Why Study / Key Benefits

The Graduate Diploma in Journalism is a specialised, practical programme designed to prepare graduates for professional journalism across print, broadcast and digital media.

Key benefits include:

• Advanced training in journalism practice and research.
• Development of professional newswriting and newsgathering skills.
• Training in media ethics and media law.
• Research, investigation and analytical skills.
• Multimedia reporting and digital-content production.
• Practical experience working with real news media.
• Exposure to radio, online, print and other media platforms.
• Work placements in newsrooms and other media organisations.
• Development of adaptable, work-ready journalism skills.

Programme Structure and Subjects / Topics

The qualification contains 120 points of compulsory study.

The current 2026 structure is:

• COMS233 – Media Law for Journalists — 15 points
• COMS330 – Communication in Context — 30 points
• COMS331 – Researching and Reporting News — 30 points
• COMS332 – News Production — 30 points
• One of:
  • COMS232 – Risk and Crisis Communication — 15 points, or
  • DISC213 – Editing and Postproduction — 15 points.

The programme therefore combines academic communication study with intensive practical journalism.

Major learning areas include:

• Media law.
• Journalism ethics.
• News research.
• News gathering.
• Newswriting.
• Reporting.
• Communication theory and context.
• News production.
• Digital content.
• Multimedia reporting.
• Editing and postproduction.
• Risk and crisis communication.
• Fieldwork and work placements.

Disciplines / Specialisations

The formal subject for the qualification is:

Journalism.

There are no separate majors, minors or named specialisations within the Graduate Diploma in Journalism.

Students can nevertheless develop practical interests in areas such as:

• Print journalism.
• Broadcast journalism.
• Online/digital journalism.
• Multimedia journalism.
• News reporting.
• News production.
• Editing.
• Communication and media.

Programme Highlights

The programme has a particularly strong practical/work-ready orientation.

Highlights include:

• Intensive multimedia journalism training of approximately 30 hours per week.
• Real-world news production.
• Research and reporting.
• Practical writing and reporting.
• Broadcasting experience through RDU-FM.
• Work placements during term breaks.
• Newsroom and media-industry exposure.
• A final internship.
• Training across multiple media platforms.
• Journalism ethics and law.
• Development of analytical and problem-solving skills.

Career Outcomes

Graduates can pursue journalism careers across:

• Newspapers.
• News websites.
• Radio.
• Television.
• Digital media.
• Newsrooms.
• Multimedia journalism.
• Online publishing.

The skills can also transfer into:

• Communications.
• Publishing.
• Entertainment.
• Research.
• Marketing.
• Content production.
• Digital media.

Latest Updates / Special Requirements

The current 2026 UC regulations are effective from 1 January 2026.

Important special requirements include:

• Limited entry.
• Special application.
• Written application.
• Interview.
• Approval by the Head of Department.
• Approval by the Executive Dean of Arts or delegate.
• IELTS Academic 7.5 overall with no band below 7.0, or equivalent, where English is a second language.

International Student Visa Requirements

For an international student admitted to this UC programme, the relevant visa is generally the New Zealand Fee Paying Student Visa.

Immigration New Zealand currently states that this visa:

• Costs from NZD $850.
• Can allow a stay of up to 4 years.
• Has a published processing timeframe of 80% within 8 weeks.
• Requires an offer of place from an approved education provider.
• Requires evidence of tuition-fee payment or sufficient funds/scholarship to pay tuition.
• Requires evidence of sufficient living funds.
• Requires acceptable medical and travel insurance.
• Requires applicants to satisfy health, character and genuine-intention requirements.
• Requires evidence that the student can leave New Zealand at the end of the stay.