Regulations for The Postgraduate Diploma in Fine Arts - PGDipFA

Official rules and regulations for the Postgraduate Diploma in Fine Arts. These regulations are for the 2025 intake to this qualification.

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Qualification Regulations

Part I

These regulations are to be read in conjunction with all other Statutes and Regulations of the University including General Regulations for Postgraduate Degrees, Postgraduate Diplomas, and Postgraduate Certificates.

Part II

Admission

1. Admission to the Postgraduate Diploma in Fine Arts requires that the candidate will have:

(a) met the University admission requirements as specified;

(b) have been awarded or qualified for a Bachelor of Fine Arts, Bachelor of Māori Visual Arts, or equivalent with a grade average of at least a B, or equivalent;

(c) been selected into the Diploma following a selection process which will include the assessment of a portfolio of work submitted by the candidate and, at the discretion of Academic Board or their delegate, an interview.

Qualification requirements

2. Candidates for the Postgraduate Diploma in Fine Arts shall follow a flexible course of study, which shall consist of courses totalling at least 120 credits, comprising:

(a) 15 credits from Schedule A;

(b) 60 credits from Schedule B;

(c) 30 credits from Schedule C;

(d) the remaining courses from Schedule D.

3. With the approval of the Academic Board or their delegate a candidate may be permitted to transfer up to 30 credits from an incomplete postgraduate qualification in design or related programme of study to the Postgraduate Diploma in Design.

Specialisations

4. The Postgraduate Diploma in Fine Arts is awarded without endorsement.

Student progression

5. In cases of sufficient merit, the Postgraduate Diploma in Fine Arts may be awarded with distinction or merit.

Completion requirements

6. The timeframes for completion as outlined in the General Regulations for Postgraduate Degrees, Postgraduate Diplomas, and Postgraduate Certificates will apply.

7. Candidates may be graduated when they meet the Admission, Qualification and Academic requirements within the prescribed timeframes; candidates who do not meet the requirements for graduation may, subject to the approval of Academic Board or their delegate, be awarded the Postgraduate Certificate in Creative Arts should they meet the relevant Qualification requirements.

Unsatisfactory academic progress

8. The general Unsatisfactory Academic Progress regulations will apply.

Schedule for the Postgraduate Diploma in Fine Arts

Course planning key

Prerequisites
Courses that need to be completed before moving onto a course at the next level. For example, a lot of 200-level courses have 100-level prerequisite courses.
Corequisites
Courses that must be completed at the same time as another course are known as corequisite courses.
Restrictions
Some courses are restricted against each other because their content is similar. This means you can only choose one of the offered courses to study and credit to your qualification.
Key terms for course planning
Courses
Each qualification has its own specific set of courses. Some universities call these papers. You enrol in courses after you get accepted into Massey.
Course code
Each course is numbered using 6 digits. The fourth number shows the level of the course. For example, in course 219206, the fourth number is a 2, so it is a 200-level course (usually studied in the second year of full-time study).
Credits
Each course is worth a number of credits. You combine courses (credits) to meet the total number of credits needed for your qualification.
Specialisations
Some qualifications let you choose what subject you'd like to specialise in. Your major or endorsement is what you will take the majority of your courses in.
Choose 15 credits from
Course code: 197465 Creative Leadership 15 credits

In this course, students from a broad range of creative practices will work together to situate themselves within the spectrum of the creative industries. Serving their communities as creative leaders, students will apply research and innovation theories to business and social-enterprise practices in order to conceptualise, develop, and deliver a strategic offering for a defined audience.

Prerequisites: 198358 or 212358 or 213342 or 221358 or 222358 or 223358 or 224358 or 296358

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Course code: 213463 Fine Arts Research Seminar 15 credits

A programme of advanced study that addresses the application, dissemination and discussion of research practices in contemporary art. Emphasis will be placed on selective investigation and presentation of critical issues in the production of art and culture.

Prerequisites: 213357 or Appraisal Required Corequisites: 213441

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Course code: 213464 Art in Context 15 credits

The course will discuss, critique and apply a range of exhibition, dissemination and publication conventions and practices within the context of contemporary art including art galleries, social practice, temporary and permanent artworks, public art, publishing, screenings and events

Prerequisites: 75 credits at 300-level

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Course code: 213465 Exhibition 15 credits

In this studio-based course students situate their creative practice through exhibition. Students work in a collaborative group to develop and realise an exhibition project. One of the key focus points for the course is students' growing understanding of the reality of public presentation of the creative output. This advanced programme of study will encourage discussion and critical reflection on diverse approaches to the exhibition of creative work and its relevance for a range of academic and/or professional contexts.

Corequisites: (198454 or 198455 or 212454 or 212455 or 213442 or 221454 or 221455 or 222454 or 222455 or 223454 or 223455 or 224454 or 224455 or 296454 or 296455) or Permission Head of School

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Course code: 237465 Creative Exposition 15 credits

In this course students will situate their creative practice through writing. They will extend and hone their critical, analytical and reflective skills through written exposition that focuses on projecting themselves and their practice externally. This advanced programme of study will encourage discussion on diverse approaches to creative research exposition and its relevance for a range of academic and/or professional contexts.

Prerequisites: [237330 and (198358 or 212358 or 213342 or 221358 or 222358 or 223358 or 224358 or 296358)] or Appraisal Required

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Course code: 293732 Creative Practice Research Methods 15 credits

Students will advance their understanding of approaches to creative practice research, methods and theory in relation to their specific practice orientation.

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Course code: 298730 Māori Research Methodologies for Creative Practice 15 credits

Students will consider tikanga and methodologies relevant to their own creative practice, which may incorporate the use of customary and/or new technologies, innovations, and knowledge. This will include developing an understanding of tikanga, ethics and accountabilities around the use of mātauranga toi Māori, mātauranga-ā-iwi, mātauranga-ā-hapū and mātauranga-a-whānau in the development of their own creative outputs. Students will be supported to locate and articulate their own creative practice in a continuum of mātauranga toi Māori.

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Schedule B: Core Studio Selection (Choose between 45 and 60 credits from)

Choose between 45 and 60 credits from
Course code: 213442 Art Studio IV B 45 credits

In this studio course students will further advance the exploration of content, context and engaged dialogue in the production of contemporary art. In consultation with lecturers, students produce a substantial innovative body of work.

Prerequisites: 213440 or 213441 Restrictions: 213401, 213461

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Course code: 213830 Fine Arts Research Project: Honours 60 credits

In this studio research course students will advance their exploration of content, context, methods and the role of critical dialogue in the production and dissemination of contemporary art. In consultation with lecturers, students refine and present a substantial, critically reflexive practice- based research project.

Restrictions: 213442

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Schedule C: Project Development (Choose 30 credits from)

Choose 30 credits from
Course code: 213441 Art Studio IV A Research 30 credits

In this studio research course students will advance the exploration of content, context, methodology and the role of critical dialogue in the production of contemporary art. In consultation with lecturers, students develop a substantial, innovative research project that engages in critically reflexive practice.

Prerequisites: (213342 or 213351) and 213357 Corequisites: 213463 Restrictions: 213401, 213451

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Course code: 213729 Fine Arts Research and Development: Honours 30 credits

Advance the exploration of content, context, methodology and the role of critical dialogue in the production of contemporary art. In consultation with lecturers, students develop a substantial, innovative research project that engages in critically reflexive practice.

Prerequisites: One of 213341, 213344, or (213357and 213342) Restrictions: 213441

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Schedule D: Elective Courses

Any 400-level or 700-level courses from the College of Creative Arts (Prefixes: 133, 197, 198, 212, 213, 221, 222, 223, 224, 237, 289, 293, 296, 298)

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