Master of Design Technology

Further your skills in digital technologies so you can tell stories with animation and visual effects (VFX) and graduate career-ready.

Advance your storytelling and technical skills

The Master of Design Technology (MDT) is New Zealand’s premier postgraduate animation and visual effects (VFX) programme.

Learn from industry veterans in the heart of Wellington’s film production hub. You’ll be taught by a team of academics, artists, and professionals who have extensive experience working with industry leaders and developing their own creative practice.

Develop state-of-the-art craft, storytelling excellence, professional practice, and research skills to future-proof your career. You will use industry-standard tools, develop your eye for visual narrative, and learn to tell your own stories. You’ll be ready to step into a career in the screen arts—whether you’re looking to work at a big studio or independently.

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

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.

How you'll study

We believe that the best way to excel in animation and VFX is to make films. The programme is delivered through a unique combination of advanced coursework, group film projects, and individual research—all in support of making the best films possible.

The program is designed around the following four pillars:

Story

Storytelling is the heart of the programme. But how do we tell stories about our lived experiences that are both truthful and interesting? How can we design compelling characters that we want to connect with emotionally? We examine what can be done at every stage of the craft process to help us tell beautiful, weird, and wonderful stories that resonate with audiences around the world.

Technique

We all love amazing images. But creating well designed, highly polished work can be technically very challenging. In a medium that is constantly evolving, we are always looking at the most interesting, innovative, and technically advanced approaches to image making.

Professional practice

Film making is a team sport. Whether working in large teams or on small projects, success requires effective teamwork and leadership skills. Navigating the interpersonal relationships and collaborative processes required to do this can be complicated. As the screen industry continues to place a high priority on these soft skills, we place their development front and centre in the MDT.

Research

Being able to solve problems that don't have answers has always been a valuable skill in the screen industry. As technology continues to develop at a relentless pace, being able to innovate, solve problems, and think critically is more important than ever. The research skills you’ll learn on the program will enable you to become a valuable asset to any team.

Resources and expertise

The MDT is taught at the School of Design Innovation. It’s supported by guest lecturers and mentors from Wētā FX and other leading industry organisations, giving you access to valuable professional connections.

Miramar Creative Centre

You’ll take your classes at Miramar Creative Centre, which is located among the Wētā group buildings on Park Road. The MCC includes:

• a motion capture stage
• professional digital film camera systems
• sound recording and mixing studios
• editing suites.

You’ll share the space with students from the University’s postgraduate programmes in live-action film production and film scoring, and may work on projects together.

Industry relationships

Wellington is a leading city for digital animation and VFX. The MDT programme has relationships with local and international studios, including:

• Wētā FX
• 880 Productions NZ (James Cameron)
• Industrial Light and Magic (ILM)
• 808 Limited.

One of the best film schools in the world

Our film school is recognised by the industry as one of the top 15 in the world—The Hollywood Reporter

Events

You'll have the opportunity to attend a variety of events, seminars, workshops, and social functions.

Graduate screening—the MCC Showcase

At the end of your degree, you’ll take part in the MDT graduate screening, the MCC Showcase, at the Roxy Cinema. You’ll show your work alongside your graduating class and in front of industry professionals.

Artist residency

Each spring, in collaboration with the Embassy of France, the MCC hosts the Cinematic Arts Miramar (CAM) artists residency. During the residency a French master animator spends several weeks working on an animation project at the MCC. This is a unique opportunity for you to interact with, and be inspired by, a master at work.

Previous residents have included Ana Maria de Jesus, Shih-Yen Huang, and Mohammad Babakoohi.

Wellington Animation Film Festival

Be part of the annual Wellington Animation Film Festival. Volunteer, see graduate films in competition, meet film makers, and watch the latest and greatest animated films from around the world.

Student work

Get an idea of the kind of work that you’ll be doing during the MDT. View student work and behind-the-scenes footage on our Vimeo channel.

️Future careers

Our graduates have screened their films at festivals in New Zealand and across the world, including:

• SIGGRAPH electronic theatre
• Show Me Shorts
• New Zealand Youth Film Festival
• Sand Diego International Film Festival
• Sydney Science Fiction Film Festival
• Berlin Sci-Fi Filmfest
• Anim Arte, Brazil

Our graduates work in a range of fields across animation and VFX, like:

• character animation
• FX simulation
• lighting and rendering
• layout
• modelling
• motion editing
• virtual camera.

Graduates of the MDT work at organisations in Aotearoa New Zealand and internationally, like:

• Wētā Digital
• 880 Productions NZ (James Cameron)
• Industrial Light and Magic (ILM)
• 808 Ltd.
• 37 Degrees Studio
• Floating Rock
• Alt. VFX

Around half of Wētā FX’s junior new hires each year come directly from the MDT.

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.

• Postgraduate and doctoral scholarships
• Search scholarships.

Applicable scholarships

• Master of Design Technology Research Scholarship
• Trimble Karahipi Hangarau / Technology Scholarship
• Wellington Graduate Award.

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.