Entry requirements

Students with any bachelor’s degree, or with other qualifications of an equivalent standard, are able to apply to the Graduate Diploma in Journalism programme.

If English is your additional language, you are also required to provide evidence of IELTS (academic) 7.5, with no score less than 7.0.

For the full entry requirements, see the Regulations for the Graduate Diploma in Journalism or use the admission requirements checker.

Entry to the programme requires a special application due October 31st, and includes an interview. For more information on the process and required forms, see how to apply.

See Admission and enrolment for all information on enrolling at UC.

Subjects and courses

The Graduate Diploma in Journalism is made up of the following compulsory courses:

• COMS232 Risk and Crisis Communication
• COMS233 Media Law for Journalists
• COMS330 Communication in Context
• COMS331 Researching and Reporting News
• COMS332 News Production

Note: With approval and availability of placements, students with some previous media experience may choose to replace COMS232 or COMS233 with PACE295 Internship.

The intensive programme includes practical training in news research, writing, reporting, and technologies. You will be contributing to real news media throughout study – including broadcasting on the local radio station RDU-FM.

During term breaks, you will take part in work placements within newsrooms and other media outlets throughout Aotearoa New Zealand, and finish your studies with a final internship.

Further study

GradDipJour graduates may go onto the Master of Strategic Communication, the Master of Writing, or onto a Master of Arts in a variety of related subjects.

UC also offers a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Journalism.

Career opportunities

With extensive experience in researching and producing news content for a variety of media channels, UC’s journalism graduates have gone on to a variety of roles within the local and global news industry, from newsrooms to radio, television to newspapers, and online platforms.

Our graduates are prepared for the increasing demand of global news coverage, and will make a difference in the standards and ways we engage with news journalism.

They may also find their creative, team working, and problem solving skills easily adaptable to other roles in communications, publishing, entertainment, research, and marketing organisations.