New Zealand Certificate in Digital Media and Design (Level 3)

Begin your adventure in the creative industries with the New Zealand Certificate in Digital Media and Design! Collaborate with our creative teams to hone your skills in animation, digital painting, filmmaking, photography, character sculpting, and game development. This course provides an exciting opportunity to explore a wide range of creative processes, laying the foundation for your growth in the creative industries.

Important Notice:

  • Please note that for the Queenstown / HyFlex offering of this course, all classes are delivered online only. Lessons are live‑streamed and/or recorded from the Invercargill campus, and there are no in‑person, on‑campus classes in Queenstown for this course.
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Invercargill
Queenstown
Campus
Queenstown / Hyflex
Qualification
Certificate
Level
3
Credits
60
Duration

20 weeks full-time

Dates
TBC
Fees
This programme qualifies for SIT Zero Fees. Terms and Conditions apply. Click here for more information.
Tuition Fees

Zero tuition fees

Direct Material Costs

$1,120.00 (incl. GST)

International Fees

Check if this course is available to international students in our International section.

Course Outline

The New Zealand Certificate in Digital Media and Design (Level 3) aims to provide students with the creative skills and knowledge required to start their journey into the Creative Industries.

Students learn to develop storytelling skills over a number of different platforms. They make a portfolio of an animated character, be able to use this to make a 2D platformer and publish this for PC gaming. They work on a short live-action film running their own set and as a small group. Photography skills will develop their understanding of cameras, composition, light and colour. Students will learn how to sculpt their characters using a number of traditional and digital techniques for a short stop-motion film. All these skills will give the learner a great portfolio of practical work to be able to develop their creative career in their desired direction.

Students will be exposed to industry-standard software such as Adobe Collection, Toon Boom Harmony, Dragonframe, Maya, Unity and many more. Industry-standard Hardware with custom build HP Z workstations and Wacom Cintiq drawing tablets.

Course Content

Compulsory

NZCDMD101 Animation

Students will develop character design and character motion knowledge, developing a motion portfolio for their characters. This will include run and walk cycles, idles and actions. 

NZCDMD102 Gaming

Students will develop game design knowledge and apply this to making a 2D game for the PC platform. 

NZCDMD103 Film

Students will work in small teams to run a film set and develop a short live-action film. 

NZCDMD104 Sculpture

Students will learn how to develop sculptural techniques to build a small stop-motion set and accompany characters to develop a short stop-motion film. 

NZCDMD105 Painting

Students will develop digital painting techniques to be able to develop concepts and deliver a short narrative-driven project.   

NZCDMD106 Photography

Student will develop their knowledge of different photographic techniques and present a portfolio of a themed project. 

Career Opportunities

The Creative Industries is a vibrant and growing Industry and graduates can go onto further study and develop their pathways into industries such as film, animation, game design, concept develop, digital content creators and many many more creative opportunities. 

Application Criteria

Entry requirements

School leavers

You must be at least 17 years old when the programme begins.

Ideally, you’ll have NCEA Level 2 or 3.

Mature applicants

If you’re 20 or older when you enrol, you may be considered if you can demonstrate your ability to succeed in the programme.

Evidence may include:

  • Successful completion of a Level 1 or higher qualification in a related discipline
  • One or more years of employment in a related sector

Your relevant experience, previous study and commitment to completing the programme will be considered as part of the application process.

In exceptional circumstances, mature applicants who do not meet the standard entry requirements may also be considered if they have successfully completed an approved course or programme that demonstrates they are prepared for study at the required academic level.

English language requirements

If English is not your first language, or your previous education was not taught in English, you’ll need to provide evidence of your English language ability.

You can meet this requirement through one of the following:

  • NCEA Level 3 with University Entrance
  • An International Baccalaureate Diploma or Cambridge A Level where teaching and assessment were completed in English
  • CELTA or CertTESOL
  • Completion of primary education (equivalent to New Zealand Years 1 to 8) plus at least three years of secondary education taught in English in New Zealand, Australia,
  • Canada, the Republic of Ireland, South Africa, the United Kingdom or the United States
  • At least five years of secondary education taught in English in New Zealand, Australia, Canada, the Republic of Ireland, South Africa, the United Kingdom or the United States
  • Completion of a tertiary qualification taught in English from a tertiary education provider in one of the countries listed above. This includes a bachelor’s degree, graduate certificate, graduate diploma, bachelor honours degree, postgraduate certificate, postgraduate diploma, master’s degree or doctoral degree

An approved English language proficiency test that meets the requirements below

English language test requirements

  • IELTS General or Academic: 5.0 overall, with no band below 5.0
  • TOEFL iBT: 35, with a writing score of 14
  • TOEFL pBT: 500, with TWE 4
  • PTE Academic: 36, with no band below 36
  • Cambridge English: B2 First or B2 First for Schools, score 154, with no skill below 154
  • OET: Grade C or 200 in all sub-tests
  • NZCEL: Level 3 General
  • LanguageCert: B1 Achiever International ESOL Written (LRW) Pass, with at least 25/50 in each skill, and Spoken (S) Pass
  • Trinity ISE: ISE I, with at least Distinction in each band

English language test scores must be achieved in a single test within the two years before enrolment.

Qualification Pathways

This course gives learns a number of pathways into the Creative Industries. This inlcudes further study in the follow courses:

  • New Zealand Certificate in Creativity
  • Bachelor of Screen Arts - Animation Major
  • Bachelor of Screen Arts - Game Design Major
  • Bachelor of Screen Arts - Concept Art and Design Major
  • Bachelor of Screen Arts - Film Major
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