Bachelor of Communication Studies
AUT's communications degree is very well regarded in New Zealand and around the world. That’s because our students pick up top jobs in the best companies and media outlets, and win many prestigious awards.
AUT communications students and graduates are internationally recognised, having won the Sally Logan-Milne Young Practitioner of the Year award, CAANZ AXIS award, ORCA awards, Cannes International Advertising award and NZ Student Marketer of the Year award.
Study communications at AUT and you have access to industry standard facilities and equipment, including a media centre, radio studio and fully equipped TV studio, journalism training newscourse Te Waha Nui, student radio station Static 88.1 fm and student-run PR agency Outside the Square. You also gain invaluable workplace experience before you graduate.
Talk to us about your study options
Thinking about studying at AUT? Book a time with us to discuss your study options.
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Minimum entry requirements
International student entry requirements
English language requirements
- IELTS (Academic) 6.0 overall with all bands 5.5 or higher; or equivalent
Useful New Zealand school subjects
- Language rich subjects are useful
Don’t meet the entry requirements?
Consider starting with our Diploma in Arts.
Diploma in Arts
You can build your degree in a way that suits you and your interests, and include subjects from outside of communication studies as part of your studies.
To graduate with a Bachelor of Communication Studies you need to complete:
Core courses (120 points)
These are courses all students in this degree need to take in the first year. They give you a basic understanding of the media world and communication theories, and help you decide which subject to focus on later in your studies.
Your chosen major (120 points)
Your major is the subject area you want to specialise in. This makes up one third of your degree, and usually consists of eight courses related to your chosen subject. You can view the list of majors in this degree in the ‘Majors’ tab.
Flexible component (120 points)
You can choose one of the following options
- Two minors (60 points each); or
- A minor (60 points) and elective courses (60 points); or
- A second major (120 points)
Your second major, minor(s) and elective courses can be from different AUT degrees; they don’t need to be from communication studies.
Build your degree
Use our online tool to build your own degree and see what your three years of study could look like.
Your major is the subject area you want to specialise in. It makes up one third of your degree, and usually consists of eight courses related to your chosen subject.
Choose one of these majors as part of your degree
- Advertising and Brand Creativity
- Digital Communication
- Journalism
- Public Relations
- Radio and Audio Media
- Screen Production
Add a second major
If you want to include a second major, you can choose another subject from the list above or view more options from different AUT degrees
A minor is smaller than a major. It usually consists of four courses.
Communication studies minors you could choose
If you decide to include one or two minors in your degree, you could choose from:
- Advertising and Brand Creativity
- Communication for Social Change
- Digital Communication
- Journalism
- Media and Power
- Multi-Camera Production
- Professional Performance Communication
- Public Relations
- Radio and Audio Media
- Screen Production
Add a minor from outside of communication studies
You can also choose your minor(s) from subjects outside of communication studies to complement your degree.
26 Feb 2024
15 Jul 2024
($6,595- $7,579 tuition fees + $1074 student services levy)
($32,400 tuition fees + $1074 student services levy)
- Fees shown are based on a full-time workload for the points indicated next to the fee. The exact fee charged will depend on which courses you select at the time of enrolment.
- Fees are subject to change year to year. If you are planning for study beyond the current year, fees may vary from those stated.
- There may also be other fees and charges you need to pay.
- International students' tuition fees reflect the full cost of tuition. Domestic students' tuition fees are less due to a proportion of the tuition fees being funded by the New Zealand Government.
- Fees-free study may be available for domestic students
The information on this page was correct at time of publication. For a comprehensive overview of AUT qualifications, please refer to the Academic Calendar.