Diploma in Digital Media and Design

Build a strong foundation in creativity, design, marketing and digital communication before choosing the pathway that best matches your interests and career goals. After developing core skills shared across all students, you can specialise in one or two strands across Design, Marketing and Digital Content Strategy.

The programme is made up of 120 credits, including 60 credits of compulsory core courses. You can then choose either a single-strand pathway or a dual-strand pathway.

Core Courses:

Creative Foundations

Develop the core skills that underpin successful careers in design, marketing and digital content. Explore creative thinking, design principles, visual communication, consumer behaviour and professional practice while building confidence with industry-standard tools.

• Industry & Consumer Insights Learn how people think, engage and make decisions. Discover how research, audience insights and market trends shape creative ideas, branding, campaigns and digital experiences.

• Visual Storytelling Bring ideas to life through compelling visual narratives. Explore storytelling, motion, layout, typography and creative communication to produce engaging content across print, digital and screen-based media.

Choose your specialist strand or strands:

Design Strand

Develop the skills to create engaging digital experiences and visual solutions using industry-standard software and modern design practices.

• UX/UI Fundamentals – Learn user-centred design, prototyping, user research and interface design to create intuitive digital experiences.

• Digital Tools for Design – Build professional design skills using industry-standard software to create digital assets for print, web and marketing.

Marketing Strand

Learn how to connect brands with audiences through creative strategy, consumer insights and integrated campaigns.

• Marketing Principles – Explore branding, consumer behaviour, market segmentation and digital marketing to develop effective marketing strategies.

• Campaign Fundamentals – Plan and execute integrated marketing campaigns across multiple channels while considering audience needs and cultural responsiveness.

Digital Content Strategy Strand

Create content that captures attention and delivers meaningful engagement across today's digital platforms.

• Content Strategy Fundamentals – Learn how to plan, structure and evaluate content strategies using audience insights, content planning and performance metrics.

• Multi-Platform Content Basics – Develop content for social media, video and digital channels while adapting messaging for different audiences and platforms.

After completing your chosen strand, you'll select two elective courses from across the programme. This flexibility allows you to broaden your knowledge across multiple disciplines or deepen your expertise in your chosen area of interest.

Single-strand pathway

Choose one primary strand and complete:

• 60 credits

  of compulsory core courses

• 30 credits

  in your chosen primary strand

• 30 credits

  of electives selected from the other two strands

You'll select your primary strand at enrolment. Your electives give you the flexibility to broaden your interdisciplinary skills or develop complementary expertise in another strand. Electives are selected from the courses available within the programme and are subject to timetable availability, viable class sizes and academic approval.

Dual-strand pathway

You can also choose to specialise in two strands. In the dual-strand pathway, you'll complete all prescribed courses from both of your chosen strands instead of taking separate electives.

For example, you could complete the two Marketing courses and the two Design courses, giving you Marketing and Design as your two strands.

Whichever pathway you choose, you'll complete 120 credits in total, giving you the flexibility to develop depth in one specialist area or build expertise across two complementary disciplines.

Course availability and elective choices are subject to timetable feasibility, viable class sizes and academic approval.

Software:

The programme uses Adobe Creative Suite (Photoshop, Illustrator, After Effects, Premiere Pro), Figma, AI tools, contemporary prototyping software, version control tools, Agile project management tools, digital asset management systems, SEO and analytics tools, and content creation platforms including Reels, YouTube Shorts, and TikTok.

Equipment:

You are required to bring your own device. This allows flexibility of study outside of class hours and seamless remote study in the event of another lockdown where classroom facilities are inaccessible. If you do not own your own device, please discuss this with one of our team at enrolment.

Domestic students

• Tuition Fees: $9455.20

• Student Services Levy:

  • On Campus: $410.00

  • Online Only: $205.00

• Course Related Costs*: $350

*Course Related Cost  - Covers software licensing for student use on campus for the period of 1 year. This amount can be covered by StudyLink's courses related cost loan.

(Eligible for 'fees-free' study)

International students

• Tuition Fees: $27,300 (NZD)

• Resource & Admin Fee: $2,400 (NZD)

For more information, click here to download the international course costs PDF.

Please note fees are subject to change.

The academic entry for the programme is

• NCEA Level 3 (60 credits at level 3 and 20 credits at level 2 or higher), and:

  • Literacy* - 10 credits at Level 2 or above, made up of 5 credits in reading, 5 credits in writing,

  • Numeracy* - 10 credits at Level 1 or above (specified achievement standards, or unit standards 26623, 26626, 26627)

OR

• New Zealand Diploma in Digital Media and Design Level 4 (including Yoobee’s Certificate in Creative Media (Level 4))

OR

• Yoobee’s Certificate in AI for Creative Industries (NZ Certificate in Study and Employment Pathways) Level 4

OR

• an equivalent qualification.

Alternative Entry Requirements

If you don’t meet the standard academic entry requirements, we still encourage you to apply. You may be eligible for alternative entry based on your life experience, work experience, or other relevant knowledge and skills.

Alternative entry recognises that readiness for study can be demonstrated in different ways. As part of your application, we’ll ask you to provide information or evidence that helps show you are ready to succeed in the programme.

Not sure whether you’re eligible? We encourage you to get in touch. Our team can talk you through your options and help you understand the best pathway into study.