Why Study/Key Benefits

• Specialised creative education: focuses on 3D animation and visual effects for film, television, advertising, games and digital media.

• Practical production experience: students develop creative assets and work on individual and team projects, including production work in the final year.

• Industry-relevant tools: the curriculum covers modelling, rigging, rendering, lighting, compositing and scripting.

• Choice of specialisation: students can focus on 3D animation, visual effects and motion graphics, or technical 3D studies.

• Industry-oriented teaching: MDS describes its faculty as industry-trained and its learning environment as similar to a professional creative studio.

• Portfolio development: projects can help students build a body of work for future job applications and further creative development.

• International recognition of student work: MDS highlights student films and awards as evidence of its production-focused approach.

Programme Structure and Subjects/Topics

The programme is organised into three academic years, with 140 credits listed for each year.

Year 1 — Foundation art and technical skills (140 credits)

The first year introduces foundational art and design alongside digital production tools.

Published components include:

• Animation and Rigging — 15 credits.

• Foundation 3D — 25 credits.

• Traditional Art and Design for 3D — 15 credits.

• Digital Art I — 15 credits.

• Digital Art II — 15 credits.

• 3D Modelling — 15 credits.

• 3D Rendering — 15 credits.

• Foundation Mini-Project — 10 credits.

• Design Principles and Practice I — 15 credits.

Year 2 — Core production and specialisation (140 credits)

The second year develops production skills and introduces more advanced animation, scripting and visual effects work.

Published subjects include:

• Pre-production — 10 credits.

• Video Productions — 10 credits.

• 3D Scripting — 10 credits.

• Design Principles and Practice II — 15 credits.

• Industry Procedures and Practice I — 15 credits.

• Animation: Workflow and Principles — 15 credits.

• Animation: Mechanics, Expressions and Gestures — 20 credits.

• Animation: Non-Verbal Communication — 20 credits.

• Technical Director Modelling II — 20 credits.

• Technical Director Rendering II — 20 credits.

• Technical Director Compositing — 15 credits.

• Mini Project — 15 credits.

• Advanced Rigging — 10 credits.

• Motion Design Animation — 20 credits.

• Motion Design Production Techniques — 10 credits.

• Visual Effects 2D Compositing — 15 credits.

• Visual Effects 3D Compositing — 20 credits.

• Visual Effects Compositing Production Techniques — 15 credits.

Year 3 — Advanced production and industry practice (140 credits)

The final year focuses on advanced skills, group and individual productions, and professional workflows.

Published components include:

• Advanced Creature Animation — 20 credits.

• Advanced 3D Technical Studies — 20 credits.

• Advanced Visual Effects Compositing — 20 credits.

• Team Production I — 40 credits.

• Team Production II — 45 credits.

• Advanced Individual Production — 20 credits.

• Industry Procedures and Practice II — 15 credits.

Disciplines/Specialisations

MDS lists three main specialisation pathways:

• 3D Animation: character animation, movement, rigging, animation mechanics, expressions, gestures and visual storytelling.

• Visual Effects and Motion Graphics: 2D and 3D compositing, motion design, integrating CGI with live-action footage and creating polished visual effects shots.

• Technical 3D Studies: modelling, rendering, rigging, technical workflows, scripting and production optimisation.

Programme Highlights

• Three-year, Level 7 bachelor’s degree with 420 credits.

• Specialised education in 3D animation, visual effects and technical 3D production.

• A combination of art and design fundamentals, software skills, project work and production practice.

• Opportunity to develop a creative portfolio through individual and team productions.

• Final-year projects that reflect industry-style visual effects and CGI production workflows.

• Access to MDS’s Auckland creative technology campus for students studying onsite.

• Online study option advertised by the provider.

• MDS highlights alumni who have worked on productions including Avatar and The Hobbit. These are examples of alumni outcomes, not a guarantee of employment for graduates.

• MDS identifies student film awards and industry-oriented learning as programme strengths.

Career Outcomes

The programme is designed to prepare students for creative and technical roles in animation, film post-production, television, advertising, digital media and related production industries.

Potential career pathways identified by MDS include:

• 3D Animator: creating character animation and animated environments for film, television, advertising and games.

• Compositor: combining live-action footage, CGI, animation and visual effects into finished shots.

• Technical Director: developing and maintaining production tools, scripts, rigging systems, lighting workflows and technical pipelines.

• 3D Modeller: creating digital assets and models for production.

• Rendering and Lighting Artist: preparing digital scenes, materials and lighting for final output.

• Visual Effects Artist: creating or integrating digital effects and CGI elements.

• Motion Graphics Artist: producing animated visual content for film, advertising and digital media.

Latest Updates/Special Requirements

• The official programme page lists three 2027 starts: 22 February, 19 July and 27 September.

• The published international Year 1 tuition fee is NZD 37,323.20.

• The degree comprises 420 credits at NZQF Level 7 over three academic years.

• International applicants must be 18 years old when the programme starts.

• IELTS Academic overall 6.0, with no band below 5.5, is the published English requirement for applicants from non-English-speaking countries, with accepted alternatives available.

• A general portfolio of 12–20 pieces is required. MDS favours 3D models and visualisations for this course.

• Students must have a suitable computer or device capable of running the required creative software. Check the programme-specific hardware requirements before purchasing equipment.

• MDS notes that quotas may apply and admission can be first-come-first-served when demand exceeds available places.

• International students should independently verify recognition of the degree in their home country if they intend to pursue further study or professional recognition there. MDS does not guarantee recognition or equivalence by overseas authorities.

International Student Visa Requirements

International students planning to study this degree in New Zealand will generally need to meet the requirements of Immigration New Zealand’s Fee Paying Student Visa.

Main requirements

• Offer of place: an offer from an approved education provider, showing the programme, duration, study mode and relevant dates.

• Tuition fees: evidence that the required tuition fees have been paid, or that the applicant can pay them or qualifies for an accepted exemption.

• Living funds: evidence of sufficient funds for living costs or an acceptable sponsor.

• Insurance: acceptable medical and travel insurance for the period of stay.

• Health and character: applicants must meet the relevant health and character requirements.

• Genuine study purpose: applicants must demonstrate a genuine reason for studying in New Zealand.

• Departure arrangements: evidence that the applicant can leave New Zealand at the end of the authorised stay.

• Course participation: students must comply with visa conditions, including any applicable attendance and academic-progress requirements.

Living-funds requirement

Immigration New Zealand currently requires students undertaking tertiary or other non-compulsory study to show:

• NZD 20,000 for each year of study if the course lasts one year or longer; or

• NZD 1,667 per month if the study lasts less than one year.

Visa cost and processing

Immigration New Zealand currently lists:

• Fee Paying Student Visa cost: from NZD 850.

• Processing time: 80% of applications within seven weeks.

• Recommended application timing: at least three months before intended travel.

Work rights during study

• Eligible students may be granted permission to work up to 25 hours per week during study.

• Full-time work may be permitted during scheduled holidays, depending on the student’s visa conditions and the course requirements.

• Work rights are not automatic for every student; check the conditions on the visa before accepting employment.

• Students must continue meeting their study and attendance requirements.

Post-study work visa

MDS’s international information states that bachelor’s degree graduates may be eligible for a post-study work visa of up to three years. This is subject to the immigration rules in force at the time of graduation and the student’s individual eligibility. Graduates who complete the programme entirely online from offshore are not eligible for a post-study work visa under the provider’s published guidance.