Type of qualification
Level of study
Once you’ve graduated with a bachelor’s degree – or have equal experience – you can study at the postgraduate level. Doctoral qualifications require additional entry requirements.
Our courses follow the New Zealand Qualification Framework (NZQF) levels.
Time to complete
Where you can study
International students
International students are not New Zealand citizens or residents.
Study a Master of Design – MDes
Go in depth with an advanced design research qualification. You’ll have a targeted outcome, often of direct application to industry. We will help you make strong connections with the business, public or non-profit sector.
You’ll have access to individual studio space and our comprehensive technical expertise and facilities. These include:
- an industry-scale green screen studio
- Australasia’s first Fab Lab
- industry-standard workshops
- digital imaging facilities
- darkrooms.
Real-world projects
All MDes students complete a thesis project: a supervised programme of focused design research, taking a challenging real-world problem through to a well-resolved solution, like a product prototype.
Find out more about the Wellington School of Design
Our staff are leading design researchers and practitioners. You will be supervised by one primary supervisor with expertise in your field of design. You will be guided by a secondary supervisor with expertise in an aligned field.
Further study
After completing your Master of Design project you may be able to develop your work and produce new knowledge with a PhD.
A MDes is a good fit if you:
- love design and what it can do
- are constantly horizon-scanning
- enjoy the challenge of an externally-connected project, whether for commercial, government, cultural or community-based clients.
Entry requirements
Admission to Massey
All students must meet university entrance requirements to be admitted to the University.
Specific requirements
This is a selected entry qualification. This means there are a number of extra requirements you must meet.
Master of Design 180 credits
You will have been awarded or qualified for a bachelor's degree or equivalent, having achieved at least a B grade average.
You will also need to:
- take part in an interview
- submit a portfolio of design work for assessment.
Master of Design 120 credits
You will have been awarded or qualified for a relevant honours degree with a B grade average in Part 4 or Postgraduate Diploma in Design or equivalent with a B grade average.
You must also submit:
- a research proposal for your intended thesis project
- a portfolio of your creative work.
Portfolio requirements
For more information about portfolio requirements, see the College of Creative Arts' postgraduate applications page.
Application closing date
This qualification has two intakes:
- Semester 1 (February start). Applications close 30 November for study commencing the following year.
- Semester 2 (July start). Applications close 15 May.
English language requirements
To study this qualification you must meet Massey University's English language standards.
Time limits for Honours, Distinction and Merit
Where your qualification is completed within the stated time limit and to a high standard, you may be able to graduate with Distinction or Merit.
- Look for information under ‘Student Progression’ in the General Regulations for Postgraduate Degrees, Postgraduate Diplomas and Postgraduate Certificates.
- Contact us through the Get advice button on this page if you have any questions.
Prior learning, credit and exemptions
For information on prior learning, exemptions and transfer of credit or other questions:
- review the Recognition of Prior Learning regulations
- contact us through the Enquire button on this page.
English language skills
If you need help with your English language skills before you start university, see our English for Academic Purposes (EAP) courses.
Maximum time limits for completion
There are maximum time limits to complete postgraduate qualifications. If you do not complete within the maximum time, you may be required to re-apply for the qualification if you wish to continue your studies.
Official regulations
To understand what you need to study and must complete to graduate read the official rules and regulations for this qualification.
You should read these together with all other relevant Statutes and Regulations of the University including the General Regulations for Postgraduate Degrees, Postgraduate Diplomas, and Postgraduate Certificates.
Returning students
For returning students, there may be changes to the majors and minors available and the courses you need to take. Go to the section called ‘Transitional Provisions’ in the Regulations to find out more.
In some cases the qualification or specialisation you enrolled in may no longer be taking new enrolments, so may not appear on these web pages. To find information on the regulations for these qualifications go to the Massey University Calendar.
Please contact us through the Get advice button on this page if you have any questions.
Structure of the Master of Design
If you don’t have a relevant honours degree, you’ll do the eighteen-month, 180-credit MDes, completing Parts One and Two. You must complete the first part before moving on to the second.
If you have a relevant honours degree already, you’ll do the twelve-month, 120-credit MDes, starting at Part Two.
Part One: taught courses
The first part of this qualification will build your research and technical skill through our creative research practices course. You will end by developing your thesis project proposal.
Other taught courses include a digital fabrication path through Fab Lab Wellington. This will set you up to use open design and digital fabrication approaches in your thesis project.
We also have an Independent Study option and other electives.
Part Two: thesis
For progression to Part Two, you must have a grade average of at least B in Part One.
Join the MDes 120 credit students for 12 months, to focus on mastering your research proposal and thesis project. Those who are most successful generally start the year with a clearly identified problem, or project brief, and develop strong relationships with their external ‘client’ from early on.
External connections are important in MDes thesis projects. We expect you to keep in regular contact with your external partners or community of interest.
Get the full picture
Courses and specialisations
Key terms
- 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.
Credit summary
180 credits
- Part One Research Methods course – 15 credits
- Part One Project Development course – 30 credits
- Part One elective course from the College of Creative Arts – 15 credits
- Part Two thesis – 120 credits
Advanced entry: Those who have already completed specified qualifications in advance of the minimum entry requirements may be able to complete this degree in 120 credits.
This is a parts-based qualification. This means there are regulations around your completion of Part One before progressing to Part Two, etc.
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.
Part One (Choose 60 credits from)
Research Methods (Choose 15 credits from)
Course code: 293731 Contextualising Creative Enterprise Practice Part 1 15 credits
An exploration of advanced critical and enterprise frameworks, and ways they may be applied to creative practice. Students work towards a proposal of a plan to take their Major Project to market, along with a text through which their Major Project is critically framed.
View full course detailsCourse 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.
View full course detailsCourse 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.
View full course detailsProject Development (Choose 30 credits from)
Course code: 198453 Industrial Design Research and Development 30 credits
Research methods, processes and practices for industrial design and their application through a research project.
View full course detailsCourse code: 212453 Fashion Design Research and Development 30 credits
Research methods, practices and processes for fashion design and their application through a research design project.
View full course detailsCourse code: 221453 Photography Research and Development 30 credits
Research methods, practices and processes for Photographic Design and their application.
View full course detailsCourse code: 222453 Visual Communication Design Research and Development 30 credits
Application of research methods and processes to investigate social, cultural, aesthetic and technical issues and strategies in an approved visual communication design project.
View full course detailsCourse code: 223453 Textile Design Research and Development 30 credits
Research methods processes and practices for Textile Design and their application through a research project.
View full course detailsCourse code: 224453 Spatial Design Research and Development 30 credits
Research methods, processes and practices for Spatial Design and their application through a research project.
View full course detailsCourse code: 293453 Integrated Design Research and Development 30 credits
Using integrated design strategies, explore and apply methods, processes and practices through a research investigation that incorporates diverse design approaches. Students will undertake advanced research on a project of their choice.
View full course detailsCourse code: 296453 Concept Design Research and Development 30 credits
Application of research methods and processes to investigate social, cultural, aesthetic and technical issues and strategies in an approved concept design project.
View full course detailsAny 400-level or 700-level elective course from the College of Creative Arts (Prefixes: 133, 197, 198, 212, 213, 221, 222, 223, 224, 237, 293, 296, 289, 298)
Part Two (Choose 120 credits from)
Course code: 197800 Design Thesis 120 credits
Preparation of a thesis consisting of an advanced design-led research project and an exegesis to satisfy the requirements of the Master of Design qualification.
View full course detailsCourse code: 197802 Design Thesis 120 Credit Part 1 60 credits
Preparation of a thesis consisting of an advanced design-led research project and an exegesis to satisfy the requirements of the Master of Design qualification.
View full course detailsCourse code: 197803 Design Thesis 120 Credit Part 2 60 credits
Preparation of a thesis consisting of an advanced design-led research project and an exegesis to satisfy the requirements of the Master of Design qualification.
View full course detailsFees and scholarships
Fees, student loans and free fees scheme
Your tuition fees may be different depending on the courses you choose. Your exact fees will show once you have chosen your courses.
There will also be some compulsory non-tuition fees and for some courses, there may also be charges for things such as study resources, software, trips and contact workshops.
- Get an estimate of the tuition fees for your qualification
- View a list of non-tuition fees that may be payable
Already know which courses you're going to choose?
You can view fees for the courses that make up your qualification on the course details pages.
Student loans (StudyLink) and Fees Free scheme
You may be eligible for a student loan to help towards paying your fees.
The New Zealand Government offers fees-free tertiary study for eligible domestic students. Find out more about the scheme and your eligibility on the Fees Free website. To use the site's eligibility checking tool, you will need your National Student Number.
Current and returning Massey students can find their National Student Number in the student portal.
- Student loans (StudyLink)
- Fees Free
- Student portal
Scholarship and award opportunities
- Building Research Association of New Zealand (BRANZ) Scholarship
- Cat Pausé Postgraduate Scholarship
- Massey University Master's Research Scholarship
- Massey University Postgraduate Overseas Research Grant
- Peter Turner Scholarship in Contemporary Photography
- Professor Tony Parker Scholarship in Industrial Design
Fees disclaimer
This information is for estimation purposes only. Actual fees payable will be finalised on confirmation of enrolment. Unless otherwise stated, all fees shown are quoted in New Zealand dollars and include Goods and Services Tax, if any. Before relying on any information on these pages you should also read the University's Disclaimer Notice.
Careers and job opportunities
Many graduates start their own businesses and have gone on to win high profile awards and commissions. MDes graduates also work as:
- web designers, here and overseas
- directors of health care product manufacturing
- creative directors in art agencies and museums
- technical development consultants
- design interns in fashion and industrial design companies
- directors or account managers at publishing houses
- secondary school art and design teachers.
Accreditations and rankings
QS Ranking - Art & Design
College of Creative Arts – Toi Rauwhārangi ranks in the global top 150 for art and design by QS World University Rankings.
Red Dot Design ranking
Ranked 3rd in Asia-Pacific by International Red Dot Design Awards, the only design school to be ranked in New Zealand and Australia. This significant achievement recognises the high calibre of our teaching staff and the exceptional quality of our students' design concept work.
Related study options
Bachelor of Māori Visual Arts – BMVA
Unique to Massey University, the Bachelor of Māori Visual Arts encompasses contemporary Māori art, Māori language, Māori culture, and tikanga.
Graduate Diploma in Design – GDipDes
Develop your technical skills and learn to think like a designer.
Graduate Diploma in Screen Arts – GradDipSCA
Develop your technical skills and learn to think like a professional in the screen arts sector.
Master of Māori Visual Arts – MMVA
Challenge your own toi Māori practice, and learn from and be inspired by leading artists.
Photography – Bachelor of Design with Honours
Great photographers shake us, shift our perceptions and entice us to see things differently. Learn from leading photographers and develop your technical skills with our professional cameras and specialist studios and labs.
Postgraduate Diploma in Māori Visual Arts – PGDipMVA
Toioho ki Āpiti (the Māori visual arts programme at Massey) welcomes all indigenous and Pākehā artists.
Postgraduate Diploma in Screen Arts – PGDipScreenArts
Useful planning information
Key information for students
Compare qualifications and academic information across different New Zealand institutions. Learn more on careers.govt.nz