Strategic Purpose Statement:
(Purpose) The Graduate Diploma in Visual Media aims to equip students with the professional, creative, analytical, and technical skills to prepare them for employment or further study in the creative industries.

Graduates of the Graduate Diploma in Visual Media will be able to:
Conceive, execute and promote a project to industry standard.
Design and plan effective management tools to evaluate and problem solve to ensure project quality and to promote themselves and their finished projects in the marketplace.
Develop an understanding of business and legal aspects of the creative industries.
Research and analyse subject related areas for a range of research outputs in both the industry and academic arenas.
Engage in strategic, sustainable development across the cultural and creative industries.

Graduate of this programme may seek entry into postgraduate programmes including Master's programmes.

Entry is open to degree graduates in a related discipline. However, those who are able to demonstrate equivalent practical, professional or educational experience of an appropriate kind may be granted admission.

Portfolio Requirements. Applicants for the Graduate Diploma in Visual Media are required to submit a portfolio of their work with their application and may be asked for a written submission also.
The Head of Faculty will determine the maximum number of students permitted to enrol in the graduate diploma programme.

All enrolments in the Graduate Diploma in Visual Media are approved at the discretion of the Programme Manager in consultation with the Head of Faculty and teaching staff as required.

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.

Applicants from countries with an annual student visa approval rate of at least 80 per cent, 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 an NZQA approved English Proficiency Assessment, or achieved the required score in one of the following internationally recognised English Proficiency tests within the preceding two years:

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 20).
University of Cambridge ESOL Examinations - CAE or CPE with a score of 169. No less than 162 in each skill.
NZCEL - Level 4 with the Academic endorsement.
Pearson Test of English (Academic) - PToE (Academic score of 50).
City and Guilds IESOL - B2 Communicator with a score of 66.

Applicants from countries with an annual student visa approval rate below 80 per cent, whose first language is not English, or who come from a country where the language of instruction in schools is not English must provide evidence that they:

a) Have gained NCEA Level 3 and met New Zealand University Entrance requirements or
b) Hold a bachelor's degree of at least 3 years from New Zealand, Australia, Canada, The Republic of Ireland, South Africa, United Kingdom or United States of America or
c) Have achieved a Certificate in English Language Teaching to Adults, CELTA or
d) Have achieved the required score in one of the internationally recognised English Proficiency tests (specified above) within the preceding two years.
Right of entry into programmes of study is restricted by SIT and apparent eligibility may not lead to automatic acceptance.

Where SIT is satisfied that it is necessary to do so because of insufficiency of staff, accommodation, or equipment it may determine the maximum number of students who may be enrolled in a particular course of study. Where the number of applications for enrolment exceeds the number of places in any case where such a limitation applies the criteria for selection shall be academic merit and suitability for admission to that course of study. Eligible students not admitted to their chosen course of study will be placed on a waiting list and or may be referred to another programme. Applications should be received by SIT no later than the applications due date. Late applications may be considered subject to availability of places.

Applicants may be required to attend an interview or if they live at some distance from the campus complete a telephone interview and must produce copies of applicable certificates or evidence of prior achievements before interviews.