Wellington Faculty of Victoria University of Wellington

Stand out, get ahead, or change career

Build on your knowledge and become a future leader in the world of Architecture and Design Innovation.

The Wellington School of Architecture and School of Design Innovation offer courses that let you tailor your study to your interests and career aspirations, while meeting the growing needs of the creative industry. Come and take advantage of the world-class facilities that our campus has to offer.

Explore our offerings in areas such as building compliance, built heritage, critical design studies, design practice in Aotearoa, digital tools and visualisation, user experience design, and sustainable buildings.

You can also complement your Architecture and Design Innovation courses with courses offered by other faculties, such as the Wellington School of Business and Government.

(My postgraduate study) enabled me to apply my design skills in several different industries, opening up my career to plenty of opportunities—including a dream job at Lego.

Regan Petrie

Graduate of the Wellington Faculty of Architecture and Design Innovation

Recommended course combinations

Built heritage

Study the following courses if you want to delve into heritage conservation, restoration techniques, and policy frameworks. Elevate your expertise in preserving the past for a sustainable future in the field of built heritage.

Construction management

Study the following courses if you want to advance skills in project planning, cost control, and risk management. Dive into contemporary construction practices and leadership strategies, ensuring your ability to excel in the dynamic and demanding field of construction management.

Design practice in Aotearoa

Study the following courses if you want to immerse yourself in a unique curriculum, blending Indigenous perspectives with contemporary design methods. Cultivate a deep understanding of cultural contexts and explore design solutions that resonate with the rich heritage of Aotearoa.

Sustainable buildings

Study the following courses if you want to embrace cutting-edge knowledge in green design, energy efficiency, and environmentally conscious construction practices. Gain expertise in sustainable materials and technologies, contributing to the creation of buildings that harmonise with the environment and meet the challenges of a rapidly changing world.

Explore all available courses

The PGCertPS is made up of courses worth 60 points. If you want to focus on the area of architecture or design, at least 40 of those points need to be from courses offered by the Wellington Faculty of Architecture and Design Innovation.

You can choose courses from across the Faculty to build a cohesive package that suits your professional goals and previous study experience. Follow the links listed below to see what postgraduate courses are offered within each general area of study:

Financial support

Furthering your education can be a big investment, both time-wise and financially. Many organisations offer tuition reimbursement programmes or other forms of financial support for their employees’ education. This can greatly reduce the financial burden of postgraduate study and make it easier for you to focus on your education.

Qualifying for a different postgraduate certificate

If the combination of courses you choose meets the requirements for another postgraduate certificate at this university, we’ll encourage you to take that programme instead of the PGCertPS.

The postgraduate certificates offered in our faculty can act as a stepping stone into a higher qualification, such as a postgraduate diploma or a Master’s degree. If you are thinking about further study in the future, a postgraduate certificate is a great way to get a taste for a programme and decide if it’s right for you.

Other postgraduate certificates offered by the Wellington Faculty of Architecture and Design Innovation include the following:

Choose a different area of focus

The PGCertPS gives you the flexibility to choose courses from across the University to build a customised qualification. You can choose a main area of focus, or you can keep your qualification broad and pursue your own unique course of study across multiple subject areas.

Apart from Architecture and Design Innovation, you have the option of five other areas of focus:

Stand out, get ahead, or change career