Why Study / Key Benefits

• The Bachelor of Digital Screen with Honours (BDigiScreen(Hons)) is a four-year professional degree focused on storytelling through words, still and moving images, animation and sound.
• It is designed around the rapidly developing digital-screen sector, including virtual production, 3D storytelling, virtual reality, augmented reality, film, gaming and other cross-reality technologies.
• Students gain experience across the digital-media production process, from conception and storytelling through production, exhibition and distribution.
• Project work starts from Year 2, allowing students to build practical experience throughout the degree.
• Students have access to industry-level facilities including sound stages, motion-capture laboratories, film-editing studios and a virtual screen-production theatre.
• The degree is strongly portfolio-oriented. Students develop a body of digital work that can be used when applying for creative-industry employment.
• Work-integrated learning provides opportunities for industry workshops, guest speakers, site visits, volunteering on commercial sets, internships and other industry experiences.
• UC's Digital Screen Campus is designed as a creative hub bringing together film production, game development and cross-reality technologies.

Programme Structure and Subjects / Topics

The programme introduces students to all stages of digital-media creation, from conception through production and publication.

Year 1 compulsory courses include:

• DISC101 Storytelling for the Digital Screen
• DISC102 Principles of Screen Production
• MUSA126 Sound Technologies
• PROD110 Product Design Principles
• PROD121 The Game Development Process
• PROD142 2D and 3D Art for Film and Games.

These subjects provide a broad foundation across:

• Storytelling
• Screen production
• Sound
• Product design
• Game development
• 2D and 3D art.

Year 2 compulsory course:

• DISC201 Storytelling in Action.

Students also begin project work from Year 2.

Year 3 compulsory courses:

• DISC301 Story Development
• DISC380 Year 3 Capstone Project.

Year 4 compulsory courses:

• DISC401 Conception and Development in the Digital Screen
• DISC402 Production, Exhibition and Distribution
• DISC403 Digital Screen Project.

Disciplines / Specialisations

Students choose at least one major from six Digital Screen disciplines:

1. Animation
2. Cinematic Arts
3. Game Arts
4. Game Development
5. Screen Sound
6. Screenwriting.

Students can choose either:

• A major; or
• A major plus a minor.

Other possible minors can be selected from a wide range of UC subjects, including:

• Computer Science
• Artificial Intelligence
• Creative Writing
• Digital Humanities
• Digital Product Design
• Marketing
• Media and Communication
• Music
• Psychology
• Statistics
• Environmental Science
• Graphic Design
• Entrepreneurship
• Information Systems
• International Business
• Te Reo Maori
• Youth and Community Leadership.

Programme Highlights

• Four-year professional undergraduate degree
• 480 points
• February/Semester 1 start
• Six major options
• Option to combine a major with a minor
• Practical project work from Year 2
• Year 3 capstone project
• Major digital-screen project in Year 4
• Industry-level facilities
• Motion-capture and virtual-production facilities
• Film-production and editing facilities
• Training in storytelling, sound, animation, games and screen production
• Portfolio development throughout the degree
• Work-integrated learning and industry engagement
• Opportunities to develop industry contacts through collaborations and events.

Career Outcomes

UC identifies career opportunities including:

• Game developer
• Film and television producer
• Screenwriter
• Digital artist
• Creative director
• Sound artist
• Animator.

Depending on the major, further career pathways can include:

Animation:

• Character animator
• 2D/3D animator
• Animation artist
• Digital artist.

Cinematic Arts:

• Film producer
• Director
• Cinematographer
• Editor
• Production roles.

Game Arts:

• Game artist
• Concept artist
• Environment artist
• Animation roles.

Game Development:

• Game programmer
• Gameplay programmer
• AI/game systems developer
• Multimedia programmer
• Software-engineering-related roles.

Screen Sound:

• Sound designer
• Sound artist
• Audio-production roles
• Post-production sound roles.

Screenwriting:

• Screenwriter
• Story developer
• Narrative designer
• Writing/creative-development roles.

Latest Updates / Special Requirements

The current UC programme information has several important points for 2026/2027 applicants:

• The current programme remains a four-year, 480-point degree.
• The programme currently has six majors.
• UC's Digital Screen Campus is being developed as a specialist creative hub incorporating film, gaming and cross-reality technologies.
• UC currently describes the programme as providing access to industry-level facilities such as motion capture, sound stages, film editing and virtual screen production.
• Project work begins in Year 2.
• The fourth year concentrates on the student's chosen major and major digital-screen project.
• No previous Digital Screen experience is required.
• The first year is introductory and provides broad exposure across film, gaming and digital media.
• The programme is not currently presented as an online degree.
• UC has established industry connections around Digital Screen, including work-integrated learning initiatives and partnerships with industry organisations. UC's 2024 annual report, for example, records a training partnership with Aardman Animations for animation students.

International Student Visa Requirements

International students normally require a New Zealand Fee Paying Student Visa to study the BDigiScreen(Hons) full-time.

Current Immigration New Zealand requirements include:

• An offer of place from an approved education provider
• Evidence that tuition fees have been paid, can be paid, or are covered by an applicable scholarship
• Evidence of sufficient living funds or an acceptable sponsor
• Acceptable medical and travel insurance
• Evidence of genuine intentions to study
• Evidence that the student can leave New Zealand at the end of the stay
• Good health and character, subject to INZ requirements.