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Postgraduate Diploma in Creative Practice

  • Graduate Diploma

Are you passionate about creativity and cultural expression? Develop advanced academic, practical and creative skills through an exhibition, publication or industry project and access multi-disciplinary creative studios supervised by industry leading educators, artists and designers. The Postgraduate Diploma in Creative Practice offers a highly flexible studio or industry based programme based at Unitec's Creative Industries cultural hub.

Key details

Degree Type
Graduate Diploma
Intake Months
Feb, Jul
Domestic Fees
$8,100 per year
International Fees
$32,877 per year

About this course

The Postgraduate Diploma in Creative Practice enables artists, designers, photographers, animators, educators, performers, directors, producers and other creative thinkers to advance their professional careers within Unitec's Creative Industries cultural hub.

In the first semester, a combination of taught, negotiated or studio courses allow you to tailor the learning experience to your specialist creative research interests, whether these fall into traditional (graphic design, industrial design, photography, animation, visual arts, performance) or hybrid domains (service design, experience design, design for social innovation, performance or production design, transmedia, interdisciplinary practice).

Your second semester involves conceptualising, proposing and implementing advanced creative research. You will be supervised and mentored by academic staff and/or industry professionals. Creative projects may take place on campus or be integrated into a relevant workplace.

Highlights
  • Create a body of new work, improve your job opportunities, and refresh or re-orient your profession.
  • Develop critical self-reflection, creative thinking and research skills by taking your practice to an advanced level.
  • Work in an evolving multi-disciplinary environment where you will get exposure to a wide range of approaches, practices, and theories.
  • Improve your communication and project proposal skills through studio critiques and written components.
  • Learn from supervisors that include notable artists, designers, and educators.
  • Enhance your creative portfolio with a significant advanced research project.

Screenwriting

Develop your craft in writing for screen at post graduate level in a practice-led environment mentored by industry specialists. Working across Certificate, Diploma or Masters Level this course offers intensive and collaborative workshop opportunities combined with individualised flexible modes of delivery towards the realisation of a significant screenwriting project. Screenwriting graduates develop strong industry connections throughout their study, taking up opportunities to write for TV and activate links with the screen community.

PGDCP (2 semesters) - Develop screenwriting and pitching skills and complete an industry standard script (short screenplay for submission).

Meet our Postgraduate Supervisors
  • Dr. Cris de Groot, Senior Lecturer (Product Design, Industrial Design, Business Focussed Design, Creativity, Creative Entrepreneurship)
  • Richard Fahey, Senior Lecturer (Painting, Visual Art, Ceramics, NZ Craft, Curating, Visual Art Education)
  • Gina Ferguson, Senior Lecturer (Sculpture, Craft, Installation Art, Public Art)
  • Dr. Bobby Hung, Senior Lecturer (Street Art, Graffiti, Public Art, Visual Art, Visual Culture, Education)
  • Allan McDonald, Lecturer (Photography)
  • Emma Smith, Senior Lecturer (Painting, Visual Art, Contemporary Art)
  • Dr. Leon Tan, Associate Professor (Public Art, Participatory Art, Visual Art, Visual Culture, Participatory Design, Interdisciplinary Practice)
  • Jonty Valentine, Lecturer (Graphic Design, Publication Design, Contemporary Art)
  • Dan Wagner, Senior Lecturer (Screen Art, Screen Education, Cinematography)
  • Paul Woodruffe, Senior Lecturer (Visual Art, Public Art, Design for Social Innovation)
  • Dr. Becca Wood, Senior Lecturer (Choreography, Somatic Practice, Spatial Practice, Site-Based Performance, Interdisciplinary Practice, Digital Culture)
  • Dr. Vanessa Byrnes, Associate Professor (Theatre, Performance, Directing, Acting, Theory, Producing)
  • Peeti Lamwilai, Lecturer (Graphic Design, Digital Design, Motion Graphics)
Upcoming Events

In School of Creative Industries we have a wide range of shows and events, discover more from:

What's On

Entry requirements

What you will need to study this programme.

Domestic students
Academic requirements

You must have completed at least one of the following:

  • A recognised Bachelor's degree in the same or similar discipline, with merit achievement deemed to be an average of B- or higher in all Level 7 courses; or
  • A professional qualification in a relevant discipline, recognised as being equivalent to merit achievement in a Bachelor's degree
And meet one of the English entry requirements;
  • University Entrance Literacy: 8 credits at Level 2 or above in English or Maori (4 in Reading, 4 in Writing); or
  • Evidence of English language proficiency as outlined in the NZQA Rules on the Unitec English Language Requirements for International Students Web-page.
Non-Academic requirements
  • A significant portfolio of professional work sufficient to enable critical reflection on your prior practice

Don't meet these Academic requirements?

  • If you don't meet the academic criteria, our Bridging Education Programmes can help you qualify. Simply apply online, and we'll discuss your next steps.
  • If you don't meet the above criteria, special or discretionary admission may apply; your eligibility will be determined at the interview.

For more information, download the programme regulations (PDF 306 KB)

International students Academic requirements

You must have completed at least one of the following:

  • A recognised Bachelor's degree in the same or similar discipline, with merit achievement deemed to be an average of B- or higher in all Level 7 courses; or
  • A professional qualification in a relevant discipline, recognised as being equivalent to merit achievement in a Bachelor's degree

And English entry requirements;

If English is not your first language, you will also need at least one of the following qualifications:

  • Evidence of an IELTS (Academic) band score of at least 6.5 with no band score lower than 6
  • University Entrance Literacy: 8 credits at Level 2 or above in English or Maori (4 in Reading, 4 in Writing); or
  • Evidence of English language proficiency as outlined in the NZQA Rules on the Unitec English Language Requirements for International Students Web-page.

Don't meet these Academic requirements?

  • If you don't meet the academic criteria, our Bridging Education Programmes can help you qualify. Simply apply online, and we'll discuss your next steps.
  • If you don't meet the above criteria, special or discretionary admission may apply; your eligibility will be determined at the interview.

For more information, download the programme regulations (PDF 306 KB)

Study locations

Mt Albert

Career pathways

- Artist - Creative director - Curator - Digital artist - Director - Graphic designer - Photographer - Producer - Visual artist - Choreographer