Why Study/Key Benefits

• The PGDipStratCom develops practical and analytical skills for planning communication across advertising, media, business and public communication.
• The programme is open to students from any academic background, making it suitable for graduates who want to move into communication-focused careers.
• Core learning includes strategic messaging, digital communication, social media, audience research and analysis.
• Electives allow students to develop interests in areas such as:
  • Crisis management
  • Leadership and workplace communication
  • Data analysis
  • Social media and content marketing
  • Professional communication
  • Public diplomacy
  • Communication ethics
  • Campaign development
• Students undertake practical work involving communication and social-media campaigns.
• UC provides both campus-based and fully online study options.

Programme Structure and Subjects/Topics

The 120-point qualification is divided into 60 compulsory points and 60 elective points.

For the 2026 campus structure:

Compulsory courses:

• COMS421 – Foundations of Strategic Communication
  • 30 points
  • Semester 1
  • Campus
  • Covers theories and research relating to strategic communication, organisations, audiences and media.
  • Includes applications to advertising and public relations and considers ethical professional practice.
• COMS425 – Campaign Planning with Social Data Analysis
  • 30 points
  • Semester 2
  • Campus
  • Builds campaign-planning and social-data-analysis capabilities.

Disciplines/Specialisations

There are no separate formal majors or specialisations.

The official subject of the qualification is:

• Strategic Communication.

Students can nevertheless shape their elective study toward areas such as:

• Strategic communication
• Public relations
• Advertising
• Campaign management
• Digital communication
• Social media
• Data analysis
• Crisis communication
• Leadership communication
• Workplace communication
• Public diplomacy
• Communication ethics
• Content marketing
• Media research
• Professional/community engagement.

Programme Highlights

• 120-point postgraduate qualification.
• One-year full-time study option.
• Up to three years part-time.
• February and July campus intakes.
• Campus and fully online study options.
• Open to graduates from any academic background.
• Multiple professional-experience admission routes.
• Practical focus on strategic messaging and communication campaigns.
• Social-data analysis integrated into the core curriculum.
• Elective flexibility in areas such as crisis communication, leadership, data analysis and content/social-media marketing.
• Opportunity to undertake PACE495 Professional and Community Engagement Internship, subject to the specific application and approval requirements.
• B-average graduates can apply to progress to UC's Master of Strategic Communication and transfer their diploma credits, subject to approval.

Career Outcomes

UC states that the qualification prepares graduates for roles in:

• Communications agencies
• News media
• Publishing
• Public relations
• Advocacy
• Advertising
• Business communication
• Strategic communication
• Campaign management
• Digital and social-media communication.

The elective structure can additionally support careers involving:

• Crisis communication
• Corporate communication
• Workplace/leadership communication
• Content and social-media marketing
• Public diplomacy
• Communication research
• Policy and advocacy
• Professional communication consultancy
• Community engagement.

Latest Updates/Special Requirements

• The qualification was first offered in 2025.
• The current regulations came into force on 1 July 2025.
• The qualification is currently a 120-point programme.
• The current UC programme page confirms February and July starts.
• UC currently offers both on-campus and exclusively online study.
• The online programme has different term dates and a more prescribed course structure.
• Campus students complete COMS421 in Semester 1 and COMS425 in Semester 2 under the current 2026 structure.
• COMS421 is not a distance course in its 2027 Semester 1 campus occurrence.
• Some elective courses require approval and/or have prerequisites.
• PACE495 requires a special application, interview and permission from the Internship Director.
• The formal maximum completion period is 36 months.
• The qualification may be awarded with Merit or Distinction.

International Student Visa Requirements

For an international student studying the campus version in New Zealand, the relevant visa is generally the Fee Paying Student Visa.

Immigration New Zealand currently requires applicants to:

• Have an offer of place from an approved education provider.
• Have enough money to pay tuition fees or hold an applicable scholarship.
• Have sufficient funds for living expenses or an acceptable sponsor.
• Have acceptable medical and travel insurance.
• Meet health and character requirements.
• Demonstrate genuine intentions to study.
• Be able to demonstrate arrangements/funds to leave New Zealand at the end of the stay.