Bachelor of Arts and Media

You will develop fundamental skills in your first year through various compulsory courses, including lens-based media, graphic design, object design, image-making and communication, and critical studies.

In your second year, you will advance your critical design thinking and professional practice while specialising in several creative areas. Courses include lens-based media, object design, graphic design and image studio.

In your third and final year of the Bachelor programme, you will complete a major project by tying together your research and independent study to present a final studio project at the end-of-year Bachelor of Arts and Media (BAM) exhibition.

• To apply broad knowledge and practical and conceptual skills in the production of arts and design work, (thinking creatively)
• To use investigative tools with creative processes, methods and technologies to develop responses to briefs, (apply creative processes and methods) 
• To use research to support the development of ideas and to inform your own work within the conventions and contexts of arts and design,
  (research skills)
• To critique your own work (critical thinking) and the work of others, communicate in a range of situations and present your own resolved work in simulated real-world situations, (communication and presentation skills)
• To apply professional practices (act professionally) to manage projects within defined deadlines (time management) and select potential education and employment pathways in arts and design.

(external link)

• Practicing Artist
• Art Teacher
• Computer Animator
• Graphic Designer
• Photographer/Videographer
• Advertising Specialist
• Gallery Associate
• Arts Facilitator
• Creative Producer
• Exhibitions Designer
• Motion Graphics Designer
• Multimedia Creative
• 3D Visual Designer

Find out more about these exciting careers at careers.govt.nz(external link)

Academic requirements

University Entrance: NCEA Level 3 (60 credits at Level 3 and 20 credits at Level 2 or higher) which must include:

• 14 credits at Level 3 in each of three approved* subjects including at least one from the following subjects list: Painting (Visual Art); Design (Visual Art); Photography (Visual Art); Sculpture (Visual Art); Printmaking (Visual Art); Graphics (Technology); Design (Technology); Textiles (Technology); Media Studies; Drama; Materials Technology; Digital Technology; English; History; Social Sciences or Art History

as well as

• Literacy* - 10 credits at Level 2 or above, made up of 5 credits in reading, 5 credits in writing

and

• Numeracy* - 10 credits at Level 1 or above (specified achievement standards, or unit standards 26623, 26626, 26627)

OR

A qualification on the NZQF at Level 4 or above in a related discipline

OR

A qualification or examination recognised as being equivalent to achievement of NCEA Level 3 (e.g. International Baccalaureate, Cambridge Examination)

*NZQA approved subjects: see http://www.nzqa.govt.nz/qualifications-standards/awards/university-entrance/(external link).

Alternative requirements

Applicants who are unable to evidence that they meet Academic entry requirements, but who can demonstrate acquired skills for tertiary study gained through study, work and/or life experience, may be approved for alternative entry by the Curriculum Manager (or delegate).

English language requirements

If English is not the applicant’s first language, applicants will need to provide a result from a test or qualification on the acceptable alternatives English Proficiency Outcomes.(external link)

IELTS 6.0 Academic (no lower than 5.5 in each band), 

Note: Applicants who do not have evidence of English language skills and are a New Zealand citizen or permanent resident, may contact NMIT for an assessment

Applicants who have achieved NCEA Level 3 University Entrance requirements are not required to provide evidence of English language skills . IELTS scores used must be taken from a single IELTS Test Report Form and are valid for two years from the date of the test.

Other requirements

Computer literacy:

A sufficient level of computer literacy is required.*

Portfolio:

All applicants to provide evidence of creative work.**

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 successfully undertake the degree with a reasonable likelihood of success.

*COMPUTER LITERACY REQUIREMENT

This study programme involves producing work in electronic forms. Therefore, applicants applying to enter the programme without sufficient computer literacy for study at the relevant level will be expected to make use of computer facilities and/or training to develop their computer skills to a competent standard to succeed in their studies. A sufficient standard for entry would include competence using Microsoft Word or similar programme, email and the internet.

**PORTFOLIO REQUIREMENT

Portfolios should be an arts and/or design portfolio or equivalent personal portfolio.

The portfolio may include a selection of the following:

• Sketchbooks or workbooks showing the development of ideas
• Arts or design works, including both process works and finished works 
• Photographs or slides or recordings relevant to the programme
• Photographic or digital records of any of the above

Portfolios will be examined for evidence of the applicant’s potential to further develop the following attributes:

• Technical skills in arts and/or design
• Design processes and/or concept development

See more about Supporting document requirements(external link) 

As part of your application to study the Bachelor of Arts and Media at NMIT, you are asked to show us that you can take something down the creative process, from concept to presentation.

We are open to anything creative:

• Sketches, paintings, video clips, multimedia, photography, life drawings or murals.
• Sketchbooks or workbooks showing the development of ideas
• Arts or design works, including both process works and finished works 
• Photographs or slides or recordings relevant to the programme
• Photographic or digital records of any of the above

We are looking for an art applicant’s ability to develop the following:

• Technical skills in arts and/or design
• Design processes and/or concept development

This article about providing creative work(external link) can also help.

Our Creative Industries programmes require you to bring your own device/laptop (BYOD) with Adobe Creative Cloud  installed in order to complete your studies.

BYOD specifications for Creative Industries programmes

The following BYOD specifications are required for:

• Bachelor of Arts and Media
• NZ Diploma in Arts and Design (Level 5)
• NZ Diploma in Arts and Design (Level 6)

The minimum specifications required are:

Discrete graphics are not mandatory but are strongly suggested as there are several aspects of the degree which can require considerable graphics power. 

Optional items include:

• optical drive (DVD)
• web cam

Can I use an Apple product?

Across our programmes, we use Microsoft Windows based applications. As such we can only sanction Windows based laptops for use on the degree. Please be aware however, that you will not be able to login to our network using an Apple laptop.

You will also need a digital SLR camera to complete the Lens Based Media courses. Find out more here.(external link)