Program Overview

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Postgraduate Diploma in Māori Visual Arts – PGDipMVA

The Postgraduate Diploma in Māori Visual Arts is a qualification that welcomes all indigenous and Pākehā artists. This diploma is designed to balance independent creative work in the studio with learning in Māori studies or museum studies.

Type of Qualification

• Postgraduate diploma
• Level of study: Postgraduate study, NZQF level 8

Time to Complete

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

Where You Can Study

• Distance and online
• Manawatū campus (Palmerston North)

International Students

• Not open to international students

Key Dates

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

Study a Postgraduate Diploma in Māori Visual Arts – PGDipMVA

In this postgraduate diploma, you will spend most of your time making art, with an individually designed programme of advanced studio practice in Māori or indigenous visual culture development. The work coming out of Toioho ki Āpiti often asks critical questions about identity and visual culture and exists at the interface of ‘Western’ and ‘indigenous’ art.

Flexible Study

• You can study on campus, with studio space provided, or by distance.
• Full-time and part-time options are available, so you can fit study around work and whānau commitments.

Why Postgraduate Study?

• Postgraduate study is not just ‘more of the same’ undergraduate study.
• You will develop a deeper understanding of how to express Māori or indigenous visual culture.

A PGDipMVA is a Good Fit if You:

• Studied Māori Visual Arts at undergraduate level
• Want to do a master’s but don’t have an honours degree
• Want to develop research and analysis skills

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, with extra requirements including:
  • A Bachelor of Māori Visual Arts, or
  • A relevant bachelor’s degree and evidence of appropriate professional experience and duration, or
  • Sufficient practical, professional and scholarly experience at an appropriate level.
• You are required to provide a portfolio if you have not completed a Bachelor of Māori Visual Arts with Massey University.
• You must also provide copies of all official academic transcripts for studies taken at all universities other than Massey University.

Structure of the Postgraduate Diploma in Māori Visual Arts

• If you study full-time, you’ll take 120 credits per year or 60 credits per semester.
• Courses and specialisations:
  • Core courses: 120 credits
  • Choose between 90 and 120 credits from:
    • Te Tataitanga Matatau: Advanced Studio Practice (90 credits)
    • Rangahau Whakairo: Pre-thesis Practicum (120 credits)
    • Rangahau Whakairo: Pre-Thesis Practicum (Part I) (60 credits)
    • Rangahau Whakairo: Pre-Thesis Practicum (Part II) (60 credits)
  • Choose no more than 30 credits from:
    • Tino Rangatiratanga: Strategic Māori Development (30 credits)
    • Te Tau-Ihu o te Reo: Advanced Māori Literature (30 credits)
    • Tā Te Māori Rangahau Kōrero: Māori Research Methodologies (30 credits)
    • Taonga Tuku Iho: Heritage Aotearoa (30 credits)
    • Collection Management (30 credits)
    • Museum Management (30 credits)
    • Museums and the Public (30 credits)

Fees and Scholarships

• 2026 tuition fees:
  • Domestic students: $11,615
  • International students: Not applicable
• The estimates do not include the Student Services Fee.
• There may also be charges for things such as study resources, software, trips and contact workshops.
• Course fees: 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.
• Scholarship and award opportunities:
  • Massey University Postgraduate Scholarship
  • Find more scholarships and awards

Accreditations and Rankings

• QS Ranking - Art and Design: Massey is ranked among the global top 200 universities for art and design by QS World University Rankings.

Related Study Options

• Bachelor of Māori Visual Arts – BMVA
• Graduate Diploma in Design – GDipDes
• 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 Screen Arts – PGDipScreenArts

Related Content

• Planning your study
• Application process overview
• Semester dates