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Postgraduate Study in Communication Studies

    Make sense of your world.

    Communication Studies focuses on the social, technological, political and cultural implications of current and changing communicative practices and networks.

    With an emphasis on social and media-based communication, courses initiate a critical and creative understanding of digital, broadcast, print and mobile communication, and develop written and screens-based skills. These are central to comprehending the role of media and communication industries and practices in the wider context of society and culture.

    Challenge your mind and broaden your views in a diverse, stimulating learning environment that demands you be critical, creative and innovative.

    Why study Communication Studies?

    Our courses will challenge your mind, broaden your views, and help you develop an increased awareness of transformations in society and culture.

    Our goal is to prepare students to take their place as responsible and engaged citizens, who are critical, creative and innovative, equipped to connect with a diverse and fast-changing media world and to productively contribute to their communities and chosen professions. To serve this goal, our scholarship and teaching is interdisciplinary, inventive, and practical.

    But that is not all that we do. Almost all employers look for fundamental life-long skills – literacy, numeracy, communication skills, the ability to lead and contribute to teams, as well as the ability to solve problems through dependable research. All of these skills are taught in our programme; they underlie most of what we do. We also value and develop an understanding of cultural diversity and differing perspectives, so it is not surprising that our graduates are to be found in many walks of life.

    We have a well-established record of teaching and research, and staff who are internationally recognised in their disciplines.


    Are you just starting uni?

    Learn about studying Communication Studies as an undergraduate at Otago.

    Choose a study option

    Whether you are advancing your career with our specialised graduate qualifications or pursuing in-depth research and expertise through our postgraduate programmes, Otago is here to support your aspirations.

    Postgraduate qualifications

    Honours, Master’s, PhDs, and other advanced degrees for graduates. Just one additional year of study will earn you a valuable postgraduate degree. Or perhaps you want the depth of a full year of research-only time during a Master’s or to step up to a PhD.

    Graduate Qualifications

    Our graduate qualifications are crafted to transition students from foundational studies to advanced, specialised knowledge.

    Ready to apply?

    Take your expertise to the next level with advanced study.

    Programme details

    Compare programmes for this subject.

    Papers
    MFCO 490 Dissertation
    MFCO 401 Advanced Media, Film and Communication Theory
    One further 400-level MFCO papers or other approved papers

    The Postgraduate Diploma in Arts Subjects (PGDipArts) programme in Communication Studies is the same as the programme for the degree of Bachelor of Arts with Honours (BA(Hons)).

    Dissertation / Studio Project Requirements
    MFCO 590 Research Dissertation
    MFCO 401 Advanced Media, Film and Communication Theory
    Two of:
    HUMS 501 Writing and Revision for Graduate Research
    HUMS 502 Research Methods in the Humanities
    HUMS 503 Key Debates in the Humanities
    And further:
    400-level MFCO papers worth 30 points
    GEND 401 may be substituted for one 400-level MFCO paper
     
    Papers-Only  Requirements
    MFCO 401 Advanced Media, Film and Communication Theory
    At least two of:
    HUMS 501 Writing and Revision for Graduate Research
    HUMS 502 Research Methods in the Humanities
    HUMS 503 Key Debates in the Humanities
    And further:
    400-level MFCO papers worth 90 points
    GEND 401 may be substituted for one 400-level MFCO paper
    Note: Students are able to take one of HUMS 501-503 not already taken as an optional paper in this pathway.

    Thesis
    • Thesis: COMS 5

    Note: Students who have not completed a Bachelor of Arts (BA(Hons)) in Communication Studies or a Postgraduate Diploma in Arts Subjects (PGDipArts) in Communication Studies must complete the required papers for the BA(Hons) in Communication Studies prior to undertaking the thesis.

    Papers

    View a list of all related papers below.

    MFCO papers

    Paper Code Year Title Points Teaching period
    MFCO101 2025 Screen Form and Culture 18 points Semester 1
    MFCO102 2025 Media, Power, Society 18 points Semester 2
    MFCO103 2025 Introduction to Communication Studies 18 points Semester 1
    MFCO201 2025 The History of Film 18 points Not offered in 2025
    MFCO202 2025 Theory of Communication Studies 18 points Semester 1
    MFCO203 2025 Media History 18 points Not offered in 2025
    MFCO205 2025 Communication Research Methods 18 points Not offered in 2025
    MFCO210 2025 Theory of Film and Media 18 points Semester 2
    MFCO212 2025 Global Media and Communication 18 points Semester 1
    MFCO213 2025 Media Genres 18 points Semester 2
    MFCO216 2025 Cinema of Aotearoa New Zealand 18 points Semester 1
    MFCO217 2025 Television Studies 18 points Not offered in 2025
    MFCO220 2025 Writing for the Media 18 points Not offered in 2025, expected to be offered in 2026
    MFCO222 2025 Science, Technology, and Society 18 points Not offered in 2025
    MFCO223 2025 Documentary and Reality Media 18 points Semester 1
    MFCO224 2025 Studying Selfies: Celebrity, Surveillance and Cyberspace 18 points Not offered in 2025
    MFCO231 2025 Special Topic 18 points Not offered in 2025
    MFCO242 2025 Special Topic 18 points Not offered in 2025
    MFCO250 2025 Celebrity 18 points Not offered in 2025
    MFCO251 2025 Television Studio Production 18 points Semester 2
    MFCO301 2025 Critical Problems in Film and Media 18 points Semester 2
    MFCO303 2025 Critical Problems in Communication Studies 18 points Semester 2
    MFCO312 2025 Communication and the City 18 points Semester 1
    MFCO313 2025 Culture, Politics and Media 18 points Semester 1
    MFCO314 2025 French Cinema 18 points Not offered in 2025
    MFCO315 2025 Digital Media and Society 18 points Semester 1
    MFCO317 2025 Digital Culture 18 points Not offered in 2025
    MFCO318 2025 Indigenous Media 18 points Semester 2
    MFCO319 2025 Contemporary American Cinema 18 points Not offered in 2025
    MFCO323 2025 Documentary and Reality Media 18 points Semester 1
    MFCO330 2025 Special Topic 18 points Not offered in 2025
    MFCO333 2025 Film Festivals 18 points Not offered in 2025
    MFCO350 2025 Celebrity 18 points Not offered in 2025
    MFCO401 2025 Advanced Media, Film and Communication Theory 30 points Semester 1
    MFCO406 2025 Audience Studies 30 points Not offered in 2025
    MFCO408 2025 Screening Gender 30 points Semester 2
    MFCO410 2025 Documentary Film and Media 30 points Not offered in 2025
    MFCO411 2025 Independent Study in Media, Film and Communication 30 points Semester 1
    MFCO412 2025 Communicating the Self 30 points Not offered in 2025
    MFCO414 2025 Discourse Theory and Practice 30 points Semester 2
    MFCO441 2025 Special Topic 30 points Not offered in 2025
    MFCO490 2025 Dissertation 60 points Full Year, 1st Non standard period (14 July 2025 - 12 June 2026)
    MFCO590 2025 Research Dissertation 60 points 1st Non standard period (28 February 2025 - 20 February 2026), 2nd Non standard period (11 July 2025 - 3 July 2026)

    Contacts

    Media, Film and Communication Programme
    School of Social Sciences
    Web  otago.ac.nz/mfco


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    Regulations on this page are taken from the 2025 Calendar and supplementary material.

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