Master of Creative Practice
Course details
| NZQF Level | 9 |
|---|
About the course
The Master of Creative Practice is designed for ambitious artists, designers, performers, and digital creatives seeking to refine their skills, expand their research capabilities and their professional practice.
This 180-credit programme fosters a dynamic and interdisciplinary environment for creative professionals, including:
- Contemporary artists
- Graphic designers
- Animators, game designers, experience designers and UX designers
- Performing artists, actors, dancers, directors, and producers
- Filmmakers, Screenwriters and Media creators
A Transformative Learning Experience
Join a vibrant community in our new studio spaces where you’ll work amongst other disciplines such as dance, theatre, film, digital media, animation, visual arts, craft, service design, and more. You’ll develop your own project in specialist creative studios, guided by industry-leading academics and practitioners.
In your first semester, you’ll build foundations in:
- Positioning your creative practice within a broader theoretical and cultural context
- Engaging with Indigenous research methodologies
- Thinking critically and experimenting with collaborative and industry-oriented approaches
- Applying artistic and design research methods
The Capstone Project
In your final two semesters, you will embark on a substantial creative research project (90 or 120 credits), conceived, proposed, and executed under the mentorship of academic staff and industry experts. Your project could take the form of a performance, exhibition, design prototype, publication, or another innovative creative outcome.
Assessment of Prior Learning
If you don’t have an undergraduate degree but have relevant work experience or tertiary experience, you may qualify for a Bachelor’s degree and entry into postgraduate studies through our assessment of prior learning process. Email Dr. Becca Wood to explore this pathway. Meet our Postgraduate Supervisors
Dr. Cris de Groot, Senior Lecturer (Product Design, Industrial Design, Business Focussed Design, Creativity, Creative Entrepreneurship)
Richard Fahey, Senior Lecturer (Painting, Visual Art, Ceramics, NZ Craft, Curating, Visual Art Education)
Gina Ferguson, Senior Lecturer (Sculpture, Craft, Installation Art, Public Art)
Allan McDonald, Lecturer (Photography)
Emma Smith, Senior Lecturer (Painting, Visual Art, Contemporary Art)
Dr. Leon Tan, Associate Professor (Public Art, Participatory Art, Visual Art, Visual Culture, Participatory Design, Interdisciplinary Practice)
Jonty Valentine, Lecturer (Graphic Design, Publication Design, Contemporary Art)
Dan Wagner, Senior Lecturer (Screen Art, Screen Education, Cinematography)
Paul Woodruffe, Senior Lecturer (Visual Art, Public Art, Design for Social Innovation)
Dr. Becca Wood, Senior Lecturer (Choreography, Somatic Practice, Spatial Practice, Site-Based Performance, Interdisciplinary Practice, Digital Culture)
Dr. Vanessa Byrnes, Associate Professor (Theatre, Performance, Directing, Acting, Theory, Producing.
Career Options
Artist
Creative director
Curator
Digital artist
Director
Graphic designer
Photographer
Producer
Visual artist
Choreographer
Screenwriter
Editor
Cinematographer
Lighting designer
Annual Tuition Fees
Domestic/NZ students
$8,600(NZD)
(Approximate fees only - includes GST but excludes the Compulsory Student Services Fee (CSSF) levy. Your final study costs depends on a number of factors including the courses you select to study. View options for funding your study and fees-free eligibility)
International students
$30,415 (NZD) (approximate fees for 120 credits) Save up to $2,500 (NZD) with the Unitec International Study Grant 2026. Terms and conditions apply.
Semester Dates
Sem 1 2026: 23 Feb – 28 Jun
Sem 2 2026: 20 Jul – 22 Nov
For course and class timings, refer to the specific course webpage.
For StudyLink purposes, please ensure your application states your earliest course start date.
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Downloads and resources
Programme regulations - Master of Creative Practice Order a personalised brochure Scholarships and awardsStudent LifeFor Māori studentsFor Pacific studentsFor International students
Entry requirements
You must have completed at least one of the following:
- A recognised Bachelor’s degree in the same or similar discipline, with merit achievement deemed to be an average grade of B- or higher in all Level 7 courses; or
- A professional qualifications in a relevant discipline, recognized as being equivalent to merit achievement in a bachelor degree.
And meet one of the English entry requirements;
- University Entrance Literacy: 8 credits at Level 2 or above in English or Māori (4 in Reading, 4 in Writing); or
- Evidence of English language proficiency as outlined in the NZQA Rules on the Unitec English Language Requirements for International Students Web-page.
Don’t meet these Academic requirements?
- If you don’t meet the academic criteria, our Bridging Education Programmes can help you qualify. Simply apply online, and we’ll discuss your next steps.
- If you don’t meet the above criteria, special or discretionary admission may apply; your eligibility will be determined at the interview.
About the provider
Unitec is New Zealand’s largest institute of technology offering a wide range of work-oriented programmes and short courses. We offer leading employment-focused education at our two campuses in Mt. Albert, and Waitākere. At Unitec we think the traditional view of spending hours in a lecture theatre is out-dated. And that's why we approach learning differently. With our unique combination of world-class theory and hands-on experience, you'll get the skills to meet the changing needs of employers. And because our tutors are industry-based, they know what it takes to make it in the real world. We offer a friendly and diverse learning environment with flexible study programmes, lots of support, and hands-on experience to build the skills you need for your career and your future.