We live in a mediatised world.
Our experiences of reality, relationships and politics are shaped by media and communication.
Our curriculum will enable you to:
Why study Film and Media Studies?
Our courses will challenge your thinking, broaden your views and help you develop an increased awareness of the role of media in transforming society and culture.
Our mission is to prepare students to engage critically and creatively in an increasingly mediated world and allow them to contribute to their communities and chosen professional field. To serve this goal, our scholarship and teaching is interdisciplinary, inventive and practical.
But that is not all that we do. Employers look for life-long skills – written and visual literacy, communication skills, the ability to lead and contribute to teams, and to solve problems through effective research methods. All of these skills are taught in our programmes; they underlie most of what we do.
We also value and develop an understanding of cultural diversity and difference, 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, with staff who are internationally recognised in their disciplines.
Are you just starting uni?
Learn about studying Film and Media 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, 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.
Bachelor of Arts with Honours (BA(Hons))
A four-year degree focusing on advanced study and culminating in a research project in the final year
Postgraduate Diploma in Arts Subjects (PGDipArts)
A two-semester programme of structured coursework, and in some cases supervised research, extending the knowledge and skills gained from the bachelor’s degree
Master of Arts (Coursework) (MA(Coursework))
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
Master of Arts (Thesis) (MA(Thesis))
A one- or two-year degree entailing a major research project, culminating in a thesis
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 Film and Media 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 |
| 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 60 points |
| GEND 401 Debates in Gender and Sexuality may be substituted for one 400-level 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 Debates in Gender and Sexuality may be substituted for one 400-level 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 Film and Media Studies or a Postgraduate Diploma in Arts Subjects (PGDipArts) in Film and Media Studies must complete the required papers for the BA(Hons) in Film and Media 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 | 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) |
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 2026 Calendar and supplementary material.
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