Get prepared for an exciting career in the fast-evolving world of screen arts
Massey’s Bachelor of Screen Arts with Honours (BSA Hons) is a four-year practice-focused honours degree that will equip you to tell stories through digital mediums such as mobile media, games, interactive media, films and virtual reality.
Explore what Screen Arts at Massey has to offer
Surround yourself with creativity
Delivered at Massey’s Toi Rauwhārangi College of Creative Arts in Wellington, an internationally recognised art and design college with a reputation for innovative creative arts research and practice.
You will study in an inspiring and supportive learning environment that will give you the knowledge and skills you need to succeed in all creative industries.
Learn from industry experts
Developed and taught by award-winning industry professionals and academics, including former staff of Weta Digital, Weta Workshop, Park Road Post, TVNZ, SKY, Mediaworks, TV3 and the BBC. You will learn from lecturers who’ve worked on projects including Avatar, The Hobbit, Iron Man 3, Planet of the Apes, Babe, Ocean Girl, 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea, Daffodils, Lord of the Rings and Avengers.
Bachelor of Screen Arts with Honours – BSA(Hons)
Preparing you for an exciting career in the fast-evolving world of the screen arts industry.
With seven specialisations to choose from, you can let your creativity run wild
Animation – Bachelor of Screen Arts with Honours
Animation is a huge industry, found in almost all the visual media we consume, such as games, film, television, and interactive media.
Factual Production – Bachelor of Screen Arts with Honours
Storytelling is the basis for all human connection, and stories that tell us about real people, situations and issues are compelling touchstones in relating to our fast-changing times. True stories shape our identity and reflect our world back to us.
Film Production – Bachelor of Screen Arts with Honours
The Film Production major offers comprehensive, practical filmmaking, covering all aspects of film production including creative development, pre-production, production and post-production.
Game Development – Bachelor of Screen Arts with Honours
Games are one of the most powerful forms of storytelling, allowing players to creatively engage with characters and narratives in innovative ways.
Immersive Media – Bachelor of Screen Arts with Honours
Virtual and Augmented Realities (VR and AR) allow new ways for us to blend the physical and digital worlds, creating uncharted possibilities for the future.
Media Technology – Bachelor of Screen Arts with Honours
The evolution of media technologies and screen production, driven by digital innovation, is offering new ways of working and is creating new tools and techniques for content production and consumption.
Visual Effects – Bachelor of Screen Arts with Honours
The Visual Effects major provides expertise in creating fantastic characters and scenes for all forms of screen media.
State-of-the-art facilities
Refine your craft with our state-of-the-art facilities and create without limitations.
Film production facilities
Our facilities are among the best in Australasia and include:
- colour grading suites
- editing tools
- lighting gear
- green screen
- motion capture suite, including 24 camera Vicon motion capture array.
Students can borrow high-end equipment for projects.
Location: Wellington campus
Computer labs and video editing suite
Students have ready access to computer labs where they can use the latest software to scan film, edit video, audio and photography, and create 3D models. The College also has a state-of-the-art audio and video postproduction suite with all the gear needed for students to create very high quality media.
Tech store
The Tech Store offers a wide range of industry-standard equipment that screen arts and music students can borrow – cameras, lighting, sound equipment and much more.
Experienced technical staff are on hand to offer recommendations and advice.
Virtual and augmented reality
A specialised room where students can explore and prototype virtual spaces and experiences, or create virtual artworks or designs using virtual reality and augmented reality equipment.
Fab Lab
Fab Lab Wellington is Australasia’s first digital fabrication laboratory affiliated to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). Fab Lab's capabilities include:
- A computer-controlled laser cutter
- numerically-controlled milling machine
- a sign cutter
- a precision milling machine to make 3-dimensional moulds
- surface-mount circuit boards
- and small 3D printers.
Scholarships
There are a number of scholarships available to Massey University students. These can help you finance the cost of your study.
Student experiences
Film production
Filming Raspberry and Coke.
ALICE TOOMER, BCMP Film & Television, 2018
Filmmaker alumni Alice Toomer has won 2 silver awards for short film ‘Raspberry and Coke’ from the New Zealand Cinematographers Society Awards and a Best Design Award. Alice Toomer has also travelled to Madrid with Massey to film a documentary at the COP25 United Nations Climate Change Conference.
Alice’s passion for her craft has led her to work on the latest Avatar films 2 & 3 as a video assistant in the Camera and Electrical Department at Weta Digital. Alice also worked on Apple TV+ American TV series Mr Corman which was produced at Avalon studios and has most recently shot a music video for Wellington Commercial Music graduate Riiki Reid.
Animation, VFX
Hans & Tweet - A children's television series created by Massey students.
JING JING KE, TONY MATICH, SAINA FILIPO, NIAMH O’CONNELL, BCMP ANIMATION & VFX 2021
Students Jing Jing Ke, Tony Matich, Saina Filipo and Niamh O’Connell created Hans & Tweet, a pioneer production as the first stop motion film of its kind at Massey University. Hans & Tweet is a children’s television series about a red panda and an egg who dream of becoming great supervillains. The students aimed to bring awareness to both adults and children about taking care of the Earth and its residents, but to also teach positivity, the value of believing in yourself, the joy of chasing big dreams and to show what a true and dedicated friendship looks like. Hans & Tweet was picked up by TVNZ platform HeiHei and was a finalist in the Best Design Awards for Student Moving Image in 2021.
Factual Production
Student in live stream show - Fau.
FAU, BCMP FILM, 2021
Fau was created by second and third-year students, a collective of hard-working individuals who are passionate about telling indigenous stories and learning new skills. FAU is a live stream talk show to empower, discuss and inform the Pasifika community, by young Pasifika adults.
As a live stream show, the audience participates by having the opportunity to view their opinions and questions for the hosts and guests on the show. Think elements of late-night talk shows, comedic monologues, a Pasifika house band and different segments similar to a formatted TV show.
In Samoan, Fau can mean to build, create and build, and that’s the aim of this show: to build and create a platform for young Pasifika adults to discuss, inform, empower, debate, connect, show real action, and find solutions for issues and problems within the Pasifika community.
Game Development
Black Channel created by Molly Buglass-Clapham.
MOLLY BUGLASS-CLAPHAM, BCMP GAME DEVELOPMENT, 2020
Graduate student Molly Buglass-Clapham completed her degree with a focus on Game Development. Molly worked on the game ‘Black Channel’ for her major project. As the producer, writer, and creative director for ‘Black Channel’, she was excited to help bring the cassette futurism sci-fi horror game to life. She wore several other hats as well, including creating concept art, illustrations and 3D models and textures for the game. “Working on Black Channel was a huge learning experience for me, and I’m ready to get out into the industry and see what I can do.” Molly is now working for game company PikPok as a Concept Artist.
Media Technology
Train of Many Stations project.
CATE MUNT, BCMP MEDIA TECHNOLOGY, 2021
Graduate Cate Munt completed her BCMP with a major project in Creative Technologies with the successful project ‘Train of Many Stations’, a multi-disciplinary project that perfectly blends technology and creativity. The team created a life-size train carriage for visitors to climb inside and view virtual worlds pass by from the windows. Cate immensely enjoyed constructing an interactive and immersive experience to expose the audience to a unique adventure when they came on board the train. “I love Creative Technologies, and I am now working for an Australian tech company enjoying learning new skills to accompany those I have gained through studying the BCMP”.
Immersive Media
Thomas Williams.
THOMAS WILLIAMS, BCMP IMMERSIVE MEDIA, 2021
Thomas Williams was part of the team who created The Train of Many Stations. An interactive installation created by third and second-year students at Massey University. It’s a new piece of art that combines technology, animation and physical production to create an experience that has never been seen before!
Thomas has returned to Massey to complete a Master of Creative Enterprise with us to further develop his ideas.
Our past students are now working for industry leaders such Weta Workshop, Weta Digital, Pik Pok, or have gone on to have successful freelance careers.
Career options
Producer, director, visual effects producer, special effects technical director, virtual producer, sound designer, sound recording engineer, camera operator, lighting technician, editor, media technologies developer, TV producer, broadcast content developer, concept artist, storyboard artist, art director, animator, 3D modeller, rigger, games art director, games developer, games producer, VR/AR developer, audio producer, CG artist, motion capture animator, digital effects artist.
"Wow, your job sounds awesome" - said everyone
With your industry experience, critical understanding and practical know-how, you’ll graduate job-ready. You'll have the flexibility to push boundaries and re-invent your craft and media many times over the course of your career.
For advice on the best study pathway to pursue your passion, contact us through our get advice form.
Apply now to secure your place.