Paying for Fees
By signing your offer of place, you commit to enrolling at MDS and paying your fees. You will be liable for fees unless you formally withdraw from the course.
Fees may be paid by credit card (Visa or Mastercard only), or StudyLink loan (domestic students only).
Fees are inclusive of Compulsory Course Costs and GST (the NZ Goods and Services Tax - 15% subject to change).
Fees are subject to change without notice. Indicative fees for the first year of study are listed on the website, however the final fee will be presented in an invoice when you receive your offer.
By accepting an offer of place for a programme at MDS, you accept full responsibility for paying your fees by the due date. You are liable for the full payment of fees eight calendar days after course commencement, or after 10 working days for international students. You will be liable for full fees whether or not you complete your qualification.
Students suspended, expelled or de-registered from their studies as a result of not abiding by the Student Conduct Policy and Academic Progression Policy (including not meeting financial obligations), or for other reasons, are still liable for payment of their full fees.
Student Loan information for Domestic Students
About StudyLink and Student Loans
Domestic students are generally able to access a student loan through StudyLink to pay the fees for their qualification. If you intend to apply for a StudyLink student loan, you'll need to do so immediately upon receiving your acceptance letter from MDS, or at least two weeks prior to the qualification commencing. Here's how you do it: when you received your acceptance letter (you will be notified by email and by mail) contact StudyLink immediately and supply them with your details and your student ID number (included in the Offer pack).
About StudyLink Course Related Costs
You will need supplies and equipment associated with your course, such as a Wacom Tablet, visual diaries, and hard drives. StudyLink provides loans up to $1,000 for course related costs; ensure you apply for what you need when you apply for your student loan to cover your course fees.
Apply for StudyLink
If you're studying in 2026, 16 December is a very important date. It's one you just can't miss.
Around 120,000 students will need to get organised for study in 2026. Apply for your student allowance or loan before 16 December to give yourself the best chance of having everything sorted and ready for the start of your course.
If you’ve had a student allowance or loan in the last 12 months, login to MyStudyLink and use the Returning Application to apply. It'll take less than five minutes.
Head over to the StudyLink website for more information.
Fees Free Study
Starting tertiary study or work-based learning for the first time? You may be able to get Fees Free after you complete your first eligible qualification or programme. Fees Free covers the cost of your fees for the final year of study or final two years of work-based learning, up to $12,000.
When you enrol, you will need to pay your fees. To help you cover this cost, you may wish to apply for a student loan. Find out more at Student loan – StudyLink.
For more information on the eligibility requirements and when it is best to apply for Fees Free, visit Fees Free – Inland Revenue.
Tips on Managing Money
Budgeting and Financial Planning
MoneyHub has a complete guide to student loans, student money tips, banking, CV and job interview tips, and guidance on what to study.
The following links also have great information on budgeting and how to manage your student finances:
Gain Employment
Careers New Zealand can provide information and advice to help you make good decisions about where to work, study or train. There is also advice on how to create a CV and how to apply for jobs.
Explore the Student Job Search website to find job opportunities to fit in and around your study schedule.
The Big Idea is a resource that helps with job-seeking, along with a general overview of what is happening in the creative industry.
There is also Seek, if you have a better idea of what you want to be doing.
And once you're a student with MDS, you'll find special opportunities occasionally posted on our Student Discord and Student Facebook groups.
Remember that all our bachelor courses are full-time, so keep you eye out for part-time and casual jobs so you don't burn yourself out!
Scholarships
Sometimes all you'll need is to take the edge off to give yourself a little breathing room. We have scholarships that cater to many disciplines, that you can can check out, along with some other options for external scholarship opportunities HERE.