Qualification Regulations
Part I
These regulations are to be read in conjunction with all other Statutes and Regulations of the University including General Regulations for Undergraduate Degrees, Undergraduate Diplomas, Undergraduate Certificates, Graduate Diplomas, and Graduate Certificates.
Part II
Admission
1. Admission to the Graduate Diploma in Design requires that the candidate will have:
(a) met the University admission requirements as specified; and will have:
(b) been awarded or qualified for a Bachelor’s degree, or equivalent; or
(c) been assessed by Academic Board or their delegate as having equivalent practical, professional and scholarly experience at the appropriate level.
2. In all cases candidates must be selected into the Diploma following a selection process which will include the assessment of a portfolio of work submitted by the candidate and, at the discretion of Academic Board or their delegate, an interview.
Qualification requirements
3. Candidates for the Graduate Diploma in Design shall follow a flexible course of study, which shall consist of courses totalling at least 120 credits, comprising:
(a) At least 30 credits of core courses selected from Schedule A of the Diploma;
(b) At least 60 credits of core studio courses selected from Schedule B of the Diploma;
(c) 30 credits of elective courses selected from Schedule C of the Diploma;
(d) attending contact courses, block courses, field trips, studios, workshops, tutorials, and laboratories as required.
4. Notwithstanding Regulation 1, with the approval of the Academic Board or their delegate a candidate may be permitted to transfer up to 30 credits from an incomplete graduate qualification in design or related programme of study to the Graduate Diploma in Design.
Specialisations
5. The Graduate Diploma in Design is awarded without an endorsement.
Student progression
6. In cases of sufficient merit, the Graduate Diploma in Design may be awarded with Distinction or Merit if completed in one year of full-time study or three years of part-time study.
Completion requirements
7. Any timeframes for completion as outlined in the General Regulations for Undergraduate Degrees, Undergraduate Diplomas, Undergraduate Certificates, Graduate Diplomas and Graduate Certificates will apply.
8. Candidates may be graduated when they meet the Admission, Qualification and Academic requirements within the prescribed timeframes; candidates who do not meet the requirements for graduation may, subject to the approval of Academic Board or their delegate, be awarded the Certificate in Creative Arts should they meet the relevant Qualification requirements.
Unsatisfactory academic progress
9. The general Unsatisfactory Academic Progress regulations will apply.
Schedule for the Graduate Diploma in Design
Course planning key
- Prerequisites
- Courses that need to be completed before moving onto a course at the next level. For example, a lot of 200-level courses have 100-level prerequisite courses.
- Corequisites
- Courses that must be completed at the same time as another course are known as corequisite courses.
- Restrictions
- Some courses are restricted against each other because their content is similar. This means you can only choose one of the offered courses to study and credit to your qualification.
Key terms for course planning
- Courses
- Each qualification has its own specific set of courses. Some universities call these papers. You enrol in courses after you get accepted into Massey.
- Course code
- Each course is numbered using 6 digits. The fourth number shows the level of the course. For example, in course 219206, the fourth number is a 2, so it is a 200-level course (usually studied in the second year of full-time study).
- Credits
- Each course is worth a number of credits. You combine courses (credits) to meet the total number of credits needed for your qualification.
- Specialisations
- Some qualifications let you choose what subject you'd like to specialise in. Your major or endorsement is what you will take the majority of your courses in.
Schedule A: Core courses (Choose 30 credits from)
Course code: 197339 Transformation: Discourse in Design 15 credits
From the design of serving communities, to processes, to the necessity of embracing the health of our planet, this course encourages students to independently explore and appraise a range of ideas that critically examine how contemporary design is shaped by cultural, ethical, moral, commercial, ecological and technological complexity.
View full course detailsCourse code: 197388 Creative Communities 15 credits
Students from a broad range of creative practices will work together to explore conceptual and strategic dimensions of professional practice through engagement with experts from the creative sector. Students will develop an understanding of their position as creative citizens within a broader community.
View full course detailsCourse code: 197390 Professional Cultures in Design 3 15 credits
Develop skills and knowledge for a future career in design. Students will be supported in developing professionalism within the context of designer-client relationships.
View full course detailsCourse code: 237331 Critical Understandings of Contemporary Art 15 credits
This course examines and appraises ideas that contribute to a critical understanding of contemporary art. Students will evaluate a range of content in relation to their own creative practice as well as the wider contemporary art world. The relation between artists and their processes and approaches will be explored through topics such as race, gender, intersectionality, decolonisation, popular culture, politics, social justice, and others.
View full course detailsCourse code: 298330 Cosmological Narratives within Māori Creative Expression 15 credits
This advanced-level course delves into the intricate relationship between Māori cosmological narratives and their dynamic manifestation within contemporary Māori creative expression. Through an interdisciplinary exploration that encompasses art, design, music, theatre, and dance, students will analyse the evolving role of cosmological narratives, connecting traditional wisdom to modern artistic innovation.
View full course detailsCourse code: 298360 Mātauranga Toi Māori 3: Creative Innovation and Community Leadership 15 credits
This course propels students into the realm of Māori Arts Innovation and Community Leadership. By synthesizing foundational knowledge with advanced theoretical frameworks, innovative artistic projects, and community leadership principles, students will refine their skills as Māori Arts Practitioners and actively contribute to the evolution of Māori arts practices within a contemporary context.
View full course detailsSchedule B: Core Studio Selection (Choose 60 credits from)
Course code: 198358 Product and Industrial Design 3.3: Definitive Design Practice 30 credits
In this studio students develop and realise a complex project to demonstrate proficiency in Product and Industrial Design. Students work within a defined thematic using appropriate practice methods to advance and resolve complex design challenges to produce high-quality tangible outputs. In this milestone project students gain independence, demonstrate multifaceted problem solving skills and showcase their design skill set and practice.
View full course detailsCourse code: 212358 Fashion Design 3.3: Creative Fashion Exploration and Refinement 30 credits
Students will establish their critical position as a designer and identify a context that informs the development of their fashion design outcome, using a variety of materials which may include high stretch knit, woven and non-woven fabrics.
View full course detailsCourse code: 221358 Photography Studio 3.3: Extended Photographic Practice 30 credits
Negotiating a critical position through an individual creative project, you will apply your specialist skills to a selected photographic context. In addition to extending photographic concepts, skills and processes in the production of personal creative work, you will develop and apply transferable skills relevant to creative environments. Content includes collaborative practices and output strategies relevant to future pathways. addition to advancing photographic concepts, techniques, skills and processes in the production of their creative work, students will develop and apply transferable skills relevant to professional environments.
View full course detailsCourse code: 222358 Visual Communication Design 3.5: Design for Social Change 30 credits
In this course, students will develop a deep understanding of human-centered design processes that respond to the needs, preferences, and behaviours of the target audience. Students will create an innovative design strategy to address a societal issue. This course has broad appeal, offering students a high level of creative independence and an opportunity to focus on their specific area of design interest. Students are also encouraged to consider their role as a designer and how they can contribute to society in a meaningful way.
View full course detailsCourse code: 223358 Textile Design 3.3: Studio Collections 30 credits
In this studio students will design a collection to connect with a specific audience. With opportunities for varied contextual applications, students will consolidate and expand textile design concepts, techniques, skills and processes in the production of their creative work.
View full course detailsCourse code: 224358 Spatial Design 3.3: Advanced Spatial Practices 30 credits
In this studio course students will further develop their understanding of spatial ecologies. Students will consolidate and apply their individual spatial practice towards the design of a comprehensive spatial design proposition. In addition to advancing theoretical and practical approaches, techniques and skills in the production of their creative work, students will attain transferable skills relevant to professional environments.
View full course detailsCourse code: 296358 Concept Design 3.3: Developing Imaginary Worlds 30 credits
Students will use worldbuilding and storytelling techniques to generate an original entertainment property that examines a contemporary wicked problem through a Science Fiction or Fantasy lens. Through the development and realisation of an advanced concept design project students will develop an understanding of the culture, ecosystem, technology and inhabitants of their world.
View full course detailsCourse code: 298367 Toi Atea 3 15 credits
Developing visual responses to the exploration of issues (social, political, environmental, global) significant to Māori people and their communities.
View full course detailsSchedule C: Elective courses (Choose 30 credits from)
Any 200- or 300-level courses from the College of Creative Arts (Prefixes: 133, 197, 198, 212, 213, 221, 222, 223, 224, 237, 289, 293, 296, 298)
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