Postgraduate Certificate in Communication Studies
Interested in postgraduate study in communications? In as little as one semester you can explore a range of topics - from investigative journalism to screenwriting, and digital media to radio.
The Postgraduate Certificate in Communication Studies is a great option if you have a three-year bachelor’s degree in a relevant discipline but lack the grade point average for admission to the Master of Communication Studies.
Download programme guides
Minimum entry requirements
- Bachelor of Communication Studies or equivalent OR
- Relevant professional qualification or experience approved by the Dean to be equivalent to a bachelor’s degree
A selection interview may be required.
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.
You need to complete 60 points from courses in the Master of Communication Studies.
Our expert staff will guide you in your choice of courses so that your study forms a coherent programme in your chosen field.
Choose 60 points from the following courses
Research Methodology
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)
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)
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) *
- 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) *
- RADC801 Radio (15 points) *
* Not offered in 2024
More details about courses in the Postgraduate Certificate in 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.
You can incorporate the four courses from the Postgraduate Certificate in Communication Studies into the Postgraduate Diploma in Communication Studies or the Master of Communication Studies.
If you choose to go on to further study, you have to surrender the postgraduate certificate.
Postgraduate Diploma in Communication Studies
Master of Communication Studies
($4,730 tuition fees + $573 student services levy)
($18,900 tuition fees + $573 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.