Master of Fine Arts (Creative Practice)

Advance your film-making, music, design, or theatre performance and production skills to prepare for a rewarding career in the creative industries.

Hone your leadership, collaborative, creative, and business skills as a practising artist over an intensive 12-month programme. Our Master of Fine Arts (Creative Practice) is an industry-focused, practical degree that will help you build new contacts and networks in Wellington’s creative industries.

You’ll take advantage of our capital city location and study at the University’s Kelburn campus. Theatre students will get to work in a fully-equipped theatre space, workshop, and studio based at Te Whare Ngangahau—Theatre and Performance Studies. If you study the Film or Music/Sound programme, you’ll get to use our specially refitted facilities at the Miramar Creative Centre. Design students get access to the cutting-edge facilities at Te Aro campus and Te Auaha building.

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.

Fees may vary

Your actual fees may vary from the figure shown above, depending on the subject.

Practice opportunities

The MFA(CP) includes a creative project in which you’ll be mentored to complete work that showcases your abilities and encourages you to push boundaries in your field.

As part of the programme you’ll also do an internship with an arts organisation. This will give you valuable work experience and provide you with all-important connections and work opportunities in your industry.

Leadership

Advance your potential as a creative leader by developing a high level of professional mastery, craft, and practical skill, and learn to drive ambitious creative projects. The programme offers a broad base of knowledge, including a course in arts management and marketing that will build those all-essential business skills. And if you’re a Music/Sound or Theatre student, you may also be able to take a complementary course from another fine arts discipline to expand your skill set.

Creative capital

Be part of Wellington’s thriving and internationally recognised creative scene. During your studies you’ll have opportunities to collaborate with your artistic peers and many of New Zealand’s top arts professionals.

Global top 15

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

Community

Become part of a community of talented and like-minded students. You’ll work closely with other postgraduate students in the programme to share ideas and inspiration.

Workload

Full-time students can expect a workload of 40 to 45 hours a week for much of the year.

Scholarships

You may be eligible for scholarships and can look for these based on your level of study, subject area, and background.

Find out what the MFA (CP) offers you in your fine arts discipline. Choose from the following subjects:

• Design
• Film
• Music/Sound (film scoring, audio post-production, orchestral studies)
• Theatre

Design

Master the art of visual storytelling and explore the expressive possibilities of narrative through design. This is the only Master’s degree in New Zealand designed for those passionate about creating visual stories in all their forms, including comics, animation, graphic design, hybrid literature, games, illustration, concept art, production design, and live-action or tabletop roleplaying.

Craft powerful stories using images to convey emotions and complex ideas. Conjure new worlds through concept art, storyboarding, world-building, and production design.

You’ll gain skills in narrative techniques—from writing and drawing all the way through to experimenting with cutting-edge technologies. Carve your path through courses in creativity and arts management, preparing you for a dynamic practice as a visual storyteller.

Internships create experience and networks

Gain hands-on experience as an intern with one of our partners:

• game studios like Noteworthy and Floating Rock
• design organisations like Lift and Daylight
• animators like Spencer Hall and Laura Yilmaz.

Gain real-world insights into the creation and business of visual storytelling, grant funding opportunities, and commercial production.

Learn from the best

You’ll learn from award-winning staff from the School of Design Innovation, as well as guest teaching and workshop sessions from inspiring creators and experienced professionals. Our faculty have extensive international networks and industry connections, ensuring you receive top-tier guidance and opportunities.

Become a member of our Visual Narrative Lab research community, a gathering of practitioners and scholars in the narrative arts.

Creative project

Create a polished final work that aligns with your passions and career goals. You could team up on a project with other MFA (CP) students from Film, Music, or Theatre. Your project could involve creating a graphic novel, design, animation, short film, performance, or other creative work, depending on where your story takes you.

Courses like Visual Development and Narrative Design will hone your skills in creating compelling work. Collaborate with other creative practitioners in the MFA or the MDT programme in Animation and Visual Effects.

Sharpen your skills and learn new technologies in our world class facilities at the Miramar Creative Center, Te Aro campus, and Te Auaha building, where we offer an array of facilities and tools to bring your visions to life.

Craft a powerful story, full of rich images and complex ideas. Conjure a new world of emotion using your command of visual language. Then bring it all together in a masterful final project with the help of award-winning staff from the Visual Narrative Lab. The MFA (Creative Practice) in Design is your portal to envisioning the stories of tomorrow.

Film

Get the skills you need to work in film, studying a programme specifically tailored to the needs of the New Zealand film industry.

If you are passionate about working in the film industry or being a film-maker and if you want to move into this exciting and dynamic industry, this degree is for you. Build expertise in film production and post-production, and learn the skills you need to manage yourself as a creative practitioner and independent contractor. You’ll get training on a wide range of professional-level digital cinema equipment and the opportunity to specialise in the production or post-production role that most interests you.

Internships build experience and networks

Get hands-on experience as an intern in the Wellington film industry. This is a chance to get real-world insights into film-making, the business of film, funding agencies, and commercial film production—and a chance to build valuable industry contacts.