Critical art thinking and contextualisation is a key academic component of every course that sets our programmes at the forefront of creative art education.
Choose out of a suite of programmes from Certificate to Master's level that will enable you to explore and extend your own creative ideas and connect with the wider arts community through professional and contemporary exhibition and publication platforms.
Our Certificate (18 weeks) is ideal for school-leavers or career changers looking to start their exploration of fine art, discover new practices and find their voice.
Focusing on developing a portfolio, and the beginning steps in the pathway to a degree and beyond.
Our degree and honours programmes are for those wishing to fully explore fine arts in all its scope and scale. Perfect for those who want to discover their practice, develop their skills and refine their voice.
Preparing you for professional life they are taught over 3 years for the bachelors, and a further 1 year study for the honours.
Our Masters is for those artists looking to push their own work through 2 years of critical reflection and creation. It is low residency, with artists engaging in comprehensive programme of supervised studio research and contextual studies requiring self-directed learning and continuing professional development.
It is designed for professionals looking to elevate their work, broaden their contacts and deepen their relationships with art and each other.
July 2025 Intake
21/07/2025
February 2026 Intake
16/02/2026
Auckland City Symonds Street Campus
Manuakau Campus
Where will this programme take you?
July 2025 Intake
21/07/2025
February 2026 Intake
16/02/2026
Auckland City Symonds Street Campus
Where will this programme take you?
Fine Arts isn’t only for galleries. Your work makes an impact – on walls, screens, city streets. In ad campaigns, in films, and on television. It shapes video games and defines brands. Why limit yourself? Today’s artists work in global industries. Fine Arts at Whitecliffe can take you anywhere your ambition leads. Even if that is the gallery.
The stats speak for themselves
Job openings
between now and 2030
Focused on
Wellbeing and meaningful impact
10+ industries
from education and media to NGOs
In New Zealand, the Arts Sector contributes $17.5 billion in 2024
We partner with Globally recognised brands
Creative Arts Therapy is a form of psychotherapy that uses creative processes like art-making, drama, and movement to improve mental, physical, and emotional wellbeing. It combines clinical therapeutic practice with the innate healing power of the arts, providing a way for individuals to express and process feelings that may be difficult to put into words.
We offer a one-year Postgraduate Diploma (PGDip) and a two-year Master of Creative Arts Therapy (MCAT) through a flexible, low-residency model. The PGDip provides a strong foundation, while the MCAT programme includes the clinical practicum hours required for professional registration as a creative arts therapist.
The key requirement is a relevant undergraduate degree, and some experience in a related field is strongly recommended. Applicants typically have a background in areas like counselling, social work, psychology, fine arts, or education. You will also need to provide a personal statement, a CV, and references to support your application.
The Master’s degree is the full professional qualification that leads to registration as a therapist, while the Postgraduate Diploma is a foundational first year. The PGDip is ideal for those wanting to integrate therapeutic arts into an existing career, whereas the MCAT is the complete pathway for those who wish to practice clinically and includes a supervised clinical placement.
Our low-residency model allows you to study from anywhere in New Zealand, combining online learning with intensive, on-campus block courses. This means you only need to travel to campus for short, immersive workshops a few times per semester, making the programme accessible for students who are working or do not live near Auckland.
Yes, a supervised clinical placement is a mandatory and essential component of the Master of Creative Arts Therapy programme. You will gain over 750 hours of real-world experience in settings like schools, hospitals, or community organisations. We work collaboratively with you to secure a placement that aligns with your career goals.
Yes, graduating with the Master of Creative Arts Therapy makes you eligible to apply for professional registration with ANZACATA, the peak professional body in Australia, New Zealand, and Asia. This registration allows you to work in a wide variety of clinical settings, including private practice and as a provider for ACC-sensitive claims.
No, you do not need to be a professional artist, but you must have a committed and ongoing personal creative practice. The focus is on your ability to engage with the creative process for self-expression and discovery, not on technical perfection. Many students have a background in one area(e.g., therapy) and a strong desire to develop their skills in the other.
Tuition fees vary by programme, and you can find the most up-to-date information on the Whitecliffe website. As these are postgraduate programmes, our Student Finance team can provide advice on payment plans and potential scholarship opportunities to help you fund your studies.
Yes, international students are welcome to apply, provided they meet the English language and visa requirements. A unique requirement for all students (both domestic and international) is the completion of a Treaty of Waitangi workshop. This is essential to our curriculum, which honours Aotearoa’s bicultural framework as a core part of ethical therapeutic practice.
