Where you can study
International students
International students are not New Zealand citizens or residents.
Specialise in Photography for your Bachelor of Design with Honours at Massey
When you study photography at Massey, you’ll be taught by award-winning photographers and designers. You’ll learn alongside other aspiring photographers in a challenging yet supportive environment.
Join the ranks of Massey photography graduates whose careers span the range from fine art to commercial, photojournalism to fashion photography.
Use state of the art digital suites and printers with technical support and explore alternative and historical wet-based photographic processes.
Find your creative niche through transdisciplinary opportunities, a broad grounding in fundamentals and plenty of flexibility in choosing electives.
Get the full picture
Further study
Further your design research and practice with a Master of Design or Master of Fine Arts at Massey, or go on to create new knowledge with a PhD.
Planning information
If you study full-time, in your first year, you’ll take eight 15-credit courses, making a total of 120 credits.
If you wish to study over two semesters, you should aim for 60 credits per semester. You may be able to take some courses at summer school. Make sure you include courses that are prerequisites for the next level of courses you wish to study.
About this major
The Photography major in the Bachelor of Design with Honours consists of 165 credits.
Minors
Completing a minor is optional and may be a way for you to show the breadth of your degree.
A minor must be in a different subject from your major and be made up of at least 60 credits.
If you’re interested in doing a minor you should contact us using the Get advice button on this page. Our student advice team will be able to talk you through your options and help you plan your degree.
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 Undergraduate Degrees, Undergraduate Diplomas, Undergraduate Certificates, Graduate Diplomas and Graduate 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 be 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.
Courses you can enrol in
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.
Core courses for the Bachelor of Design with Honours
As well as the specialisation courses listed below, this qualification has core courses that you will need to complete.
Bachelor of Design with Honours core courses
Photography courses
Part One
Course code: 221157 Photography Studio 1.1: What is Photography? 15 credits
How do we photographically ‘see’ the world? How does photography function in your world and the wider culture you live within? Through an introduction to the fundamentals of photography you will consider these questions and acquire specific skills and processes in digital photographic image making. You will use creative and analytical skills and idea generation to develop a practical project.
View full course detailsCourse code: 221158 Photography Studio 1.2: Introduction to the Darkroom 15 credits
How are analogue darkroom technologies employed in contemporary photographic practice? Through experimentation with materials and engagement with the wider world you will develop a practical project. You will be introduced to selected darkroom and wet-based analogue photographic techniques and consider how you will make them relevant to your practice.
View full course detailsPart Two
Course code: 221263 Photography Studio 2.1: Attributes of Light 15 credits
By engaging with the attributes of light you will become articulate in understanding and influencing photographic meaning. You will develop skills in conventional and experimental photographic lighting technologies, within and beyond the lighting studio. Through photographic or moving image work, you will employ this knowledge in a self-directed project.
View full course detailsCourse code: 221264 Photography Studio 2.2: Fact and Fantasy 15 credits
You will explore how ongoing developments in digital technologies within wider visual culture affect photography and lens-based practice. Working with Photoshop and related technologies, you will apply research and experimentation to your own and others work. You will consider how an understanding of the discourse around digital photographic technologies and how photography functions as a language will impact your practice.
View full course detailsCourse code: 221265 Photography Studio 2.3: The Living Archive 15 credits
Engaging with practice-based learning informed by research and experimentation you will explore the photographic archive as a cultural repository. Investigating social, political, personal, and historical uses of photography you will respond to an archive through a creative photographic project. Content includes principles of archival collection and management, film scanning and creative use of archival material.
View full course detailsCourse code: 221266 Photography Studio 2.4: Photography, Representation and the Gaze 15 credits
How can creative practitioners formulate positions on critical issues associated with photographic representation and agency? You will develop strategic and ethically based explorations for a practical photographic outcome honouring the complexities of your chosen subject. You consider issues specific to making photographs in 21st century Aotearoa, including Te Tiriti, the gendered gaze and representation of people and whenua.
View full course detailsPart Three
Course code: 221358 Photography Studio 3.3: Extended Photographic Practice 30 credits
Negotiating a critical position through an individual creative project, you will apply your specialist skills to a selected photographic context. In addition to extending photographic concepts, skills and processes in the production of personal creative work, you will develop and apply transferable skills relevant to creative environments. Content includes collaborative practices and output strategies relevant to future pathways. addition to advancing photographic concepts, techniques, skills and processes in the production of their creative work, students will develop and apply transferable skills relevant to professional environments.
View full course detailsCourse code: 221367 Photography Studio 3.1: The Photobook and Narrative 15 credits
In this course we investigate the photographic book as a vehicle for exploring visual narrative. You will develop a self-directed theme into a photographic project, experiment with materiality, and construct a photobook. Visual language will be informed by encounters with innovative published work and consideration of audience. The course covers methods and strategies for book design, material considerations and production.
View full course detailsCourse code: 221368 Photography Studio 3.2: Post Photography 15 credits
Engaging with practice-based learning informed by research and experimentation you will extend photographic technologies and their possibilities. You will creatively engage with a self-selected photographic technology, considering both historical and current photographic approaches. Digital, moving image, lighting studio and analogue technologies can all be used within individual projects. Advanced analogue photography workshops will be delivered.
View full course detailsPart Four
Course code: 221453 Photography Research and Development 30 credits
Research methods, practices and processes for Photographic Design and their application.
View full course detailsEntry 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.
To enter the Bachelor of Design with Honours you will:
- submit a portfolio (if you do well in NCEA Level 2 art, design or technology (or equivalent) you may not need to submit a portfolio. See details below.)
Application closing date
- For Semester One start: Applications close on 30 November, for study commencing the following year.
- For Semester Two start: Applications close on 30 June.
Late applications will be considered subject to available spaces.
English language requirements
To study this qualification you must meet Massey University's English language standards.
Portfolio requirements
There are three main ways to gain entry to the Bachelor of Design with Honours
Automatic entry
If you achieved NCEA Level 2 or 3 with Merit or Excellence overall, and a Merit or Excellence endorsement in an approved art, design or technology subject, you have automatic entry and will not have to submit a portfolio.
This also applies for Cambridge International students achieving an AS grade A or B in an approved art, design or technology subject.
Portfolio pre-approval entry
You can show work in progress to a Massey College of Creative Arts staff member during a school visit, Massey Open Day or other University event, or in a video call. They’ll look at examples of your work with you and if it shows the creative potential we’re looking for, they’ll sign a portfolio pre-approval letter. Then you won’t need to submit a final portfolio with your application.
Portfolio entry
When you apply online, submit a portfolio showing a selection of your creative work that demonstrates your creative potential with your application to study.
See full details about portfolio requirements and pre-approvals
English language skills
If you need help with your English language skills before you start university, see our English for Academic Purposes (EAP) courses.
Fees 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, including how much could be covered and your eligibility on the Fees Free website.
Scholarship and award opportunities
Search our scholarships and awardsFees 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
The photography major develops skills necessary in diverse fields. Roles for photographers exist wherever visual documentation and communication are needed.
Graduates of the Bachelor of Design with Honours (Photography) have traditionally worked in areas such as
- advertising
- fashion
- corporate promotion
- illustration
- food photography
- architectural photography
- humanitarian photography.
Their work appears in newspapers, magazines. and online.
Increasingly, photography careers combine still and moving image, and more opportunities are opening up in areas such as video design. Graduates are also employed to apply the documentation aspects of photography in such disciplines as medicine, science, forensic science, archaeology, and anthropology.
International students
New Zealand is a great place to study. Massey University’s reputation is supported by our international rankings, accreditations and associations. We are rated five star plus by the QS World University Rankings.
Massey University has small class sizes, and our lecturers and staff are friendly and approachable.
As an international student, there are entry requirements that will apply to you. We recommend that you apply at least three months before your anticipated start date so your application can be processed in time. There are additional steps you will need to take. These include obtaining a visa and travel bookings if your study is to be in New Zealand.
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 Design – MDes
Go in depth with an advanced design research qualification. You’ll develop a creative outcome, often of direct application to design industry or community. We will help you make strong connections with the business, public or non-profit sector.
Master of Māori Visual Arts – MMVA
Challenge your own toi Māori practice, and learn from and be inspired by leading artists.
Master of Screen Arts – MSA
Pursue screen arts research pathways, supported through connections and partnerships with industry and the sector. Our Master of Screen Arts (MSA) spans many fields; animation, film production, factual production, game development, immersive media, emerging technology and visual effects.
Photography – Bachelor of Design
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 Design – PGDipDes
Go beyond your bachelor’s degree and advance your design thinking with a Postgraduate Diploma in Design.
Postgraduate Diploma in Māori Visual Arts – PGDipMVA
Toioho ki Āpiti (the Māori visual arts qualification 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