Where you can study
International students
International students are not New Zealand citizens or residents.
Specialise in Without Specialisation for your Graduate Diploma in Design at Massey
The Graduate Diploma in Design (Without Specialisation) 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
- 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.
Planning information
If you study full-time, you’ll take 120 credits per year or 60 credits per semester.
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.
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.
Schedule A: Core course selection
Course 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: 237330 Creative Cultures & Ideas 15 credits
In this course students will explore and appraise a range of ideas that support the critical positioning of creative practices. The selected ideas will be explored through interdisciplinary engagement.
View full course detailsCourse code: 237331 Creative Cultures & Display 15 credits
In this course students will critically engage with a range of curatorial concepts in order to investigate modes of representation, collection, archiving, display and distribution. The course will overview key historical developments in 19th, 20th, and 21st century museum practices and examine selected cultural and ethical concerns for both community and institutional contexts.
View full course detailsSchedule B
Course code: 198357 Design Studio IIIA (Industrial) 30 credits
In this studio course students will establish a critical position through individual or collaborative creative exploration and articulation. With opportunities for varied contextual applications, students will consolidate and expand industrial design concepts, techniques, skills and processes in the production of their creative work.
View full course detailsCourse code: 198358 Design Studio IIIB (Industrial) 30 credits
In this studio course 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 industrial design 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: 212357 Design Studio IIIA (Fashion) 30 credits
In this studio course students will establish a critical position through individual or collaborative creative exploration and articulation. With opportunities for varied contextual applications, students will consolidate and expand fashion design concepts, techniques, skills and processes in the production of their creative work.
View full course detailsCourse code: 212358 Design Studio IIIB (Fashion) 30 credits
In this studio course 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 fashion design 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: 221357 Design Studio IIIA (Photography) 30 credits
In this studio course students will establish a critical position through individual creative exploration and articulation. With opportunities for varied contextual applications, students will consolidate and expand photographic concepts, techniques, skills and processes in the production of their creative work.
View full course detailsCourse code: 221358 Design Studio IIIB (Photography) 30 credits
In this studio course 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 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: 222357 Design Studio IIIA (Visual Communication) 30 credits
In this studio course students will establish a critical position through individual or collaborative creative exploration and articulation. With opportunities for varied contextual applications, students will consolidate and expand visual communication design concepts, techniques, skills and processes in the production of their creative work.
View full course detailsCourse code: 222358 Design Studio IIIB (Visual Communication) 30 credits
In this studio course 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 visual communication design 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: 223357 Design Studio IIIA (Textiles) 30 credits
In this studio course students will establish a critical position through individual or collaborative creative exploration and articulation. 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: 223358 Design Studio IIIB (Textiles) 30 credits
In this studio course 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 textile design 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: 224357 Design Studio IIIA (Spatial) 30 credits
In this studio course students will establish a critical position through individual or collaborative creative exploration and articulation. With opportunities for varied contextual applications, students will consolidate and expand spatial design concepts, techniques, skills and processes in the production of their creative work.
View full course detailsCourse code: 224358 Design Studio IIIB (Spatial) 30 credits
In this studio course 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 spatial design 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: 296357 Design Studio IIIA (Concept) 30 credits
In this studio course students will establish a critical position through individual or collaborative creative exploration and articulation. With opportunities for varied contextual applications, students will consolidate and expand concept design concepts, techniques, skills and processes in the production of their creative work.
View full course detailsCourse code: 296358 Design Studio IIIB (Concept) 30 credits
In this studio course 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 concept design 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 detailsSchedule C: Elective courses
Any 200- or 300-level courses from the College of Creative Arts (Prefixes: 133, 150, 197, 198, 212, 213, 221, 222, 223, 224, 237, 296, 289)
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.
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 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
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.
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 Fine Arts with Honours – BFA(Hons)
Discover how to produce work that makes people think and feel, act and react. Whatever your mode of art-making is, we’ll help you find and develop your own creative voice.
Certificate in Creative Arts – CertCreativeArt
Massey’s Certificate in Creative Arts is a flexible qualification that will introduce you to the basics of art and design - creative thinking, visual communication, specialist skills, and critical awareness.
Design – Master of Fine Arts
Embed yourself in a rich dialogue about your creative practice in Massey’s transdisciplinary Master of Fine Arts (Design) qualification, for artists and designers.
Diploma in Creative Arts – DipCreativeArts
You’ll study with art and design degree students in a range of studio and lecture-based courses covering everything from critical and contextual studies, to social media, painting, and digital fabrication.
Expressive Arts – Bachelor of Communication
If you love being creative and want to study a selection of theatre, performance, creative writing, and digital media production, and you also want great career prospects, the Bachelor of Communication (Expressive Arts) is for you.
Fine Arts – Master of Fine Arts
Embed yourself in a rich dialogue about your creative practice in Massey’s transdisciplinary Master of Fine Arts (Fine Arts) qualification, for artists and designers.
Graduate Diploma in Fine Arts – GDipFA
Massey’s Graduate Diploma in Fine Arts is for skilled graduates who want to gain new knowledge and skills in fine arts.
Master of Creative Enterprise – MCE
Combine research and practice to give you the skills you need to make your mark in the highly competitive creative industries.
Postgraduate Diploma in Fine Arts – PGDipFA
Extend your creative practice and begin your fine arts journey. Massey’s Postgraduate Diploma in Fine Arts gives you the opportunity for advanced study in contemporary art.
Visual Communication Design – Bachelor of Design with Honours
Visual communication is one of the most universal forms of design. It is at the heart of how our world works; guiding, informing, persuading, and inspiring us every day.
Without Specialisation – Master of Fine Arts
Embed yourself in a rich dialogue about your creative practice in Massey’s transdisciplinary MFA qualification for artists and designers.
Without Specialisation – Postgraduate Diploma in Design
Go beyond your bachelor’s degree and advance your design thinking with a Postgraduate Diploma in Design.
Useful planning information
Key information for students
Compare qualifications and academic information across different New Zealand institutions. Learn more on careers.govt.nz