Postgraduate Diploma in Creative Practice

Program Overview

The Postgraduate Diploma in Creative Practice at Unitec empowers artists, designers, and other creatives to enhance their careers. Through a multi-disciplinary studio environment, tailored learning, and supervised research, participants develop critical thinking, research skills, and a significant advanced research project, expanding their creative portfolios and career opportunities.

Program Outline

Degree Overview:

Enables:

Artists, designers, photographers, animators, educators, performers, directors, producers, and other creative thinkers to advance their professional careers.

Key Features:

• Multi-disciplinary studio environment at Unitec’s Creative Industries cultural hub.
• Tailored learning experience in the first semester through taught, negotiated, or studio courses.
• Conceptualizing, proposing, and implementing advanced creative research in the second semester.
• Supervised and mentored by academic staff and/or industry professionals.
• Creative projects on campus or integrated into relevant workplaces.

Benefits:

• Create a body of new work, improve job opportunities, and refresh or re-orient your profession.
• Develop critical self-reflection, creative thinking, and research skills.
• Exposure to a wide range of approaches, practices, and theories.
• Enhance communication and project proposal skills.
• Learn from notable artists, designers, and educators.
• Expand your creative portfolio with a significant advanced research project.

Specific Examples:

• Screenwriting: Develop screenwriting and pitching skills while completing an industry-standard script (short screenplay for submission).

Supervisors:

• Dr. Cris de Groot (Product Design, Industrial Design, Business Focussed Design, Creativity, Creative Entrepreneurship)
• Richard Fahey (Painting, Visual Art, Ceramics, NZ Craft, Curating, Visual Art Education)
• Gina Ferguson (Sculpture, Craft, Installation Art, Public Art)
• Dr. Bobby Hung (Street Art, Graffiti, Public Art, Visual Art, Visual Culture, Education)
• Allan McDonald (Photography)
• Emma Smith (Painting, Visual Art, Contemporary Art)
• Dr. Leon Tan (Public Art, Participatory Art, Visual Art, Visual Culture, Participatory Design, Interdisciplinary Practice)
• Jonty Valentine (Graphic Design, Publication Design, Contemporary Art)
• Dan Wagner (Screen Art, Screen Education, Cinematography)
• Paul Woodruffe (Visual Art, Public Art, Design for Social Innovation)
• Dr. Becca Wood (Choreography, Somatic Practice, Spatial Practice, Site-Based Performance, Interdisciplinary Practice, Digital Culture)
• Dr. Vanessa Byrnes (Theatre, Performance, Directing, Acting, Theory, Producing)

Teaching:

Learning Environment:

Evolving multi-disciplinary environment with exposure to a wide range of approaches, practices, and theories.

Careers:

Possible Career Options:

• Artist
• Creative director
• Curator
• Digital artist
• Director
• Graphic designer
• Photographer
• Producer
• Visual artist
• Choreographer

Other:

Upcoming Events:

• Events and exhibitions hosted by the School of Creative Industries.

Downloadable Resources:

• Personalised brochure
• Resources for Māori students
• Resources for Pacific students
With a strong focus on individual research and development, the program provides opportunities to learn from industry professionals and engage in meaningful projects.

Annual Tuition Fees

Domestic/NZ students $8,100(NZD) (Approximate fees only - includes GST but excludes the Compulsory Student Services Fee (CSSF) levy. Your final study costs depends on a number of factors including the courses you select to study. International students $32,877 (NZD) per 120 credits Save up to $4,000 (NZD) with Unitec-Te Pūkenga International Learner Study Grant 2024.Terms and conditions apply.