Graduate Diploma in Screen Arts (3D Animation)

Entry criteria

Applications are open to Bachelor degree graduates who can demonstrate equivalent, relevant, practical professional or educational experience in a related discipline.

Special Admission

Notwithstanding the above admission criteria, provided the applicant has successfully completed an approved course or programme, or has relevant industry experience, which is deemed to meet the required standard for entry, the applicant may be admitted to the programme.

Provisional Part-time Admission
An applicant, who does not meet academic criteria, may be provisionally admitted to enrol in one or more papers. Upon successful completion of the paper(s), the student may apply for special admission or admission by mature entry.

Additional Criteria

In addition, the following requirements also apply to applicants in all admission categories:

Applicants for the Graduate Diploma in Screen Arts (3D Animation) are required to submit a portfolio of their work with their application and may be asked for a written submission also.

Applicants are required to have a high competence in spoken and written English, 18 credits or more at Level 2 in NCEA literacy or an equivalent or more advanced English qualification.

Portfolio Requirements

Applicants are required to submit a portfolio of their work with their application, as follows:

• Portfolio One: examples of free-hand drawing (x10)
• Portfolio Two: a digital portfolio/showreel showcasing digital storytelling skills.
• Statement: Outlining your interests and goals within the programme e.g. why are you choosing animation as a career.
• Prior Learning: This course is designed for applicants who have already worked in the industry and need to hone their skills, or already have a degree in a related field (fine arts, graphic design, film, 2D animation, gaming etc).
• Curriculum Vitae
• References: two specific references/testimonials from previous employers/lecturers who know you well and are able to recommend you for graduate study. Please include contact details.
• Interview: a time will be arranged for you to meet with the programme manager or appropriate staff member following the assessment of your application.
• Established Skills, Motivation & Passion: We are looking for a high level of skill, competency and motivation. Applicants must be proficient at self-driven research and analysis. This is a very intensive year suited to those who are committed to excelling in this exciting industry.
• Links to online portfolios and showreel accepted.

English Language Requirements

Applicants, whose first language is not English, or who come from a country where the language of instruction in schools is not English, are required to provide evidence of having achieved one of the following

NCEA Level 3 with University Entrance, or

an International Baccalaureate Diploma or Cambridge A- level qualification for which the teaching and assessment was conducted in English; or

Cambridge Certificate in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (CELTA), or Trinity College London Certificate in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (CertTESOL); or

Successful completion of all primary education (being the equivalent of New Zealand primary school years 1 to 8) and at least three years of secondary education (being the equivalent of three years from New Zealand secondary school years 9 to 13) at schools in either New Zealand, Australia, Canada, the Republic of Ireland, South Africa, the United Kingdom and the United States one of the countries listed in Rule 18.5 where the student was taught using English as the language of instruction; or

Successful completion of at least five years of secondary education (being the equivalent of New Zealand secondary school years 9 to 13) at schools in either New Zealand, Australia, Canada, the Republic of Ireland, South Africa, the United Kingdom and the United States where the student was taught using English as the language of instruction; or

Successful completion of a Bachelor's Degree, Graduate Certificate, Graduate Diploma, Bachelor Honours degree, Postgraduate Certificate, Postgraduate Diploma, Masters' Degree or Doctoral Degree, the language of instruction of which must be in English and which must be from a tertiary education provider from New Zealand, Australia, Canada, the Republic of Ireland, South Africa, the United Kingdom or the United States; or

Successful completion of one of the following internationally recognised proficiency tests listed below to the level required of the programme of study and with all scores achieved in a single test during the two years preceding the proposed date of enrolment.

IELTS test - Academic score of 6 with no band score lower than 5.5 
TOEFL Paper based test (pBT) - Score of 550 (with an essay score 5 TWE) 
TOEFL Internet based test (iBT) - Score of 60 (with a writing score of 18) 
Cambridge English Examination - B2 First or B...