Master of Design
The Master of Design is a postgraduate degree for designers, makers and thinkers ready to shape design and creative practice through research.
This is a living research community – a place where ideas, materials and methods are actively explored to shape design and creative practice. Research here is practice-led, drawing on critical inquiry, emerging technologies, industry engagement, cultural knowledge, global contexts and Te Ao Māori perspectives, woven together to support work that is intellectually rigorous and culturally responsive.
You'll develop research that responds to real challenges – social, cultural, environmental and technological – building the skills to translate it into action, engage industry, contribute to knowledge and create meaningful impact in localor international contexts.
You can connect your research with specialist research centres and communities across virtual and creative technologies, textiles, health and wellbeing, and Pacific research. You can work alongside a diverse community of researchers, or pursue your own direction entirely. With more than 30 years of practice-led design research behind us, there's a lot of ground to build on.
Download programme guides
Minimum entry requirements
- Bachelor of Design or equivalent with a B grade average or higher in the courses at level 7 or above
- In exceptional circumstances, an applicant who does not meet the requirements above, but who has an appropriate combination of academic and professional experience may be considered for admission
International student entry requirements
Other requirements
- Applicants may be required to submit a portfolio of work and attend a selection interview
English language requirements
- IELTS (Academic) 6.5 overall with all bands 6.0 or higher; or equivalent
Download application documents
Your programme is built around your research. Possible specialisations you can choose from include animation, communication design, design for health, extended reality (XR), fashion and textiles, film making, visual effects and virtual production, game design, industrial design, interactive design, motion capture, spatial and interior design. You choose from a range of courses alongside either a 120-point or 90-point design thesis – tailored to suit your interests and goals. We recommend discussing course combinations when you apply.
You can explore examples of past student research and creative work in AUT’s research repository. If you already have a research interest, you can explore AUT academics and potential supervisors.
Year 1
Semester 1 courses
- ARDN800 Te Ao Mahora Creative Practice Research Design (15 points)
- Plus three elective courses
Semester 2 course
Choose one of:
- DESN999 Thesis (120 points) OR
- DESN998 Design Thesis (90 points)
You continue your thesis or design thesis in your second year. Enrolment in a thesis is subject to achieving at least a B- average in coursework courses and approval of research proposal.
Year 2
Semester 1 course
You continue the thesis or design thesis you started in your first year:
Elective courses
2027 elective course offerings
- ARDN801 Ethics in Research (15 points)
- ARDN802 Directed Studies Project (15 points)
- ARDN803 Reading Paper (15 points)
- ARDN808 Contextual Review (15 points)
- DESN800 Design Practice I (15 points)
- DESN801 Design Practice II (15 points)
- DESN806 Design for Health and Wellbeing (15 points)
- DESN809 Virtual Production Practices (15 points)
- DESN812 Design Futures (15 points)
Ready to enrol in your courses?
Find out how you can enrol in the courses and classes for your programme, whether you’ve just joined AUT as a new student or you’re already studying with us. If you’re looking for a course timetable or more info on a specific course use our course search.
More details about courses in the Master of Design
Email the Postgraduate Coordinator
Enrolment in courses is subject to meeting all requirements and availability of courses.
Your research deserves the right environment. Here's what you have access to as a Master of Design student.
Art and design facilities
To support your research you have access to specialist labs and studios across art and design:
- 3D Fabrication Lab
- Art and Design Loan Central
- Bindery
- Digital Fabrication Studio
- Motion Capture Lab
- Photographic Facilities
- Printmaking Studios
- RAU Textiles Research Facility
- Te Wai Ngutu Kākā Gallery
- Virtual Production Studio
- Wet Lab
AUT research centres
Join academics and researchers already working in your field through one of our specialist research centres:
Student work
Check out a selection of award-winning student work from Master of Design students.
($10,630 tuition fees + $1,221.60 student services levy)
($45,800 tuition fees + $1,221.60 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.
The information on this page was correct at time of publication. For a comprehensive overview of AUT qualifications, please refer to the Academic Calendar.
