Why Study / Key Benefits

The Master of Strategic Communication is a coursework-based master's designed for students seeking professional communication careers in business, media, public relations, government and advocacy.

Key benefits include:

• Develop advanced strategic communication skills for professional and organisational environments.
• Learn to understand audiences and align communication with organisational and corporate goals.
• Develop skills in research, data analytics, campaign planning and strategic messaging.
• Study communication ethics and responsible professional practice.
• Build skills relevant to public relations, organisational communication, advocacy and media.
• The programme can suit students without previous specialist strategic-communication experience as well as people changing career direction.
• UC has relationships with professional media organisations and brings industry speakers into its teaching environment.
• Students may have the opportunity to complete an industry internship for credit.
• The programme can be studied either on campus or entirely online, providing considerable flexibility for international and working students. 

Programme Structure and Subjects / Topics

The MStratCom consists of 180 points.

For the current on-campus pathway, the compulsory courses are:

• COMS421 Strategic Communication Theory and Application — 30 points
• COMS432 Building Impactful Campaigns: Research, Strategy and Ethical Practice — 15 points
• COMS433 Campaign Success: Messaging, Tactics and Pitching with Impact — 15 points

Disciplines / Specialisations

The qualification has one named subject:

• Strategic Communication

Possible areas of emphasis include:

• Strategic communication
• Public relations
• Communication ethics
• Public diplomacy
• Strategic leadership communication
• Campaign strategy
• Audience research
• Data-informed communication
• Organisational communication
• Public advocacy
• Social and digital media
• Professional communication
• Corporate communication.

Programme Highlights

• 180-point NZQF Level 9 master's
• 18 months full-time
• Up to 5 years part-time
• February and July starts
• Campus-based and fully online study options
• Combination of online and face-to-face learning in the mixed pathway
• Strategic communication theory and application
• Campaign research and strategy
• Ethical communication practice
• Messaging and pitching
• Public diplomacy
• Strategic leadership communication
• Optional professional internship
• Choice of research dissertation or applied communication portfolio
• Industry connections and guest speakers
• Potential progression to PhD study in Media and Communication or Journalism.

Career Outcomes

Graduates develop advanced communication writing, editorial and strategic communication skills that can be applied across different media and organisational environments.

Potential career areas include:

• Public relations
• Strategic communications
• Corporate communications
• Internal communications
• Government communications
• Public policy
• Advocacy
• Communications advisory
• Social media
• Strategic marketing
• News media
• Publishing
• Non-profit organisations
• Communications agencies
• Professional consultancy
• Community communications.

Latest Updates / Special Requirements

The current 2026 regulations came into force on 1 January 2026.

Important current points include:

• The degree remains a 180-point qualification.
• The full-time time limit is 18 months.
• The part-time maximum is 60 months.
• The qualification is specifically subject to Strategic Communication.
• Applicants can qualify through a bachelor's degree with a B average at 300 level, or through relevant professional experience combined with a bachelor's degree.
• Applicants may also enter through the relevant postgraduate certificate/diploma with the required B+ average.
• English language requirement is IELTS Academic 6.5 with no individual score below 6.5, with preference for 7.0 or above.

International Student Visa Requirements

International students studying the qualification in New Zealand will generally need a Fee Paying Student Visa.

Current Immigration New Zealand requirements include:

• Cost from NZD $850
• Maximum stay of up to 4 years
• 80% of applications currently processed within 8 weeks
• Offer of place from an approved education provider
• Evidence of sufficient tuition funding or scholarship
• Evidence of sufficient living funds
• Acceptable health and travel insurance
• Meeting health and character requirements
• Genuine intention to study
• Evidence that the student can leave New Zealand at the end of the stay.