Overview
Explore a genre of choice, compose original text, examine and identify the business skills necessary for a self-employed writer.
Unleash your potential! The diploma will consolidate your understanding of genres and guide you to write for different audiences as you work on novels, scripts, collections, or non-fiction texts. You will also learn about writing for online outlets, how to hone your editing skills and how to self-publish.
NorthTec offers qualifications up to level 7 in applied writing:
- New Zealand Diploma in Writing for Creative Industries (Level 5)
- New Zealand Diploma in Creative Writing (Level 6)
- Diploma in Advanced Applied Writing (Level 7)
This diploma has a team of specialist tutors who cover a range of genres. The team includes internationally-published author Zana Bell, well-known journalist and author Rae Roadley and leading freelance editor Lesley Marshall.
What you will learn
Through studying this programme, you will learn a range of specialist writing skills and strategies that will enable you to apply professional principles and practices to produce original writing outputs that meet the specific requirements of creative industries.
In this programme you will learn to:
- Apply theoretical and specialist knowledge of creative writing skills, strategies, and processes to develop and produce original outputs for a selected audience, platform or purpose.
- Analyse problems and generate solutions, as applicable to the creation of targeted outputs for the creative industries.
- Work independently or as part of a team to critically evaluate their own work and that of others.
- Leadership and professional business practice to manage projects/briefs and maintain currency of industry knowledge in order to work within the creative writing industry.
Courses in this programme
Compulsory courses
- 6001 Long Texts
- 6002 Short Fiction
- 6003 Short Non-Fiction
- 6005 Online Writing
- 6006 Publishing
- 6007 Editing
- 6008 Becoming Professional
Electives- Chose ONE
- 6009 Poetry
- 6010 Short Scripts for the Screen
Entry Requirements
All applicants must:
- be at least 16 years old at the time the programme commences.
- be able to understand follow, and respond to instructions given in English.
- be physically able to complete the programme specific outcomes
All applicants must:
- be at least 16 years old at the time the programme commences.
- be able to read, write, and communicate in English at a basic level.
- be physically able to complete the programme-specific outcomes.
All applicants must:
- be at least 16 years old at the time the programme commences.
- be able to read, write, and communicate in English at a basic level.
- be physically able to complete the programme-specific outcomes.
Applicants for whom English is not a first language must have an IELTS score of 5 with no band score lower than 5; or an accepted international equivalence.
All applicants must:
- be at least 16 years old at the time the programme commences.
- be able to read, write, and communicate in English at a basic level.
- be physically able to complete the programme-specific outcomes.
Applicants for whom English is not a first language must have an IELTS score of 5.5 with no band score lower than 5; or an accepted international equivalence.
Applicants under the age of 20
- Successful completion of New Zealand Certificate in Writing for Creative Industries (Level 5) or equivalent.
Applicants 20 years of age and over
- A portfolio of work that indicates the applicant is capable of meeting the qualification outcomes.
English language requirements
All applicants must have a level of English sufficient to be able to study at this level. Those students whose first language is not English should have:
- An international English Language Testing System (IELTS) overall academic score of at least 6.0 (with at least 5.5 in each band), or accepted international equivalence.
Special Entry
In exceptional circumstances, an applicant who does not meet the full entry requirements, may be granted admission to the Programme on the approval of the Head of Department or delegate if he/she is confident of the applicant’s ability to undertake the Diploma with a reasonable likelihood of success.
Intakes & Applications
Dates & Bookings
Youth Guarantee Fund*
If you are aged 16 to 24, you could study for FREE as part of the government's Youth Guarantee fund. To qualify for the Youth Guarantee fund, you must meet the following criteria:
- Not yet have NCEA level 1 or NCEA level 2.
- Complete an application for a course that is covered by the Youth Guarantee fund.
- Be a NZ citizen or permanent resident.
- Be 16 to 24 years old at the time the course starts
All free study is subject to funding confirmation. Proof of residency status is required. Programme entry criteria may apply. Eligibility for student allowances or student loans may vary. Contact Studylink for more information.
All fees are in New Zealand Dollars and are approximate only - includes GST but excludes the Compulsory Student Services Fee (CSSF) levy. Unless otherwise stated, the fees shown are for domestic students only. For programmes longer than one academic year in duration, the fees quoted are for the first year. Final study costs depends on a number of factors including the courses you select to study.
Courses and programmes may be cancelled, postponed or have their content or configuration changed from time to time (including during the academic year) at the discretion of NorthTec. See our full Terms and conditions.
Additional Information
About Te Pūkenga
NorthTec is part of Te Pūkenga – New Zealand Institute of Skills and Technology (Te Pūkenga). From 1 October 2022, all references to NorthTec or Northland Polytechnic on this website (and any documentation linked through this website) need to be read as references to Te Pūkenga and its NorthTec business division.
Te Pūkenga brings the Institutes of Technology and Polytechnics (ITPs) and the arranging training activities of certain Industry Training Organisations (ITOs) together to create a national network. This will give learners more choices and flexibility in what, where, and how they learn.
Existing NorthTec ākonga (learners) will be enrolled with Te Pūkenga automatically in the same qualification and will continue to learn in the same way, in the same place, with the same people.
Learners should note that all programmes offered across Te Pūkenga are under review to ensure they are portable, consistent and aligned with the needs of industry and may be changed. Where there are changes to programmes that you have applied to enrol in, you will be notified of these changes.
