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.
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.
Learn about studying Communication Studies as an undergraduate at Otago.
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.
Honours, masters’, 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.
A four-year degree focusing on advanced study and culminating in a research project in the final year
A two-semester programme of structured coursework, and in some cases supervised research, extending the knowledge and skills gained from the bachelor’s degree
A 12-month coursework master’s focused on applied communication skills for contemporary professional practice
A coursework degree with an optional research dissertation component, usually completed in 12 to 18 months of full-time study, or part-time over a longer period
A one- or two-year degree entailing a major research project, culminating in a thesis
Engage in original research leading to a doctoral thesis, supported by comprehensive academic and social networks
Our graduate qualifications are crafted to transition students from foundational studies to advanced, specialised knowledge.
Take your expertise to the next level with advanced study.
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 |
|---|
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. |
View a list of all related papers below.
| Paper Code | Year | Title | Points | Teaching period |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MFCO101 | 2026 | Screen Form and Culture | 18 points | Semester 1 |
| MFCO102 | 2026 | Media, Power, Society | 18 points | Semester 2 |
| MFCO103 | 2026 | Introduction to Communication Studies | 18 points | Semester 1 |
| MFCO202 | 2026 | Theory of Communication Studies | 18 points | Semester 1 |
| MFCO203 | 2026 | Media History | 18 points | Not offered in 2026 |
| MFCO205 | 2026 | Communication Research Methods | 18 points | Semester 2 |
| MFCO210 | 2026 | Theory of Film and Media | 18 points | Semester 1 |
| MFCO212 | 2026 | Global Media and Communication | 18 points | Semester 1 |
| MFCO213 | 2026 | Media Genres | 18 points | Not offered in 2026 |
| MFCO216 | 2026 | Cinema of Aotearoa New Zealand | 18 points | Semester 1 |
| MFCO217 | 2026 | Television Studies | 18 points | Not offered in 2026 |
| MFCO220 | 2026 | Writing for the Media | 18 points | Semester 2 |
| MFCO222 | 2026 | Science, Technology, and Society | 18 points | Not offered in 2026 |
| MFCO223 | 2026 | Documentary and Reality Media | 18 points | Not offered in 2026 |
| MFCO224 | 2026 | Studying Selfies: Celebrity, Surveillance and Cyberspace | 18 points | Not offered in 2026 |
| MFCO225 | 2026 | Crime and the Media | 18 points | Semester 2 |
| MFCO242 | 2026 | Special Topic | 18 points | Not offered in 2026 |
| MFCO250 | 2026 | Celebrity | 18 points | Not offered in 2026, expected to be offered in 2027 |
| MFCO251 | 2026 | Television Studio Production | 18 points | Semester 2 |
| MFCO301 | 2026 | Critical Problems in Film and Media | 18 points | Semester 2 |
| MFCO303 | 2026 | Critical Problems in Communication Studies | 18 points | Semester 2 |
| MFCO305 | 2026 | Communication Research Methods | 18 points | Semester 2 |
| MFCO306 | 2026 | Cinema of Aotearoa New Zealand | 18 points | Semester 1 |
| MFCO307 | 2026 | Political Economy of Communication | 18 points | Semester 2 |
| MFCO312 | 2026 | Communication and the City | 18 points | Semester 2 |
| MFCO313 | 2026 | Culture, Politics and Media | 18 points | Semester 1 |
| MFCO315 | 2026 | Digital Media and Society | 18 points | Semester 1 |
| MFCO318 | 2026 | Indigenous Media | 18 points | Not offered in 2026 |
| MFCO319 | 2026 | Contemporary American Cinema | 18 points | Semester 1 |
| MFCO323 | 2026 | Documentary and Reality Media | 18 points | Not offered in 2026 |
| MFCO330 | 2026 | Special Topic | 18 points | Not offered in 2026 |
| MFCO333 | 2026 | Film Festivals | 18 points | Not offered in 2026 |
| MFCO350 | 2026 | Celebrity | 18 points | Not offered in 2026, expected to be offered in 2027 |
| MFCO401 | 2026 | Advanced Media, Film and Communication Theory | 30 points | Semester 1 |
| MFCO406 | 2026 | Audience Studies | 30 points | Not offered in 2026 |
| MFCO408 | 2026 | Screening Gender | 30 points | Not offered in 2026 |
| MFCO411 | 2026 | Independent Study in Media, Film and Communication | 30 points | Semester 1 |
| MFCO412 | 2026 | Communicating the Self | 30 points | Not offered in 2026 |
| MFCO414 | 2026 | Discourse Theory and Practice | 30 points | Not offered in 2026 |
| MFCO416 | 2026 | Communication Policy: Issues and Approaches | 30 points | Semester 2 |
| MFCO417 | 2026 | Postcolonial Media and Communication | 30 points | Semester 1 |
| MFCO441 | 2026 | Special Topic | 30 points | Not offered in 2026 |
| MFCO490 | 2026 | Dissertation | 60 points | Full Year, 1st Non standard period (13 July 2026 - 11 June 2027) |
| MFCO590 | 2026 | Research Dissertation | 60 points | 1st Non standard period (27 February 2026 - 19 February 2027), 2nd Non standard period (17 July 2026 - 9 July 2027) |
Media, Film and Communication Programme
School of Social Sciences
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