This course is not currently available.

Course details

Graduate Diploma in Creative Writing
Domestic tuition $6,092 per year
NZQF Level 7

About the course

Designed for experienced writers, you will work towards developing a manuscript – fiction, poetry, script or non-fiction – appropriate for submission to a publisher. Receive excellent mentoring and assessment from experienced writers and valuable feedback from workshopping with other students.
Designed for experienced writers, you will work towards developing a manuscript – fiction, poetry, script or non-fiction – appropriate for submission to a publisher. Receive excellent mentoring and assessment from experienced writers and valuable feedback from workshopping with other students.

You can enrol on the Graduate Diploma in Creative Writing as a stand-alone one year, full-time diploma, or it can be credited towards the third year of the Bachelor of Applied Arts (Creative Writing).


Programme outline

Work with your tutor on:

  • craft and technique within your chosen genre 
  • strengthening the idea 
  • taking imaginative risk 
  • understanding the writing process 
  • planning and research 
  • reading and critique within your selected genre 
  • rewriting and editing 
  • knowledge and appreciation of the publishing/production process

The courses are delivered full-time over two trimesters and consist of one 15 credit course, two 30 credit courses and one 45 credit course.

Writing Process (30 credits)
To assist writers to undertake the planning and development of a writing project

Writing Project: Workshop (30 credits)
To assist writers to strengthen their critiquing skills by analysing their peers’ work and a selection of works by published authors. To advance analytical skills necessary for developing the writer’s own work.

Writing Project: Manuscript (45 credits)
To consolidate technical and creative skills to produce a major writing project of a standard suitable to submit to a publisher.

Revising and rewriting (15 credits)
To develop analytical skill for the critique of a writer’s own work and revise work in response to critical analysis.

Our cross-genre classes provide a large amount of self-directed time for writing as well as structure and support for a first time manuscript writer. They are delivered as either a monthly weekend class or a weekly class. At the time of application these options will be discussed with you. 


Entry criteria

Tertiary qualification or evidence of skill in writing based on submitted written work, outline/sample of the major project and interview

International students

Proven equivalence to domestic entry requirements and IELTS 6.0 (no band lower than 5.5)

Entry requirements

Tertiary qualification OR evidence of skill in writing based on submitted written work, outline/sample of the major project and interview (International: IELTS 6.0 with no band lower than 5.5; or equivalent)

About the provider

Whitireia is a wholly-owned Crown entity subsidiary company of NZIST, known for its high student success rate and culturally diverse student body. Established in 1986, Whitieria has grown to become a highly respectable Tertiary Institution in Wellington, Porirua and Auckland. 

We have highly-skilled teaching and support staff who work hard to support you every step of the way, with over 200 programmes of study covering masters, postgraduates, degree, diploma and certificate levels along with a number of short courses. 

We welcome learners at every life stage: school leavers. University graduates, those preparing to re-enter the workforce. and current workers wanting to upskill or retain. We have a wide range of excellent support services to ensure you achieve your career goals.