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Postgraduate Diploma in Science Communication (PGDipSciComm)

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Overview

The need for effective and powerful science communication is greater than ever. Our course is very practical and applied, with a special focus on creative nonfiction science writing. Our students tend to be those whose passions and talents lie between the sciences and creative practice.

One of the great things about Science Communication is that it is deeply interdisciplinary, weaving together engaging content from STEM areas to the social sciences to the arts and humanities.

There are no subject prerequisites for course entry.

If you who aspire to work in science communication, our course teaches core skills in:

  • Putting science communication theory into creative practice
  • Writing engaging science-based story content for a general audience
  • Multimedia such as infographics, podcasts, and mobile filmmaking
  • Pitching to media and literary agents, drafting professional proposals
  • Running idea-based events and exhibitions

Taught entirely by distance, our asynchronous course is tailored to suit busy, working professionals. The PGDipSciComm (6 papers) can be done part-time or full-time as an “at-your-own-pace” programme.

To enable students to develop their skills and interests through real-world work experience, the course offers a popular internship paper with a range of professional partners.

Learn more about our professional partnerships and interships

In addition to teaching creative thinkers how to use stories to communicate the science they are most passionate about, our innovative papers are built on the latest scholarly theory in the science of science communication and examine how people consume and use scientific information.

Our instructors are not only academics engaged in scientific research, they are also leading figures in the science communication industry, with commercially successful, award-winning popular science books and bylines in major magazines and media outlets such as The New York Times, Scientific American, and The New Zealand Herald.


Contact

Department of Science Communication

Email sciencecommunication@otago.ac.nz
Web otago.ac.nz/science-communication



Requirements


Regulations for the Postgraduate Diploma in Science Communication (PGDipSciComm)

  1. Admission to the Programme

    1. Admission to the programme shall be subject to the approval of the Pro-Vice Chancellor (Sciences), on the advice of the Head of the Department of Science Communication.
    2. Every applicant shall either
      1. have been admitted to the degree of Bachelor of Science; or
      2. have alternative qualifications acceptable to the Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Sciences).

  2. Structure of the Programme

    1. Every programme of study shall be as prescribed in the PGDipSciComm Schedule.
    2. A candidate who has completed the requirements for the Postgraduate Certificate in Science Communication shall be exempted from those papers in the programme for the diploma which have been previously passed for the certificate.

  3. Duration of the Programme

    1. The programme may be taken by full-time candidates in two semesters.
    2. A candidate shall satisfy the requirements for the diploma within two years of admission to the programme.

  4. Variations

    The Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Sciences) may in exceptional circumstances approve a course of study which does not comply with these regulations.


This information must be read subject to the statement on our Copyright & Disclaimer page.

Regulations on this page are taken from the 2024 Calendar and supplementary material.

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