Why Study / Key Benefits

• The Master of Arts (Media Studies) provides advanced study in media theory, research and contemporary media issues.
• It is designed for students who want to investigate a specific aspect of media studies through either a substantial thesis or a smaller research report.
• The programme examines media production, consumption and content across areas such as smartphones, social media, television, popular music and film.
• Students can choose between a research pathway, which combines taught courses with a substantial thesis, and a coursework pathway, which places greater emphasis on taught study and includes a research report.
• The programme is particularly suitable for students who already have undergraduate-level study in Media Studies or an equivalent discipline and want to develop advanced research skills.

Programme Structure and Subjects / Topics

The MA is a parts-based qualification. Students complete Part One before progressing to Part Two. Performance in the first 60 credits determines eligibility for the second part:

• Coursework pathway: minimum B average required.
• Research pathway: minimum B+ average required.

Part One – Coursework pathway, 120 credits:

Students can select from Media Studies courses including:

• 154702 Advanced Film Studies – critical and theoretical approaches to cinema, film history, and the social, cultural, economic, political and aesthetic significance of film.
• 154704 Researching Media and Cultural Studies – theoretical frameworks, research designs, research methods and preparation for research proposals.
• 154708 Modern Fiction, Popular Culture and the Media – modern and postmodern fiction, popular culture, literature and film.
• 154709 Technology and Cultural Change – technology's role in transforming contemporary culture, including its effects on space, time and human experience.
• 154747 Media Practice and Global Culture – contemporary media practice, globalisation, digital/mobile media and the cultural, social, political, economic, ethical and environmental implications of media production, distribution and consumption.

Part Two – Coursework pathway:

• 154873 Research Report Media Studies – 60 credits.
• This is a supervised and guided independent research project.

Part Two – Research pathway:

Students complete either a 90-credit or 120-credit thesis structure:

• 154816 Thesis 120 Credit Part 1 – 60 credits
• 154817 Thesis 120 Credit Part 2 – 60 credits
• 154881 Thesis 90 Credit Part 1 – 45 credits
• 154882 Thesis 90 Credit Part 2 – 45 credits

Disciplines / Specialisations

The specific subject/specialisation is:

• Media Studies – Master of Arts.

Within Media Studies, the programme allows students to develop research interests around areas such as:

• Film and cinema
• Social media
• Digital and mobile media
• Popular culture
• Media and technology
• Media practice
• Global media culture
• Media and cultural studies
• Media research and theory.

Programme Highlights

• 180-credit Master of Arts qualification.
• Media Studies specialisation within the MA.
• Distance and online delivery.
• International students can study online from outside New Zealand.
• Two study pathways: Coursework and Research.
• Coursework pathway includes a 60-credit independent research report.
• Research pathway includes a 90- or 120-credit thesis.
• Advanced study covers film, popular culture, technology, digital media, media practice and global culture.
• Progression is academically structured: a minimum B average is required for the coursework pathway and B+ for the research pathway after the first 60 credits.
• Massey identifies Communication and Media as a strong subject area in its international rankings.

Career Outcomes

Massey identifies potential career areas for Media Studies graduates including:

• Advertising
• Digital post-production
• Film and television production
• Web content editing
• Journalism
• Public relations. 

Latest Updates / Special Requirements

• The current programme is explicitly available through Distance and online study.
• International students can undertake the programme online from outside New Zealand.
• The programme uses a parts-based structure, meaning Part One must be completed before progression to Part Two.
• A minimum B average after the first 60 credits is required for the Coursework pathway, while a minimum B+ average is required for the Research pathway.
• Not all Media Studies courses are available in every semester.
• Students undertaking a thesis must continue to re-enrol and pay applicable fees if the thesis is not submitted at the end of the initial Thesis Part Two enrolment period.
• Programme-specific additional professional registration, work-experience or portfolio requirements: “Not publicly specified – please confirm with IPU.”

International Student Visa Requirements

Because the Media Studies MA is offered online and Massey explicitly allows international students to study it online from outside New Zealand, a New Zealand student visa is not required when the student remains outside New Zealand and studies remotely.

If an international student instead intends to study in New Zealand, the relevant immigration route is generally the Fee Paying Student Visa, subject to the student's individual circumstances and visa conditions. Immigration New Zealand currently states that applicants must:

• Have an offer of place from an approved education provider.
• Have enough funds to pay tuition fees or hold an acceptable scholarship.
• Demonstrate sufficient living funds or have an acceptable sponsor.
• Have acceptable medical and travel insurance.
• Meet health and character requirements.
• Have genuine reasons for studying in New Zealand.
• Demonstrate that they can leave New Zealand at the end of their stay.