Graduate Diploma in Visual Arts

at Otago Polytechnic - Dunedin Campus New Zealand

It is based around practical experiences and problem-based learning, where you are the centre of the puzzle and the context determines the learning and outcomes.You will learn to reflect and critique your own and others practice in relation to the underpinning theory.

Graduates of this program can expect to gain employment as competent practitioners within professional organisations.This may include government and non-government sport, exercise and health settings. For example, working in or with regional sports trusts, commercial gyms, teaching, health promotion organisations and sporting organisations. 

The program provides you with the opportunity to further develop your undergraduate experience of the history and contemporary conventions of your field. Gain a variety of transferable skills and become an effective team worker who can take risks and think laterally to solve problems. Better understanding and advanced learning, including research skills in studio and theory, will present you with higher level employment prospects in education, or the arts industry and management sectors. Alternatively, you may become a practising artist in various disciplines and media.

This program will allow you to demonstrate mastery of theoretically and procedurally sophisticated subject matter through a body of scholarly applied work, which is presented in a public forum and supported by a project or thesis.This could form the basis of scholarly journal articles. The work will respond to societal needs, address practice from multiple perspectives and be positioned within a wider framework of academic and applied research.

This qualification prepares you for doctoral level study, an academic career or a lead sport or exercise management role.

This program has an emphasis on exploration and experimentation. You will develop individual projects which study ceramics as a medium with its own formal language, skills and history, within a broader context of fine arts and crafts.  

Successful completion of this program could lead to you becoming a successful practising artist, with the ability to understand and use your creativity to contribute significantly to your community.

During this hands-on degree, you'll learn to tell stories through still and moving image, text and interactive media. You'll develop industry-ready skills and use project-based learning to apply them to community- and client-driven projects that have a focus on positive social and environmental change.

Specialise in:

• Graphic design and typography
• Illustration, animation and character design
• UX for game design
• Visual design for games
• 3D modelling and world building
• Game narratives and interactive fiction
• Web design and mobile app design
• Film and photography, or
• Social media content design and strategy.

This program is taught in a multi-disciplinary environment which means that your design projects may be more discipline focused e.g. fashion, communication, visual arts, product, spatial design, or explore projects than span and connect disciplines such as interaction design, fashion communication, accessories, food design, multimedia projects, event and experience design to name a few.

Sewing skills aren't essential, as long as you're into fashion, you're creative, a hard worker and a risk taker. Our graduates have gone on to work for internationally-acclaimed designers.

This leading fashion degree is recognised for its international opportunities, industry connections and the chance to develop your style and identity as a designer.

The program is hands-on and reflects current industry practice. You'll develop your advanced design and technical skills, extend your market knowledge and explore enterprise opportunities.

Develop the technical cooking skills, creative design techniques and innovative business practices you need to become a market leader within the ever-evolving food industry.

Learn specialised culinary techniques, creative thinking skills and innovative practices, and ways to develop innovative offerings with a competitive edge. Your studies also include learning about business planning, brand development and marketing strategy.

This one-year program has been designed to allow you to focus on a specific area of business that interests you most (e.g. Human Resource Management) or to develop your own personalised study pathway.

If you’ve got a degree in a particular area, this is a great chance to enhance it with some business skills to widen your career options.

Areas of focus include Business Transformation and Change, Event Management, Human Resource Management, Sales and Marketing, Strategic Management or Tourism Management.

Civil Engineers work on the design, construction management and maintenance of civil works such as roads, dams, earthquake engineering, water and sewerage systems. Civil engineering graduates are responsible for the project management of these jobs and often work internationally as New Zealand graduates have a good reputation worldwide.

During this program, you will gain a sound knowledge, understanding and practical appreciation of civil engineering processes and theory by developing your ability to apply learning in a practical and innovative way.