Programme details

Bachelor of Design (Honours)

This postgraduate qualification presents an excellent opportunity to enhance and deepen your knowledge and comprehension of design research methodologies and professional design practices.

Course description

This is a rigorous postgraduate qualification that presents an opportunity to deepen your comprehension of design research methodologies and professional design practices through advanced research and interaction with current theories. It is delivered in a multi-disciplinary setting, allowing your design projects to concentrate on a specific discipline, such as fashion, communication, visual arts, product, or spatial design, or to bridge and integrate various disciplines like interaction design, fashion communication, accessories, food design, multimedia projects, and event and experience design, among others.

Immigration benefits

This course may qualify for the following visa rights:
In-study work rights
Post-study work rights

This course qualifies for 4 points if applying for residency under the Skilled Migrant Category.

Career Prospects

Career oppurtunities include working as:

-Creative Lead
-Digital Artist
-Senior Designer
-Visual Effects, Web Designer

Entry requirements

Minimum entry requirements are:

-The Bachelor of Design (discipline endorsed) Level 7 OR an equivalent qualification at bachelor level or above, with an overall grade of B+ or higher in your final year, Level 7 courses.
-A physical or digital portfolio that demonstrates a depth of engagement with creative work relevant to your field.
-Commencement of your Honours study must occur within five years of the successful completion of your undergraduate degree. Exceptions require the approval of the Postgraduate Coordinator based on advice from the relevant academic leader and the supervisor.
-International applicants must demonstrate that they have equivalent experience/qualifications as domestic applicants.

International equivalence

To enter Otago Polytechnic’s undergraduate certificates, diplomas and degrees, you need to have achieved a secondary school qualification that is equivalent to New Zealand’s NCEA levels (National Certificate of Educational Achievement).

English Language requirements

-If English is not your first language, you must provide:

-New Zealand University Entrance OR
-Overall Academic IELTS 6.5 with no individual band score lower than 6.0 (achieved in one test completed in the last two years), OR
-Acceptable alternative evidence of the required IELTS