School of Visual Arts

Programme Summary

If you choose to enrol into the visual arts specialisation of the Bachelor of Creative Arts (BCA) you will be introduced to core skills in a range of visual arts practices. Each student will determine how they will employ the skills they learn and establish the context in which they will operate. You may choose to work toward becoming an exhibiting artist showing your work in galleries or to position yourself as a designer working with text and image. The choice is yours!

A core component of each specialisation within the BCA are the Creativity courses delivered at the commencement of each academic year. In these courses you will develop confidence in exploring and presenting creative ideas, communicating and working in groups and establishing collaborative approaches to project development and problem solving. It is the Faculty’s hope that collaborative artistic projects that bring together the students of all three schools will become a hallmark of its activities.

The first year of the visual arts specialisation of the BCA will introduce you to Core Skills in each of the three areas of studio delivery offered in the School  – constructing images, building objects and lens base media. The Workshop Practice course provides an opportunity to extend your skills in one or two of these areas and Drawing, Context & Research establishes the research and development strategies required in the programme. The first year ends with two Studio Practice courses that provide you with the opportunity to apply your developing skills and understandings to the production of studio outcomes using different approaches in each course. The first year is about broad experimentation and identifying your preferred approaches to creative activities.

The second year of the programme requires you to identify an individual programme of study based on the skills you have acquired and your area of interest in the visual arts. In conversation with staff you will select workshops and studio approaches that will support your selected path.

In the final year of the degree, you will undertake a self-initiated project that will complete your degree studies. In semester one you will establish the nature and scope of the project and in semester two you will produce a body of work suitable for examination and public exhibition. This presentation is the launch pad to your career in the visual arts.

Courses

Year 1 (Level 5)

Semester 1: Creativity 1 / Core Skills: Building Images / Drawing Context Research / Core Skills: Building Objects

Semester 2: Workshop Practice / Core Skills: Lens Based Media / Studio Practice: Materials & Processes / Studio Practice : Ideas & Responses

Year 2 (Level 6)

Semester 1: Creativity 2 / Positioning Practice / Pacific Art Histories / Workshop Practice & Development

Semester 2: Drawing, Context Research (Optional) / Advancing Practice / Studio Practice (Project) / Studio Practice (Show)

Year 3 (Level 7)

Semester 1: Creativity 3 / Professional Practice / Capstone Project (Exploration)

Semester 2: Capstone Project (Realisation)

Entry Requirements

Applicants must meet the following entry requirements:

• Have at least 42 NCEA credits at Level 3, including a minimum of 14 credits in each of two subjects, plus a minimum of 14 credits in one or two subjects and a minimum of 4 credits in reading and a minimum of 4 credits in writing, both at level 2 or equivalent.
  OR
• Have at least 72 NCEA credits at Level 2 including a minimum of 14 credits in each of two approved subjects and including 8 credits in reading/writing and including 30 credits achieved at Merit or Excellence or equivalent.
  OR
• Have at least 60 NZQA recognised credits at Level 5 or higher or equivalent.
  OR
• Have relevant work/life experience and be able to demonstrate that they can work/study at a level appropriate to the programme. Each applicant will be considered on an individual basis. To support their application applicants will be required to demonstrate their ability to study at Level 5 (Year 1) including a file providing evidence of personal life skills and previous activities. Applicants will be invited to an interview. Among attributes an applicant must demonstrate are a mature and positive approach to study, commitment and motivation to degree study.
   AND
• Have English language competence to undertake this programme which is taught and assessed in English. Applicants whose first language is not English may be asked for evidence of an overall IELTS (Academic) score of 6.5 (with no score below 6.0) or equivalent.
  AND 
• Present a portfolio of examples of creative visual work completed in the previous 18 months and a personal statement outlining the reasons for choosing to apply for the programme

Download the portfolio guideline to assist you with the completion of your application.

Programme Summary

The Diploma of Visual Arts (Level 5) is a broad-based programme that will introduce you to contemporary ideas, thoughts and practices. It provides the basis for specialisations in subsequent years. You will work on a range of activities in the areas of image construction, object building and lens based media that will challenge you to progressively develop and extend your knowledge and skills. It also helps you to articulate in visual, verbal and written communication, and to develop the critical faculties necessary for an understanding of contemporary art and applied media. The Visual Arts programme encourages all students to work within their cultural context and to explore other cultures.

Courses

Entry Requirements

Applicants must meet the following entry requirements: 

• Have at least 42 NCEA credits at Level 3, including a minimum of 14 credits in each of two subjects, plus a minimum of 14 credits in one or two subjects and a minimum of 4 credits in reading and a minimum of 4 credits in writing, both at level 2 or equivalent 
  OR 
• Have at least 72 NCEA credits at Level 2 including a minimum of 14 credits in each of two approved subjects and including 8 credits in reading/writing and including 30 credits achieved at Merit or Excellence or equivalent. 
  OR
• Have at least 60 NZQA recognised credits at Level 5 or higher or equivalent
  OR 
• Have relevant work/life experience and be able to demonstrate that they can work/study at a level appropriate to the programme. Each applicant will be considered on an individual basis. To support their application applicants will be required to demonstrate their ability to study at Level 5 (Year 1) including a portfolio providing evidence of personal life skills and previous activities. Applicants will be invited to an interview. Among attributes an applicant must demonstrate are a mature and positive approach to study, commitment and motivation to  degree study. (See interview form in Appendix 9).  
  AND
• Have English language competence to undertake this programme which is taught and assessed in English.  Any applicants whose first language is not English may be asked to provide evidence of an overall IELTS (Academic) score of 6.5 (with no score below 6.0) or equivalent.Applicants must meet the following entry requirements:

Download the portfolio guideline to assist you with the completion of your application.

All applicants must present a portfolio of examples of creative visual work completed in the previous 18 months and a personal statement outlining the reasons for choosing to apply for the programme. Where an applicant’s portfolio does not supply sufficient information to enable a decision on acceptance into the programme, the applicant may be invited to an interview for the purpose of gaining further relevant information.

Programme Summary

In the Diploma in Advanced Jewellery, students will receive expert tuition in advanced CAD for jewellers, business skills, and advanced design,to develop an independent jewellery project.

Courses

Entry Requirements

Applicants must meet the following entry requirements:

• Diploma in Jewellery Manufacture and Design (Level 5) or equivalent.
• All applicants must present a portfolio of examples of jewellery completed in the previous 18 months and a personal statement outlining the reasons for choosing to apply for the programme. Where an applicant’s portfolio does not supply sufficient information to enable a decision on acceptance into the programme, the applicant may be invited to an interview for the purpose of gaining further relevant information
  or
• Appropriate industry experience evidenced in a portfolio of work completed in the previous 18 months. Where an applicant’s portfolio does not supply sufficient information to enable a decision on acceptance into the programme, the applicant may be invited to an interview for the purpose of gaining further relevant information
  and
• Having English language competence to undertake this programme which is taught and assessed in English. Any applicant whose first language is not English must provide evidence of an overall IELTS (Academic) band score of 5.5 (with no score below 5.0) or equivalent.

Applicants accepted in order of successful application.

Download the portfolio guideline to assist you with the completion of your application.

Programme Summary

The Diploma in Jewellery Manufacture and Design (Level 5) will offer students the opportunity to develop professional skills in areas such as setting construction, box making,  mass production in jewellery through metal and resin casting, jewellery repair, construction of advanced jewellery findings (clasps and catches) and Computer Aided Design (CAD) for jewellery, jewellery design, and history. These skills and processes will be learned through the production of finished items of jewellery.

Courses

Entry Requirements

Applicants must meet the following entry requirements:

• Have successfully completed the MIT Certificate in Jewellery Techniques (Level 4) or an equivalent programme
  AND
• Present a portfolio of reproductions of 12 jewellery works completed within the previous 18 months
  AND
• Have English language competence to undertake this programme which is taught in English, for example, have achieved NCEA Level 2 English with 4 credits in reading and 4 credits in writing or equivalent. Any applicant whose first language is not English may be required to provide evidence of an overall IELTS (Academic) band score of 6.0 (with no score below 5.5) or equivalent.
  

Applicants accepted in order of successful application.

Download the portfolio guideline to assist you with the completion of your application.

Programme Summary

Students will undertake projects to develop professional skills in areas such as metal forming, joining techniques, surface treatments, core construction methods of rings, brooches, pendants, earrings and bracelets.

Other areas include lost wax casting methods, enamelling, drawing as a tool for planning, and design starting points. These skills and processes will be learned through the production of finished items of jewellery.

Courses

Entry Requirements

Applicants must meet the following entry requirements:

• Present a portfolio of reproductions of 12 creative works completed within the last 18 months. These should be A4 colour printouts. The portfolio should be included with your MIT programme application form.
  AND

• Have English language competence to undertake this programme which is taught and assessed in English, for example have achieved NCEA Level 2 English with 4 credits in reading and 4 credits in writing or equivalent. Any applicant whose first language is not English may be required to provide evidence of an overall IELTS (Academic) band score of 5.5 (with no score below 5.0) or equivalent.
  

Download the portfolio guideline to assist you with the completion of your application.

Programme Summary

The Certificate in Photography (Level 4) covers camera techniques, image design, digital photographic processes and as well as computer programmes for digital enhancement and manipulation of photographs.

Course Description
The Certificate in Photography is largely a practical programme designed to meet industry requirements, providing students with a working knowledge of photographic equipment, procedures and product types. This programme gives students the skills and knowledge to know how to manipulate and refine images to professional standards and be able to deliver a presentation of that work using both hard and software means.

The four compulsory courses focus on manual and digital camera skills with monochrome and colour materials and the extension of photographic image making through digital technology.

• Camera Use
  This course familiarises students with a large range of digital cameras. Students will be able to explain and demonstrate their use to customers and then apply this knowledge to the creation of a range of photographic genres to industry standard.
• Digital Technology 1
  This course shows students how to use software to extract and manipulate images for a variety of commercial uses. Students will learn to manage a variety of file types and demonstrate ethical standards in the use of digital images with understanding.
• Digital Technology 2
  Students will develop a personal area of interest that acknowledges a photographic genre and context. Students will learn how to collect and select a body of photographic images towards presentation.
• Portfolio
  In this course students develop the ability to make critical selections of quality images from a broad range of self-authored images and justify that selection according to appropriate criteria.

Courses

Entry Requirements

Applicants must meet the following entry requirements:

• Present a portfolio of artwork completed within the last 18 months* and
• Have English language competence to undertake this programme which is taught and assessed in English, for example, have achieved NCEA Level 2 English or equivalent.

Any applicant whose first language is not English may be required to provide evidence of an overall IELTS (Academic) band score of 5.5 (with no score below 5.0) or equivalent.

Download the portfolio guideline to assist you with the completion of your application.

All applicants must present a portfolio of examples of creative visual work completed in the previous 18 months and a personal statement outlining the reasons for choosing to apply for the programme. Where an applicant’s portfolio does not supply sufficient information to enable a decision on acceptance into the programme, the applicant may be invited to an interview for the purpose of gaining further relevant information.

Programme Summary

The Certificate in Foundation Studies in Visual Arts (Level 3) consists of eight 15-credit courses. In the first semester students undertake courses in drawing, sculpture, photography and painting and in the second semester image manipulation, jewellery making and animation. The eighth course, Learning Success runs across the academic year and focuses on developing the attitudes and skills necessary to achieve academic success.

Course Descriptions
Drawing From Nature

Develop and build confidence in the use of formal visual elements within the discipline of drawing using Nature as a theme

Constructing in Space

Develop 3D thinking, design and construction skills and engage in observational drawing activities while developing the ability to deconstruct and analyse physical structures

Photography in the Community

Develop and build on basic photography skills using the camera as a way of exploring their local community and environment

Sensing the Surface
An introduction to the use of painting techniques, surfaces and key issues in contemporary painting

Manipulating the Image

An introduction to a wide range of handmade and digital printing techniques with an emphasis on experimentation of newly acquired skills

Jewellery and Me

A practical introduction to jewellery making skills and some common ideas related to production and contemporary jewellery contexts - towards an understanding of how jewellery is used to establish a personal identity

Time, Space and Motion

A practical introduction to simple non-digital Stop Motion Animation covering 2D and 3D approaches whereby each student will produce a short animated work

Learning Success

To enable students to see themselves as successful learners through a series of reflective and experimental activities that identify a range of learning models

Courses

Entry Requirements

Applicants must meet the following entry criteria:

• Present a portfolio that includes 12 images of creative works you have completed in the 18 months previous to your application.  
• Present a 300 word statement explaining your current interests in the visual arts, your reasons for applying to enter the programme and what you hope to learn during your studies. 
• Have English language competence to undertake this programme which is taught and assessed in English.  Any applicants whose first language is not English may be required to provide evidence of an overall IELTS (Academic) band score of 5.5 (with no score below 5.0) or equivalent

Download the portfolio guideline to assist you with the completion of your application.

All applicants must present a portfolio of examples of creative visual work completed in the previous 18 months and a personal statement outlining the reasons for choosing to apply for the programme. Where an applicant’s portfolio does not supply sufficient information to enable a decision on acceptance into the programme, the applicant may be invited to an interview for the purpose of gaining further relevant information.

Programme Summary

Jewellery Skills are 8 week courses run in the evenings and cater for both beginners and more advanced students. They are largely self-directed, so each student can embark on a personal creative journey, in a supportive, relaxed environment. This is a popular programme, with many students re-enrolling after the initial 8 week period, while others transition to full-time study.

Courses

Entry Requirements

At the School of Visual Arts we believe that the mentoring and collaboration our students engage in develops relationships that support our graduates as they begin their careers. These relationships are the key to many successful projects where the skills and friendships that are established over the period of your study become recognised in professional practice.