Graduate Diploma in Design

Tuition Fee

NZD 42,110

Per year

Start Date

Medium of studying

Duration

12 months

Details

Program Details

Degree

Diploma

Timing

Full time

Course Language

English

Tuition Fee

Average International Tuition Fee

NZD 42,110

About Program

Program Overview

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 levels 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.

Type of Qualification

Graduate diploma

Level of Study

Graduate study NZQF level 7

Time to Complete

1 year full-time (120 credits) Part-time available

Where You Can Study

Wellington campus

International Students

Open to international students on campus in New Zealand

Key Dates

Admission application due dates
Course enrolment dates for accepted students
Semester dates

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.

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.

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 specializations, but you can include courses from:

Concept design
Fashion design
Industrial design
Integrated design
Photography
Spatial design
Textile design
Visual communication design.

Courses and Specializations

Schedule A: Core Courses (Choose 30 credits from)

Course code: Transformation: Discourse in Design Credits: 15 credits
Course code: Creative Communities Credits: 15 credits
Course code: Professional Cultures in Design 3 Credits: 15 credits
Course code: Critical Understandings of Contemporary Art Credits: 15 credits
Course code: Kōrero Tuku Iho | Cosmological Narratives within Māori Creative Expression Credits: 15 credits
Course code: Mātauranga Toi Māori 3: Creative Innovation and Community Leadership Credits: 15 credits

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

Course code: Product and Industrial Design 3.3: Cultivating Practice Credits: 30 credits
Course code: Product and Industrial Design 3.1: Navigating Complexity Credits: 15 credits
Course code: Product and Industrial Design 3.2: Future Industries Credits: 15 credits
Course code: Fashion Design 3.3: Advanced Fashion Practice Credits: 30 credits
Course code: Fashion Design 3.1: Industry, Markets and Processes Credits: 15 credits
Course code: Fashion Design 3.2: Tailoring Methods Credits: 15 credits
Course code: Photography Studio 3.3: Extended Photographic Practice Credits: 30 credits
Course code: Photography Studio 3.1: The Photobook and Narrative Credits: 15 credits
Course code: Photography Studio 3.2: Post Photography Credits: 15 credits
Course code: Visual Communication Design 3.5: Design for Social Change Credits: 30 credits
Course code: Visual Communication Design 3.1: Editorial Design and Production Credits: 15 credits
Course code: Visual Communication Design 3.2: Brand Strategies and Systems Credits: 15 credits
Course code: Visual Communication Design 3.3: User Experience and Interaction Design Credits: 15 credits
Course code: Visual Communication Design 3.4: Visual Narrative Credits: 15 credits
Course code: Textile Design 3.3: Studio Collections Credits: 30 credits
Course code: Textile Design 3.1: Advanced Textile Structures Credits: 15 credits
Course code: Textile Design 3.2: Advanced Textile Print and Visualisation Credits: 15 credits
Course code: Spatial Design 3.3: Advanced Spatial Practices Credits: 30 credits
Course code: Spatial Design 3.1: Regenerative Practices Credits: 15 credits
Course code: Spatial Design 3.2: Spatial Agency Credits: 15 credits
Course code: Concept Design 3.3: Developing Imaginary Worlds Credits: 30 credits
Course code: Concept Design 3.1 Design for Film and Animation Credits: 15 credits
Course code: Concept Design 3.2: Design for Game and Location-Based Experience Credits: 15 credits
Course code: Toi Ātea 3.2 Credits: 30 credits
Course code: Toi Atea 3.1: Mana Whenua Credits: 15 credits

Schedule 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

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.

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 place Massey in the top 3 universities in Asia Pacific for the 11th year in a row.

Related Study Options

Bachelor of Māori Visual Arts – BMVA
Graduate Diploma in Screen Arts – GradDipSCA
Master of Design – MDes
Master of Māori Visual Arts – MMVA
Master of Screen Arts – MSA
Photography – Bachelor of Design with Honours
Photography – Bachelor of Design
Postgraduate Diploma in Design – PGDipDes
Postgraduate Diploma in Māori Visual Arts – PGDipMVA
Postgraduate Diploma in Screen Arts – PGDipScreenArts

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