Master of Communication Studies
The Master of Communication Studies is your opportunity to research an area of your interest in the field of communication studies – from journalism to public relations, and radio to critical discourse analysis or film studies.
In your first year, you complete courses that are a mix of creative and academic work, and cover current developments in media and communication studies.
The research thesis is at the core of the programme. You'll work with our experienced supervisors to design and develop your thesis. Many of our students produce a creative component as part of their thesis, for example a screenplay, an in-depth journalism piece, digital media artefact, radio programme or public relations campaign.
Download programme guides
Minimum entry requirements
Must have completed the Bachelor of Communication Studies or an equivalent qualification with a B grade average or higher in Level 7 courses.
May be required to attend a selection interview.
International student entry requirements
English language requirements
IELTS (Academic) 7.0 overall with 7.0 in Writing, 6.5 in Reading, 6.5 in Listening and 7.0 in Speaking; or equivalent
In the first part of your study you choose courses to suit your individual interests, including a core research methods course and at least one course on current developments in media and communication studies.
In the second part of your study, you focus on your thesis. The thesis can be produced in a traditional academic form or may include a creative component as part of your research inquiry. A thesis that includes a creative component also needs to include a written exegesis that analyses and critically reflects on the creative work in its critical, theoretical, historical and personal context.
Complete the following course
Select 75 points from the following courses
Media Context
- COMM801 Popular Media and Contemporary Society (15 points) *
- COMM803 A Political Economy Approach to the Media (15 points) *
- COMM804 Celebrity Culture: Media and the Social Organisation of Fame (15 points) *
- COMM810 Digital Society (15 points)
- COMM812 Selected Topics in Media Communication Practice (15 points) *
- COMM814 Global Crises and the Media (15 points) *
- COMM815 Mediated Political Talk (15 points)
- COMM816 Media and Sustainability (15 points)
Communications & Public Relations
- PUBL801 International Public Relations (15 points) *
- PUBL802 Journalism and Media Relations (15 points) *
- PUBL803 Strategic Public Relations (15 points)
- PUBL804 Public Relations Concepts and Critique (15 points)
- PUBL805 Public Relations Project (30 points) *
- PUBL806 Global Communication Project (15 points) *
- PUBL807 Health Communication (15 points) *
- PUBL808 Advocacy and Activism (15 points) *
Digital Media
- DIGM801 Online and Social Media Communication (15 points)
- DIGM802 Digital Visual Communication (15 points)
- DIGM803 Interactive and Mobile Media (15 points) *
- DIGM804 Moving Image (15 points) *
- DIGM805 Web Media (15 points)
- DIGM806 Digital Content Strategy (15 points)
- DIGM807 Digital Interaction and User Engagement (15 points)
- DIGM808 Digital Strategies (15 points)
Journalism
- JOUR800 Magazine Journalism (15 points) *
- JOUR801 Asia-Pacific Journalism Studies (15 points) *
- JOUR802 Investigative and Agenda-Setting Journalism (15 points) *
- JOUR803 Journalism Law and Ethics (15 points)
- JOUR804 Journalism Theory and Practice (15 points) *
- JOUR805 News Editing and Design Workshop (15 points) *
- JOUR806 Public Affairs Reporting Workshop (15 points) *
- JOUR807 News Reporting (30 points)
- JOUR808 Audio-Visual News Production (15 points)
- JOUR809 Newsroom Production (30 points)
- JOUR810 International Journalism Project (15 points) * (More information)
Screen Production
- TVSP801 Practical Screen Production (15 points) *
- TVSP805 Producing for the Screen (15 points) *
- TVSP808 New Directions in Screen Production (15 points) *
- TVSP809 New Zealand / Pacific Documentary Studies (15 points) *
- TVSP810 Screen Project: Directing (15 points) *
- TVSP811 Making Cinemas of Difference (15 points) *
Additional Courses
- ADVT880 Understanding Brands (15 points)
- ADVT881 Brand Communication Studio (15 points) *
- ADVT883 Brand Stories (15 points) *
- ADVT884 Not-for-profit Communication (15 points)
- ADVT885 Retail Engagement (15 points) *
- ADVT886 Brands and social change (15 points) *
- COMM805 Cooperative Education (30 points) *
- COMM806 Media Communication Reading Paper (15 points) *
- COMM811 Project (30 points) *
Or any other postgraduate course approved by the programme leader.
Thesis
* Not offered in 2024
More details about courses in the Master of Communication Studies
Enrolment in courses is subject to meeting all requirements and availability of courses. Some courses may only be offered once per year. To find out more, contact the postgraduate coordinator at the email address above. The timetable may be subject to change and courses could be cancelled if there aren’t enough students enrolled.
($9,461 tuition fees + $1146 student services levy)
($38,000 tuition fees + $1146 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.
The information on this page was correct at time of publication. For a comprehensive overview of AUT qualifications, please refer to the Academic Calendar.