Postgraduate Diploma in Design – PGDipDes

Go beyond your bachelor’s degree and advance your design thinking with a Postgraduate Diploma in Design.

Type of qualification

Postgraduate diploma

Level of study

Postgraduate 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.

More about study levels

NZQF level 8

Our courses follow the New Zealand Qualification Framework (NZQF) levels.

Find out more about 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.

Definition of New Zealand citizens and residents

Open to international students on campus in New Zealand
Note: Selected entry qualification.

Study a Postgraduate Diploma in Design – PGDipDes

The Postgraduate Diploma in Design is an opportunity for you to upskill in creative practice, modern design technology and theory.

This qualification will give you an introduction to postgraduate research processes and contemporary design theory. You’ll push the boundaries of your design practice with a research-led independent project. You’ll also have elective courses and courses focused on creative entrepreneurship, exhibition or writing in the creative arts.

If you don’t have an honours degree this qualification can allow you to progress to postgraduate design study.

Get the full picture 

Further study

This qualification is the same as the honours year of the Bachelor of Design with Honours. That means when you complete this qualification you can apply for a further postgraduate qualification such as the Master of Design.

A PGDipDes is a good fit if you:

  • studied design at undergraduate level
  • want to do a Master of Design but don’t have an honours degree
  • want to develop your research and analysis skills.

Entry requirements

Admission to Massey

All students must meet university entrance requirements to be admitted to the University.

Specific requirements

The Postgraduate Diploma in Design is a selected entry qualification. This means there are extra requirements you must meet.

To enter the Postgraduate Diploma in Design you will:

  • have been awarded or qualified for a Bachelor of Design or equivalent, with an adequate grade point average
  • submit a portfolio of design work
  • take part in an interview if required.

Selection is based on your academic background, portfolio and interview (if required).

You must provide 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.

Late applications may be accepted, subject to available spaces.

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. 

Prior learning, credit and exemptions

For information on prior learning, exemptions and transfer of credit or other questions:

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 Postgraduate Diploma in Design

The Postgraduate Diploma in Design has a focus on studio-based inquiry and the development of research skills.

If you study full-time, you’ll take 120 credits per year or 60 credits per semester.

The Postgraduate Diploma in Design does not offer 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 course(s) from Schedule A – At least 15 credits
  • Courses from Schedule B – 75 credits
  • Elective course(s) from Schedule C – Up to 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 15 credits from)

Choose 15 credits from
Course code: 197465 Creative Leadership 15 credits

In this course, students from a broad range of creative practices will work together to situate themselves within the spectrum of the creative industries. Serving their communities as creative leaders, students will apply research and innovation theories to business and social-enterprise practices in order to conceptualise, develop, and deliver a strategic offering for a defined audience.

Prerequisites: 198358 or 212358 or 213342 or 221358 or 222358 or 223358 or 224358 or 296358

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Course code: 213465 Exhibition 15 credits

In this studio-based course students situate their creative practice through exhibition. Students work in a collaborative group to develop and realise an exhibition project. One of the key focus points for the course is students' growing understanding of the reality of public presentation of the creative output. This advanced programme of study will encourage discussion and critical reflection on diverse approaches to the exhibition of creative work and its relevance for a range of academic and/or professional contexts.

Corequisites: (198454 or 198455 or 212454 or 212455 or 213729 or 221454 or 221455 or 222454 or 222455 or 223454 or 223455 or 224454 or 224455 or 296454 or 296455) or Permission Head of School

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Course code: 237465 Creative Exposition 15 credits

In this course students will situate their creative practice through writing. They will extend and hone their critical, analytical and reflective skills through written exposition that focuses on projecting themselves and their practice externally. This advanced programme of study will encourage discussion on diverse approaches to creative research exposition and its relevance for a range of academic and/or professional contexts.

Prerequisites: [237330 and (198358 or 212358 or 213342 or 221358 or 222358 or 223358 or 224358 or 296358)] or Appraisal Required

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Course 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.

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Course 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.

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Schedule B: Core Studio Selection (Choose between 45 and 60 credits from)

Choose between 45 and 60 credits from
Course code: 197830 Design Research Project: Honours 60 credits

In this course, students further develop, research and resolve the project that they proposed in their honours research development. Completed work is to a high level of resolution, making tangible links between theory and practice appropriate to the design specialization and project parameters. The completion of the research project is complemented by supplementary documentation that will position the student as a design practitioner within their specialization.

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Course code: 198454 Industrial Design Research Project 45 credits

Development and application of research to an independent industrial design project.

Prerequisites: 198453

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Course code: 212454 Fashion Design Research Project 45 credits

Application and development of research in an independent fashion design project.

Prerequisites: 212453

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Course code: 221454 Photography Research Project 45 credits

Application and development of research to an independent Photographic Design project.

Prerequisites: 221453

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Course code: 222454 Visual Communication Design Research Project 45 credits

Application of research to the development and production of an approved independent visual communication design project.

Prerequisites: 222453

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Course code: 223454 Textile Design Research Project 45 credits

Application of research to the development and production of an approved textile design project.

Prerequisites: 223453 or (223450 and 223451)

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Course code: 224454 Spatial Design Research Project 45 credits

Application and development of research in an independent spatial design project.

Prerequisites: 224453

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Course code: 293454 Integrated Design Research Project 45 credits

Realise and manifest a research-led independent project that communicates integrated design strategies and methods.

Prerequisites: 293453

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Course code: 296454 Concept Design Research Project 45 credits

Application of research to the development and production of an independent concept design project.

Prerequisites: 296453

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Schedule C: Project Development (Choose 30 credits from)

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.

Prerequisites: B- average over 198358 and 237330; or B- average over 198355 and 198380; or PGDipDes admission

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Course 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.

Prerequisites: B- average over 212358 and 237330; or B- average over 212381and 212310; or PGDipDes admission

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Course code: 221453 Photography Research and Development 30 credits

Research methods, practices and processes for Photographic Design and their application.

Prerequisites: B- average over 221358 and 237330; or B- average over 221370 and 221381; or PGDipDes admission

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Course 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.

Prerequisites: B- average over 222358 and 237330; or B- average over 222381 and one of (222302, 222311, 222321, 222331, 222341, 222356, 222371); or PGDipDes admission Restrictions: 197380 and 222451

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Course code: 223453 Textile Design Research and Development 30 credits

Research methods processes and practices for Textile Design and their application through a research project.

Prerequisites: B- average over 223358 and 237330; or B- average over 223302 and 223303; or PGDipDes admission Restrictions: 223450, 223451

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Course code: 224453 Spatial Design Research and Development 30 credits

Research methods, processes and practices for Spatial Design and their application through a research project.

Prerequisites: B- average over 224358 and 237330; or B- average over 224352 and 224381; or PGDipDes admission

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Course 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.

Prerequisites: B- average over 198358, or 212358, or 221358, or 222358, or 223358, or 224358, or 296358 and 237330

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Course 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.

Prerequisites: B- average over 296358 and 237330

View full course details

Schedule D: Elective courses

Any 400-level or 700-level courses from the College of Creative Arts (Prefixes: 133, 197, 198, 212, 213, 221, 222, 223, 224, 237, 293, 289, 296, 298)

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.

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.

Scholarship and award opportunities

Search our scholarships and awards

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.

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.

Learn more

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.

Learn more

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