New Zealand Diploma in Creative Writing (Level 6)

Unleash your potential 

The diploma will consolidate your understanding of genres and guide you to write for different audiences as you work on novels, scripts, collections or non-fiction texts. You will also learn about writing for online outlets, how to hone your editing skills and how to self-publish.

NorthTec offers qualifications up to level 7 in applied writing:

• New Zealand Diploma in Writing for Creative Industries (Level 5)

• New Zealand Diploma in Creative Writing (Level 6)

• Diploma in Advanced Applied Writing (Level 7)

This diploma has a team of specialist tutors who cover a range of genres. The team includes internationally-published author Zana Bell, well-known journalist and author Rae Roadley and leading freelance editor Lesley Marshall.

What you will learn

Through studying this programme, you will learn a range of specialist writing skills and strategies that will enable you to apply professional principles and practices to produce original writing outputs that meet the specific requirements of creative industries. 

In this programme you will learn to:

• Apply theoretical and specialist knowledge of creative writing skills, strategies, and processes to develop and produce original outputs for a selected audience, platform or purpose.

• Analyse problems and generate solutions, as applicable to the creation of targeted outputs for the creative industries.

• Work independently or as part of a team to critically evaluate their own work and that of others.

• Leadership and professional business practice to manage projects/briefs and maintain currency of industry knowledge in order to work within the creative writing industry.

Courses in this programme

Entry Requirements

Applicants under the age of 20

• Successful completion of New Zealand Certificate in Writing for Creative Industries (Level 5) or equivalent.

Applicants 20 years of age and over 

• A portfolio of work that indicates the applicant is capable of meeting the qualification outcomes.

English language requirements 

All applicants must have a level of English sufficient to be able to study at this level. Those students whose first language is not English should have: 

• An international English Language Testing System (IELTS) overall academic score of at least 6.0 (with at least 5.5 in each band), or accepted international equivalence.

Special Entry 

In exceptional circumstances, an applicant who does not meet the full entry requirements, may be granted admission to the Programme on the approval of the Head of Department or delegate if he/she is confident of the applicant’s ability to undertake the Diploma with a reasonable likelihood of success. 

Qualification gained

New Zealand Diploma in Creative Writing (Level 6)