Diploma in Visual Arts

at Massey University - Wellington Campus New Zealand

Embed yourself in a rich dialogue about your creative practice in Massey’s transdisciplinary Master of Fine Arts (Design) qualification, for artists and designers. The Master of Fine Arts (MFA) has a strong collective philosophy. By bringing together students from design and fine arts, the MFA fosters intense conversations and exploration.

For designers and artists
Choose whether you want to graduate with an MFA in design, in fine arts or without endorsement if you believe your work cannot be framed in terms of either discipline.
We have had students join the qualification whose undergraduate training is in fashion design, photography, textile design, industrial design, graphic design, fine arts and even music.

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.

You will have regular access to leading industry-standard film production equipment and the opportunity to work in industry specific film crew roles on your own project.

You'll gain practical experience in a wide range of roles, before specialising in your chosen area and collaborating on independently-developed productions. You'll be working on a wide range of creative projects, using both contemporary filmmaking techniques as well as emerging technologies like Virtual Production.

The Film Production Major will train you in the art of developing and producing stories for film, and you'll gain expertise in telling the stories that are important to you and in helping others realise their creative visions as well.

Massey’s Graduate Diploma in Fine Arts is for skilled graduates who want to gain new knowledge and skills in fine arts.

In the large art studio courses you’ll have the support to work in any media in an interdisciplinary studio environment. This includes sculpture, painting, drawing, performance, installation, moving image, photography, printmaking, site-responsive work, curatorial activities and art writing.

Other study could include a range of studio courses that develop your practice further. Critical and contextual studies also help expand your knowledge of art and design discourse.

The Bachelor of Design with Honours (Integrated Design), you’ll select courses from two or more of the other seven majors in the Bachelor of Design with Honours. You’ll push your study beyond traditional design boundaries.

Choose courses to form a unique programme of study, in consultation with the qualification leader. You can choose courses from the following disciplines:

• concept design
• fashion design
• industrial design
• photography
• spatial design
• textile design
• visual communication design (including graphic design, illustration, advertising and branding, interaction design and more).

The Master of Fine Arts (MFA) has a strong collective philosophy. By bringing together students from design and fine arts, the MFA fosters intense conversations and exploration. Embed yourself in a rich dialogue about your creative practice in Massey’s transdisciplinary MFA qualification for artists and designers.

For designers and artists
Choose whether you want to graduate with an MFA in design, in fine arts or without endorsement if you believe your work cannot be framed in terms of either discipline.
We have had students join the qualification whose undergraduate training is in fashion design, photography, textile design, industrial design, graphic design, fine arts and even music.

In Music Technology, you’ll work at the intersection of music, creativity, and technology. Study new interface and instrument development and electronics alongside audio engineering, recording and editing technologies, and live lighting and sound.

Master microphone techniques and sound design. Learn how to operate leading industry equipment, work with musicians to capture great recordings, and mixing and mastering techniques to produce professional-quality recordings.

You’ll also learn live light and sound skills, including how to operate small and large scale PAs, and design and program advanced lighting and projection rigs. We’ll teach you about all aspects of live, venue-based industry requirements.

Industrial design is about designing better and smarter products used in daily life. It includes practical design and study of the manufacture and use of products, equipment, and furniture.

The Bachelor of Design with Honours (Industrial Design) encourages innovative thinking and creative application of new technologies. You’ll learn how to meet social, cultural, economic, and environmental needs of people of today and the future.

You'll learn to arrive at design solutions and show them by using many materials and techniques to create models and prototypes with a professional level of finish.

Your learning is studio-project based. You'll research and design a diverse range of items from tools to kitchenware, jewellery to sporting goods, furniture to agricultural equipment. 

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

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

Gain a qualification of international-standing with strong practical industry skills. Massey’s journalism programs are the only ones in Australia or New Zealand accredited by the US organization the Accrediting Council on Education in Journalism and Mass Communication.

The Postgraduate Diploma in Journalism is based on leading overseas journalism qualifications. It is for those with no journalism experience who wish to enter the industry, or those with some experience who wish to develop specialist knowledge. Either way, you will learn the skills needed to be a successful journalist.