Top-ranked
QS World University Rankings lists Massey as one of the world's top 150 universities for communications and media.
Highly rated
Study with the best. Massey is ranked the top in New Zealand for communications by Shanghai Rankings.
The heart of the matter
Humanities and Social Sciences at Massey. Explore what it means to be human, why we act like we do and the ways we create meaning.
Get ahead at work
Expand your existing expertise at work or advance your career with Massey. Or change direction with a new qualification.
Overview
Engage with audiences and innovate, whether you're in journalism, creative production, or mass communications.
Learn from lecturers with industry experience and researchers with expertise in areas such as intercultural communication or investigative journalism. Gain hands-on experience with our state-of-the-art facilities, including broadcast-quality cameras and digital editing suites. Master in-demand skills with real-world projects, including internships. Graduate work-ready, with qualifications recognised in New Zealand and overseas.
Business internships via Massey
Media and communication is a good fit if you:
- enjoy school subjects such as English, media studies or visual communication
- want to uncover stories about people, places or current events
- like talking with new people and working to deadlines.
Media and communication courses may cover:
- expressive arts, which mixes creative writing, digital media production, and theatre
- journalism, including reporting and producing online, radio and TV news
- linguistics (how languages work)
- media studies, which covers apps, film and TV, social media and more
- PR, including media liaison and writing press releases
- social media and digital marketing
- storytelling
- workplace communication.
How to study media and communication
Discover what we offer if you’re interested in media and communication – whether you’re coming to university for the first time, changing direction or returning to advance your study or career.
Undergraduate study
Bachelor's degrees
Media Studies – Bachelor of Arts
Interested in television and popular culture? Social media and fake news? Filmmaking and cultural theory? Media studies can help you unlock your creative potential and develop practical skills to excel in your career.
Global Communication – Bachelor of Business
Develop skills critical to effective communication in a rapidly changing global environment.
Bachelor of Communication – BC
Become a well-rounded, innovative communication specialist, who is sought-after by employers with Massey’s Bachelor of Communication.
Applied Communication – Bachelor of Communication
Applied Communication combines cutting-edge research with practical communication solutions to solve complex global problems.
Expressive Arts and Media Studies – Bachelor of Communication
This unique degree is for those who love being creative, writing and the performing arts, but also want to discover how the media shape our identities and our world.
Digital Marketing – Bachelor of Communication
The Bachelor of Communication (Digital Marketing) is the only degree in New Zealand that combines business, marketing strategy, and creative visual and verbal communication skills.
Expressive Arts – Bachelor of Communication
If you love being creative and want to study a selection of theatre, performance, creative writing, and digital media production, and you also want great career prospects, the Bachelor of Communication (Expressive Arts) is for you.
Journalism – Bachelor of Communication
Join a prestigious group of leading journalists that have studied at Massey University – New Zealand’s longest-running, internationally accredited journalism qualification.
Media Studies – Bachelor of Communication
Discover how the media shape our identities and our world. Massey will help you create, critique, and connect with the media world, building skills to understand and make media for a wide range of professional communication roles.
Public Relations – Bachelor of Communication
Your study of public relations delivers knowledge and skills that are in increasing demand – public relations is one of the fastest-growing specialist areas of communication.
Bachelor's degrees with honours
Factual Production – Bachelor of Screen Arts with Honours
Storytelling is the basis for all human connection, and stories that tell us about real people, situations and issues are compelling touchstones in relating to our fast-changing times. True stories shape our identity and reflect our world back to us.
Film Production – Bachelor of Screen Arts with Honours
The Film Production major offers comprehensive, practical filmmaking, covering all aspects of film production including creative development, pre-production, production and post-production.
Immersive Media – Bachelor of Screen Arts with Honours
Virtual and Augmented Realities (VR and AR) allow new ways for us to blend the physical and digital worlds, creating uncharted possibilities for the future.
Mātauranga Toi Māori – Bachelor of Screen Arts with Honours
Study creative arts and help shape a future where te ao Māori is at the forefront of Aotearoa creative industries. A first for Aotearoa tertiary education, the Mātauranga Toi Māori major engages te ao Māori in any of our creative disciplines in Screen Arts – Animation, Factual Production, Film Production, Game Development, Immersive Media or Visual Effects.
Media Technology – Bachelor of Screen Arts with Honours
The evolution of media technologies and screen production, driven by digital innovation, is offering new ways of working and is creating new tools and techniques for content production and consumption.
Graduate certificates
Media Studies – Graduate Certificate in Arts
Interested in television and popular culture? Social media and the blogosphere? Film and cultural theory? Media studies can help you unlock your creative potential and develop practical skills to excel in your career.
Undergraduate diplomas
Media Studies – Diploma in Arts
With Massey’s Diploma in Arts (Media Studies) you’ll gain an understanding of the production, consumption, and content in the media industry.
Diploma in Communication – DipC
Massey's Diploma in Communication will introduce you to a selection of disciplines in the communication field.
Graduate diplomas
Media Studies – Graduate Diploma in Arts
Create, critique, and connect with your media world with the Graduate Diploma in Arts (Media Studies). You will gain the equivalent of an undergraduate major in media studies without completing a second bachelor’s degree.
Relevant undergraduate subjects to major or specialise in
When you apply to study at Massey, for some undergraduate qualifications you can choose what subject you’d like to specialise in. You can usually change your mind after you get to university, depending on the courses you enrol in.
- Digital marketing
- Expressive arts
- Journalism
- Media studies within the arts
- Media studies within communication
- Public relations
Postgraduate study
Postgraduate bachelor's degrees with honours
Media Studies – Bachelor of Arts (Honours)
With Massey’s Bachelor of Arts (Honours) (Media Studies), you’ll develop versatile skills that will make you highly sought-after in many careers.
Master's degrees
English – Master of Arts
With Massey’s Master of Arts (English) you can build on your undergraduate study and follow your passion for literature. Complete advanced research into an aspect of English, rhetoric or theatre studies.
Media Studies – Master of Arts
With Massey’s Master of Arts (Media Studies), develop critical research skills exploring an aspect of media that interests you. Gain advanced insights into media studies that will build on your undergraduate knowledge.
Communication – Master of Business Studies
Massey’s Master of Business Studies (Communication) will give you the business and communication skills to take your career to the next level.
Master of Creative Writing – MCW
Use your passion for writing to transform yourself and the world through an intense exploration of language.
Communication – Master of Management
The Master of Management (Communication) focuses on key skills that will increase your business knowledge, to help move your career in a new direction.
Journalism – Master of Management
With Massey’s Master of Management in Journalism, you can take your journalism career to the next level.
Postgraduate certificates
Postgraduate Certificate in Business – PGCertBus
Whether you’re interested in a specific professional development course, or entry to further study, the Postgraduate Certificate in Business offers the flexibility to study in the areas you choose.
Postgraduate diplomas
Media Studies – Postgraduate Diploma in Arts
Build on your undergraduate interests in media studies with Massey’s Postgraduate Diploma in Arts (Media Studies). Develop your research and analysis skills by exploring an area that interests you.
Postgraduate Diploma in Business – PGDipBus
Gain practical business skills that employers are searching for with Massey’s Postgraduate Diploma in Business. You’ll be able to design this qualification to suit your interests and your lifestyle.
Postgraduate Diploma in Journalism – PGDipJ
Gain practical industry skills through Massey’s journalism qualifications, the only qualifications in Australasia accredited by US organisation the Accrediting Council on Education in Journalism and Mass Communication.
PhD and other doctoral degrees
Doctor of Philosophy – PhD
A prestigious research qualification that demonstrates your ability to carry out independent and original research in your chosen field.
Relevant research areas at Massey
Discover research expertise, projects and initiatives relating to media and communication at Massey.
What our students say
“I've worked as a reporter in Sydney, London, Canberra and outback Australia. The Massey programme had a great emphasis on industry skills and practical learning, much of which I still use in the newsroom every day.”
“Be a creative thinker; challenge the status quo; and if you’re feeling bold, aim to become a change-maker. That’s what the BA did for me.”
“What made me pick Massey was the variety. I didn’t want a degree that would limit my options and I can confidently say, I am happy with my decision. I’ve graduated with a range of skills including article writing, filming and editing skills, creative writing, marketing knowledge, and writing communication plans for companies.”
Our facilities
You'll have access to a wide range of first-class facilities when you study with us.
Filming
Filming studios including HD camera set up with teleprompter, green screens and controllable lighting rigs. Audio, video and lighting equipment necessary to conduct mobile, on-site filming.
Audio
Our world-class equipment and facilities include:
- audio booths for interviews or podcasting
- dubbing theatre
- live-rooms controlled by two of the world’s most sought-after desks – 72ch Neve and 48ch SSL Duality analogue console
- studio equipped with the latest Avid hardware.
Editing and visual effects
Leading-edge digital production and post-production tools including high-end digital cameras with green screen and lighting gear, motion capture facilities and post-production.
Video editing classroom/labs with iMacs with Adobe CC video editing applications. Some labs have video recording and live streaming.
Virtual and augmented reality
A specialised room where students can explore and prototype virtual spaces and experiences, or create virtual artworks or designs using virtual reality and augmented reality equipment.
Jobs in media and communication
Many jobs rely on strong communication skills. Then there are specialist media and communication careers, such as journalism or public relations.
Careers span from media jobs to working in communications for all sorts of industries – from the arts to business, charities to healthcare, government agencies to non-governmental organisations (NGOs). Some of our graduates go into marketing or research.
Media and communication careers include:
- communications roles in government or businesses, which may include media relations, online content, speech writing or strategy-setting
- digital marketing strategists
- journalists
- presenters on radio, TV or online
- PR (public relations) specialists
- social media advisers or managers.
Annual salary ranges for jobs
- Communications professional – $110,000 to $180,000
- Journalist – $48,000 to $100,000
- Marketing specialist – $55,000 to $170,000
- Marketing manager – $95,000 to $258,000
- Radio presenter – pay rates vary
- Technical writer – $50,000 to $130,000
- TV presenter – pay rates vary
Becoming a journalist
Journalists help make sense of what's happening around us. It's a competitive career to enter, so you need the right mindset, technical skills and reporting experience – just what Massey's journalism qualifications can give you.
You'll also need to:
- be curious
- enjoy talking to people to find out more about their stories
- relish uncovering new information
- love writing.
We've been training journalists since 1966, with qualifications valued by employers and professional bodies. Our graduates work at news organisations in New Zealand and overseas – online, on-air broadcasting, and in print, from community news reporters to international correspondents.
Salary ranges disclaimer
Indicative pay rates are:
- in New Zealand dollars
- based on careers.govt.nz data.
Which media and communication qualification?
Examples of where our qualifications may take you.
Jobs | Examples of what you could study |
---|---|
Communications professional |
Bachelor of Communication (Media Studies) Bachelor of Business (Strategic Communication) |
Digital marketing strategist or manager | Bachelor of Communication (Digital Marketing) |
Journalist |
Bachelor of Communication (Journalism) Postgraduate Diploma in Journalism if you already have a degree Bachelor of Arts (Media Studies) |
PR specialist |
Bachelor of Communication (Public Relations) Bachelor of Business (Strategic Communication) |
Accreditations and rankings
Accrediting Council on Education in Journalism and Mass Communication (ACEJMC)
Massey’s Bachelor of Communication is the only degree outside the Americas and the Middle East to be recognised by the Accrediting Council on Education in Journalism and Mass Communication (ACEJMC).
ShanghaiRanking - Communication
Communication at Massey is ranked #1 in New Zealand, and among the top 100 in the world, by ShanghaiRanking.
QS Ranking - Communication and Media
Massey is ranked by QS (Quacquarelli Symonds) as one of the top 100 universities for communication and media studies. QS is an organisation that ranks universities worldwide in various topics.
QS Ranking - Art & Design
College of Creative Arts – Toi Rauwhārangi ranks in the global top 150 for art and design by QS World University Rankings.
Get an information guide
Download our guides to find out more about studying media and communication at Massey.