New Zealand Certificate in Digital Media and Design (Level 4)

Become a problem-solver

This programme will help you develop your problem-solving skills in a digital media and design context. You’ll learn how to select and use tools and design principles to turn design problems into design solutions.

Use project briefs to apply and manage a design process

You’ll learn how to apply and manage the design process, paying attention to key concerns such as safe work practice.

Apply fundamental skills in digital media and design to project briefs

You’ll learn how to use a range of digital tools as you follow the design process and turn project briefs into designs, gaining practical experience along the way.

Define your own digital media and design work in a range of contexts…

…and gain experiences working collaboratively in a team and critiquing your own work and the work of others.

Learn how to be a good digital citizen and consider your career or study pathway in the digital media and design industry.

Learn the fundamentals of digital citizenship in New Zealand’s unique context, including ethical and legal responsibilities regarding intellectual property, the Copyright Act, the Privacy Act, and honouring the Treaty of Waitangi. Learn about and reflect on your future in the digital media and design industry.

Explore Adobe Creative Cloud

Access Adobe Creative Cloud at no extra cost. You will receive access to the world’s best creative apps and services so you can make anything you can imagine, wherever you’re inspired. This is included within the displayed course fee. The creative cloud includes:

Adobe Acrobat DC, Adobe After Effects, Adobe Animate, Adobe Audition, Adobe Bridge, Adobe Character Animator, Adobe Dimension, Adobe Dreamweaver, Adobe Fireworks CS6, Adobe Flash Builder, Adobe Fresco, Adobe Illustrator, Adobe InCopy, Adobe InDesign, Adobe Media Encoder, Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Photoshop Camera, Adobe Photoshop Lightroom, Adobe Prelude, Adobe Premiere Pro, Adobe Premiere Rush, Adobe XD

Your learning will be delivered fully online via the eCampus NZ portal. You’ll be supported through your learning journey by eCampus NZ online facilitators and student advisors, and you’ll also have access to your enrolling institute’s on-campus services, including their libraries and support services.

One of the great things about completing online study with eCampus NZ is the flexible nature of the course timetable, with most courses available to start at regular intervals throughout the year. There are both full-time and part-time options available.

Once you’ve successfully completed your studies, you’ll graduate with a qualification you’re your enrolling institute that’s equal in merit to those studied on campus. Programmes delivered through eCampus NZ are NZQA accredited, just like when you study face-to-face.

Academic requirements 

• 10 NCEA Level 1 literacy credits or the New Zealand Certificate in Creativity (Level 4), or equivalent.

Alternative Requirements

Applicants who are unable to evidence that they meet Academic Entry Requirements, but who can demonstrate acquired skills for tertiary study gained through study, work and/or life experience, may be approved for alternative entry.

Additional Requirements

Portfolio: Applicants may be required to submit a portfolio demonstrating their digital media/design work.

Interview: Applicants may be required to attend an interview.

Experience

Even if you don’t have the necessary qualifications, you may still be approved for entry if you can show you have the literacy and numeracy skills needed for tertiary study through other study, work and/or life experience. Please contact us for more information.

Language

• If English is not your first language, you may be required to show that your English language skills meet IELTS 5.5 Academic (no lower than 5.0 in any subtest) or English Proficiency Outcomes Chart equivalent.
• If you have no evidence of your English language skills and are a New Zealand citizen or permanent resident, contact us for an assessment.
• Students with NCEA Level 3 University Entrance are not required to provide evidence of English Language Skills.

As this programme is delivered fully online, you do not need to provide us with a My Vaccine Pass.

• You will need to provide us with a valid My Vaccine Pass if you want to visit an Otago Polytechnic site for any reason while you are studying with us (e.g. meetings, events, presentations) or attend graduation in person at the end of this programme.
• You do not need to provide a valid My Vaccine Pass if you are attending on campus health services (e.g. student health, Kowhai Centre).
• In exceptional circumstances, exemptions may be granted to this. You can find out more about this in our vaccination policy. If you think you have grounds to be exempt from our vaccination requirements, please email Covid-19@op.ac.nz    

You can find more information about our vaccination requirements here. And, if you still have further questions, please visit our FAQs page which you can find here.

Software requirements

Learners will use Adobe’s Creative Cloud software suite whilst studying this programme of study. The full system requirements for the Adobe software can be found at: https://helpx.adobe.com/creative-cloud/system-requirements.html

Materials required:

• Drawing supplies i.e pads, pencils, paints
• Access to a late model cellphone for video and photography
• Access to a DSLR Camera is recommended
• Access to a drawing tablet and pen. We recommend the brand Wacom. 

This qualification is made up of four courses. Each course is delivered over 10 weeks and is worth 15 credits.

NZQA guidelines suggest up to 150 hours of total study time for a 15-credit course. To complete one of the courses successfully in the 10-week timeframe, you must be prepared to devote approximately 15 hours per week to your study.

Depending on your previous academic online experience and course level, the time commitment may vary.

If you want to study as a full-time student, you can enrol in more than one course at a time, which will increase the amount of study required per week. Please speak to one of our Sales and Learner Service Coordinators for more information on 0800 328 269 or refer to https://www.studylink.govt.nz/about-studylink/glossary/full-time-definition.html.

Graduates of this qualification may undertake further tertiary study at diploma or degree level in the fields of design, media, and/or art.

Courses and qualifications through eCampus NZ are eligible for student loan support conditional that the student and level of study meet certain criteria. Student loans are administered through Studylink. Visit http://www.studylink.govt.nz/  for more information or phone eCampus NZ on 0800 328 269 and we can point you in the right direction.