Qualification

20 Weeks

Level 4 (60 Credits)

Start Dates

20 July 2026

22 February 2027

19 July 2027

Course Fees

Domestic $4,792.00 NZD

International $13,572.00 NZD

Admission Requirements

NZ Certificate in Art and Design (Level 4) qualification must provide evidence of the following:
a Domestic Student; or
an Australian citizen or Australian permanent resident currently residing in New Zealand
and is 16 years of age or over

Portfolio Requirements

N/A

Click here to access key information about this qualification

Study Mode

20 Weeks (Full time)
40 weeks (Part time)

Full time Part time

Study on campus Study online

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Begin your journey into a creative world

You’ll be introduced to a range of creative disciplines, including design, games, and animation, while learning in a small, studio-style environment. With guidance from experienced lecturers and regular one-on-one support, you’ll develop confidence, practical foundations, and a clearer sense of which degree pathway is right for you.

With upcoming changes to the Government’s Fees Free policy, the July 2026 intake may be one of the final opportunities for eligible students to access Fees Free funding for an MDS pre-degree certificate. Find out what this means for future students here - Last Chance for Fees Free – MDS Pre-Degree Pathway.

What you'll cover in this course

By the end of this course, you will be able to:

Apply creative and professional processes - such as discovery, conceptualisation, iteration, prototyping, and presentation - to develop digital media outcomes in response to a project brief.
Use a range of technical tools and methods to design, produce, and present creative digital content.
Apply an understanding of design elements and principles to review and refine digital media work.

Component Name	Credits	Toggle
Concept Art	15
This component introduces the foundations of concept art by combining traditional drawing techniques with digital tools. You’ll start by sketching ideas by hand, then develop and refine your concepts using software like Photoshop or Procreate. This process supports expressive, textured visual development - ideal for early exploration of characters, environments, and storytelling in games, animation, and film. Learning Outcomes: 1. Gain understanding of arts and design processes and drawing skills with a range of media including digital. 2. Apply problem-solving and critical thinking skills in response to an arts and design brief. Level 4 NZ2627 AD100

3D Design	15
Explore the basics of 3D design using Blender. In this component, you’ll learn how to model, rig, and render 3D assets and scenes. Through creative challenges and hands-on practice, you’ll develop both technical confidence and the ability to visualise ideas in three dimensions - laying the groundwork for animation, game environments, or product design. Learning Outcomes: 1. Demonstrate understanding of legal responsibilities, including copyright and intellectual property best practices. 2. Demonstrate competency in using appropriate industry-standard tools to respond to an arts and design brief. Level 4 NZ2627 AD200

Game Design	15
This component introduces 2D game design using GameMaker. You'll explore key concepts such as player interaction, level design, and basic coding with GameMaker Language (GML). From prototyping to playtesting, you’ll apply creative and technical thinking to design and build your own playable game. Learning Outcomes: 1. Apply industry-standard practices and processes in response to an arts and design brief. 2. Demonstrate understanding of the elements and principles of arts and design through practical application. Level 4 NZ2627 AD300

Animation	15
Building on your 3D design skills, this component focuses on bringing your creations to life through animation. Using Blender, you’ll learn fundamental animation techniques such as keyframing and timing. You'll explore how motion enhances storytelling by animating characters, objects, and environments. Learning Outcomes: 1. Demonstrate professionalism in the production and presentation of an arts and design solution in response to a brief. 2. Demonstrate understanding of the elements and principles of arts and design in a practical context. Level 4 NZ2627 AD400

The Certificate in Arts and Design set you up perfectly to go into one of our Bachelor programmes, and onto an exciting career path in your chosen field.

Game Art - Bachelor of Creative Technologies

You should study Game Art if you are passionate about creating worlds, characters, and interfaces that exist within the context of a video game. By studying Game Art, you will learn how to design beautiful and immersive environments and believable characters, and then combine those elements to deliver a gaming experience that people will cherish.

Check out our Game Art course

3D Animation & VFX - Bachelor of Art & Design

The Bachelor of Art and Design focuses on the technical and soft skills that you’ll need in the post-production side of the film industry. Specialise in the visual effects subject matter areas of compositing, modelling and technical studies or 3D animation and, in your final year, you’ll be working on an industry-level production using contemporary visual effects techniques in order to create an amazing, state-of-the-art short film.

Check out our 3D animation & VFX course