The Diploma in Creative Writing (Level 5) improves students' writing to enable them to successfully complete a creative portfolio for future or concurrent educational pathways, collaborative work in the creative sector, and to achieve multiple publications reaching diverse audiences. Students are supported and encouraged to find and develop material relevant to their own interests and lives, and they relate their own writing to New Zealand, Maori, and/or Pacific writing, or other personally relevant literatures in English. Lecturers always work with the writers' intentions.

The programme also emphasizes the places and communities of South Auckland to encourage experiential writing, and to significantly contribute to New Zealand and Pacific literature. Instruction is provided by accomplished practising writers who are gifted teachers of creative writing, New Zealand/Pacific and world literature, and written conventional English.

During this one-year. 120 credit diploma, full-time students undertake eight 15-credit courses. These consist of a combination of mandatory and elective courses in each semester; there are compulsory genre-focused and practice-focused courses to ensure students' systematic progression. This progressive stair-casing to higher learning is also known as Te Ara Poutama.

Graduates will be able to:
- Produce quality work in two writing genres through applied disciplines of self-direction, reading as writers, and collaboration.
- Write at an intermediate to an advanced level in two of the following genres: short fiction, novels, poetry, lyric writing, life writing, personal essays, drama and screen writing.
- Confidently and competently write in their chosen genres with advanced skills to a publishable level
- Find collaborative work in the creative sector, or produce independent work
- Or pursue further educational opportunities that require a creative writing portfolio or advanced writing skills for entry

MIT's Bachelor of Creative Arts is designed so that the first year of the Creating Writing specialisation consists of the same offering as this Diploma in Creative Writing. Consequently, students' who graduate from the Diploma programme are able to apply to enter directly into the second year of that degree.

a) Have at least 42 NCEA credits at Level 3, including a minimum of 14 credits in each of two approved subjects, plus a minimum of 14 credits in one or two subjects and a minimum of 4 credits in reading and a minimum of 4 credits in writing, both at level 2 or equivalent
OR
(b) Have at least 72 NCEA credits at Level 2 including a minimum of 14 credits in each of two approved subjects and including 8 credits in reading/writing and including 30 credits achieved at Merit or Excellence or equivalent
OR
(c) Have at least 60 NZQA recognised credits at Level 5 or higher or equivalent
OR
(d) Have relevant work/life experience and be able to demonstrate that they can work/study at a level appropriate to the programme. Each applicant will be considered on an individual basis. To support their application applicants will be required to demonstrate their ability to study at Level 5 (Year 1) including a file providing evidence of personal life skills and previous activities. Applicants will be invited to an interview. Among attributes an applicant must demonstrate are a mature and positive approach to study, commitment and motivation to succeed, and the ability to read and write at the required level for degree study.
AND
Submit a portfolio consisting of a five page writing sample of poetry or imaginative prose that demonstrates technical competency and creative ability.
English Requirements
Any applicant whose first language is not English may be required to provide evidence of an overall IELTS (Academic) score of 6.5 (with no score below 6.0), or equivalent.