- Type of qualification
- Graduate diploma
- Level of study
-
Graduate study
Graduate qualifications normally involve study in a different area to your first undergraduate qualification. Some are stepping stones to postgraduate-level study.
NZQF level 7Our courses follow the New Zealand Qualification Framework (NZQF) levels.
- Time to complete
-
1 year full-time (120 credits)Part-time available
- Where you can study
-
Wellington campus
-
International students
International students are not New Zealand citizens or residents.
- Open to international students on campus in New Zealand
Study a Graduate Diploma in Design – GDipDes
The Graduate Diploma in Design is an opportunity for people who have already completed a degree to add an additional subject area to their learning.
You’ll be studying with other design students in courses at 200, 300 and 400 level across these majors offered in the Bachelor of Design with Honours. These are:
- concept design
- fashion design
- industrial design
- integrated design
- photography
- spatial design
- textile design
- visual communication design.
In studio classes you’ll be immersed in hands-on doing and making as well as discussion and debate. You’ll hone your creative problem-solving and critical thinking abilities. You’ll also develop specialist design capabilities at an advanced level.
Entry requirements
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.
To enter the Graduate Diploma in Design you will:
- have been awarded or qualified for a bachelor’s degree, or equivalent
- demonstrated equivalent practical, professional and/or scholarly experience.
You will also need to provide the following:
- a portfolio of work to show you are at the standard necessary to undertake work up to 300-level and beyond
- copies of all official academic transcripts for studies taken at all universities other than Massey University.
Application closing date
Applications close on 30 November for study commencing the following year.
English language requirements
To study this qualification you must meet Massey University's English language standards.
This qualification is classified as NZQF Level 7 and requires the same English language standard as most undergraduate bachelor degrees, diplomas and certificates.
Time limits for Honours, Distinction and Merit
If you complete this qualification within the stated time limit and to a high standard, you may be able to graduate with Distinction or Merit.
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.
English language skills
If you need help with your English language skills before you start university, see our English for Academic Purposes (EAP) courses.
Official regulations
To understand what you need to study and must complete to graduate read the official rules and regulations or 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 Graduate Diploma in Design
Structure of the Graduate Diploma in Design
If you study full-time, you’ll take 120 credits per year or 60 credits per semester.
The Graduate Diploma in Design does not include specialisations, but you can include courses from:
- concept design
- fashion design
- industrial design
- integrated design
- photography
- spatial design
- textile design
- visual communication design.
Courses and specialisations
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
120 credits
- Core courses – 30 credits
- Part B courses – 60 credits
- Courses from the Schedule – 30 credits
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 (Choose 30 credits from)
Course code: 197339 Transformation: Discourse in Design 15 credits
From the design of serving communities, to processes, to the necessity of embracing the health of our planet, this course encourages students to independently explore and appraise a range of ideas that critically examine how contemporary design is shaped by cultural, ethical, moral, commercial, ecological and technological complexity.
View full course detailsCourse code: 197388 Creative Communities 15 credits
Students from a broad range of creative practices will work together to explore conceptual and strategic dimensions of professional practice through engagement with experts from the creative sector. Students will develop an understanding of their position as creative citizens within a broader community.
View full course detailsCourse code: 197390 Professional Cultures in Design 3 15 credits
Develop skills and knowledge for a future career in design. Students will be supported in developing professionalism within the context of designer-client relationships.
View full course detailsCourse code: 237331 Critical Understandings of Contemporary Art 15 credits
This course examines and appraises ideas that contribute to a critical understanding of contemporary art. Students will evaluate a range of content in relation to their own creative practice as well as the wider contemporary art world. The relation between artists and their processes and approaches will be explored through topics such as race, gender, intersectionality, decolonisation, popular culture, politics, social justice, and others.
View full course detailsCourse code: 298330 Kōrero Tuku Iho | Cosmological Narratives within Māori Creative Expression 15 credits
This advanced-level course delves into the intricate relationship between Māori cosmological narratives and their dynamic manifestation within contemporary Māori creative expression. Through an interdisciplinary exploration that encompasses art, design, music, theatre, and dance, students will analyse the evolving role of cosmological narratives, connecting traditional wisdom to modern artistic innovation.
View full course detailsCourse code: 298360 Mātauranga Toi Māori 3: Creative Innovation and Community Leadership 15 credits
This course propels students into the realm of Māori Arts Innovation and Community Leadership. By synthesizing foundational knowledge with advanced theoretical frameworks, innovative artistic projects, and community leadership principles, students will refine their skills as Māori Arts Practitioners and actively contribute to the evolution of Māori arts practices within a contemporary context.
View full course detailsSchedule B: Core Studio Selection (Choose 60 credits from)
Course code: 198358 Product and Industrial Design 3.3: Cultivating Practice 30 credits
In this studio students develop and realise a complex project to demonstrate proficiency in Product and Industrial Design. Students work within a defined thematic using appropriate practice methods to advance and resolve complex design challenges to produce high-quality tangible outputs. In this milestone project students gain independence, demonstrate multifaceted problem solving skills and showcase their design skill set and practice.
View full course detailsCourse code: 198367 Product and Industrial Design 3.1: Navigating Complexity 15 credits
The landscape of Product and Industrial Design is broad in application and reach. Establishing project scope informs the development of expectations of salient outputs to a design enquiry. Students establish a critical position through individual or collaborative exploration, with opportunities for varied contextual applications. Students consolidate and expand design concepts, techniques, skills and processes in the production of their design.
View full course detailsCourse code: 198368 Product and Industrial Design 3.2: Future Industries 15 credits
In this studio students will negotiate a critical position through individual or collaborative professional practices, with opportunities to apply their specialist skills to a range of contexts. In addition to advancing Product and Industrial design concepts, techniques, skills and processes in the production of design work, students will develop and apply transferable skills relevant to professional and industry facing environments.
View full course detailsCourse code: 212358 Fashion Design 3.3: Advanced Fashion Practice 30 credits
Students will establish their critical position as a designer and identify a context that informs the development of their fashion design outcome, using a variety of materials which may include high stretch knit, woven and non-woven fabrics.
View full course detailsCourse code: 212367 Fashion Design 3.1: Industry, Markets and Processes 15 credits
Students will design a collection for a proposed brand and a specified consumer market, building on their fashion industry knowledge and production development skills.
View full course detailsCourse code: 212368 Fashion Design 3.2: Tailoring Methods 15 credits
Students will build on their structured garment skills through design refinement and tailoring methods to realise tailored garments.
View full course detailsCourse 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 detailsCourse code: 222358 Visual Communication Design 3.5: Design for Social Change 30 credits
In this course, students will develop a deep understanding of human-centered design processes that respond to the needs, preferences, and behaviours of the target audience. Students will create an innovative design strategy to address a societal issue. This course has broad appeal, offering students a high level of creative independence and an opportunity to focus on their specific area of design interest. Students are also encouraged to consider their role as a designer and how they can contribute to society in a meaningful way.
View full course detailsCourse code: 222367 Visual Communication Design 3.1: Editorial Design and Production 15 credits
In this course students will extend skills for managing complex editorial content for a curated reading experiences. Students will find that this course helps them develop their skills in typographic detailing, document structure, grids and hierarchy, alongside hands-on format, print-finishing and binding techniques. This course will be valuable for students interested in book/publication design, and those wanting to advance their typographic skills for any medium.
View full course detailsCourse code: 222368 Visual Communication Design 3.2: Brand Strategies and Systems 15 credits
In this course, students will extend their understanding of the role of branding in the context of the overall marketing and communication mix. Working with a studio group, students will create a cohesive brand narrative and apply it across a comprehensive range of touchpoints. This will be of particular appeal to students interested in branding, marketing and transmedia narrative, with opportunities for detailed exploration and application of graphic design, typography, motion graphics, photography, illustration and video.
View full course detailsCourse code: 222369 Visual Communication Design 3.3: User Experience and Interaction Design 15 credits
In this course students will extend their knowledge of web, service and experience design. Students will apply a robust user centred design process to create a comprehensive digital service through experience design. This course will be valuable to those interested in advancing their graphic design and service and experience design skills through digital media practice.
View full course detailsCourse code: 222372 Visual Communication Design 3.4: Visual Narrative 15 credits
In this course students will expand their content creation practice. Explore professional ways of generating, translating and presenting ideas and narratives into expressive and engaging visual forms for specific audiences. Outputs may include analogue or digital responses, encompassing illustration, moving image, graphic design, and digital interactive interfaces.
View full course detailsCourse code: 223358 Textile Design 3.3: Studio Collections 30 credits
In this studio students will design a collection to connect with a specific audience. With opportunities for varied contextual applications, students will consolidate and expand textile design concepts, techniques, skills and processes in the production of their creative work.
View full course detailsCourse code: 223367 Textile Design 3.1: Advanced Textile Structures 15 credits
In this studio course students will extend their competency of textile structures through advanced digital and analogue technologies. Gaining knowledge of warp design and material testing, students will produce knitted and woven textiles to address current and future needs, problems or opportunities.
View full course detailsCourse code: 223368 Textile Design 3.2: Advanced Textile Print and Visualisation 15 credits
Students will gain advanced technical knowledge towards large-format printing and colouration processes while innovating existing knowledge on textile repeat structures. Additional learning will include an introduction to digital visualization using various techniques.
View full course detailsCourse code: 224358 Spatial Design 3.3: Advanced Spatial Practices 30 credits
In this studio course students will further develop their understanding of spatial ecologies. Students will consolidate and apply their individual spatial practice towards the design of a comprehensive spatial design proposition. In addition to advancing theoretical and practical approaches, techniques and skills in the production of their creative work, students will attain transferable skills relevant to professional environments.
View full course detailsCourse code: 224367 Spatial Design 3.1: Regenerative Practices 15 credits
In this advanced studio course students will critically engage with spatial ecologies and regenerative practices. Through inquiry-based learning students will explore the interconnected and relational condition of communities, the built environment and landscapes. Students will consolidate and expand spatial design concepts, techniques, skills and processes in the production of their creative work.
View full course detailsCourse code: 224368 Spatial Design 3.2: Spatial Agency 15 credits
In this advanced studio course students will critically engage with spatial ecologies and the formation of agency. Through inquiry-based learning students will explore the dynamic and relational condition of cultural, social and historical concerns in spatial design practice. Students will consolidate and expand spatial design concepts, techniques, skills and processes in the production of their creative work.
View full course detailsCourse code: 296358 Concept Design 3.3: Developing Imaginary Worlds 30 credits
Students will use worldbuilding and storytelling techniques to generate an original entertainment property that examines a contemporary wicked problem through a Science Fiction or Fantasy lens. Through the development and realisation of an advanced concept design project students will develop an understanding of the culture, ecosystem, technology and inhabitants of their world.
View full course detailsCourse code: 296367 Concept Design 3.1 Design for Film and Animation 15 credits
In this studio course, students will develop a proof of concept design proposal for a given text through the comparative lens of Concept for Film and Animation. Students will establish a critical position through individual and collaborative creative exploration and articulation to expand on concept design concepts, techniques, skills and processes in the production of their creative work.
View full course detailsCourse code: 296368 Concept Design 3.2: Design for Game and Location-Based Experience 15 credits
In this studio course, students will develop a proof of concept design proposal for a given text through the comparative lens of Concept for Game and Location-Based Experience design. Students will establish a critical position through individual and collaborative creative exploration and articulation to expand on concept design concepts, techniques, skills and processes in the production of their creative work.
View full course detailsCourse code: 298358 Toi Ātea 3.2 30 credits
A capstone project developing creative responses to the exploration of issues (social, political, environmental, global) significant to Māori people and their communities
View full course detailsCourse code: 298367 Toi Atea 3.1: Mana Whenua 15 credits
Developing visual responses to the exploration of issues (social, political, environmental, global) significant to Māori people and their communities.
View full course detailsSchedule C: Elective courses (Choose 30 credits from)
Any 200- or 300-level courses from the College of Creative Arts (Prefixes: 133, 197, 198, 212, 213, 221, 222, 223, 224, 237, 289, 293, 296, 298)
Fees and scholarships
Fees and scholarships
2026 tuition fees
- Domestic students: $8,420
- International students: $42,110
Tuition fees are estimates only. The exact fees charged will depend on which courses you select at the time of enrolment. The estimates are for full-time study (120 credits). Fees are in New Zealand dollars and include Goods and Services Tax (GST).
The estimates do not include the Student Services Fee. This fee is $1,164 for on-campus students and $948 for distance students for full-time study (120 credits). For more information about this fee and other fees you may need to pay, see non-tuition fees.
There may also be charges for things such as study resources, software, trips and contact workshops.
Course fees
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 Inland Revenue 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.
Accreditations and rankings
QS Ranking - Art & Design
College of Creative Arts – Toi Rauwhārangi ranks in the global top 200 for art and design by QS World University Rankings.
Ranked 2nd in Asia Pacific for the Red Dot Design ranking
Massey is ranked 2nd in Asia Pacific in 2025 in the international Red Dot Design Ranking for the third consecutive year, the only design school to be ranked in New Zealand and Australia. This year’s results places Massey in the top 3 universities in Asia Pacific for the 11th year in a row.
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Master of Māori Visual Arts – MMVA
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Master of Screen Arts – MSA
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