Program Overview

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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.

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

• 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 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.

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:

• Review the Recognition of Prior Learning regulations
• Contact us through the Get advice button on this page if you have any 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.

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 123456, 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:

• Course code: Creative Leadership Credits: 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.
• Course code: Exhibition Credits: 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.
• Course code: Creative Exposition Credits: 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.
• Course code: Creative Practice Research Methods Credits: 15 credits
  • Students will advance their understanding of approaches to creative practice research, methods, and theory in relation to their specific practice orientation.
• Course code: Māori Research Methodologies for Creative Practice Credits: 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.

Schedule B: Core Studio Selection

Choose between 45 and 60 credits from:

• Course code: Design Research Project: Honours Credits: 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.
• Course code: Industrial Design Research Project Credits: 45 credits
  • Development and application of research to an independent industrial design project.
• Course code: Fashion Design Research Project Credits: 45 credits
  • Application and development of research in an independent fashion design project.
• Course code: Photography Research Project Credits: 45 credits
  • Application and development of research to an independent Photographic Design project.
• Course code: Visual Communication Design Research Project Credits: 45 credits
  • Application of research to the development and production of an approved independent visual communication design project.
• Course code: Textile Design Research Project Credits: 45 credits
  • Application of research to the development and production of an approved textile design project.
• Course code: Spatial Design Research Project Credits: 45 credits
  • Application and development of research in an independent spatial design project.
• Course code: Integrated Design Research Project Credits: 45 credits
  • Realise and manifest a research-led independent project that communicates integrated design strategies and methods.
• Course code: Concept Design Research Project Credits: 45 credits
  • Application of research to the development and production of an independent concept design project.

Schedule C: Project Development

Choose 30 credits from:

• Course code: Design Research Development Credits: 30 credits
  • This course guides students through processes and practices for developing a postgraduate research project in design.
• Course code: Industrial Design Research and Development Credits: 30 credits
  • Research methods, processes, and practices for industrial design and their application through a research project.
• Course code: Fashion Design Research and Development Credits: 30 credits
  • Research methods, practices, and processes for fashion design and their application through a research design project.
• Course code: Photography Research and Development Credits: 30 credits
  • Research methods, practices, and processes for Photographic Design and their application.
• Course code: Visual Communication Design Research and Development Credits: 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.
• Course code: Textile Design Research and Development Credits: 30 credits
  • Research methods, processes, and practices for Textile Design and their application through a research project.
• Course code: Spatial Design Research and Development Credits: 30 credits
  • Research methods, processes, and practices for Spatial Design and their application through a research project.
• Course code: Integrated Design Research and Development Credits: 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.
• Course code: Concept Design Research and Development Credits: 30 credits
  • Application of research methods and processes to investigate social, cultural, aesthetic, and technical issues and strategies in an approved concept design project.

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

2026 Tuition Fees

• Domestic students: $11,615
• International students: $46,100

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.

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.

The New Zealand Government offers fees-free tertiary study for eligible domestic students. Find out more about the scheme, including how much could be covered and your eligibility.

Scholarship and Award Opportunities

• Massey University Postgraduate Scholarship

Find more 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 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.

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