New Zealand Diploma in Digital Media and Design (Level 6)

New Zealand Diploma in Digital Media and Design (Level 6)

New Zealand Diploma in Digital Media and Design (Level 6)

Develop the basic skills needed to get into the film industry with the New Zealand Diploma in Digital Media and Design (Level 6). This course will teach you foundation skills in filmmaking such as editing, screenwriting, audio and more.

SIT is now offering HyFlex ('Hybrid-Flexible') which combines face-to-face and online learning for the Screen Arts programme. 

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Key Details
Invercargill / Hyflex
Qualification:
Diploma
Level:
6
Credits:
120
Duration:

One year full-time

Study Modes:
Onsite or Flexible Distance
Dates:
To be advised – Please Enquire
Fees:

This programme is eligible for the Zero Fees Scheme.

  • NO tuition fees
  • Direct material costs $1710.00 (GST inlcusive).

International Fees can be found here.

The aim of the qualification is to provide those wishing to work in the film industry with a foundation of specialist skills and knowledge required for employment or/and provide a base for further education.

Learn about:

  • Industry Standards and Practice
  • Screen Arts
  • Audio Techniques
  • Screen writing
  • Digital Filmmaking
  • Cinematography
  • Visual Effects Compositing

Your final project will be to produce a body of work, putting together the theory and practical applications learned throughout the year.

BSA 603 - Cross-Disciplinary Workshops 2

Students will participate and collaborate across disciplines to engage in a series of innovative and contemporary creative industry driven projects. Students will collaborate developing skills in versatility and adaptability within a visually creative environment. Students will research and develop an analytical understanding of emerging disciplines within the creative industries. Students will research and develop communication skills in leadership, decision-making, and group dynamics.

BSA 602 - Audio Techniques

Students will develop an understanding of producing audio for the creative industries. Students will research and analyse historical and contemporary audio practitioners and their contributions to the evolution of the creative industry. Students will also gain creative and technical skills to effectively capture and manipulate audio for projects.

BSA 604 - Screenwriting 2

Students will advance their understanding of screenwriting techniques and story, with a particular focus on structure, conflict, and character status. Students will refine their short film writing and script editing skills and be introduced to various forms of serial storytelling and longer format screenwriting. 

BSA 631 - Digital Filmmaking 2

Students will produce, direct, and evaluate a short film showcasing and building on their storytelling, conceptual development, art direction, cinematography and  
post-production skills throughout this paper. Students will investigate, understand, instigate and document appropriate protocols to ensure their compliance with the legal and ethical implications of their actions regarding film production.

BSA 634 - Cinematography

Students will research and gain a theoretical understanding and practical experience of the lighting, camera tools and techniques used in digital cinema production to enhance a practical project. Students will develop their understanding and implementation of visual language within storytelling and marketing concepts. Students will develop skills to an industry standard for both location and studio situations.

BSA 627 - Visual Effects Compositing

Students will be introduced to a range of visual effects and compositing tools and techniques. Students will analyse and implement a VFX production pipeline to produce a project that contains composited elements, either individually or as groups. Students will also examine relevant existing and emerging practises, and document project progress through self-reflective commentaries. 

BSA 642 - Studio Digital 2

Students will extend their understanding of project-focused research through creative industries practices. Within their fields, students will develop a body of work that reflects an in-depth investigation relevant to their research focus. Students will gain an understanding of the practical and theoretical implications of proposing, developing, and resolving a creative industries project. Students will engage in historical and contemporary research relevant to their research focus. Students will demonstrate experience evaluating a range of practical and digital materials and processes to engage with target audiences. Students will also utilise documentation as a key research method.

Graduates will be equipped with the skills and knowledge required for self-employment, or for the role of junior practitioner in digital media and design, or web design.

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 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.

Notwithstanding the above admissions categories, in exceptional circumstances, a mature aged applicant 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 of programme, which is deemed to prepare graduates for the required academic standard for entry.

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 Bachelor's 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 International ESOL Written (LRW) PASS with no less than 25/50 in each skill and Spoken (S) PASS
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

To satisfactorily complete the New Zealand Diploma in Digital Media and Design (Level 6), and be awarded this qualification the student must successfully achieve:

  • A minimum of 120 credits in accordance with the programme schedule for the New Zealand Diploma in Digital Media and Design (Level 6).
  • The student will normally be expected to complete the New Zealand Diploma in Digital Media and Design (Level 6) full-time over one year or part-time over two years.

(Please Note: students failing to attend for 80% of timetabled programme hours may forfeit zero fees entitlement).

For those wishing to pursue further study, SIT offers the

  • Bachelor of Screen Arts (Level 7), where students can choose to specialise in either animation or digital filmmaking.

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