Qualification

One Academic Year
Graduate Diploma Level 7

140 Credits

Intake Dates
Course Fees (Year 1. See fees information.)
Domestic $9,784.00 NZD
International $30,333.00 NZD
Admission Requirements

Open to applicants with a degree qualification, or relevant professional experience in a creative technologies domain.

 

Study On Campus or Online

Portfolio Requirements

Advanced Portfolio

Study options

Blended
Online
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Overview

Refine your craft

Think of this programme as the bridge between undergraduate and postgraduate study. In this course you'll refine your craft and the opportunity to focus on your interests, based on your own research project in 3D Animation and Visual Effects, Interactive and Web Design, Graphic Design, Motion Graphics, or Virtual Reality and Augmented Reality (VR/AR). 

This programme is available both on campus and online (within New Zealand) in 2021.  If you are interested in learning remotely, ask our team about online study options when you submit your application.

What is creative technology?

Creative technology is an interdisciplinary field that combines elements of design, software, computing and art. It primarily involves people using the latest technology to explore new forms of creative expression, create engaging interactive experiences, and promote products and services through exciting new mediums. Creative technology is becoming an increasingly vital tool in the world of advertising.

Graduate Diploma of Creative Technologies Showreel 2019

Course Outline

What you'll cover in this course

Students develop and deepen their skills and understanding in an open studio-based programme where they investigate, propose and produce a project (or series of projects) determined by their own interests within the broader creative technologies domain.

Students can choose to either work within a particular creative technologies discipline, or across disciplines, and can work towards either professional, academic, exploratory or experimental learning outcomes.

The course is student-centered with students being proactive independent learners, responsible both for what they learn and how they learn. The course provides a flexible framework, supportive environment and collaborative learning culture. Faculty guide students through their learning as mentors, with the focus on developing students' critical thinking, problem-solving and research skills. This enables them to become effective life-long learners.

Course Overview

In the first semester, students can select from a range of different components across Media Design School's degree programmes in order to develop knowledge in a new area or broaden knowledge in a familiar area. A total of 65 credits will be comprised of electives from level 5, 6, or 7 and an additional 15 credits will be acquired by undertaking a recommended Level 7 component (we recommend Professional & Academic Practice 2).

In the second semester, GDCT students are able to complete their diploma by undertaking a final project or production that demonstrates the knowledge that they have acquired.

Depending on what they’ve specialised in, possible capstone projects include Creative Technologies Productions, a Project-based Inquiry, or an Advanced Individual Production.

Qualification Requirements

Qualifications you'll need for this course

Open to applicants with a degree qualification, or relevant professional experience in a creative technologies domain.

All applicants need to provide evidence to support the level of skill required for a self-directed investigation.

If you are applying for the GDCT after completing a Bachelors Degree you will need to provide:

  • Your portfolio;
  • Your letter of intent;
  • Your transcripts from your Bachelors qualification; 
  • Your CV/Resume; 

If you are applying for the GDCT after having worked in relevant industry for six years or more, you will need to provide:

  • Your portfolio;
  • Your letter of intent;
  • Your CV/Resume; 
  • Two reference letters from previous employer/s; and
  • You may also want to provide your transcripts from any prior tertiary qualifications if you completed these in the past 10 years.

For all international students: The IELTS score required is Academic IELTS 6.0 with no band score less than 5.5 (or equivalent).

Please note, quotas may apply to some programmes. Where demand exceeds the number of available places, applicants who meet entry requirements will be admitted on a first-come-first-served basis.

Language Requirements

If English is not your first language, you may be required to provide satisfactory evidence of your proficiency in English in the form of a recent IELTS (International English Language Testing System) score , TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) score or a Pearson’s Test of English (PTE) from an accredited organisation.

Portfolio type

Advanced Portfolio

File Format

PDF, Website URL or JPGs

Portfolio Requirements

How to prepare your portfolio

If you are applying for Graduate Studies you'll already have a body of work and a portfolio. When applying, we'll expect your portfolio to be to a professional standard, clearly indicate your areas of interest, and who you are as an artist. We would also like to see your show-reel if applicable, for areas of interest such as visual effects and motion graphics.

BYOD Requirements

BYOD Requirements

Before you begin your study with us, you will need to have a suitable device that has the functionality to run the programmes required for your course.

Follow this link to find course-specific requirements and recommendations, along with links to more information about hardware specifications. We have prepared these recommendations to help our students equip for flexible, blended learning.

Careers & Industry

Industry Insights

If you are looking for a supportive hands-on learning environment that focuses on developing practical skills through working on self-initiated projects, then the Graduate Diploma of Creative Technologies is for you.

The GDCT will help you further develop your production and design skills through both project-based and problem-based learning.

You’ll investigate, propose and produce projects in the creative area of your choice that compliment your existing skill-set. As you choose your own research topic, you may opt to work across multiple disciplines, to broaden your skill base and increase your career options.

Career Paths Include

Business owner or freelancer lifestyle, Web designer, mobile and front end developer, Ad agencies, Design studios, High end production houses, Film post production and animation

When you apply, you'll need to let us know your preferred discipline. You can select from any of the following streams:

  • Advanced 3D
  • Interactive & Web Design
  • Virtual Reality/Augmented Reality (VR/AR)
  • Graphic Design, or
  • VFX & Motion Graphics

Our Media Design School alumni have a fantastic attitude to getting stuck in, figuring things out, and building stuff quickly. That's crucial in digital design. I think it's a testament to the practical nature of the course, and what appears to be a focus on learning by doing. This is in contrast to more academic courses which perhaps aren't as hands on.

Tarver Graham

Director
Gladeye
Tarver Graham

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