Programme overview
The Masters of Creative Practice enables graphic designers, contemporary artists, photographers, product designers, animators, game designers, performing artists, UX designers, directors, actors, dancers, filmmakers, costume and technical artists, producers, and digital creatives to learn independently and collaboratively in studio and classroom environments. This programme supports and challenges you to question ideas, explore new professional practices and develop research and creative practice capabilities at an advanced level in your chosen discipline.
This 180 credit programme will allow you to immerse yourself in a dynamic community of diverse creative practices including dance, theatre, film, digital media, animation, raranga (Maori weaving), visual art, craft, costume design, graphic design, product design, experience design, game design and service design. Work on exciting and innovative projects in our creative studios and learn from industry-leading arts and design staff.
A typical first-semester experience provides you with foundation knowledge such as locating your creative practice within a wider body of knowledge, considering indigenous research methodologies, reading and thinking critically, experimenting with, and critiquing, approaches to collaborative and creative industry practice and applying artistic and design research methods.
Negotiated studies courses give you the option of undertaking industry placements with leading creative organizations and agencies in Auckland, while supervised studios provide possibilities for developing and enhancing your creative practice.
The second and third semesters of study consist of the capstone project, which involves conceiving, proposing and carrying out a creative research project to completion (90 or 120 credits), during which time you will be supervised and mentored by academic staff and/or industry professionals. An example of this final project might be a performance, exhibition, design prototype or publication.
2025 Scholarships will be open soon
Highlights
- Dynamic studio environments that facilitate independent and collaborative working practices;
- Build your own Masters degree as a stair-cased qualification;
- Create a body of new work, build a portfolio, advance your practice and refresh or reorient your career;
- Learn about and apply Kaupapa Maori and Pacific approaches to creative practice;
- Gain industry experience through negotiated placements or work on live projects;
- Work in an evolving multi-disciplinary environment with exposure to a wide range of approaches, practices, and theories;
- Improve your communication skills through studio critiques and written activities;
- Learn from supervisors that include notable educators and creative practitioners;
- Get feedback on your developing work from specialists in your field;
- Develop highly specialised creative research and critical thinking skills through a significant project.
Screenwriting
Develop your craft in writing for screen at post-graduate level in a practice-led environment mentored by industry specialists. Working across Certificate, Diploma or Masters Level this course offers intensive and collaborative workshop opportunities combined with individualized flexible modes of delivery towards the realization of a significant screenwriting project. Screenwriting graduates develop strong industry connections throughout their study, taking up opportunities to write for TV and activate links with the screen community.
MCP (3 semesters) – Advance screenwriting and pitching skills, workshop and complete an industry-standard script (feature length screenplay or web series).
Meet our Postgraduate Supervisors
- Dr. Cris de Groot, Senior Lecturer (Product Design, Industrial Design, Business Focussed Design, Creativity, Creative Entrepreneurship)
- Richard Fahey, Senior Lecturer (Painting, Visual Art, Ceramics, NZ Craft, Curating, Visual Art Education)
- Gina Ferguson, Senior Lecturer (Sculpture, Craft, Installation Art, Public Art)
- Dr. Bobby Hung, Senior Lecturer (Street Art, Graffiti, Public Art, Visual Art, Visual Culture, Education)
- Allan McDonald, Lecturer (Photography)
- Emma Smith, Senior Lecturer (Painting, Visual Art, Contemporary Art)
- Dr. Leon Tan, Associate Professor (Public Art, Participatory Art, Visual Art, Visual Culture, Participatory Design, Interdisciplinary Practice)
- Jonty Valentine, Lecturer (Graphic Design, Publication Design, Contemporary Art)
- Dan Wagner, Senior Lecturer (Screen Art, Screen Education, Cinematography)
- Paul Woodruffe, Senior Lecturer (Visual Art, Public Art, Design for Social Innovation)
- Dr. Becca Wood, Senior Lecturer (Choreography, Somatic Practice, Spatial Practice, Site-Based Performance, Interdisciplinary Practice, Digital Culture)
- Dr. Vanessa Byrnes, Associate Professor (Theatre, Performance, Directing, Acting, Theory, Producing)
- Peeti Lamwilai, Lecturer (Graphic Design, Digital Design, Motion Graphics)
Assessment of Prior Learning
If you lack an undergraduate degree but have relevant work experience or tertiary experience, you may qualify for a Bachelor's degree and entry into postgraduate studies through our APL process. Contact Dr. Becca Wood (rwood@unitec.ac.nz) to explore this pathway. Click here to find out more.
Upcoming Events
In School of Creative Industries we have a wide range of shows and events, discover more from:
Admission requirements
What you will need to study this programme.
Domestic students
International students
Academic requirements
You must have completed at least one of the following:
- A recognised Bachelor’s degree in the same or similar discipline, with merit achievement deemed to be an average grade of B- or higher in all Level 7 courses; or
- A professional qualifications in a relevant discipline, recognized as being equivalent to merit achievement in a bachelor degree.
And English entry requirements;
If English is not your first language, you will also need at least one of the following qualifications:
- Evidence of an IELTS (Academic) band score of at least 6.5 with no band score lower than 6
- University Entrance Literacy: 8 credits at Level 2 or above in English or Māori (4 in Reading, 4 in Writing); or
- Evidence of English language proficiency as outlined in the NZQA Rules on the Unitec English Language Requirements for International Students Web-page.
Don’t meet these Academic requirements?
- If you don’t meet the academic criteria, our Bridging Education Programmes can help you qualify. Simply apply online, and we’ll discuss your next steps.
- If you don’t meet the above criteria, special or discretionary admission may apply; your eligibility will be determined at the interview.
For more information, download the programme regulations (PDF 322 KB)
Courses and timetables
For more details on the courses, please click on the course names below. Please note that our systems are updating with new course timetable information for 2025; please check back again soon.
| Courses | Credits | Aim |
|---|---|---|
| Comparative Critical Reading (ICIB8071) | 15 credits (0.125 EFTS) | To analyse critical and theoretical dimensions, key principles and approaches for a specialist area of creative arts practice through the comparative critical reading of selected texts (written word, oral presentations, creative works and researched essays, etc.). This course is designed to challenge existing ideas about creative practice by surveying the landscape of contemporary theory and to enable the positioning of those ideas into the students personal frame of practice. |
| Research in the Creative Industries (ICIB8072) | 15 credits (0.125 EFTS) | To provide both a documentation and record of understanding of research methodological practice for collaborative creative arts practice, which incorporates a demonstrated understanding of the theories and methodologies of key practitioners/theorists associated with a specialist study area. This course is designed to enable students with a methodological foundation with which to design, implement, and analyse research projects in a variety of contexts. |
