification considered by the Academic Board to be equivalent, or
- demonstrated to the satisfaction of the Academic Board that they have adequate training, experience, and ability to proceed with the proposed programme.
In exceptional circumstances, based on academic merit and relevant experience, candidates who do not meet the above requirements may be considered for admission subject to the completion of any qualifying papers the Academic Board may prescribe which must be completed either prior to or concurrently.
Candidates for the PGDipPSOCS must have:
- qualified for a bachelors degree of the University of Waikato or a qualification considered by the Academic Board to be equivalent, or
- demonstrated to the satisfaction of the Academic Board that they have adequate training, experience, and ability to proceed with the proposed programme.
In exceptional circumstances, based on academic merit and relevant experience, candidates who do not meet the above requirements may be considered for admission subject to the completion of any qualifying papers the Academic Board may prescribe which must be completed either prior to or concurrently.
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Fees and scholarships -
Domestic tuition fees
Approximate annual tuition fees and costs for domestic students enrolled in one year of full-time study.
Domestic tuition costs -
Scholarships
Visit our Scholarship finder for more information about possible scholarships.
Scholarships Finder
Relevant as of 22 October 2025.
All amounts are in New Zealand Dollars (NZD). Tuition fees shown are indicative only and may change. There are additional fees and charges related to enrolment. Please see the Table of Fees and Charges for more information. You will be sent an enrolment agreement which will confirm your fees. View information about fees free study.
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International tuition fees
Approximate annual tuition fees and costs for international students enrolled in one year of full-time study.
International tuition costs -
Scholarships
Visit our Scholarship finder for more information about possible scholarships.
Scholarships Finder
Relevant as of 22 October 2025.
All amounts are in New Zealand Dollars (NZD). Tuition fees shown are indicative only and may change. There are additional fees and charges related to enrolment. Please see the Table of Fees and Charges for more information. You will be sent an enrolment agreement which will confirm your fees.
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Candidates for the PGDipPSOCS must have:
- qualified for a bachelors degree of the University of Waikato or a qualification considered by the Academic Board to be equivalent, or
- demonstrated to the satisfaction of the Academic Board that they have adequate training, experience, and ability to proceed with the proposed programme.
In exceptional circumstances, based on academic merit and relevant experience, candidates who do not meet the above requirements may be considered for admission subject to the completion of any qualifying papers the Academic Board may prescribe which must be completed either prior to or concurrently.
Candidates for the PGDipPSOCS must have:
- qualified for a bachelors degree of the University of Waikato or a qualification considered by the Academic Board to be equivalent, or
- demonstrated to the satisfaction of the Academic Board that they have adequate training, experience, and ability to proceed with the proposed programme.
In exceptional circumstances, based on academic merit and relevant experience, candidates who do not meet the above requirements may be considered for admission subject to the completion of any qualifying papers the Academic Board may prescribe which must be completed either prior to or concurrently.
-
Domestic tuition fees
Approximate annual tuition fees and costs for domestic students enrolled in one year of full-time study.
Domestic tuition costs -
Scholarships
Visit our Scholarship finder for more information about possible scholarships.
Scholarships Finder
Relevant as of 22 October 2025.
All amounts are in New Zealand Dollars (NZD). Tuition fees shown are indicative only and may change. There are additional fees and charges related to enrolment. Please see the Table of Fees and Charges for more information. You will be sent an enrolment agreement which will confirm your fees. View information about fees free study.
-
International tuition fees
Approximate annual tuition fees and costs for international students enrolled in one year of full-time study.
International tuition costs -
Scholarships
Visit our Scholarship finder for more information about possible scholarships.
Scholarships Finder
Relevant as of 22 October 2025.
All amounts are in New Zealand Dollars (NZD). Tuition fees shown are indicative only and may change. There are additional fees and charges related to enrolment. Please see the Table of Fees and Charges for more information. You will be sent an enrolment agreement which will confirm your fees.
The Social Workers Registration Board (SWRB) is the regulatory authority that recognises overseas-qualified social workers and assesses them against ten core competency standards required for practice in Aotearoa New Zealand.
Learning within the Professional Practice in Social and Community Services qualifications supports social workers to meet these standards, including Competence Standard 1 (to practice with Māori) and Competence Standard 2 (to practice with the diverse ethnic and cultural groups of New Zealand).
Provisionally registered social workers have up to twelve months to demonstrate that they have met these competency standards through approved training.