Bachelor of Screen Arts - Digital Content Creation Major

School Leavers

University Entrance - NCEA Level 3 - three subjects at Level 3, made up of:

14 credits each, in three NZQA University Entrance approved subjects, and

Literacy – 10 credits at Level 2 or above, made up of five credits in reading and five credits in writing, and

Numeracy – 10 credits at Level 1 or above, made up of specified achievement standards through a range of subjects, or a package of three numeracy unit standards (26623, 26626, 26627 – all three required)

Mature Applicants

Be at least 20 years of age when the programme begins and provide evidence of aptitude or appropriate work or other experience; or completion of an external or overseas qualification which is considered to be the equivalent of any of the above qualifications, as approved by the Head of Faculty.

Special Admission

Notwithstanding the above admissions categories, in exceptional circumstances, an applicant below the age of 20 who can show evidence of ability to succeed in the programme may be considered for admission, provided the applicant has successfully completed an approved course or programme which is deemed to prepare graduates for the required academic standard for entry.

An applicant who does not meet academic criteria, may be provisionally admitted to enrol in one or more Year One papers, provided he or she meets the requirements above. Upon successful completion of the papers, the student may apply for special admission or admission by mature entry.

Additional Criteria - Portfolio Requirements

Applicants are required to submit a portfolio of their work with their application as follows:

Animation major:

• Portfolio: examples of free-hand drawing (x10)
• Elective portfolio/show reel: examples (images) of your latest artwork, (anything from painting to animation). We also look for potential in drawing and the ability to adapt between traditional methods and computer based work.
• Prior Learning: evidence of prior learning e.g. academic transcripts.
• Statement: hand written statement, one A4 page outlining your interests and goals within the programme (e.g. why are you choosing animation as a career?).
• Referees: contact details for two people who know you well e.g. teacher or employer.
• Interview: a time will be arranged for you to meet with the programme manager or appropriate staff member following the assessment of your application.
• Innovation and Imagination: We are also looking for maturity, originality and the ability to develop interesting and engaging storytelling.

Film major:

• * Portfolio One: examples of films online e.g. a playlist or collection on Youtube or Vimeo. This should showcase the applicant’s skills and experience in filming and editing regardless of whether a documentary, scripted or experimental approach is utilised.
  * Portfolio Two: Students should also submit at least 10 examples of photographic work that illustrates their photographic skills. We will be looking at both the technical and artistic ability in the photographs, everything from exposure through to composition of the submitted images.
  * Prior Learning: evidence of prior learning e.g. academic transcripts.
  * Statement: hand written statement X 1 A4 page (outlining your interests and goals within the programme e.g. why are you choosing film as a career).
  * Referees: contact details for two people who know you well e.g. teacher or employer.
  * Interview: a time will be arranged for you to meet with the programme manager or appropriate staff member following the assessment of your application.
  * Innovation & Imagination: We are also looking for maturity, originality and the ability to develop interesting, imaginative and engaging storytelling.
  Portfolio One: examples of films online e.g. a playlist or collection on Youtube or Vimeo. This should showcase the applicant’s skills and experience in filming and editing, regardless of whether a documentary, scripted or experimental approach is utilised.
• Portfolio Two: Students should also submit at least 10 examples of photographic work that illustrates their photographic skills. We will be looking at both the technical and artistic ability in the photographs, everything from exposure through to composition of the submitted images.
• Prior learning: evidence of prior learning e.g. academic transcripts.
• Statement: hand written statement - one A4 page outlining your interests and goals within the programme (e.g. why are you choosing film as a career?)
• Referees: contact details for two people who know you well e.g. teacher or employer.
• Interview: a time will be arranged for you to meet with the programme manager or appropriate staff member following the assessment of your application.
• Innovation & imagination: We are also looking for maturity, originality and the ability to develop interesting, imaginative and engaging storytelling.

English Language Requirements

Applicants, whose first language is not English, or who come from a country where the language of instruction in schools is not English, are required to provide evidence of having achieved one of the following:

NCEA Level 3 with University Entrance, or

an International Baccalaureate Diploma or Cambridge A- level qualification for which the teaching and assessment was conducted in English, or

Cambridge Certificate in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (CELTA),or Trinity College London Certificate in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (CertTESOL), or

Successful completion of all primary education (being the equivalent of New Zealand primary school years 1 to 8) and at least three years of secondary education (being the equivalent of three years from New Zealand secondary school years 9 to 13) at schools in either New Zealand, Australia, Canada, the Republic of Ireland, South Africa, the United Kingdom and the United States one of the countries listed in Rule 18.5 where the student was taught using English as the language of instruction, or

Successful completion of at least five years of secondary education (being the equivalent of New Zealand secondary school years 9 to 13) at schools in either New Zealand, Australia, Canada, the Republic of Ireland, South Africa, the United Kingdom and the United States where the student was taught using English as the language of instruction, or

Successful completion of a Bachelors' Degree, Graduate Certificate, Graduate Diploma, Bachelor Honours degree, Postgraduate Certificate, Postgraduate Diploma, Masters' Degree or Doctoral Degree, the language of instruction of which must be in English and which must be from a tertiary education provider from New Zealand, Australia, Canada, the Republic of Ireland, South Africa, the United Kingdom or the United States, or

Successful completion of one of the following internationally recognised proficiency tests listed below to the level required of the programme of study and with all scores achieved in a single test during the two years preceding the proposed date of enrolment:

IELTS test - Academic score of 6 with no band score lower than 5.5 
TOEFL Paper based test (pBT) - Score of 550 (with an essay score 5 TWE) 
TOEFL Internet based test (iBT) - Score of 60 (with a writing score of 18) 
Cambridge English Examination - B2 First or B2 First for schools or C1 Advanced or C2 Proficiency with a score of 169. No less than 162 in each skill. 
OET - Minimum of Grade C or 200 in all sub-tests 
NZCEL - a) Expiring Level b) Current: a) Level 4 (Academic) b) Level 4 (Academic) 
Pearson Test of English (Academic) - PTE (Academic) score of 50 with no band score lower than 42 
Language Cert - C1 Expert IESOL (LRWS) with PASS and no less than Pass in each skill 
Trinity ISE - ISE II with no less than distinction in any band

* New versions of some NZCEL qualifications, and in some cases new qualifications, were published on 13 June 2017. These are intended to replace pre-existing versions and qualifications, which have been given expiring status until discontinued on 31 December 2019. (a) denotes expiring (b) denotes current.

* Portfolio One: examples of films online e.g. a playlist or collection on Youtube or Vimeo. This should showcase the applicant’s skills and experience in filming and editing regardless of whether a documentary, scripted or experimental approach is utilised.* Portfolio Two: Students should also submit at least 10 examples of photographic work that illustrates their photographic skills. We will be looking at both the technical and artistic ability in the photographs, everything from exposure through to composition of the submitted images.* Prior Learning: evidence of prior learning e.g. academic transcripts.* Statement: hand written statement X 1 A4 page (outlining your interests and goals within the programme e.g. why are you choosing film as a career).* Referees: contact details for two people who know you well e.g. teacher or employer.* Interview: a time will be arranged for you to meet with the programme manager or appropriate staff member following the assessment of your application.* Innovation & Imagination: We are also looking for maturity, originality and the ability to develop interesting, imaginative and engaging storytelling.

In order to be awarded the Bachelor of Screen Arts the student will have been credited with all required papers and electives as specified in the schedule of papers (360 credits).

The overall programme of study for every candidate requires 360 credits for successful completion of the degree.

• Every candidate is required to pass 120 credits at Year One.
• Every candidate is required to pass 120 credits at Year Two.
• Every candidate is required to pass 120 credits at Year Three.

Individual papers may have specific pre-requisites or other knowledge/skill requirements, which must be satisfied by all students.

Classes are held Monday to Friday, 9.00am-5.00pm at SIT's Downtown Campus (Don St, Invercargill).