University of Auckland

What you'll study

The programme provides a concise, practice‑oriented introduction to the key elements of information governance. Core topics cover legal and regulatory frameworks for privacy and data protection (including New Zealand‑specific law and international comparators), records and archives management, information security principles, and organisational policy and risk management.

• Information governance frameworks and strategy — governance models, roles and responsibilities, policy development and implementation.
• Privacy and data protection — statutory obligations, privacy impact assessments, cross‑border data flows and compliance pathways.
• Records, archives and lifecycle management — classification, retention scheduling, disposal and digital preservation.
• Information security fundamentals — access controls, incident response, secure information handling and alignment with governance requirements.
• Compliance, risk and audit — risk assessment methods, internal audit for information governance, and evidence for regulators.
• Contemporary topics — e‑discovery and litigation holds, metadata and automation, emerging technology impacts on governance (cloud, AI).

Study is typically delivered through a mixture of lectures, case studies, workshops and applied assessments that emphasise organisational policy work and real‑world problem solving.

Entry requirements

Applicants normally need a bachelor's degree (or equivalent) from a recognised institution in a relevant discipline such as law, business, information systems, library and information studies, or a related field. Applicants without a degree but with substantial, relevant professional experience may be considered on a case‑by‑case basis. Evidence of English language proficiency is required if previous tertiary study was not completed in English, consistent with the university's standard postgraduate English requirements.

Career prospects

Graduates gain targeted skills applicable across public and private sectors. Common roles pursued by alumni include:

• Information governance manager or coordinator
• Data protection officer / privacy advisor
• Records manager or archivist
• Compliance or risk analyst with a focus on information risk
• Legal support roles specialising in e‑discovery and information law
• Consultant advising on policy, retention scheduling and governance frameworks

The programme is also used by established professionals to upskill for leadership roles that require integration of legal, technical and organisational perspectives on information management.

Why study at University of Auckland

The University of Auckland is New Zealand's largest university and offers strong connections with industry, public agencies and professional bodies involved in privacy, records and information management. The programme draws on staff with expertise in law, information systems and archival studies, giving a multidisciplinary perspective important for effective governance.

Students benefit from applied teaching approaches, opportunities for industry engagement and a central Auckland location that provides access to a broad range of employers and professional networks. The Graduate Certificate provides a compact, career‑focused credential that can also articulate into further postgraduate study at the university for those wishing to continue in the field.