Name: Graduate Diploma of Creative Technologies
Price: 10500 NZD

Qualification

One Academic Year
Graduate Diploma Level 7

140 Credits

Start Dates

22 September 2025

23 February 2026

20 July 2026

Course Fees (Year 1. See fees information.)

Domestic $11,000.00 NZD

International $35,549.80 NZD

Admission Requirements

Open to applicants with a degree qualification, or relevant professional experience in a design or creative technologies domain 4+ years

Portfolio Requirements

Standard Portfolio

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Breathe life into unimagined worlds.

Learn a range of programming languages from C++ to Swift, enabling you to succeed in the games industry and beyond. Our teaching style not only gives you the knowledge of tools, but the kit to work in a team, an essential but overlooked necessity. Hone your abilities in interviewing, presenting and communicating while you craft a masterpiece with your small team. Be amongst the most sought-after graduates for New Zealand’s gaming industry, forging alliances with the likes of Rocketwerkz, Pik-Pok and Outerdawn.

Our Graduate Diploma of Creative Technologies - Game Programming is designed to work around your existing skills, and get you to an industry level game artist in just one year.

Course Outline

This stream is aimed at students who want to transfer basic programming skills into game development and learn to work with game engines. While an ability to transfer basic programming knowledge into programming with C++ is expected, prior experience with game engines is not required.

This stream is available for February and July intakes.

Component Name	Credits	Toggle
Gameplay Programming
Apply mathematical concepts to gameplay programming while building functionality within practical game projects. You will also work with intermediate features of C++ and rendering frameworks to develop a deeper understanding of gameplay systems.

Game Engines
Work in modern 3D game engines such as Unity and Unreal to develop an understanding of game production, scripting, materials, lighting, and visual effects.

Game Design
Explore principles of game design through topics such as mechanics, balance, player motivation, narrative, level design and more. Through practical projects and iteration, you will apply your learning to design a game.

Major Project
Develop an independent project of your choosing utilising the skills you have learned throughout the course. Alternatively, students may undertake a major game production in a team working with other artists and programmers. Note: team production is subject to availability.

Course Outline

This stream provides an opportunity for computer science graduates or professionals working in programming roles to transfer their knowledge into game programming. Applicants are expected to have prior programming experience and should be ready to work with intermediate and advanced features of C++, and game engines.

This stream is available for February and July intakes.

Component Name	Credits	Toggle
Software Engineering for Games
Engage with advanced programming topics within game development such as artificial intelligence for games, networking, physics, graphics programming, and mobile development by utilising intermediate and advanced features of C++.

Game Engine
Explore the low-level design of game engines and develop plugins and tools within an existing engine.

Game Design
Explore principles of game design through topics such as mechanics, balance, player motivation, narrative, level design and more. Through practical projects and iteration, you will apply your learning to design a game.

Major Project
Develop an independent project of your choosing utilising the skills you have learned throughout the course. Alternatively, students may undertake a major game production in a team working with other artists and programmers. Note: team production is subject to availability.

The Graduate Diploma of Creative Technologies provides you with everything you need to level up your skills, and to bring a more diverse skillset to your existing career, or the tools to switch to a new one. Our graduates have gone onto have successfull careers in industry, freelance, or even growing their existing businesses.

Gameplay Programmer

Focus on coding the systems that define how a game functions, including character controls, physics, and interaction mechanics. Working alongside designers and artists, you will bring game concepts to life by translating ideas into functional code.

Tools/Engine Programmer

Create and maintain software tools and game engines that other developers use to build games. This involves optimising performance, adding new features to game engines, and improving the efficiency of the development pipeline. This role is essential in every studio and provides a reliable path for those who enjoy working on the technical foundation that supports game development.

AI Programmer

Focus on developing the artificial intelligence systems that drive the behaviour of non-player characters (NPCs), enemies, and other in-game entities. This role involves creating algorithms for decision-making, pathfinding, and dynamic reactions, ensuring that characters respond realistically to player actions. AI Programmers work closely with designers and gameplay programmers to craft challenging and engaging game experiences.

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Graduate Diploma of Creative Technologies - Game Programming