Why Study/Key Benefits

• The Master of Screen Arts is a postgraduate creative-research qualification strongly aligned with the screen industries.
• Massey describes the programme as supporting connections and partnerships with industry, the wider screen sector and communities, including research pathways and externally funded projects.
• The programme is designed for screen artists and producers working across a broad range of media and contexts.
• Students can develop increasingly complex and multidisciplinary projects while exploring current and emerging conditions within the screen sector.
• The programme incorporates Indigenous perspectives and research methodologies, alongside contemporary screen-arts practice.
• Students are taught and supervised by academics and practitioners with professional experience in film, factual production, games, immersive technologies, virtual production, screen culture and industry systems.
• Massey provides access to specialist production and post-production facilities, including a large virtual production volume, soundstage, professional broadcast studio, cinema, professional camera, lighting and audio equipment.
• The technical environment includes professional software and workflows such as Adobe Premiere Pro, DaVinci Resolve, Nuke, Pro Tools, Houdini, Maya, ZBrush, Substance, Unreal and Unity, as well as motion-capture, immersive-media and rendering facilities.
• The degree is particularly suited to students who want to combine creative practice with research and develop an advanced screen-arts project.

Programme Structure and Subjects/Topics

The MSA is a parts-based programme. Students must complete Part One before progressing to Part Two.

Part One – 60 credits

Students complete:

• 15 credits of Research Methods
• 30 credits of Project Development
• 15-credit College of Creative Arts elective

Research Methods options include:

• 293731 Contextualising Creative Enterprise Practice Part 1 – 15 credits
• 293732 Creative Practice Research Methods – 15 credits
• 298730 M?ori Research Methodologies for Creative Practice – 15 credits.

Part Two – 120 credits

Students choose between two research pathways.

120-credit thesis pathway:

• 289811 Master of Screen Arts 120 Credit Thesis Part 1 – 60 credits
• 289812 Screen Arts 120 Credit Thesis Part 2 – 60 credits

This pathway involves an advanced Screen Arts-led research project together with an exegesis component.

90-credit thesis pathway:

• 289820 Master of Screen Arts 90 Credit Thesis Part 1 – 60 credits
• 289821 Master of Screen Arts 90 Credit Thesis Part 2 – 30 credits
• 289822 Project Distribution and Exhibition – 30 credits

Disciplines/Specialisations

The Master of Screen Arts is awarded without a formal specialisation.

However, the programme spans a broad range of screen-arts fields. Massey specifically identifies:

• Animation
• Documentary and factual production
• Emerging creative technologies
• Film production
• Game development
• Media technology
• Visual effects
• Immersive and interactive production
• Virtual production
• Screen-arts culture and industry systems.

Programme Highlights

• Level 9 master's degree.
• Standard 180-credit qualification.
• 18 months full-time.
• Fast-track 120-credit pathway for eligible students with relevant advanced prior study.
• Wellington campus.
• Selected-entry programme.
• Portfolio and interview required.
• Research Statement required for the standard entry route.
• Research Proposal required for eligible accelerated-entry applicants.
• Strong industry alignment.
• Access to specialist screen-production and post-production facilities.
• Advanced virtual production capability.
• Professional cinema, broadcast, camera, lighting and audio facilities.
• Access to industry-standard creative software and workflows.
• Research-led creative practice.
• Opportunities to develop projects connected with industry and communities.
• Maori and Indigenous research perspectives incorporated into the programme.
• Option of a 90-credit or 120-credit thesis pathway.
• Potential award with Merit or Distinction.

Career Outcomes

Massey identifies employment pathways including:

• Film and television
• Game design and development
• Animation
• Visual effects

Depending on the student's creative practice and research specialisation, potential professional areas can include:

• Film production
• Directing
• Producing
• Documentary and factual production
• Animation
• Visual effects
• Game development
• Virtual production
• Immersive-media production
• Interactive storytelling
• Screen technology
• Creative research
• Screen-sector development
• Creative-industry project work

Latest Updates/Special Requirements

• The current MSA is a selected-entry qualification.
• Portfolio assessment and interview are mandatory components of selection.
• A Research Statement is required before interview for the standard 180-credit route.
• A Research Proposal is required for eligible applicants seeking accelerated entry into the 120-credit thesis component.
• The standard qualification is 180 credits.
• Eligible applicants with relevant Honours or Postgraduate Diploma study may enter the 120-credit thesis route.
• Progression to Part Two requires at least a B grade average, equivalent to GPA 5, across the 60 credits completed in Part One.
• The degree has no formal specialisation.
• The current application deadlines are 29 November for Semester One and 14 May for Semester Two.
• The programme is currently listed at Wellington only.
• The current 2027 Creative Arts scholarship is specifically relevant to international students applying for the February 2027 intake.
• The Postgraduate International Study Grant also explicitly includes the MSA for 2027.
• Course offerings and individual project opportunities can change, so students should confirm the available courses and supervisory capacity before finalising a research proposal.

International Student Visa Requirements

International students who study the MSA on campus in Wellington normally need a New Zealand Fee Paying Student Visa.

Immigration New Zealand currently requires applicants to:

• Have an offer of place from an approved education provider.
• Have sufficient funds to pay tuition fees or an applicable scholarship.
• Have sufficient money for living expenses or an acceptable sponsor.
• Declare acceptable medical and travel insurance.
• Meet health requirements.
• Meet character requirements.
• Demonstrate genuine reasons for coming to New Zealand to study.
• Show that they can leave New Zealand at the end of their stay.
• Provide information about the course and holidays where relevant to work rights.