Type of qualification
Level of study
An undergraduate qualification is usually the first one you study.
Our courses follow the New Zealand Qualification Framework (NZQF) levels.
Time to complete
International students
International students are not New Zealand citizens or residents.
Study a Bachelor of Screen Arts with Honours – BSA(Hons)
The Bachelor of Screen Arts with Honours replaces the Bachelor of Creative Media Production and offers exciting new opportunities for Aotearoa New Zealand’s emerging screen artists.
Gain the skills and creativity to realise your vision across a wide range of screen-based specialisations. This four-year Honours qualification also has an exit point at third year for students who wish to graduate with a Bachelor of Screen Arts.
With an emphasis on production, you’ll take projects through development of initial concepts and narratives to a completed and distributable work. You’ll respond to briefs that combine creative studio practice, storytelling, professional practice and portfolio development, using industry-standard production facilities, studios and labs.
In your second and third years, you will explore your chosen medium in depth, exploring both how it operates and what it means to tell your stories in your way. You will then advance your production skills with media production practices. You’ll learn about media business and the creative economy, and how to evaluate and develop ideas for the marketplace.
In your final year, you will have the chance to develop a year-long collaborative creative project. Your student-led team will work with industry mentors on a real-life client project through the key stages of planning, pre-production, production and post-production.
Learn from industry professionals
BSA(Hons) is taught by people who know the industry, including former staff of Weta Digital, Weta Workshop, Park Road Post, TVNZ and the BBC.
Get the full picture
A BSA(Hons) is a good fit if you:
- want to work hands-on with projects across a range of screen and digital media
- want to benefit from the college’s extensive industry connections
- want to master industry-standard production facilities
Entry requirements
Admission to Massey
All students must meet university entrance requirements to be admitted to the University.
Specific requirements
There are no specific entry requirements for this qualification, outside of university admission regulations.
English language requirements
To study this qualification you must meet Massey University's English language standards.
Time limits for Honours, Distinction and Merit
If you complete this qualification within the stated time limit, you will normally be able to graduate with a class of Honours.
Look for further information under ‘Student Progression’ in the regulations for this qualification.
More information
- Read the regulations for this qualification thoroughly
- 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 Get advice 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 some undergraduate and all 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.
If you are unable to complete the Bachelor of Screen Arts with Honours
If you are unable to complete the Bachelor of Screen Arts with Honours, you may be awarded a Certificate in Creative Arts, Diploma in Creative Arts, Diploma in Screen Arts or Bachelor of Screen Arts, depending on how many/which courses you have passed.
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 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 Bachelor of Screen Arts with Honours
The first year introduces you to the basic skills, technologies, professional practices and concepts needed to commence your learning as an emerging creative practitioner in Aotearoa New Zealand and overseas.
The second year develops these skills further, utilising the specialisation production courses as the place to embed learning around exercises and smaller, focused individual works, while the specialisation project courses function as the site where you will work together on production-based projects and where the works undertaken are of a more substantial scale than those in the production courses.
The third year continues to develop major specialisation skills and provides an opportunity for you to collaborate with fourth year students on honours projects while developing your own work within the production and project courses.
The fourth (honours) year provides you with the opportunity to focus on a more ambitious year long, research-informed creative project.
More information: Undergraduate Course Guide
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
480 credits
- Compulsory core courses – 180 credits
- Compulsory course selection – 45 credits
- Major courses – 180 credits
- Electives – 75 credits
Ensure that overall, you have:
- Not more than 165 credits at 100 level
- At least 90 credits at 200 level
- At least 105 credits at 300 level
- At least 120 credits at 700 level or above
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.
Schedule A: Core courses
Compulsory courses (Choose 180 credits from)
Course code: 289100 Introduction to Screen Arts 15 credits
An introduction to the challenges and responsibilities facing a new practitioner of the production of screen arts in Aotearoa. Students will critically investigate screen practices and texts, gaining a greater understanding of their own values and processes as a creative practitioner.
View full course detailsCourse code: 289150 Professional Cultures 1 15 credits
An introduction to industry best practice for building a sustainable and healthy career in the field of screen arts. Students will also be supported in gaining communication and interpersonal skills and develop their personal growth and engagement in learning.
View full course detailsCourse code: 289200 Perspectives on Creative Practice 15 credits
Study a range of perspectives on the nature, purpose and value of creative work, exploring theoretical positions to develop cognitive tools for the analysis of practice and research. Students are enabled to develop strategies of collaboration and communication within group environments and to employ reflective and analytical approaches.
View full course detailsCourse code: 289205 Intermedia 15 credits
Students will work collaboratively with a range of production technologies to create examples of intermedia arts practices. Students work across disciplines integrating extant technologies and developing new technologically-focused practices in order to better understand how experimental electronic arts practices can integrate new and emerging media technologies.
View full course detailsCourse code: 289240 Audio Production 15 credits
Gain a knowledge and understanding of industry standard tools for audio production. Students will also gain a creative and technical understanding of audio production processes and develop their knowledge and application of aesthetics and form.
View full course detailsCourse code: 289250 Professional Cultures 2 15 credits
Further industry best practice for building a sustainable and healthy career in the field of screen arts. Students will continue to be supported in developing their communication and interpersonal skills and strengthen personal and growth and engagement in learning at this level.
View full course detailsCourse code: 289300 Advanced Critical Practice for Screen 15 credits
Develop an understanding of disciplinary specific theoretical and methodological frameworks relevant to creative practice. Through engagement with pertinent critical texts, students will become equipped with the intellectual tools for advanced critical exploration of their own work.
View full course detailsCourse code: 289323 Screen Production Development 15 credits
Students work in trans-disciplinary teams assisting in the production of advanced projects. Students take on assistant production roles that support various scheduled production tasks, and reflect on the development of their own practice.
View full course detailsCourse code: 289340 Studio and Location Audio 15 credits
Gain knowledge and understanding of audio production tools in the studio and on location. Students will also be introduced to working with interactive audio platforms and environments.
View full course detailsCourse code: 289350 Professional Cultures 3 15 credits
Develop professional skills in preparation for a career in the creative industries. Students will be supported in developing professional communication and presentation skills and to continue to strengthen personal growth and engagement in learning at this level.
View full course detailsCourse code: 289702 Screen Arts Critical Frameworks 15 credits
Students become competent in situating their work within research methodologies and principles to support their development as critically-informed creative practitioners. Students learn to frame and present their creative practice as research via the development of critical reflexive and analytical skills, and to engage in the development of a research proposal for their advanced production project.
View full course detailsCourse code: 289750 Professional Cultures 4 15 credits
Develop professional skills for working on large scale productions and showing leadership. Students will be further supported in portfolio development and preparing for employment or self-employment in the creative industries. Students will also be supported in developing professional communication and presentation skills and to continue to strengthen personal growth and engagement in learning at this level.
View full course details45 credits from
Course code: 289102 Visualisation for Media Production 15 credits
Students develop visualisation and rendering techniques to enable them to give visual form to abstract ideas and concepts. These visualisations will be applied to a range of formats including storyboarding, concept visualisation and character development.
View full course detailsCourse code: 289103 Introduction to Animation 15 credits
An introduction to the principles and concepts of animation. Students will gain a creative and basic technical knowledge of the tools and techniques essential to the development and production of animation.
View full course detailsCourse code: 289104 Introduction to Visual Effects 15 credits
An introduction to the principles and concepts of visual effects. Students will gain a creative and basic technical knowledge of the tools and techniques essential to the production of visual effects.
View full course detailsCourse code: 289106 Introduction to Game Development 15 credits
An introduction to the principles and concepts of game development. Students will gain a creative and basic technical knowledge of the tools and techniques essential to the development and production of games.
View full course detailsCourse code: 289111 Introduction to 3D Modelling and Texturing 15 credits
In this course students will be introduced to industry standard digital tools for the creation of 3D assets. Students will gain a creative and technical knowledge and understanding of approaches and methodologies essential for the production of 3D assets for computer animation, visual effects, games, augmented reality and emerging media.
View full course detailsCourse code: 289112 Introduction to Film Production 15 credits
An introduction to the principles and concepts of film production. Students will gain a creative and basic technical knowledge of the tools and techniques essential to the development and production of film.
View full course detailsCourse code: 289113 Introduction to Media Technology 15 credits
An introduction to the principles and concepts of media technologies. Students will gain a creative and basic technical knowledge of the tools and techniques essential to the development and production of media technology.
View full course detailsCourse code: 289116 Introduction to Immersive Media 15 credits
An introduction to the principles and concepts of immersive media. Students will gain a creative and basic technical knowledge of the tools and techniques essential to the development and production of immersive media.
View full course detailsCourse code: 289117 Introduction to Factual Production 15 credits
An introduction to the principles and concepts of factual production. Students will also gain a creative and basic technical knowledge of the tools and techniques essential to the development and production of factual content.
View full course detailsCourse code: 289120 Working with Scripted Material 15 credits
An introduction to the processes of reading, interpreting, and working with scripted content with the intent of realising the material through various production practices. Students will work with scripts for multiple platforms, engaging through the lenses of production, interpretation, self-reflection and indigenous making.
View full course detailsSchedule B: Majors
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.
Completing a major is compulsory. A major requires 180 credits.
Animation
Animation is a huge industry, found in almost all the visual media we consume, such as games, film, television, and interactive media.
Factual Production
Storytelling is the basis for all human connection, and stories that tell us about real people, situations and issues are compelling touchstones in relating to our fast-changing times. True stories shape our identity and reflect our world back to us.
Film Production
The Film Production major offers comprehensive, practical filmmaking, covering all aspects of film production including creative development, pre-production, production and post-production.
Game Development
Games are one of the most powerful forms of storytelling, allowing players to creatively engage with characters and narratives in innovative ways.
Immersive Media
Virtual and Augmented Realities (VR and AR) allow new ways for us to blend the physical and digital worlds, creating uncharted possibilities for the future.
Media Technology
The evolution of media technologies and screen production, driven by digital innovation, is offering new ways of working and is creating new tools and techniques for content production and consumption.
Visual Effects
The Visual Effects major provides expertise in creating fantastic characters and scenes for all forms of screen media.
Schedule C: Elective courses
Course code: 289190 Screen Arts: Special Topic 1A 15 credits
This course focuses on a particular aspect of screen arts at an introductory level, focusing on digital platforms or technologies to result in outputs that demonstrate creativity and/or innovation. Offerings change from year to year and the course may not be offered in a particular year.
View full course detailsCourse code: 289191 Screen Arts: Special Topic 1B 15 credits
This course focuses on a particular aspect of screen arts at an introductory level, focusing on digital platforms or technologies to result in outputs that demonstrate creativity and/or innovation. Offerings change from year to year and the course may not be offered in a particular year.
View full course detailsCourse code: 289192 Screen Arts: Special Topic 1C 15 credits
This course focuses on a particular aspect of screen arts at an introductory level, focusing on digital platforms or technologies to result in outputs that demonstrate creativity and/or innovation. Offerings change from year to year and the course may not be offered in a particular year.
View full course detailsCourse code: 289290 Screen Arts: Special Topic 2A 15 credits
This course focuses on a particular aspect of screen arts at an intermediate level, focusing on digital platforms or technologies to result in well-developed outputs that demonstrate creativity and/or innovation. Offerings change from year to year and the course may not be offered in a particular year.
View full course detailsCourse code: 289291 Screen Arts: Special Topic 2B 15 credits
This course focuses on a particular aspect of screen arts at an intermediate level, focusing on digital platforms or technologies to result in well-developed outputs that demonstrate creativity and/or innovation. Offerings change from year to year and the course may not be offered in a particular year.
View full course detailsCourse code: 289292 Screen Arts: Special Topic 2C 15 credits
Centering on a particular aspect of screen arts at an intermediate level, this course focuses on digital platforms or technologies to result in well- developed outputs that demonstrate creativity and/or innovation. Offerings change from year to year and the course may not be offered in a particular year.
View full course detailsCourse code: 289341 Advanced Audio 15 credits
Gain an advanced knowledge and understanding of creative and technical processes, including sound and music recording, editing, and mixing. Students will also advance their knowledge of audio production for interactive platforms.
View full course detailsCourse code: 289390 Screen Arts: Special Topic 3A 15 credits
Centering on a particular aspect of screen arts at an advanced level, this course focuses on digital platforms or technologies to result in professional standard outputs that demonstrate creativity and/or innovation. Offerings change from year to year and the course may not be offered in a particular year.
View full course detailsCourse code: 289391 Screen Arts: Special Topic 3B 15 credits
Centering on a particular aspect of screen arts at an advanced level, this course focuses on digital platforms or technologies to result in professional standard outputs that demonstrate creativity and/or innovation. Offerings change from year to year and the course may not be offered in a particular year.
View full course detailsAny other University course
Fees and scholarships
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
- Massey University Undergraduate First Year Scholarship – School Leavers
- Screen Arts Māori Scholarship
- Screen Arts Pacific Scholarship
- Screen Arts Scholarship
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
The 21st century is all about media convergence and change. Games, apps, web, film, TV, video, animation, visual effects, audio, immersive and media technologies – are all evolving rapidly. The Bachelor of Screen Arts with Honours sets you up for the new world. With your industry experience, critical grounding and practical know-how, you’ll hit the ground running when you graduate. You’ll have the flexibility to push the boundaries, re-inventing your craft and your media many times over the course of your career.
Useful planning information
Key information for students
Compare qualifications and academic information across different New Zealand institutions. Learn more on careers.govt.nz