Master of Design
Course details
| NZQF Level | 9 |
|---|
About the course
Build on your existing industry experience and deepen your design practice. Research and explore a new area of design—and take your career further.
Develop your design practice through research
Give yourself the space and time to expand your practice. With a Master of Design, you’ll explore the area of design you are most passionate about while strengthening your research skills.
You’ll be working with expert guidance from deeply knowledgeable academics who are leaders in their disciplines.
Choose your area of research
Because the MDes is a research degree, you’ll need to choose an area of design to focus on and then find a supervisor to help guide your work.
Use the School’s Design Research Groups to help you decide. Choose a group that fits with your current knowledge, career goals, and planned research portfolio topic.
You may also do your research within these Design Research Groups. You’ll work alongside students and academics with similar design interests in a stimulating and supportive environment for inspiration and discovery.
To find out about the School of Design Innovation’s research areas and supervising staff, visit the School's Research site.
Get the postgraduate Architecture and Design Innovation handbook
Find out more about your study options. Fill in a form to download our Wellington Faculty of Architecture and Design Innovation handbook.
Download the handbook
How you'll study
The Master of Design is a portfolio-based Masters qualification that you can complete in one year, or 9 to 12 months. Expect a workload of 40 to 45 hours a week for much of the year. You can start your study at any time.
You may also be able to study by distance. Talk to the programme director to discuss this option.
Duration and workload
You can study for an MDes part time, over 18 to 24 months. You have up to three years from enrolment to complete and present your research portfolio.
You will need to do around 20 to 23 hours of work a week. Make sure you take this into account if you are working.
Duration and workload
The MDes can be completed within three trimesters of full-time study.
Studying full time, you can expect a workload of 40 to 45 hours a week for much of the year.
Resources and expertise
At our Te Aro and Miramar campuses you’ll have access to workshops and dedicated design resources that include:
- woodworking, metalworking, and hand tools
- a specialist photography studio and equipment
- a purpose-built fashion studio with digital and traditional pattern-making resources
- 3D printing digital fabrication suites with Stratasys voxel printers and a large-scale BigRep 3D printer
- facilities for recycling used plastics into 3D printing filament
- facilities for working with bio-based materials
- a robotic arm
- film editing suites.
Our specialist technicians will help you to get the most out of the resources available, whatever your previous level of knowledge.
Find out more about our facilities and take a virtual tour.
Master of Design Innovation
If you are moving directly into postgraduate study from a Bachelor’s degree in design like the Bachelor of Design Innovation, the Master of Design Innovation (MDI) is a better option for you.
You’ll develop research skills, build a portfolio, and get a head start on your new career.
Scholarships for international students
We are currently offering a NZ$10,000 VUW Postgraduate International Scholarship to all eligible international students enrolling in a Master’s degree or Postgraduate Diploma programme. Your scholarship will be processed automatically when your programme application is accepted, and the amount will be deducted from your tuition fees.
Future careers
When you graduate with an MDes, you’ll have strengthened your research skills as well as deepened your knowledge in a specific area of design. You’ll be ready to take the next step in your design career.
You could find work as:
- an industrial or product designer
- an interaction designer
- a visual effects artist
- a digital animator
- a tabletop or video game designer
- an illustrator
- a service designer
- a web designer.
Graduates from the School of Design Innovation work across the breadth of design in New Zealand and overseas. They work at organisations like:
- Wētā FX & Wētā Workshop
- Fisher & Paykel Healthcare
- Lego
- the Australian Centre for Social Innovation
- Nike.
Your research project may even lead directly into a new business. Recent graduates from the School of Design have founded startups directly out of University—like the Bra Project, and Utilize NZ.
Scholarships
You may be able to get a scholarship to help fund your studies. We have postgraduate and doctoral scholarships available, as well as specialised scholarships for different groups and subject areas.
Research grants
You may be able to take advantage of one of our existing industry relationships and build your research portfolio around a project with a grant or scholarship attached.
Get more information from your supervisor when you choose your design area.
Applicable scholarships
Financial support
You can get support to stay on top of your finances by downloading our money management resources or by meeting with one of our student finance advisers.
We can show you how to manage your student loan or allowance, and help you sort out your budget. For students facing financial difficulties, we can help you apply for support from the Hardship Fund. Depending on your situation, you might also be able to get government or community support. Talk to a student finance adviser Financing your study
While you study
Work as a research assistant
You may be able to work as a research assistant while you study. These are fixed-term, short contracts where you assist an academic on a specific research project. Find out more about the current research in the School of Design.
Work as a tutor
The School of Design Innovation has a number of vacancies for marking, teaching assistant and tutoring roles for undergraduate core courses.
The School looks for current postgraduate students, and senior undergraduate students with good passes in appropriate 200-level or 300-level courses. Contact the School at [email protected] to show your interest.
Join our postgraduate community
Through postgraduate study at the School of Design, you’ll have opportunities to build valuable relationships and networks with peers, University staff, and future colleagues:
- work out of a studio space reserved exclusively for MDI and MDes students, where you’ll have the opportunity to forge deep relationships with your design peers
- build relationships with academics and students who are interested in the same area of design through design research groups
- get access to regular workshops
- present your work at the School’s twice yearly seminar series
- take part in the annual postgraduate design exhibition.
Entry requirements
Domestic entry requirements
Bachelor’s or Honours degree in Design, or appropriate practical, professional, or academic experience.
English language requirements
You may also be required to demonstrate your proficiency in English.
About the provider
Victoria University of Wellington, full name Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington, was founded in 1897 and is one of New Zealand’s largest and most prestigious universities. The University is located in the heart of New Zealand’s vibrant capital city and its three city campuses are all within easy walking distance of one another, as well as local attractions, shopping districts, and cafés.
The University’s central location gives students access to a
variety of national organisations in the areas of business, government,
politics, culture and heritage, the arts and filmmaking industry, as well as
the science and technology communities. Wellington is a compact city where
students can easily explore nature trails, beaches, galleries, museums, and
events. It is multicultural, safe, friendly, and has a reputation for great
food and coffee—it regularly ranks as one of the world’s most liveable cities.
Victoria University of Wellington at a glance
- Top 1% of the world's universities for research quality and teaching
- 170+ subjects
- 20 undergraduate programmes and 180 postgraduate programmes
- 40+ research institutes and 4 libraries
- 3,000 of our 17,000 students are international students, from 120+ countries
- 130+ clubs and societies
- 5+ stars from the latest QS Stars Rating of Excellence
- #1 in New Zealand for research intensity (in the latest assessment of the Performance-Based Research Fund)
- Wellington School of Business and Government is one of an elite group of commerce faculties worldwide that hold the Triple Crown of international accreditations of EQUIS, AACSB, and AMBA
- Top 2% of the world’s universities (QS World University Rankings 2026)
- Top 100 in the world in 7 subjects (QS World University Rankings by Subject 2025)
Graduate outcomes*
- Of the graduates who responded that they are currently working full time, 91% were employed prior to or within 6 months of degree completion.
- 67% were in full-time employment.
*Based on those who completed the 2023–2024 Graduate Destinations Survey.
Entry requirements
To study at Victoria University of Wellington, international students need:
- a good command of the English language
- a good record of academic achievement.
Entry requirements are provided under each programme. The University considers each student’s academic and English-language background when assessing applications. If a student doesn’t meet entry requirements, our team can help them meet their study goals.
If a student doesn’t meet the entry requirements for:
- English language - Students can apply for our English for Academic Purposes programme
- Undergraduate study - Students can apply for our Foundation Studies programme
- Postgraduate study - Students can talk to us to help build a pathway to their degree
The University offers complete support for students through a range of wellbeing and learning services. These include a specialised international team that is dedicated to supporting students during their studies, which helps international students meet new friends and settle into university and Wellington life.
Some of the support services include:
- dedicated international student orientation and events
- a free arrival meeting service at the airport
- the International Buddy Programme, where you get paired with a ‘buddy’ from the get-go
Students can make the most of the many opportunities to get
involved in different communities, embrace new experiences, and develop skills
for their future careers. The university encourages all students to develop
strong global citizenship skills through their studies and extracurricular
programmes such as the Kitea
Impact Programme, which is also free to join.