New Zealand Certificate in Arts and Design (Level 4)

About the programme

Artists and designers work in lots of different areas and career opportunities in the creative industries are exciting and diverse. 

This programme will give you a taste of what studying art and design is all about.

You'll begin to build the skills and degree-level portfolio you need to apply for the:

• Bachelor of Design (Communication)
• Bachelor of Design (Fashion)
• Bachelor of Design (Product), or
• Bachelor of Visual Arts.

A negotiated pathway towards the Bachelor of Architectural Studies may also be possible. Please email us to learn more about this option.

This programme will also prepare you for a junior role in a creative workplace. 

You'll develop your research skills by studying art and design history, learn about creative processes and materials, explore idea development through drawing, illustration/cartoon and sculpture, and create your own art or design project. 

Once you’ve completed this programme, to gain the well-rounded skills that are ideally needed for further art or design study, you can move into:

• New Zealand Certificate in Digital Media and Design (Level 4) for the Bachelor of Design (Communication) or the New Zealand Diploma in Digital Media and Design (Level 5)
• New Zealand Certificate in Fashion (Level 4) for the Bachelor of Design (Fashion)
• New Zealand Certificate in Creativity (Level 4) for the Bachelor of Design (Product) or the Bachelor of Visual Arts

All of these programmes start in July and in combination with the New Zealand Certificate in Arts and Design (Level 4) create strong pathways into the above programmes which all start February.

Entry

Skills needed to work in this area

• A passion for design and art
• The ability to communicate your ideas to others
• An interest in people and the world around you
• An enjoyment of working with others.

Entry requirements

• Open entry.
• International students will be individually assessed to ensure they have an acceptable level of secondary school achievement.

English Language requirements

• If English is not your first language, you must provide:
  • New Zealand University Entrance OR
  • Overall Academic IELTS 5.5 with no individual band score lower than 5.0 (achieved in one test completed in the last two years), OR
  • Acceptable alternative evidence of the required IELTS (see here for NZQA proficiency table and here for a list of recognised proficiency tests).

If you need to improve your English Language skills, we offer a wide range of English programmes.

Other requirements

• A portfolio or other evidence to demonstrate your creative work. We need to see this so we can make sure you’re ready for studying at Level 4.
• You might also need to attend an interview so we can make sure this programme is the right choice for you.

Preparing your portfolio

We need to see some examples of your creative work so we can make sure you’re ready for studying at Level 4.

We call this a portfolio.

We're keen to see examples of your work that shows us your design, graphic and/or art skills.

Please send us 10 to 12 examples of work that show a variety of techniques and interests, such as:

• drawings/sketches
• paintings and/or printmaking
• photographs
• images of original 3D objects that you have made
• digital art/digital illustration
• animations
• whatever you feel is visually informative about yourself and your abilities.

Please note: If you’re an NCEA student and are thinking of submitting your NCEA portfolio, we’d recommend you take photographs of your creative works before you send them for external moderation. Sometimes portfolios aren’t returned on time and then you have nothing to submit to us.

How to send us your portfolio

You can send us your portfolio digitally or in a physical format (we do prefer digital).

Digital Portfolio

Please make sure you take quality photographs of your pieces of creative work if you are sending us a digital portfolio. Make sure the light is right and the images aren’t blurry. Please take photographs of individual artworks as well as your NCEA board as a whole. We want to be able to see your work at its best!  

During the online application process, you'll be asked to upload your portfolio documents. These should preferably be uploaded as PDFs.

Alternatively you can:

• send it to us on a USB (using the address below)
• email it to us at [email protected], or
• provide a link to your website or online platform in the 'Portfolio website link’ section of our online application form.

You will also be asked to provide two statements during the online application process:

1. Why have you decided to study this programme? (60-100 words)

You’ll be asked why you've decided to study this programme. 

It’s a good idea to prepare something to add into the online form before you begin the application process.

Think about what makes you drawn towards art and design? Are you curious about what creative career might be best for you? Tell us about it.

2. What skills and experience do you have? (60-100 words)

You’ll then be asked about your skills and experience. Again, it’s a good idea to prepare this before you start applying.

Think about how you create visual art and design projects. What materials do you use and how do you use them? For example, if you use paint, describe how you apply it, layer it or mix colours as you create your pieces. 

Physical Portfolio

Firstly, complete the online application process. During this, you’ll be asked to provide these two statements:

1. Why have you decided to study this programme? (60-100 words)

You’ll be asked why you've decided to study this programme. 

It’s a good idea to prepare something to add into the online form before you begin the application process.

Think about what makes you drawn towards art and design? Are you curious about what creative career might be best for you? Tell us about it.

2. What skills and experience do you have? (60-100 words)

You’ll then be asked about your skills and experience. Again, it’s a good idea to prepare this before you start applying.

Think about how you create visual art and design projects. What materials do you use and how do you use them? For example, if you use paint, describe how you apply it, layer it or mix colours as you create your pieces.

Then pull together your portfolio ready to post to us.

Please include photographs or colour photocopies of your work in an A4/A3 clear file folder and clearly label with your name. Please don’t send any original pieces of work.Remember, please make sure you take quality photographs of your pieces of creative work. Please take photographs of individual artworks as well as your NCEA boards as a whole. Make sure the light is right and the images aren’t blurry. We want to be able to see your work at its best!

When you’re ready to send us your portfolio, send it to the address below (or drop it off in person at Customer Services):

Attn: Student Administrator for Design
Customer Services
Otago Polytechnic
F Block, Forth Street
Dunedin 9016

Please remember to enclose a self-addressed, postage-paid courier package so that we can return your portfolio to you.