Design your own degree

Explore a range of design topics to develop your creative, critical, and design skills. Learn techniques ranging from hands-on making to high-tech virtual or digital production, using our range of cutting-edge tools, technologies, and facilities.

Bring your unique lived experience, passion, and talent to develop your own design kaupapa. Discover how design can address the critical issues of sustainability, accessibility, and social impact. Explore how you can enrich peoples lives and experiences with innovative designs.

Whether you know design industry you want to work in, or you're keen to explore your options, the BDI is right for you. You'll have the freedom explore a range of design subjects and shape your study path as your interests and confidence grow. Graduate with specialised design skills and a unique portfolio of work—ready to make your mark on the world.

Why Wellington

Study in New Zealand’s creative capital at a university with strong connections to Wellington's government, design, film, gaming, and technology sectors. You’ll learn in a city where creativity is part of everyday life—and where your next collaboration, internship, or career opportunity could be just around the corner.

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What you’ll learn

Over three years of the BDI, you’ll start by learning the critical foundations of design. Then, you’ll expand your knowledge as you develop specialist skills in your chosen major subject.

In the Bachelor of Design Innovation you can choose from eight majors:

  • Animation and Visual Effects—create animations, visual effects, and immersive experiences for screen and virtual reality
  • Communication Design—design compelling visual communication across print, digital, and physical environments
  • Design for Social Innovation—design products, services, and systems that create positive social and environmental impact
  • Fashion Design Technology—combine fashion and emerging technologies to solve real-world challenges
  • Game Design—create engaging games through design thinking, storytelling, and studio practice
  • Industrial Design—design the products and objects that shape everyday life
  • Interaction Design—create intuitive digital products, systems, and user experiences
  • Media Design—explore emerging technologies and shape the future of digital media.

Flexibility in your degree

The BDI lets you study more than one design area—called a discipline—by choosing majors and minors. You can also change your major or minor later, if your interests take you in a new direction.

This interdisciplinary approach—studying across more than one area—lets you explore how different subjects connect, and build a unique portfolio that expands your career opportunities.

You may choose to build out your degree with one of the following options:

  • Double major—study two BDI majors at the same time, or add an ‘outside’ major from another undergraduate degree.
  • Minor—add a minor from the BDI or another area to your study.
  • Conjoint degree—complete the BDI and another degree at the same time in a minimum of four years.

You might have two minors, or a double major and another minor. You're not locked in, you can change or add a major or minor if your interests take you in a new direction.

Find out more about your study options, how long it takes to complete them, and what kind of other subjects you could major in.

Flexibility in our undergraduate degrees

Year breakdown

First year

Your first year of the BDI is broad and interdisciplinary. You’ll:

  • take a mix of core design courses and electives
  • explore a range of design practices and approaches
  • look at the role of design in past and present contexts
  • learn from Mātauranga Māori design, exploring what it means to be a designer in Aotearoa, shaped by your own background and culture
  • learn to use design tools and techniques.

By the end of your first year, you might already have a good idea of what you want to focus on for the rest of your degree.

Second year

This is the year you’ll begin to focus on your major. You could also choose another design area alongside your major. 

Third year

In your third year you’ll refine your design skills and build confidence in your own design kaupapa.

You’ll complete a capstone project to incorporate research methods into your design process, and address critical questions through design. Your capstone is an opportunity to conduct a self-directed project, explore what you’re passionate about, and create a showcase piece for your portfolio.

If you study a minor, you’ll integrate the knowledge from that subject into your design work too.

Download our handbook

Find out more about your study options in Design Innovation in our qualification handbook. 

Degree support and advice

We can help you match your interests and career goals with the right course of study.

If you’re a new student, talk to a Future Student Adviser.

If you’re already studying with us, talk to Tītoko—Student Success.

Future Student advisersTītoko—Student Success
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How our degrees work

Flexible, or structured? Learn more about the different types of undergraduate degrees at Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington.

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At a glance

Duration
3 years
Location
Te Aro campus, Wellington · Flexible
Level of study
Undergraduate
Points
360
Workload
Full or part-time
Type
Coursework and project work · Daytime

Domestic fees

$8,668.00
per year (2026 estimate)
Plus an estimated NZ$1,285 Student Services Fee per year.

Estimated international fees

See fees in your local currency:
Scholarships
You may be able to get a scholarship to help fund your studies.
Find out more

Important dates

2026 – Trimester 3
Apply by
12 Nov 2026
Start study
16 Nov 2026
2027 – Trimester 1
Apply by
14 Feb 2027
Start study
22 Feb 2027
2027 – Trimester 2
Apply by
15 Jun 2027
Start study
5 Jul 2027
2027 – Trimester 3
Apply by
10 Oct 2027
Start study
15 Nov 2027
Apply to study
Taught by
Faculty of Architecture and Design Innovation
We provide this information to help you plan your degree. Your actual costs and length of study may be different, depending on the courses you choose. We confirm your final costs at the time you enrol.
Need help planning your study? Talk to us

Entry requirements

Entry requirements for domestic students

  • Requirements for students who completed secondary school in:

If you live in New Zealand and are a citizen or permanent resident of New Zealand or Australia, you're considered a domestic student.
Some citizens of the Cook Islands, Niue, and Tokelau may automatically hold New Zealand citizenship.
Diplomatic residents living in New Zealand are also regarded as domestic students.

To be accepted into this qualification, you need:

A New Zealand university entrance qualification or equivalent.

Degree requirements

Excerpt from the regulations for the BDI

View all the regulations for this qualification

For this degree, you'll need to complete at least 360 points, of which:

  • at least 240 points must be from the BDI schedule
  • at least 195 points must be at 200 or 300 level, including at least 120 points from the BDI schedule
  • at least 75 points must be at 300 level, including at least 60 points from the BDI schedule

In Part 1

In Part 2

Major requirements

Majors are the subjects you focus your degree on.

Explore more degree options by adding an optional second major or minor. How our flexible degrees work.

Major subjects and requirements

Explore your major options below.

BDI subjects

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Showing 8 of 8 subjects

Second major subjects

You can choose to add an optional second major from within the BDI or from another degree. Explore your options for a second major below.

Filter for inside or outside major
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Showing 106 of 106 subjects

21 of 106 major subjects shown

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Minor requirements

Add another dimension to your degree by choosing an optional minor. Most major BSc subjects are available as minors.

Some subjects are only available as minors. While most minors require 60 points at 200- and 300-level, there are a few minors with specific requirements.

Minor subjects and requirements

Start planning your study

Use the tiles to find out how you could include the selected minor in your degree. Not all major and minor combinations are available, so talk to us before you lock down your plan of study.

BDI minor subjects

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Showing 120 of 120 minor subjects

21 of 120 minor subjects shown

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Resources and expertise

Throughout your study, you’ll have access to workshops and dedicated design resources like:

  • woodworking, metalworking, and hand tools
  • a specialist photography studio and equipment
  • a purpose-built fashion studio with digital and traditional pattern-making resources
  • 3D printing digital-fabrication suites, with Stratasys voxel printers and a large-scale BigRep 3D printer
  • facilities for recycling plastics into 3D printing filament
  • facilities for working with bio-based materials
  • a robotic arm
  • film-editing suites.

Whatever your level of experience, our specialist technicians help you to get the most out of these resources.

Facilities—School of Design
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Close up of sewing machine doing embroidery
Looking over shoulder of man creating colourful 3D shapes in dark room
A white 3d printed skull sits next to a box-shaped machine with a glass front

Future careers

Design Innovation graduates have the practical design skills, creativity, knowledge, and research skills to excel in a range of design roles. Many design skills are transferable across different industries and roles.

Design for change

Your design skills can be applied to areas that need support and innovation. You could work in areas such as:

  • healthcare
  • environmental sustainability
  • accessibility.

Design your own career

New careers in design are always developing. You may also discover a new area of design that needs your expertise when you graduate.

You could work in a research and development role exploring emerging technologies or designs.

More career information

Find out more about careers in design.

The government careers website, Tahatū, offers more information about jobs, salaries, and current opportunities.

What can I do with my degree? Tahatū

Scholarships

You may be able to get a scholarship to help fund your studies.

We have first-year and school-leaver scholarships available, as well as specialised scholarships for different groups and subject areas. If nothing fits right now, something may suit you later.

We encourage you to apply. It’s a straightforward process, and it could make a real difference.

First-year and school-leaver scholarships

Scholarships for Design

  • Glenys Wood Memorial Scholarship
    Worth: $10,000 Closing: 1 November, 2026

    This scholarship is for students undertaking or intending to undertake an Honours or Masters degree at Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington in areas related to Peace Building or Peace Studies, Trust Building, Conflict Resolution, addressing Historical Injustice, Restorative Justice, Social Cohesion, Community building and promoting cross-cultural understanding, Change Making or Ethical Leadership.

  • The Studio Pacific Architecture and Design Scholarship
    Worth: $5,000 Closing: 1 December, 2026

    Studio Pacific Architecture wish to support a student undertaking their first year of study at Wellington Faculty of Architecture and Design.

  • C3 Scholarship
    Worth: $4,000 (subject to funds available) Closing: 31 March, 2027

    The fund, which was established at the time of the renovation of the C3 lecture theatre, is to assist a second-year student from any faculty in their studies at Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington

Search all scholarships

Scholarships for international students

We are currently offering a NZ$15,000 VUW Undergraduate International Scholarship to all eligible international students enrolling in a Bachelor’s degree.

Your scholarship will be processed automatically when your programme application is accepted, and the amount will be deducted from your tuition fees.

We also have specialised scholarships for different groups and subject areas. 

First-year and school-leaver scholarships

Scholarships for Design

  • Emily Lilias Johnston Scholarship
    Worth: $1,000 Closing: 31 March, 2027

    This scholarship is to assist students in the last year of their first Bachelors degree at Victoria University of Wellington. The scholarship fund will be awarded equally between male and female students.

  • Averil Brent Scholarship in Science
    Worth: $3,000 (subject to funds available) Closing: 31 March, 2027

    Applicants must be female, New Zealand or Canadian citizens studying full time at 300 level BSc (Hons) and Master's by Coursework in any area of Science, including Architecture and Design at Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington.

Search all scholarships

Postgraduate study

You can choose to further your design expertise at the School of Design Innovation by studying for one of our postgraduate degrees.

We offer a range of postgraduate qualifications to advance your study, including:

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Accommodation

Live in accommodation close to campus at one of our:

  • catered halls of residence
  • self-catered apartments or flats
  • self-catered studios.

We provide care and support across our halls and flatting communities.

Explore University accommodation
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Get help to manage your finances

We can help you:

  • budget your money
  • manage your student loan or allowance
  • work out your accommodation payment schedule.

And if you're ever having trouble with money, talk with us. You could be eligible for government or community support, and we have a hardship fund for financial emergencies.

Financing your studyTalk to a student finance adviser
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Apply for a New Zealand study visa

You’ll need to apply for a study visa if you plan to study with us as an international student.

You should apply for your visa after you’ve received your Offer of Place, and before you come to New Zealand.

Find out how to apply for a visa from Immigration New Zealand
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Wellington Global Exchange

If you're a current student at Victoria University of Wellington, you can complete part of your degree overseas. Choose from our 140 partner universities worldwide.

Wellington Global Exchange
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Study Abroad and Exchange Programme

If you're an overseas student, you can spend a trimester or a year at Victoria University of Wellington. You'll earn credits at your home university while you study here. 

Study Abroad and Exchange

Discover your career pathway with Tahatū

Learn more