New Zealand Diploma in Arts and Design (Level 5)

Explore your creativity and build foundational skills in image making, photography, design (object and graphic), and art theory through guided, hands-on studio practice. This one-year programme introduces you to the core principles of art and design, giving you a broad, practical understanding of creative processes and techniques. Through guided studio projects, you’ll experiment across multiple disciplines while developing your critical thinking and communication skills. This programme focuses on foundational, directed creative work, preparing you for further study in Level 6 or for entry-level roles in design, production, or arts-related fields such as designers, technicians, machinists, or salespeople.

University Entrance: NCEA Level 3 (60 credits at Level 3 and 20 credits at Level 2 or higher), which must include: 14 credits at Level 3 in each of three approved* subjects, including at least one from the following subject list: Painting (Visual Art), Design (Visual Art), Photography (Visual Art), Sculpture (Visual Art), Printmaking (Visual Art), Graphics (Technology), Design (Technology), Textiles (Technology), Media Studies, Drama, Materials Technology, Digital Technology, English, History, Social Sciences, Art History as well as Literacy* - 10 credits at Level 2 or above, made up of 5 credits in reading, 5 credits in writing and Numeracy* - 10 credits at Level 1 or above (specified achievement standards, or unit standards 26623, 26626, 26627) OR A qualification on the NZQF at Level 4 or above in a related discipline OR A qualification or examination recognised as being equivalent to the achievement of NCEA Level 3 (e.g. International Baccalaureate, Cambridge Examination).