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 papers 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.
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 papers.
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 papers to suit your individual interests, including a core research methods paper and at least one paper 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.
Choose one Research Methodology paper
- COMM802 Practice-Based Research Methods (15 points)
- COMM807 Media Communication Research Methods (15 points)
Select 75 points from the following papers
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 New Media and 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)
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)
Creative Industries
- CIND801 Critiquing Creative Organisations (15 points)
- CIND802 The Creative Industries, Culture and the Market Place (15 points)
Digital Media
- DIGM801 Online and Social Media Management (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 Transnarrative (15 points)
- DIGM807 UI / UX 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)
Radio
Screen Production
- TVSP801 Practical Screen Production (15 points)
- TVSP802 Advanced Non Fiction Screenwriting (15 points)
- TVSP804 Documentary Studies (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)
Additional Papers
- ADVT880 Understanding Brand Communication in a Culture of Promotion (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 Social Marketing (15 points)
- COMM805 Cooperative Education (30 points)
- COMM806 Media Communication Reading Paper (15 points)
- COMM811 Project (30 points)
- COMM895 Dissertation (A) (30 points)
- COMM897 Dissertation (B) (60 points)
Or any other postgraduate paper approved by the programme leader.
Thesis
More details about papers in this programme
Detailed programme structure and paper outlines (Blackboard)
Search for a paper (Arion)
Email pgcommqueries@aut.ac.nz
Enrolment in papers is subject to meeting all requirements and availability of papers.
15 Jul 2019
24 Feb 2020
13 Jul 2020
$8,540
- This represents the approximate tuition fee based on a full-time workload of 120 points of this 180-point programme in 2019. The exact tuition fee will depend on papers selected and may exceed this figure.
- Fees are subject to change year to year, if you are planning for beyond 2019, the tuition fee may vary from the figure stated.
- There may also be other fees and charges you need to pay. Learn more about fees to study at AUT
$32,100
- This represents the approximate tuition fee based on a full-time workload of 120 points of this 180-point programme in 2019. The exact tuition fee will depend on papers selected and may exceed this figure.
- Fees are subject to change year to year, if you are planning for beyond 2019, the tuition fee may vary from the figure stated.
- There may also be other fees and charges you need to pay. Learn more about fees to study at AUT
- 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.