New Zealand Diploma in Digital Media and Design (Level 5)

at Southern Institute of Technology

BSA 503 - Cross-Disciplinary Workshops

Students will participate in cross-disciplinary workshops to gain an understanding of real-world creative industry practice and communication. Students will be introduced to industry-specific techniques, gaining knowledge and skills required to participate as part of a team. Students will develop research skills to identify and demonstrate historical and theoretical practice. Students will document and analyse the progression of their projects.
 

BSA 542 - Studio Digital 1

Students will be introduced to the fundamentals of design within the current creative industries. Students will complete projects that meet the requirements of a design brief, implementing various software solutions to develop an understanding of how to read and use imagery. Students will also explore and create digital artworks which apply the fundamentals of design principles. Students will investigate and a diversity of historic and contemporary digital design practices
.

BSA 501 - Introduction to Filmmaking

Students will gain practical hands-on skills and develop techniques to be able to effectively use cameras, lighting and audio equipment involved in visual story telling for film. Students will explore a variety of techniques and apply skills to critically assess how to use these tools to greatest effect in various situations and to enhance storytelling.
 

BSA 504 - Screenwriting 1

Students will develop a basic understanding and an ability to analyse film structures, genre conventions and storytelling techniques. Students will develop writing skills to be able to effectively develop a short film script outline, treatment, and screenplay.? Students will learn skills in creating and developing story-driven techniques within the plot, theme, character, and dialogue of their script.
 

BSA 550 - Film Editing

Students will explore and develop an understanding of the aesthetics, concepts and practicalities of combining moving images. Students will be introduced to fundamental post-production tools, software, and editing techniques that serve narratives.
 

BSA 531 - Digital Filmmaking 1

Students will develop conceptual, technical, aesthetic, project management and organisational skills vital to producing, directing and crewing a short film project with high production values. Students will develop leadership skills by producing and directing their own short film project while also developing group and relationship management skills by crewing on other class members’ projects. Students will consider and document their project’s journey including the legal and ethical implications of their actions with regard to film production.
 

BSA 534 - Pre-Production Techniques

Students will learn how to breakdown, schedule, and budget a project, as well as being able to examine the structure and organisation of departments involved in developing and implementing a project. Students will develop documentation and pre-visualisation?artwork as part of a proposal for this project. Students will learn key health and safety procedures and planning strategies relevant to a project.

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 or 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 5.5 with no band score lower than 5
• TOEFL Paper based test (pBT) - Score of 550 (with an essay score of 5 TWE)
• TOEFL Internet based test (iBT) - Score of 46 (with a writing score of 14)
• Cambridge English Examination - B2 First or B2 First for schools with a score of 162. No less than 154 in each skill
• OET - Minimum of Grade C or 200 in all sub-tests
• NZCEL - a) Expiring Level b) Current: a) Level 4 (General) or (Workplace) b) Level 4 (General) or (Employment)
• Pearson Test of English (Academic) - PTE (Academic) score of 42 with no band score lower than 36
• Language Cert - B2 Communicator International ESOL Written (LRW) HIGH PASS with no less than 25/50 in each skill and Spoken (S) PASS
• Trinity ISE - ISE II with no less than merit in any band

Diplomas   NZ$16,500    Per academic year

Graduates of this qualification will have the skills and knowledge for a junior/entry-level position in various areas within creative industries, including advertising, web design, in-house design studio, and news media.