Photography – Bachelor of Design with Honours

Admission to Massey

All students must meet university entrance requirements to be admitted to the University.

• Massey University entry requirements

Specific requirements

This is a selected entry qualification . This means there are a number of extra requirements you must meet.

To enter the Bachelor of Design with Honours you will:

• submit a portfolio (if you do well in NCEA Level 2 art, design or technology (or equivalent) you may not need to submit a portfolio. See details below.)

Application closing date

• For Semester One start: Applications close on 30 November, for study commencing the following year.
• For Semester Two start: Applications close on 30 June.

Late applications will be considered subject to available spaces.

English language requirements

To study this qualification you must meet Massey University's English language standards.

• Massey University English language requirements

Portfolio requirements

There are three main ways to gain entry to the Bachelor of Design with Honours

Automatic entry

If you achieved NCEA Level 2 or 3 with Merit or Excellence overall, and a Merit or Excellence endorsement in an approved art, design or technology subject, you have automatic entry and will not have to submit a portfolio.

This also applies for Cambridge International students achieving an AS grade A or B in an approved art, design or technology subject.

Portfolio pre-approval entry

You can show work in progress to a Massey College of Creative Arts staff member during a school visit, Massey Open Day or other University event, or in a video call. They’ll look at examples of your work with you and if it shows the creative potential we’re looking for, they’ll sign a portfolio pre-approval letter. Then you won’t need to submit a final portfolio with your application.

Portfolio entry

When you apply online, submit a portfolio showing a selection of your creative work that demonstrates your creative potential with your application to study.

See full details about portfolio requirements and pre-approvals

English language skills

If you need help with your English language skills before you start university, see our English for Academic Purposes (EAP) courses.

English Evidence Academic IELTS^: 6.0 overall and minimum 5.5 in each band

English Evidence TOEFL iBT: Overall score 80, minimum 19 in Writing

English Evidence Pearson Test of English (PTE): 50 overall and minimum 42 in each communicative skills

The photography major develops skills necessary in diverse fields. Roles for photographers exist wherever visual documentation and communication are needed.

Graduates of the Bachelor of Design with Honours (Photography) have traditionally worked in areas such as

• advertising
• fashion
• corporate promotion
• illustration
• food photography
• architectural photography
• humanitarian photography.

Their work appears in newspapers, magazines. and online.

Increasingly, photography careers combine still and moving image, and more opportunities are opening up in areas such as video design. Graduates are also employed to apply the documentation aspects of photography in such disciplines as medicine, science, forensic science, archaeology, and anthropology.