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New Zealand Certificate in Study and Employment Pathways (Level 4) - Art and Design

Are you a visual person? Do you want to create dynamic art and design to communicate ideas and concepts? The New Zealand Certificate in Study and Career Preparation is your pass to an exciting future in art, media, or design.

Level
4
Credits
60 (0.5 EFTS)
Campus
Mt Albert
Start dates
February or July
Duration
Full-time for 16 weeks or part-time options available.

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Programme overview

This programme is ideal if you want to go on to higher-level study in art and design. It starts with a base in Identity and Communication, then starts to build your art and design knowledge, in both individual work and collaborative projects. While this certificate programme is not equivalent to University Entrance, successful completion will allow you to progress to higher-level programmes. 

Highlights

  • Emphasis on practical skills and studio-based learning: you will be creating your art and design in a studio environment and participate in group critiques with your fellow students. 
  • Learn from Lecturers who are eager to share their industry experience with you.
  • Access to Unitec's excellent communication studies and design facilities.
  • A mix of classroom sessions, practical workshops, critique sessions, guest speakers, discussions, presentations and online learning.
  • A chance to take classes in Unitec's marae, a great setting to explore Māori oratorical traditions and the role of culture in communication.

Where to from here

Upon successful completion of this programme you can go onto further study in Bachelor of Creative Enterprise programme.

Please note: International students who graduate will NOT be eligible for a post study work visa upon completion of this programme.

Admission requirements

Domestic students

To apply for this programme, you must meet the following criteria:

  • Academic requirements
  • General admission, special admission, or discretionary admission requirements
  • English language requirements
  • You will need to complete a pre-entry Skills Review session

Academic Requirements

To be eligible for the Art & Design Pathway, you must meet one of the following: 

  • UE numeracy or equivalent
  • A minimum total of 40 NCEA Level 2 credits across four approved subjects, including:  
  • 12 credits in English at Level 1 or higher; Or 
  • A relevant qualification at Level 3 on the New Zealand Qualifications and Credentials Framework (NZQCF) or an equivalent international qualification (e.g., International Baccalaureate or Cambridge); Or 
  • The New Zealand Certificate in Study and Employment Pathways (Level 3) (previously known as the New Zealand Certificate in Study and Career Preparation (Level 3)), or an equivalent qualification. 

General Admission

  • You’ll be 16 years old or older when the programme starts. 
  • If you’re under 16, you’ll need to complete an Early Release Exemption form. For more information on this process please see The Ministry of Education's website here.

Special Admission

  • You’ll be 20 years old or older when the programme starts
  • Show evidence of your work, life, or study experience (e.g., a previous qualification or job history)
  • You will complete a pre-entry Skills review

Discretionary Admission

  • You’re under 20 and don’t meet the general admission requirements 
  • Your level of preparedness for study at the required level will be reviewed and you will undertake a Skills Review. 

English language requirements

You must meet one of the following:

For more information download the programme regulations.

International Student

To apply for this programme, you must meet the following criteria:

  • Academic requirements
  • General admission, special admission, or discretionary admission requirements
  • English language requirements
  • You will need to complete a pre-entry Skills Review session

Academic Requirements

To be eligible for the Art & Design Pathway, you must meet one of the following: 

  • UE numeracy or equivalent
  • A minimum total of 40 NCEA Level 2 credits across four approved subjects, including:  
  • 12 credits in English at Level 1 or higher; Or 
  • A relevant qualification at Level 3 on the New Zealand Qualifications and Credentials Framework (NZQCF) or an equivalent international qualification (e.g., International Baccalaureate or Cambridge); Or 
  • The New Zealand Certificate in Study and Employment Pathways (Level 3) (previously known as the New Zealand Certificate in Study and Career Preparation (Level 3)), or an equivalent qualification. 

General Admission

  • You’ll be 16 years old or older when the programme starts. 
  • If you’re under 16, you’ll need to complete an Early Release Exemption form. For more information on this process please see The Ministry of Education's website here.

Special Admission

  • You’ll be 20 years old or older when the programme starts
  • Show evidence of your work, life, or study experience (e.g., a previous qualification or job history)
  • You will complete a pre-entry Skills review

Discretionary Admission

  • You’re under 20 and don’t meet the general admission requirements 
  • Your level of preparedness for study at the required level will be reviewed and you will undertake a Skills Review. 

English language requirements for international students

You must meet one of the following:

For more information download the programme regulations.

 

Courses and timetables

For more details on the courses, please click on the course names below. Please note that our systems are updating with new course timetable information for 2026; please check back again soon.

Debug


program code:NZCSP - ARTDESIGN

Compulsory Course ID:013999 - 4008 - Academic Skills for Architecture, Art and Screen

Course count:324
SELECT DISTINCT (CATALOG_NBR),ACAD_PROG,CRSE_ID,DESCRLONG,SUBJECT,AIM,NQF_LEVEL,NQF_CREDIT,CATALOG_NBR,PREREQS,MANDANTORY_CRS,FULL_YEAR FROM PS_UTC_IR_CRSE_VW WHERE ACAD_PROG = "NZCSP" AND (ACAD_PLAN = "ARTDESIGN" OR ACAD_PLAN = "") AND MANDANTORY_CRS = "N" AND FULL_YEAR = "N" ORDER BY NQF_LEVEL,SUBJECT,CATALOG_NBR;
Elective Course ID:012686 - 4101 - Visual Art Studio

Course count:48

Elective Course ID:012687 - 4102 - Design Studio

Course count:126

Elective Course ID:012690 - 4301 - Screen Production

Course count:12

Elective Course ID:012692 - 4803 - Acting

Course count:12

Elective Course ID:014009 - 4805 - Dance

Course count:0

Elective Course ID:014010 - 4806 - Technical Production

Course count:0

Elective Course ID:012696 - 4901 - Collaborative Project Creative

Course count:102

Elective Course ID:013225 - 4006 - Applied Maths

Course count:54

Compulsory first Course array:4

$compulsory courses array - array(1) { [0]=> array(8) { ["level"]=> string(1) "4" ["crse_id"]=> string(6) "013999" ["subject"]=> string(4) "BPED" ["catalog_nbr"]=> string(4) "4008" ["description"]=> string(48) "Academic Skills for Architecture, Art and Screen" ["credit"]=> string(4) "15.0" ["aim"]=> string(162) "This course introduces pathway-related concepts and develops pathway-related academic skills to prepare tauira for further academic study in their chosen pathway." ["prereqs"]=> string(133) "Students must be admitted to the New Zealand Certificate in Study and Career Preparation (Level 4) programme to enrol in this course." } }

Elective first Course array:4

$elective courses array - array(6) { [0]=> array(8) { ["level"]=> string(1) "4" ["crse_id"]=> string(6) "012686" ["subject"]=> string(4) "BECI" ["catalog_nbr"]=> string(4) "4101" ["description"]=> string(17) "Visual Art Studio" ["credit"]=> string(4) "15.0" ["aim"]=> string(154) "Tauira will develop a confident learner identity and the visual Art skills necessary for further academic study and/or employment in their chosen pathway." ["prereqs"]=> string(124) "Students must be admitted to the NZ Certificate in Study and Career Preparation (Level 4) programme to enrol in this course." } [1]=> array(8) { ["level"]=> string(1) "4" ["crse_id"]=> string(6) "012687" ["subject"]=> string(4) "BECI" ["catalog_nbr"]=> string(4) "4102" ["description"]=> string(13) "Design Studio" ["credit"]=> string(4) "15.0" ["aim"]=> string(150) "Tauira will develop a confident learner identity and the design skills necessary for further academic study and/or employment in their chosen pathway." ["prereqs"]=> string(124) "Students must be admitted to the NZ Certificate in Study and Career Preparation (Level 4) programme to enrol in this course." } [2]=> array(8) { ["level"]=> string(1) "4" ["crse_id"]=> string(6) "012690" ["subject"]=> string(4) "BECI" ["catalog_nbr"]=> string(4) "4301" ["description"]=> string(17) "Screen Production" ["credit"]=> string(4) "15.0" ["aim"]=> string(348) "This course aims to provide tauira with a broad theoretical and operational understanding and awareness of the moving image as a communication medium in contemporary society and culture setting and gain an ability to analyse and make use of selected media forms. Tauira will learn how contemporary media forms and practices influence communication." ["prereqs"]=> string(124) "Students must be admitted to the NZ Certificate in Study and Career Preparation (Level 4) programme to enrol in this course." } [3]=> array(8) { ["level"]=> string(1) "4" ["crse_id"]=> string(6) "012692" ["subject"]=> string(4) "BECI" ["catalog_nbr"]=> string(4) "4803" ["description"]=> string(6) "Acting" ["credit"]=> string(4) "15.0" ["aim"]=> string(206) "This course aims to provide tauira with a broad theoretical and operational understanding of storytelling techniques and to develop creative outcomes across a range of performing arts forms and disciplines." ["prereqs"]=> string(124) "Students must be admitted to the NZ Certificate in Study and Career Preparation (Level 4) programme to enrol in this course." } [4]=> array(8) { ["level"]=> string(1) "4" ["crse_id"]=> string(6) "012696" ["subject"]=> string(4) "BECI" ["catalog_nbr"]=> string(4) "4901" ["description"]=> string(30) "Collaborative Project Creative" ["credit"]=> string(4) "15.0" ["aim"]=> string(188) "This course will prepare tauira for further academic study and/or employment in their chosen pathway by providing creative project experience in both individual and collaborative contexts." ["prereqs"]=> string(124) "Students must be admitted to the NZ Certificate in Study and Career Preparation (Level 4) programme to enrol in this course." } [5]=> array(8) { ["level"]=> string(1) "4" ["crse_id"]=> string(6) "013225" ["subject"]=> string(4) "BPED" ["catalog_nbr"]=> string(4) "4006" ["description"]=> string(13) "Applied Maths" ["credit"]=> string(4) "15.0" ["aim"]=> string(152) "This course introduces and develops pathway-related mathematical skills to prepare tauira for further study and/or employment in their chosen pathway.??" ["prereqs"]=> string(133) "Students must be admitted to the New Zealand Certificate in Study and Career Preparation (Level 4) programme to enrol in this course." } }

Compulsory coursesElective courses
Level 4
Level 4
Courses Credits Aim
Academic Skills for Architecture, Art and Screen(BPED4008) 15.0 credits (0.125 EFTS) This course introduces pathway-related concepts and develops pathway-related academic skills to prepare tauira for further academic study in their chosen pathway.
Courses Credits Aim
Visual Art Studio(BECI4101) 15.0 credits (0.125 EFTS) Tauira will develop a confident learner identity and the visual Art skills necessary for further academic study and/or employment in their chosen pathway.
Design Studio(BECI4102) 15.0 credits (0.125 EFTS) Tauira will develop a confident learner identity and the design skills necessary for further academic study and/or employment in their chosen pathway.
Screen Production(BECI4301) 15.0 credits (0.125 EFTS) This course aims to provide tauira with a broad theoretical and operational understanding and awareness of the moving image as a communication medium in contemporary society and culture setting and gain an ability to analyse and make use of selected media forms. Tauira will learn how contemporary media forms and practices influence communication.
Acting(BECI4803) 15.0 credits (0.125 EFTS) This course aims to provide tauira with a broad theoretical and operational understanding of storytelling techniques and to develop creative outcomes across a range of performing arts forms and disciplines.
Collaborative Project Creative(BECI4901) 15.0 credits (0.125 EFTS) This course will prepare tauira for further academic study and/or employment in their chosen pathway by providing creative project experience in both individual and collaborative contexts.
Applied Maths(BPED4006) 15.0 credits (0.125 EFTS) This course introduces and develops pathway-related mathematical skills to prepare tauira for further study and/or employment in their chosen pathway.??
button for easy access to information about this qualification

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Page last edited: 13 Oct 2025