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- Level 6
- 21 Months
- queenstown
- Intakes in January, April, July, October
As the iconic Adventure Tourism industry expands globally, so does the need for skilled and qualified managers. QRC’s Diploma in Adventure Tourism Management focuses on the operational and risk elements of running a successful and safe activity.
The key area of learning focuses on what is required to manage a business who provide thrills for those participating in activities. The industry exposure provided to students is unique given the location of Queenstown and the volume of activities in the region.
QRC creates ambassadors and skilled workforce capability for this growth sector by being the only provider of an Adventure Tourism Course in New Zealand AND the southern hemisphere.
Programme at a glance
The Diploma programme consists of 2 terms (11 weeks each) on Campus, followed by a 9 month/1,000 hour internship, culminating with a final 2 terms on Campus.
The Diploma focuses on ensuring students are competent with service quality, operational intelligence, professionalism, cultural intelligence, visitor experience, product & business development, event planning, risk management and sustainability.
- 21 Months — QRC Diploma in Adventure Tourism Management
- Intakes in: January, April, July and October
- Graduates are awarded the New Zealand Diploma in Adventure Tourism Management (Level 6)
🎿 Year 1, Term 1 - Industry Immersion Papers
Term one is all about getting familiar with the adventure tourism industry here in Queenstown.
Terms one and two form the most of the think it part of QRC’s learning process.
Our Adventure Tourism Course consists of:
| Papers | Level |
|---|---|
| Tourism Fundamentals | 5 |
| Information Technology | 5 |
| Business Research and Communication | 5 |
| Cultural Intelligence | 5 |
| Customer Service Management | 4 |
| Comprehensive First Aid* | 4 |
| Tourism Operations | 4 |
📚 Year 1, Term 2 - Theoretical and Practical Training Papers
Term two builds on the hands-on learning from term one. After this term, you’ll be ready to tackle your fully paid 9-month internship in terms three and four!
| Papers | Level |
|---|---|
| Business Accounting and Analysis | 5 |
| Marketing | 5 |
| Adventure Tourism & Interpretation | 4 |
| Adventure Tourism & Event Planning | 5 |
| Operation & Risk Management | 5 |
🤝 Industry Placement - Internship
The hands-on learning you will encounter during your internship in the field is invaluable – these are the skills and relationships that will kickstart your career in the industry.
| Papers | Level |
|---|---|
| Industry Internship | 5 |
🤝 Industry Placement - Internship
Term four is usually focused more on honing the actual skills of the job rather than learning.
This is the do it part of QRC’s unique learning process and gives you what you need in order to be it.
| Papers | Level |
|---|---|
| Industry Internship | 5 |
🪂 Year 2, Term 5 - Adventure Tourism Papers
Term five builds on the practical experience gained during your internship and introduces the concepts in the tourism management field.
| Papers | Level |
|---|---|
| Business Development | 6 |
| Leadership | 6 |
| Consumer Behaviour and Destination Management | 6 |
| Sustainable Tourism Development | 6 |
| Tourism Futures | 6 |
🎓 Year 2, Term 6 - Business Management Papers
Term six is the culmination of the learning process and centres on the managerial skills needed to excel in a career in tourism. After this semester you’ll be it.
| Papers | Level |
|---|---|
| Law | 6 |
| Human Resource Management | 6 |
| Economics | 6 |
| Managerial Accounting | 6 |
| Sales and Marketing | 6 |
| Capstone - Hotel Strategy - Simulation | 6 |
Did you know that you can complete a degree with as little as 7 months further study with one of QRC’s partner institutions?
Diploma of Adventure Tourism Management
By cultivating a world-class learning environment, QRC integrates both practical and theory to train the Adventure Tourism leaders of tomorrow. Blending the key aspects of service quality, operational intelligence, professionalism, cultural intelligence, visitor experience, product development, business development, event planning, risk management and sustainability throughout its papers. Study at one of the top tourism schools in New Zealand.
During their paid internship, students put theory into practice, create industry connections and prepare themselves for a career in the exciting world of Adventure Tourism. This Adventure Tourism Course in Queenstown, New Zealand is the perfect place to secure your dream job.
Career Opportunities
Graduates have the opportunity to work with small businesses through to multi-national adventure tourism companies. The Diploma prepares them for the tourism, eco-tourism and adventure tourism sectors. After graduating they can specialise in operations management, marketing, sales, eco-tourism, human resources, finance, training, business development and event planning.
On course completion, students will have the skills, knowledge and attitude required to work in a team leadership role, with the potential to advance through to a management role and the knowledge to establish their own business ventures. Start your Adventure Tourism Degree with QRC.
Outcomes
QRC graduates have a world of opportunities available to them. Most enter the workforce and maximise the networks gained at QRC, others choose a pathway on to a degree at one of QRC’s partner institutions. Those wishing to enter the workforce have the knowledge, skills, experience and attitude to attain a leadership role and progress to management. Adventure Tourism Course graduate success:
- 85% of graduates go on to work in their field of study
- 12% of students progress on to a degree
- Most students are offered a full-time role with their internship provider upon graduation
Pathways to Further Study
Otago University, New Zealand
- Bachelor of Commerce – 1 ½ year further study
- Bachelor of Commerce (Finance Major) – 2 ½ years further study
Thompson Rivers University, Canada
- Bachelor of Tourism Management – 2 years further study
International College of Management, Sydney, Australia
- Bachelor of Business – 7 months further study
- Bachelor of Business (Entrepreneurship) – 7 months further study
- Bachelor of Business (Marketing) – 7 months further study
- Bachelor of Business (Sports Management) – 7 months further study
- Bachelor of Business (International Tourism) – 7 months further study
- Bachelor of Event Management – 7 months further study
- Bachelor of Hospitality Management – 7 months further study
Internships, earn while you learn
QRC internships offer students an invaluable paid opportunity to gain workforce experience with our network of carefully chosen world-class industry operators, both in New Zealand and overseas.
- Earn while you learn
- Fully paid industry internship for 1,000 hours for Adventure Tourism Management
- Adventure Tourism Management students earn at least minimum wage during their internship
🏅 World-class industry operators
It offers a range of world-class industry operators in an environment where tourism and hospitality are “normalised” enabling students to become active participants and network in the industry.
💁♀️ Choose your internship
Internships are an invaluable component to the Adventure Tourism course. Students work closely with their Internship Manager to identify where they would like to be placed.
🙏 Dedicated internship manager
With the assistance and in-depth knowledge of the Internship Manager, they will be placed in the industry to best match their interests and strengths to ensure that they continue to develop.
💵 Fully paid
The fully paid internship provides a value for money component for the student. Due to the successful experience gained by students on their internship, a high proportion of students return to their internship employers after completing the programme.
🤝 Industry connections
The Internship Manager provides a direct link to industry and assists students in securing internship positions. QRC graduates are highly sought by industry and as a graduate they automatically become members of the QRC Alumni.
🎓 Post-grad support
The Internship Manager offers post-graduate assistance and acts as a liaison between QRC Alumni and the tourism and hospitality industry.
Timing
Our students are employed for a minimum of 9 months and are required to achieve a minimum of 1,000 hours of work before they return to QRC for their second year of study. Flexibility for shorter or longer time periods can be agreed to upon discussion with all parties.
| Internship Begins | March | June | September | December |
| Return to QRC | January | April | July | October |
What to expect during your internship
As a Student
- No college commitments or assignments to worry about
- Be a real employee of the company
- Follow policies, procedures and guidelines
- Apply for the role just like any other job seeker would
- Present yourself to a high standard throughout
- It is up to the employer whether a full-time role results from the internship
From Your Employer
- Be treated the same as any other employee
- The chance to get in-house training and gain practical experience
- Guidance and support throughout
- A performance report after 3 months
- A final performance report at the end of the internship
What your internship could look like
Aj Hackett Bungy, Queenstown
“AJ Hackett is synonymous with Adventure Tourism around the world, and I am lucky enough to be working as part of the team here in Queenstown.
I am training to eventually be responsible for the final launch of people off the bridge and I cannot wait! Being qualified in New Zealand as a Jump Master means I can work for AJ Hackett all over the world. AJ Hackett currently employ 24 QRC students; both interns and graduates. I love that my team leaders and managers are QRC graduates and have taken on a mentoring role for me and other interns.
My time here at AJ Hackett is summed up by the fact that I actually don’t enjoy my days off, as I would rather be at work with my friends having a fantastic time.
Risk and safety management is a huge part of what we do here, being at the forefront of our minds at all times. The Risk Management and Operations Management papers I completed in Terms 1 & 2 at QRC, provided me with the skills and understanding to deal with the realities of the industry. It also feels great being able to bring new ideas and energy to all aspects of the business.
My goal once I complete my Diploma of Adventure Tourism Management is to return to work here at AJ Hackett, and to progress through to a Management level. It is such an exciting company with global development possibilities.”
My role here at AJ Hackett Bungy is working within the operations team as a Junior Jump Operator. I get to experience all aspects of the Bungy operation from start to finish, including customer service, making sure our customers are harnessed up and connected to the Bungy, then collecting them in the raft at the bottom once they have gone through with their jump!
Entry Requirements
Age
All applicants must be a minimum of 18 years of age at course commencement (some discretion applies for domestic enrolments). All applicants are interviewed as part of the admissions process.
Academic Requirements
NCEA Level 2 (NZ National Certificate of Education Achievement), including:
- Minimum credits: 48 Level 2 (or higher) credits over four approved subjects*
- Literacy: 4 reading and 4 writing literacy credits at Level 2 (or higher).
- Numeracy: 10 level 1 (or higher) Numeracy credits.
*Approved subjects include all UE subjects. Click here to see the full list. In addition to this list, QRC accept the below subjects:
QRC Approved Industry Specific Assessment Subjects:
- Tourism
- Hospitality
- Outdoor Education
- Sport and Recreation
- Core Generic / Communication Skills (25073, 4253, 1280, 3488, 3491, 2990, 24871, 1279)
Australian Students
- Successful completion of the Senior Secondary Qualification offered in your state (VCE, HSC, WACE, QCE, NTCE, TCE) – please note you will need an ATAR of at least 50.
- CIE & IB students please refer to the above.
International Academic / English Requirements
Mature Domestic Students (20 years+)
Mature students may be exempt from meeting the academic entry requirements if they can demonstrate relevant work experience and genuine commitment to the industry, through their CV and work references.
All applicants are interviewed as part of the admissions process.
Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL)
Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) will be granted where your prior study or work experience is considered to be equivalent to all the learning outcomes for a particular QRC paper.
Laptop
Students are required to supply their own laptop computer.
Fees
Below are the domestic fees for our Adventure Tourism Management Diplomas. International Students see International Fees sheet for a detailed breakdown.
It is a requirement of the NZ Government that all year one fees are to be paid in advance before the issuing of a Student Visa. No deferred payment schemes are available. QRC’s Refund Policy can be found here.
Tuition fees are subject to annual increases and the current fees are for applications received prior to 31st October 2023.
| Year 1 | Year 2 | |
|---|---|---|
| Diploma in Adventure Tourism Management | $13,538* |
$13,538* |
To secure your place on the course you will need to pay a $700 deposit. $500 will be held as an Accommodation Bond if staying at the Halls of residence (this is refundable at the end of your stay). $200 will be applied as an administrative placement charge for the halls of residence 1 month prior to your course intake start date.
For students not residing at the halls of residence the $700 deposit will be applied to tuition fees
General Fees
Some courses and services accrue additional costs. All charges relating to your chosen course will be itemised on your Invoice. If you have any questions regarding General Fee charges, please email info@qrc.ac.nz.
Optional
- Travel & medical insurance for international students: from $71 per month, $242 per 6 months or $454 per year
Professional Excellence
All students are provided with a uniform which reflects the highest industry standards.
The professional appearance sets the tone for expectations around individuals taking responsibility for their own personal brand.
Our adventure tourism course Queenstown, produces graduates who are highly sought after by the international tourism, not only for their skills but for their consummate professionalism. Accordingly, the College practices the highest standards of personal and professional conduct at all times, equivalent to international best practice.
The QRC Professional Excellence (PE) system has been developed to encourage students to achieve the level of professionalism expected by the industry.
PE Points
Every student starts the term with a maximum of 100 PE points. Ideally, this score is maintained throughout your studies. Incidents of unprofessional behaviour, for example unexplained absences, are reported to your programme leader and will incur a loss of PE points.
Students who come close to the fail mark of 69 PE points, will be required to seek counselling from the Programme Leader or Academic Director and appropriate measures to remedy the behaviour will be discussed. A lack of improvement could result in suspension from the College.
Further information about the QRC Professional Excellence system can be found in the program handbook.
Uniform
You will be provided with a uniform which reflects the highest industry standards. For Adventure Tourism Management students this is a professional active wear
- 1 cotton T-shirt
- 1 merino polo shirt
- 1 long sleeve merino top with collar
- 1 soft shell jacket
- 1 pair of full length trousers
- 1 pair of shorts
Students are required to bring smart black sports shoes and black socks to accompany the uniform.
Community Hours
All Diploma students are required to complete 10 hours of community service as part of the diploma. During your time at QRC a number of opportunities will be presented to volunteer at community, college and charitable events. In the past opportunities have included: Winter Games, Queenstown Winter Festival, Jazz Festival, Queenstown Marathon and LUMA.
