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Study Management at Otago

    Leadership success starts with Management

    Great leaders, great entrepreneurs, great business people, even great bosses, all have one thing in common – great management skills!

    These skills are used in everything we do and in every type of job. If you are process-oriented, a “people person”, a long-term planner or a deep and meaningful thinker, studying Management at Otago will equip you with skills and knowledge that will kick-start your career, and help you succeed in making businesses and organisations flourish.

    Management at Otago is focused on leadership, communications, employment relations, human resource management, organisational behaviour, entrepreneurship, international management, strategy and innovation, operations management and organisational theory.

    Why study Management?

    Even if you end up as a surgeon, rock-star, business consultant or fighter pilot, your career will surely involve working in organisations. In any job, your effectiveness will depend on how adept you are at understanding your organisation and your ability to accomplish goals and objectives. You will also need a good appreciation of how staff behave, of power and influence, and of the nature of leadership.

    New Zealand is one of the smallest, most isolated countries on earth. For that reason, we work extra hard at connecting to the global economy and producing graduates who can deal with the complexity of our world.If you wish to understand more about how to effectively conduct business in a national context, and learn about the global business system and the giant global corporations that run it, then Management at Otago should be your number one choice.

    Maybe you aim to be your own boss – self- employed, an entrepreneur, or head your own company. These are the people who most need the models, insights and answers we have to offer. Our department has key contacts across private and public sectors and leading experts in the field delivering authentic, evidence-based learning.

    Student exchange

    Student exchange offers a golden opportunity for you to step out of your comfort zone, experience new places and perspectives and add something exceptional to your CV. The University of Otago has exchange agreements with more than 100 institutions worldwide. If your marks average B or better, you may qualify to attend one
    of these institutions for one semester or for a year. You pay only your New Zealand fees and complete your qualification within the same timeframe as if you'd never been away.

    Commerce students are also encouraged to participate in one of the more than 50 specific business exchanges the Otago Business School offers.

    Career opportunities

    Our graduates can be found in a range of jobs in private business, not-for-profit organisations, government agencies, health care providers, applied science and technology companies, and arts and leisure management companies, while others form their own entrepreneurial startup companies.

    Often students will complement their Management degree with another degree, major or minor from Arts, Law or Science to enhance their career prospects and marketability to employers.

    Recent graduates have gained the following jobs:

    • Project manager
    • Solicitor
    • Marketing Research Analyst
    • Employment Advocate
    • Retail Customer Experience Specialist
    • Marketing Communications Manager
    • Strategy and Operations Analyst
    • Consultant and IT Recruitment
    • HR Consultant

    Recent employers include: Spark, Shell/Z, Westpac, Mainfreight, Ernst & Young, Fonterra, and Deloitte.

    Management at Otago

    Management is a major in the three-year Bachelor of Commerce degree programme. At Otago, we add our own perspectives
    to the study of management, offering you insights to a wide range of disciplines. You will learn what it means to be a manager and how to apply managerial principles.

    100-level

    As part of your Management major you will study BSNS 111 Business and Society, and MANT 101 Managing for Performance.

    This is a foundation for all areas of Management:

    • Business Communications
    • Employment Relations
    • Entrepreneurship
    • Ethics
    • Human Resource Management
    • International Management
    • Leadership
    • Operations Management
    • Organisational Behaviour
    • Strategy and Innovation
    • Supply Chain
    • Sustainability.

    Degree options

    Many students do a double major or double degree, such as a BCom in Management and a Bachelor of Laws. Other students choose to study Management papers to enhance their other degrees or other Commerce majors. Management can also be one of the two majors that comprise a BACom or BComSc combined degree.

    Recommended background

    There are no formal prerequisites to study Management at 100-level. Because of the importance of communication, NCEA English is a useful background subject.

    Choose a study option

    Whether you're embarking on your academic journey with our comprehensive undergraduate programmes or aiming to reach new heights through our advanced postgraduate offerings, Otago is here to support your aspirations.

    Undergraduate qualifications

    For new and current students studying towards a Bachelor's or other first degree. Explore undergraduate qualifications at Otago, designed to build a strong foundation in your chosen field, preparing you for a successful career or further study.

    Note: this subject can also be studied as a minor.

    Ready to apply?

    Take the first step towards your future in this subject.

    Further study opportunities

    Whether you are looking to bridge your undergraduate studies to advanced knowledge or aiming to specialise in a specific field, Otago offers a range of graduate and postgraduate options to suit your aspirations.

    Programme details

    Compare programmes for this subject as a major and minor (where available).

    LevelPapersPoints
    100-level MANT 101 Managing for Performance 18
    BSNS 111 Business and Society 18
    BSNS 112 Interpreting Business Data, BSNS 113 Economic Principles and Policy, BSNS 114 Financial Decision Making, BSNS 115 Accounting and Information Systems – must normally be taken in first year of study 72
    200-level MANT 250 Managing People 18
    MANT 251 Managing Organisations 18
    One further 200-level MANT paper 18
    300-level One of MANT 338 Cases in Strategy and Innovation, MANT 342 Global Business Strategy or MANT 345 Strategic Human Resource Management 18
    Three other 300-level MANT papers 54
    Plus 126 further points; must include 54 points at 200-level or above. Up to 90 points may be taken from outside Commerce. 126
      Every programme must include BSNS 111-115. At least three of these papers must be passed before enrolling in any 200-level Commerce paper, and all must normally be passed before enrolling in any 300-level Commerce paper. For single-degree BCom students, all five must be attempted in the first year of study or equivalent.

    STAT 110 or STAT 115 will be accepted as an alternative to BSNS 112 as a required paper or as part of the major subject requirements or as a prerequisite when:
    (a) the paper has been passed before the student has enrolled for a BCom degree; or
    (b) a student is enrolling for both a BCom and another degree for which STAT 110 or STAT 115 is required.
    Any student who completed PTWY 111 before enrolling in the BCom degree shall be exempt from the requirement to complete BSNS 113. Any student who has completed PTWY 112 before enrolling in the BCom degree shall be exempt from the requirement to complete BSNS 114.

    A candidate completing the requirements for the degree of Bachelor of Commerce and Bachelor of Laws is able to satisfy the CPA/CAANZ accreditation requirements by substituting:
    a) LAWS 202, LAWS 203, LAWS 204, LAWS 301 and LAWS 407 in place of BLAW 211 and BLAW 212
    b) LAWS 416 in place of ACTP 312.
     
    Total   360

    A minor subject can be included in many of our undergraduate degrees. To earn a minor, you typically must complete a minimum of 90 points in that subject, with at least 18 points at the 300-level.

    Your minor can be a subject more commonly taken for a different degree. For example, a BCom majoring in Marketing can include Japanese as a minor subject. To include this subject as a minor in your application, first find a major subject through our Subject Search or Study Match.

    You can check what’s required to receive the minor accreditation in the programme details below.

    Available as a minor subject for a Bachelor of Arts (BA), Bachelor of Music (MusB), Bachelor of Performing Arts (BPA), Bachelor of Theology (BTheol), Bachelor of Science (BSc), Bachelor of Commerce (BCom), Bachelor of Entrepreneurship (BEntr), Bachelor of Health Science (BHealSc), Bachelor of Arts and Commerce (BACom), Bachelor of Arts and Science (BASc) or Bachelor of Commerce and Science (BComSc) degree

    LevelPapersPoints
    100-level

    MANT 101 Managing for Performance

    18

    Above 100-level

    MANT 250 Managing People, or MANT 251 Managing Organisations

    Three further MANT papers including at least one at 300-level

    18

    54

    Total 90

    Papers

    View a list of all related papers below.

    MANT papers

    Paper Code Year Title Points Teaching period
    MANT101 2025 Managing for Performance 18 points Semester 2
    MANT217 2025 International Management 18 points Semester 1
    MANT222 2025 Interpersonal/International Business Communication 18 points Semester 1
    MANT250 2025 Managing People 18 points Semester 1
    MANT251 2025 Managing Organisations 18 points Semester 2
    MANT252 2025 Developing Responsible Leadership 18 points Semester 2
    MANT301 2025 Technological Innovation and Entrepreneurship 18 points Semester 1
    MANT303 2025 Fundamentals in Entrepreneurship 18 points Semester 1
    MANT330 2025 Leadership and Change 18 points Not offered in 2025
    MANT331 2025 Business Ethics 18 points Semester 2
    MANT332 2025 International Management 18 points Semester 2
    MANT333 2025 Organisational Excellence 18 points Semester 2
    MANT334 2025 Operations and Supply Chain Strategy 18 points Semester 1
    MANT337 2025 Organisations and Sustainability 18 points Semester 1
    MANT338 2025 Cases in Strategy and Innovation 18 points Semester 2
    MANT339 2025 Human Resource Development 18 points Semester 2
    MANT340 2025 Indigenous Management and Organisation 18 points Semester 2
    MANT342 2025 Global Business Strategy 18 points Semester 1
    MANT345 2025 Strategic Human Resource Management 18 points Semester 2
    MANT346 2025 Employment Relations 18 points Semester 1
    MANT347 2025 Occupational Psychology 18 points Semester 1
    MANT358 2025 Special Topic 18 points Not offered in 2025
    MANT359 2025 Special Topic 18 points Not offered in 2025
    MANT360 2025 Special Topic 18 points Not offered in 2025
    MANT361 2025 Special Topic 18 points Not offered in 2025
    MANT437 2025 Organisations and Sustainability 20 points Semester 1, 1st Non standard period (24 February 2025 - 23 May 2025)
    MANT447 2025 Contemporary Issues in Sustainable Business 20 points Semester 2, 1st Non standard period (21 July 2025 - 17 October 2025)
    MANT450 2025 Governance and Social Responsibility 20 points Semester 2, 1st Non standard period (6 January 2025 - 4 April 2025), 2nd Non standard period (8 September 2025 - 5 December 2025)
    MANT459 2025 Indigenous Management & Organisation (Advanced) 20 points Semester 2
    MANT471 2025 International Business Strategy 20 points Semester 1
    MANT472 2025 Managing International Organisations 20 points Semester 2
    MANT480 2025 Dissertation or Case Study 40 points Not offered in 2025
    MANT501 2025 Applied Project 40 points 3rd Non standard period (6 January 2025 - 19 December 2025), 4th Non standard period (7 July 2025 - 26 June 2026)
    MANT543 2025 Special Topic 20 points Not offered in 2025
    MANT551 2025 Strategic Change and Innovation 20 points Semester 1
    MANT553 2025 Human Resource Management 20 points 1st Non standard period (24 November 2025 - 9 January 2026)
    MANT555 2025 Leadership Development 20 points 1st Non standard period (27 October 2025 - 13 February 2026)
    MANT556 2025 Global Operations Excellence 20 points Not offered in 2025

    More information

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