Bachelor of Design Te Tohu Paetahi mō te Hoahoa
Want a career in design? The Bachelor of Design Te Tohu Paetahi mō te Hoahoa will help you turn your creative ideas into reality in a studio-based environment with excellent facilities.
Study design with us and we’ll help you turn your creative ideas into reality. AUT's design degree responds to the changing nature of design careers by focusing on the connections between different design disciplines, the importance of mātauranga Māori, and new and emergent technologies.
You’ll become familiar with the growing ethical and moral responsibilities of design professionals, and will be ready to use your design skills to create a better future. You'll have access to outstanding facilities and industry connections, and may also have the opportunity to exhibit your work at the AUT Art & Design Festival.
Talk to us about your study options
Thinking about studying at AUT? Book a time with us to discuss your study options.
Download programme guides
Minimum entry requirements
If you have New Zealand qualifications
If you have qualifications from another country
See entry requirements for students from other countries. Select your country from the dropdown menu.
English language requirements
- IELTS (Academic) 6.0 overall with all bands 5.5 or higher; or equivalent.
Useful New Zealand school subjects
Art History, Classical Studies, Computing, Construction and Mechanical Technologies, Design (Practical Art), Design and Visual Communication, Digital Technologies or Hangarau Matihiko, English, Geography, Hangarau, Hauora, Health, History, Mathematics/Pāngarau, Media Studies, Music Studies, Ngā Mahi a Rēhia, Ngā Toi, Ngā Toi Ataata, Ngā Toi Puoro, Painting (Practical Art), Pāngarau, Photography (Practical Art), Physics, Printmaking (Practical Art), Processing Technologies, Psychology, Pūtaiao/Science, Sculpture (Practical Art), Technology/Hangarau, Te Ao Haka, Te Reo Māori, Te Reo Rangatira, Technology, Visual Arts
Don’t meet the entry requirements?
Consider starting with the Diploma in Design Tītohu mō te Hoahoa.
Diploma in Design Tītohu mō te Hoahoa
Transferring to AUT (recognition of prior learning)
You may be eligible to enter Year 2 or Year 3 of our design degree if you have completed all or part of a design or visual arts degree at another approved tertiary institution. Applications for cross-credits will normally be assessed after you receive an offer of place for the Bachelor of Design Te Tohu Paetahi mō te Hoahoa.
Email artbox@aut.ac.nz
You can build your degree in a way that suits you and your interests, and include subjects from outside of design as part of your studies.
To graduate with this degree you need to complete:
Core courses (120 points)
These are courses all students in this degree need to take. They cover fundamental design principles and processes, and help you decide which subject to focus on later in your studies. One of the core courses is the Integrated Design Practice you complete in your final semester; a great chance to gain workplace experience related to your studies.
Your chosen major (120 points)
Your major is the subject area you want to specialise in. This makes up one third of your degree and consists of courses related to your chosen subject. You can view the list of majors in this degree in the ‘Majors’ tab.
Flexible component (120 points)
You can choose one of the following options
- Two minors (60 points each); or
- A minor (60 points) and elective courses (60 points); or
- A second major (120 points)
Your second major and your minor(s) can be from art and design or different AUT degrees, and you can choose your elective courses from a wide range of subjects from outside art and design.
Build your degree
Use our online tool to build your own degree and see what your three years of study could look like.
https://www.aut.ac.nz/courses/bachelor-of-design-te-tohu-paetahi-mo-te-hoahoa
Your major is the subject area you want to specialise in. It makes up one third of your degree.
Choose one of these majors as part of your degree
- Animation, Visual Effects and Game Design
- Communication Design
- Fashion Design
- Industrial Design
- Interaction Design
- Spatial and Interior Design
Add a second major
If you want to include a second major, you can:
- Choose another subject from the list above
- Add a visual arts major
- View options from different AUT degrees
A minor is smaller than a major. It usually consists of four courses.
Design minors you could choose
If you decide to include one or two minors in your degree, you could choose from:
- Animated Drawing
- Cinematic Arts
- Contemporary Pacific
- Creative Entrepreneurship
- Design for Health
- Design for Social and Environmental Justice
- Digital Fabrication
- Experimental Surface Design
- Extended Reality
- In Print: Publishing Practices
- Motion Capture
- Photographic Practice
- Temporary Practices / Temporary Publics
Add a minor from outside of design
You can also choose your minor(s) from subjects outside of design to complement your degree.
($7,726 - $7,783 tuition fees + $1,192 student services levy)
($41,500 tuition fees + $1,192 student services levy)
- Fees shown are based on a full-time workload for the points indicated next to the fee. The exact fee charged will depend on which courses you select at the time of enrolment.
- Fees are subject to change year to year. If you are planning for study beyond the current year, fees may vary from those stated.
- There may also be other fees and charges you need to pay.
- International students' tuition fees reflect the full cost of tuition. Domestic students' tuition fees are less due to a proportion of the tuition fees being funded by the New Zealand Government.
- Fees-free study may be available for domestic students
The information on this page was correct at time of publication. For a comprehensive overview of AUT qualifications, please refer to the Academic Calendar.