This art programme is for ākonga (students) ready to take the next step in their creative arts journey. Building on foundational skills, you’ll expand your technical abilities, refine your personal voice, and gain a deeper understanding of your creative kaupapa — the purpose and intention behind your work.
New Zealand Diploma in Creativity
LEVEL 5
Deepen your creative practice. Define your purpose. Share your voice.
Mā te kite, ka mōhio — Through discovery comes understanding.
Whether you’re returning to study, making a career shift, or exploring creativity in response to life’s changes, this Diploma supports your development with structured guidance, regular feedback, and space to become more self-directed in your practice.
New Zealand Diploma in Creativity
NZQA Level 5 | 120 credits
Delivery: Study From Home or On-Campus
Duration: 45 weeks (Full-time) | 90 weeks (Part-time)
Fees (2026): $7,038.00
Time Commitment:
This is a combination of Tutor (Kaiako) and self-directed study
- Full-time: 34 hours/week
- Part-time: 17 hours/week
NZ Diploma in Creativity (Level 5)
What you’ll learn
This Diploma is built around three interconnected components — each supporting your growth as an independent, culturally aware creative art practitioner. These strands are delivered simultaneously, reflecting the non-linear nature of creativity.
1. Self
Explore your identity in deeper, more purposeful ways. You’ll gain confidence in expressing your creative drivers, whakapapa, and personal kaupapa. You’ll also investigate other cultures and creative influences — including Māori and Pacific Peoples— and reflect on how they shape your practice.
2. Materials and Processes
Experiment across disciplines and push the boundaries of your medium. You’ll gain advanced technical skills using a range of tools and technologies, with an emphasis on active research, experimentation, and iteration. This component supports independent project development from concept to completion.
3. Environment, Culture and Community
Develop professional practice skills to prepare for working in creative industries or community contexts. You’ll learn how to present your work effectively, engage with external stakeholders, and evaluate your own and others’ creative outputs with cultural awareness and respect.
Creativity is a dialogue. Feedback, reflection, and iteration are how we learn, evolve, and thrive.
The Creative Spiral,
Jonathan Milne (2008)
Jonathan Milne (2008)
NZ Diploma in Creativity (Level 5)
Learning approach
- This diploma is delivered as one integrated course, with all components advancing simultaneously.
- You’ll participate in regular documented mentor sessions, combining feedback and forward planning to keep your creative development on track.
- Formal progress checkpoints occur at key stages: 10%, 25% (for part-time), 50%, and 75% (pre-completion).
- Creativity Kaiako work closely with you to ensure you meet all programme outcomes and maintain momentum in your creative growth.
How you can study
Choose the learning mode that works best for you — all with access to a wide range of creative disciplines:
On-site
Come and study at the Learning Connexion campus where you are surrounded by artists and art.
Available practical classes:
Painting, Dry Media (Drawing), Illustration, Printmaking, Digital Art, Ceramics, Mixed Media Sculpture, Hot Arts, Jewellery
Study From Home
Our Distance Delivery art programmes are perfect for anyone who can’t make it to our campus in Taita, Lower Hutt.
Available subjects:
Any material or medium that sparks your interest and is accessible to you, eg.:
Painting, Drawing, Illustration, Printmaking, Photography, Digital Art, Ceramics, Mixed Media Sculpture, Jewellery, Whakairo (Carving), Raranga (Weaving).
Media covered
During a Level 5 Diploma in Creativity, you get to experiment in the creative arts across a wide range of media. The media that you can study are partly determined by how you choose to study, but they are not limited to the core subject areas we run classes on.
If you study on site, then you choose a subject to study during the Weekday Practical Classes in the following media: Painting, Dry Media (Drawing), Illustration, Printmaking, Digital Art, Ceramics, Mixed Media Sculpture, Hot Arts, Jewellery.
If you study from home, any media or subject that sparks your interest and is accessible to you can be part of your Level 5 Diploma.
Did you know?
Makers Week Classes are optional three-day intensive classes focused on developing technical skills and deepening your mastery in a chosen medium. The themes of Makers Week classes change from term to term.
Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL)
& Portfolio Entry
If you already have creative arts experience or have been working independently on your art practice, you may be eligible to enter this programme through our Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) process.
To apply through RPL, you’ll need to:
- Submit a creative portfolio that shows your current skills, exploration, and interest.
- Provide a short, written statement describing your experience and creative goals.
Your portfolio doesn’t need to be perfect — it’s about showing your commitment, curiosity, and creative potential.
We welcome applicants from all backgrounds, especially those who are self-taught or returning to study after time away.
Read more about recognition of prior learning and if you’re unsure whether your experience is suitable, get in touch — we’re happy to guide you through the process.
Where This Can Take You
Graduates of The New Zealand Diploma in Creativity (Level 5) will be well-prepared for further study or to step directly into creative work. Possible pathways include:
- Self-employment as a creative arts practitioner
- Roles in community art programmes, projects or organisations
- Work in creative industries requiring a broad skillset
- Progression into our New Zealand Diploma in Creativity (Level 6)
Ready to begin?
Contact our Admissions team at admissions@tlc.ac.nz for more information or to start your enrolment in a TLC art programme.
