Master of Arts
Course details
| NZQF Level | 9 |
|---|
About the course
This Master's is a research programme designed to advance students' creative, academic, and professional capabilities. Students will undertake a substantial, independent research project within their chosen area of communication, visual design, spatial design, moving image, fashion design, music, performing arts and theatre, or contemporary art practice. The programme equips students to conduct high‑level inquiry, deepen their expertise, extend their practice, and to make informed, impactful contributions within their academic or professional discipline.
Our Master's students will receive supervision for both the practical and theoretical components of their studies. Additional supervision is available from external representatives in a student's professional field and/or for students wishing to utilise kaupapa Māori methodologies in their research. Students will have frequent formal and informal meetings and critiques with other staff and students to discuss their work, helping them to analyse, evaluate, and articulate their research practice. We provide a learning environment that is supportive, positive, varied, and active, encouraging input from staff and students equally.
Facilities in the School of Media Arts are made available to students based on the nature and requirements of their projects, including studio spaces, fabrication workshops, and industry-standard digital environments. Various test spaces, exhibition sites, and tutorial rooms are used for scheduled classes and for formative and informal reviews of work. Technical staff maintain facilities and equipment and are available to assist students with practical and logistical issues in their studies.
Entry requirements
General Academic Admission
Applicants are required to have gained:
- a Bachelor with Honours degree in a relevant field; or
- a Postgraduate Diploma in a relevant field with a minimum of a B grade average or equivalent; or
- work related experience equivalent to a corresponding Bachelor with Honours degree. Candidates will be required to demonstrate a high order of knowledge of their principal subject of study, including analytic writing, and a disposition towards original research; or
- a tertiary qualification (degree or diploma) completed in no less than three years, and have achieved sufficient standing as a practising artist, designer or musician, or in the field of communication. The Media Arts Postgraduate Programme Committee will determine whether the work submitted by applicant candidate in support of their application is of a standard equivalent to Bachelor with Honours degree level. Candidates will also be required to submit a curriculum vitae confirming they have achieved a substantial record of exhibitions, publications or performance in public venues or formats; or have gained professional experience, demonstrating advanced knowledge or performance, in their chosen specialisation; or
- a corresponding Bachelor degree and have completed four or more years of successful art, design, music or communication teaching at tertiary or secondary level.
All application documentation submitted for assessment must be in English.
Candidates may be required to study a pre-requisite module in Research Methodology prior to admission should they not be able to demonstrate having acquired research skills to the appropriate level.
About the provider
Based in Hamilton, the Waikato Institute of Technology (Wintec), is one of the country’s largest institutes of technology. We deliver high-quality education across vocational (technical) and professional fields of study to approximately 13,000 students, across over 130 different courses.
At Wintec students are educated in a way that builds their confidence and gets them work-ready. We differ from other types of tertiary providers in the way students get the chance to put their theoretical learning into practice from the very start. You will get to work on real-life projects based on relevant topics and themes as if you were in the workplace. You will also get involved in work placements. This means that by the time you graduate, you will be confident in your skills and knowledge, and know-how to apply your learnings. Our academic staff have years of industry experience between them, which means they can guide you on your journey.
Wintec maintains collaborative relationships with local industry and iwi to identify the needs of the region and community. Fostering strong networks that our students and graduates benefit from is a high priority for us. Understanding the needs of local industry, what type of graduates they need now, and what they will need in the future is critical to assisting industry and our graduates.