About Graduate Diploma In Fashion (design And Technology) in Southern Institute of Technology

The programme has been designed to offer study to further develop knowledge and skills relevant to the application of fashion and design, including key ideas, principles and concepts associated with the theory and application of the papers. These include fashion design development, fashion production, fashion illustration and imagery, textile art and technology, computer aided pattern development, introduction to costume, design and production (client, corset, swimwear, lingerie, competition wear, couture and unconventional), specialised pattern making techniques and specialised construction techniques.

Career Opportunities

Graduates of this programme are creative, innovative designers who are culturally aware, consumer conscious and skilled in the technological aspects of the fashion industry. They can demonstrate skills in research, design development, manual and CAD pattern making, garment construction, illustration and portfolio presentation. Graduates will also be able to apply business marketing and management practices relevant to the fashion industry. This programme leads graduates to further postgraduate study or employment in the fashion industry.

Satisfactory Completion

To be awarded the Graduate Diploma in Fashion (Design and Technology), students will have been credited with all required papers and electives as specified in the schedule of papers. The total credit value of the Graduate Diploma in Fashion (Design and Technology) is 120 credits.

Entry is open to degree graduates who have graduated from a bachelor’s degree programme or those who can demonstrate equivalent, relevant, practical professional or educational experience in a related discipline.

Language Requirements

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 one of the following:

NCEA Level 3 with University Entrance, or

Certificate of Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (CELTA), or

Successful completion of a Bachelor ‘s Degree, Graduate Certificate, Graduate Diploma, Bachelor Honours degree, Postgraduate Certificate, Postgraduate Diploma, Masters’ Degree or Doctoral Degree, the language of instruction of which must be in English and which must be from a tertiary education provider from New Zealand, Australia, Canada, the Republic of Ireland, South Africa, the United Kingdom or the United States, or

Successful completion of one of the following internationally recognised proficiency tests listed below to the level required of the programme of study and with all scores achieved in a single test during 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 18)
• Cambridge English Examinations - FCE or FCE for schools with a score of 169 No less than 162 in each skill.  OET at Grade C in all sub-tests.
• NZCEL3 - 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
• Language Cert - C1 Expert IESOL (LRWS) with PASS

An NZQA approved English Language proficiency test, where the student has achieved an outcome that is equivalent or better than those scores listed for Internationally recognised English language proficiency tests above in relation to the level of intended programme of study, or

Completion of all primary education and at least three years’ secondary education at schools with English as the language of instruction, or

Completion of five years of secondary education at schools with English as the language of instruction.  

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:

1. Have gained NCEA Level 3 and met New Zealand University Entrance requirements, or
2. Have successfully completed a Bachelors’ Degree, Graduate Certificate, Graduate Diploma, Bachelor Honours degree, Postgraduate Certificate, Postgraduate Diploma, Masters’ Degree or Doctoral Degree, the language of instruction of which must be in English and which must be from a tertiary education provider from New Zealand, Australia, Canada, the Republic of Ireland, South Africa, the United Kingdom or the United States, or
3. Have achieved a Certificate in English Language Teaching to Adults, CELTA, or
4. Have achieved the required score and with all scores achieved in a single test in one of the internationally recognised English Proficiency tests (specified above) within the preceding two years.

Southern Institute of Technology Highlights

New Zealand Living Expenses

You'll require between $20,000 and $25,000 a year ($380–480 per week) for housing/rent, food, transportation, phone bills, internet usage, and entertainment, in addition to your tuition and insurance fees. The average living expense will be the same for everyone, regardless of their tuition or course price. Please keep in mind that these are only suggestions; the Immigration New Zealand requirement is $15,000 per year including return travel or an additional $2,000.