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Southern Institute of Technology

Auckland , North Island ,New Zealand

Graduate Diploma in Screen Arts (Film Making)

The Graduate Diploma in Screen Arts (Filmmaking) is a programme with a specialist discipline area that promotes and enhances the knowledge base, skills, and professionalism of creative media and film students.

Graduates will use industry-standard digital filmmaking software to create a film project. They can apply knowledge of sound, screenwriting and video editing techniques that meet film industry requirements. This programme leads graduates to further study or employment in the screen arts sector.

Campus Information

Invercargill Campus

Freepost SIT2LRN Private Bag 90114 133 Tay Street Invercargill, 9840

Intakes

  • Feb

Application Processing Time in Days: 30

Minimum English Language Requirements

English Level Description IELTS (1.0 -9.0) TOEFL IBT (0-120) TOEFL CBT (0-300) PTE (10-90)
Expert 9 120 297-300 86-90
Very Good 8.5 115-119 280-293 83-86
Very Good 8 110-114 270-280 79-83
Good 7.5 102-109 253-267 73-79
Good 7 94-101 240-253 65-73
Competent 6.5 79-93 213-233 58-65
Competent 6 60-78 170-210 50-58
Modest 5.5 46-59 133-210 43-50
Modest 5 35-45 107-133 36-43
Limited 4 32-34 97-103 30-36
Extremely Limited < 4 < 31 < 93 < 30

Job Opportunity Potential

INTERNATIONAL STUDENT SUPPORT SERVICES
International students studying at SIT have access to range of support services to help ensure that they have a great time and experience with us.

Our International team are readily available to assist or provide advice on living and studying in New Zealand. We also have a 24-hour free-to-call number in case of emergencies. We are here to help.

The pastoral care of our international students is of primary importance to us.

SIT International comprises of:

  • The International Marketing Team, responsible for the offshore promotion of SIT and the development of international partnerships.
  • The International Administration Team, responsible for the administration of all things relating to international students, from enrolments to insurance, orientation to visa queries, and much, much more.
  • The Accommodation Team, responsible for providing our international students with airport pickups and accommodation so they can focus on studying to land their dream job.
  • The Pastoral Care Team, who ensure our international students are well looked after, be it with their studies or with their personal welfare.

PSW Opportunity

PSW for Bachelors and Masters is 2yrs

Admission Requirement / Eligibility Criteria

Applications are open to Bachelor degree graduates who can demonstrate equivalent, relevant, practical professional or educational experience in a related discipline.

Special Admission

Notwithstanding the above admission criteria, provided the applicant has successfully completed an approved course or programme, or has relevant industry experience, which is deemed to meet the required standard for entry, the applicant may be admitted to the programme.

Provisional Part-time Admission
An applicant, who does not meet academic criteria, may be provisionally admitted to enrol in one or more papers. Upon successful completion of the paper(s), the student may apply for special admission or admission by mature entry.

Additional Criteria

In addition, the following requirements also apply to applicants in all admission categories:

Applicants for the Graduate Diploma in Screen Arts (Filmmaking) are required to submit a portfolio of their work with their application and may be asked for a written submission. 
They are required to have a high competence in spoken and written English, 18 credits or more at Level 2 in NCEA literacy or an equivalent or more advanced English qualification.
Applicants must also submit a Graduate Diploma Research Proposal.
 - Introduces key question

 - States main argument

 - Explains why the topic is of interest

 - Defines key terms

 - Discusses proposed research methodologies

 - Demonstrates awareness of related contemporary  work in the field

 - Includes relevant references

 - Outlines proposed timeline

 - Outlines approach to documentation

 - Identifies any ethical considerations

Portfolio Requirements

Applicants are required to submit a portfolio of their work with their application, as follows:

Portfolio One: examples of free-hand drawing (x10)
Portfolio Two: a digital portfolio/showreel showcasing digital storytelling skills. 
Statement: typed, double spaced statement X two A4 pages (outlining your interests and goals within the programme e.g. why are you choosing animation as a career?). 
Prior Learning: This course is designed for applicants who have already worked in the industry and need to hone their skills or already have a degree in a related field (fine arts, graphic design, film, 2D animation, gaming etc). 
Curriculum Vitae 
References: two specific references/testimonials from previous employers/lecturers who know you well and are able to recommend you for graduate study. Please include contact details. 
Interview: a time will be arranged for you to meet with the programme manager or appropriate staff member following the assessment of your application. 
Established Skills, Motivation & Passion: We are looking for a high level of skill, competency and motivation. Applicants must be proficient at self-driven research and analysis. This is a very intensive year suited to those who are committed to excelling in this exciting industry. 
Links to online portfolios and showreel accepted.
English Language Requirements

Applicants, whose first language is not English, or who come from a country where the language of instruction in schools is not English, are required to provide evidence of having achieved one of the following

NCEA Level 3 with University Entrance, or

an International Baccalaureate Diploma or Cambridge A- level qualification for which the teaching and assessment was conducted in English; or

Cambridge Certificate in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (CELTA),or Trinity College London Certificate in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (CertTESOL);or

Successful completion of all primary education (being the equivalent of New Zealand primary school years 1 to 8) and at least three years of secondary education (being the equivalent of three years from New Zealand secondary school years 9 to 13) at schools in either New Zealand,,Australia,Canada, the Republic of Ireland, South Africa, the United Kingdom and the United States one of the countries listed in Rule 18.5 where the student was taught using English as the language of instruction; or

Successful completion of at least five years of secondary education (being the equivalent of New Zealand secondary school years 9 to 13) at schools in either New Zealand, Australia, Canada, the Republic of Ireland, South Africa, the United Kingdom and the United States where the student was taught using English as the language of instruction; or

Successful completion of a Bachelor's Degree, Graduate Certificate, Graduate Diploma, Bachelor Honours degree, Postgraduate Certificate, Postgraduate Diploma, Masters' Degree or Doctoral Degree, the language of instruction of which must be in English and which must be from a tertiary education provider from New Zealand, Australia, Canada, the Republic of Ireland, South Africa, the United Kingdom or the United States or

Successful completion of one of the following internationally recognised proficiency tests listed below to the level required of the programme of study and with all scores achieved in a single test during the two years preceding the proposed date of enrolment


IELTS test - Academic score of 6 with no band score lower than 5.5
TOEFL Paper based test (pBT) - Score of 550 (with an essay score 5 TWE)
TOEFL Internet based test (iBT) - Score of 60 (with a writing score of 18)
Cambridge English Examination - B2 First or B2 First for schools or C1 Advanced or C2 Proficiency with a score of 169. No less than 162 in each skill.
OET - Minimum of Grade C or 200 in all sub-tests
NZCEL - a) Expiring Level b) Current: a) Level 4 (Academic) b) Level 4 (Academic)
Pearson Test of English (Academic) - PTE (Academic) score of 50 with no band score lower than 42
Language Cert - C1 Expert IESOL (LRWS) with PASS and no less than Pass in each skill
Trinity ISE - ISE II with no less than distinction in any band