Media Design School at Strayer
Auckland, New Zealand
Quick facts
- World rank
- Unranked
- Acceptance rate
- —
- Students
- —
- International students
- —
- Institution type
- Private
- Founded
- 1998
Overview
Media Design School at Strayer (MDS) was founded by Liz Valintine in 1998 to meet demand for digital design and creative technology education. It offers foundation certificates, bachelor's degrees, graduate diplomas, postgraduate certificates and diplomas, and a Master of Design. Disciplines span animation and visual effects, game art and programming, software engineering and artificial intelligence, information technology, graphic design, interactive design, motion design and creative advertising.
MDS moved to its purpose-built Madden Street campus in Auckland's Wynyard Quarter in 2021. Learning takes place in studio-like environments using industry-aligned hardware and software, with project-based work and industry connections. Facilities include specialist labs, a library and eLibrary, and Fale Māpura, a meeting, study and social space organised by Māori and Pacific students. Selected courses offer online study, while postgraduate design teaching includes weekend classes. Partner satellite learning centres operate through NGEN Room in Whangarei and The Cause Collective in Wiri.
Fields of study
- Arts and Design
- Digital Media and Design
- 3D Animation
- Visual Effects
- Game Art
- Game Programming
- Software Engineering
- Artificial Intelligence
- Information Technology
- Graphic Design
- Motion Design
- Interactive and UX Design
- Creative Advertising
- Design
Admissions requirements
- IELTS (minimum)
- —
- TOEFL iBT (minimum)
- —
- GPA (minimum)
- —
- Intakes
- February 2026, July 2026, 2026-09-28, 2027-02-15, 2027-02-22, 2027-07-19, 2027-09-27, February 2028, July 2028
- Application deadlines
- Varies by program
- Rolling admissions
- No
- Admissions contact
- futurestudents@mediadesignschool.com
Requirements differ between programs. Check the program page and the university's admissions office for the latest criteria.
Tuition & costs
International students
Varies by program
Domestic students
Varies by program
Published fees are indicative first-year amounts in NZD, inclusive of compulsory course costs and GST (15%, subject to change); the final fee is invoiced with the offer. Available domestic/international fee pairs are: Game Programming 13032/35551; 3D Animation & VFX bachelor's degree 11443/35551; Creative Advertising graduate diploma 11658/34999.80; 3D Animation & VFX graduate diploma 11659/35549.80. These tables accompany 2026/2027 intake information but do not explicitly state a fee year. Fees for all catalog qualifications are not supplied, so these figures do not establish the institution's full tuition range.
Tuition varies by program. Confirm with the university before applying.
Official fee source (opens in a new tab)Programs
| Program | Level | Duration | Tuition | Deadline | Intakes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bachelor of Art & Design - 3D Animation & VFX (opens in a new tab)Full Time | Bachelor's | 3 years | NZ$11,443 / year | Varies | 2026-09-28, 2027-02-22, 2027-07-19, 2027-09-27, February 2028 |
| Bachelor of Creative Technologies - Game Art (opens in a new tab)Full Time | Bachelor's | 3 years | Varies | Varies | February 2027, July 2027, February 2028 |
| Bachelor of Information Technology (opens in a new tab)Full Time | Bachelor's | 3 years | Varies | Varies | February 2027, July 2027 |
| Bachelor of Media Design - Graphic, Motion & Interactive Design (opens in a new tab)Full Time | Bachelor's | 3 years | Varies | Varies | February 2027, July 2027, February 2028, July 2028 |
| Bachelor of Software Engineering - Artificial Intelligence (AI) (opens in a new tab)Full Time | Bachelor's | 3 years | Varies | Varies | February 2027, July 2027, February 2028 |
| Bachelor of Software Engineering - Game Programming (opens in a new tab)Full Time | Bachelor's | 3 years | NZ$13,032 / year | Varies | 2027-02-22, 2027-07-19, February 2028 |
| Graduate Diploma of Creative Advertising (opens in a new tab)On Campus | Diploma | 1 year | NZ$11,658 / year | Varies | 2027-02-15, February 2028 |
| Graduate Diploma of Creative Technologies - 3D Animation & VFX (opens in a new tab) | Diploma | 1 year | NZ$11,659 / year | Varies | 2026-09-28, 2027-02-22, 2027-07-19, February 2028 |
| Graduate Diploma of Creative Technologies - Game Art (opens in a new tab) | Diploma | 1 year | Varies | Varies | February 2027, July 2027, February 2028 |
| Graduate Diploma of Creative Technologies - Game Programming (opens in a new tab) | Diploma | 1 year | Varies | Varies | February 2027, July 2027, February 2028 |
| Graduate Diploma of Creative Technologies - Graphic Design (opens in a new tab) | Diploma | 1 year | Varies | Varies | February 2027, July 2027, February 2028 |
| Graduate Diploma of Creative Technologies - Interactive Design (opens in a new tab) | Diploma | 1 year | Varies | Varies | February 2027, July 2027, February 2028 |
| Graduate Diploma of Creative Technologies - Motion Design (opens in a new tab) | Diploma | 1 year | Varies | Varies | February 2027, July 2027, February 2028 |
| Master of Design (opens in a new tab) | Master's | — | Varies | Varies | — |
| NZ Certificate in Arts and Design (opens in a new tab)Full Time | Diploma | — | Varies | Varies | February 2027, July 2027, February 2028, July 2028 |
| NZ Certificate in Digital Media and Design (opens in a new tab)Full Time | Diploma | — | Varies | Varies | February 2027, July 2027, February 2028, July 2028 |
| Postgraduate Certificate in Design (opens in a new tab) | Diploma | — | Varies | Varies | — |
| Postgraduate Diploma in Design (opens in a new tab) | Diploma | — | Varies | Varies | — |
Information last verified Sep 23, 2026. Last updated Oct 14, 2026. Fees, deadlines and requirements change — always confirm with the university.