Master of Arts Research Training (Film, Media, Communications & Journalism)

2 Years On Campus Masters Program

Monash University

Program Overview

The Master of Arts (Research Training) at Monash University is a two-year graduate research degree designed for students seeking specialised research training in Film, Media, Communications & Journalism, combining focused coursework with substantial independent research under expert academic supervision. It suits graduates and experienced professionals who want to develop advanced research capabilities, investigate complex questions in media and cultural industries, and prepare for further research or professional contexts.

Curriculum Structure

Year 1: Students begin by developing a strong foundation in research design and methodology through APG5155 Designing Research in the Humanities and Social Sciences, together with either APG5127 Advanced Methodologies in the Humanities and Social Sciences or APG5126 Practice-based research: Design, methods and modes of representation. Alongside this coursework, students begin developing their approved research project and work with their academic supervisors to refine the research question, methodology and project direction.

Year 2: The second year is primarily devoted to substantial independent research and completion of a 20,000–25,000-word research thesis or an approved alternative output where applicable. Students continue working under academic supervision, participate in relevant seminars and research activities, and develop research that contributes knowledge to their chosen area within Film, Media, Communications & Journalism.

Focus areas: Film and screen studies, media and communications, journalism, digital media, media history and theory, political journalism, digital cultures, social media, documentary studies, media policy, misinformation and fact-checking, audio journalism, climate communication, gender and media, and screen media research.

Learning outcomes: Graduates develop advanced research design and methodological skills, the ability to conduct independent research under academic supervision, critical and analytical thinking, and the capacity to produce a thesis that demonstrates an original contribution to knowledge. The course outcomes are aligned with Australian Qualifications Framework Level 9.

Professional alignment (accreditation): The qualification is a Master of Arts Research Training and its learning outcomes are aligned with the Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) Level 9; Monash does not state a separate professional accreditation for this research degree on the official course page.

Reputation (employability rankings): Monash is ranked #40 globally for Communication & Media Studies in the QS World University Rankings by Subject 2026, while the university reports #1 in Victoria for full-time graduate employment in communications based on the 2020 Graduate Outcomes Survey.

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

Students in the Master of Arts (Research Training) at Monash University gain practical research skills through a combination of advanced coursework and substantial independent research, culminating in a 20,000–25,000-word thesis or approved alternative research output. Within the Film, Media, Communications & Journalism graduate research program, students work with expert supervisors and can develop research around areas such as film and screen studies, digital media, journalism, communications, social media, documentary studies and media technologies.

The program is supported by specialist research environments and media facilities, including the Monash Media Lab, professional audio and video equipment, edit suites, radio studios and a TV studio. Students undertaking film and screen research can also make use of the Freda Freiberg Film and Screen Studies Library, while research programs and labs provide opportunities to engage with collaborative research in areas such as digital cultures, gender and media, climate communication and screen studies:

Independent Research: Students undertake substantial independent research under the guidance of a minimum of two expert academic supervisors, developing a major thesis or approved alternative research output.
Monash Media Lab: The School provides access to a specialist Media Lab at the Caulfield campus, with professional audio and video equipment and dedicated facilities for media-related work. Access depends on the student's unit and research requirements.
Edit Suites: The Media Lab includes edit suites that support practical media production and post-production work where access is approved for the relevant unit or activity.
Radio Studios: Students can access dedicated radio studios, providing facilities relevant to research involving audio journalism, podcasting and related media practices where permitted.
TV Studio: The Media Lab provides a dedicated TV studio for approved student media activities, giving students access to professional media-production infrastructure.
Professional Equipment: The School provides professional audio and video equipment for eligible units, with equipment loans managed through the School's booking system.
Freda Freiberg Film and Screen Studies Library: Film and screen researchers can work with a specialist collection containing approximately 2,000 books and hundreds of periodicals, together with rare books, journals, newspaper clippings, press kits, ephemera and other film and television industry materials.
Research Data and Collection: The Freda Freiberg Library research opportunity specifically gives students experience in research data collection and management procedures while working with a specialist cultural collection.
Screen Histories and Futures: Students can connect their research with the Screen Histories and Futures Research Program, which investigates the history, theory, practice and criticism of digital audio-visual culture and changing forms of screen media.
Gender & Media Lab: Research opportunities extend to the Gender & Media Lab, supporting research into gender, media and related cultural questions.
Information Nations: Students researching digital media, data, technology, privacy or information systems can engage with the Information Nations research program.
Environment & Media: The Environment and Media Research Program connects Film and Screen Studies, Media and Communications, and Journalism through research on sustainability, documentary practices, environmental politics, data and digital media.
Journalism Research: Research can connect with Monash's work in journalism history, press photography, misinformation, fact-checking, political communication, audio journalism and podcasting, providing relevant research contexts for journalism-focused projects.
Research Community: Students work within a School of more than 50 academic staff whose expertise spans media, journalism, film and screen studies, providing access to a broad range of potential research supervision areas.

Progression & Future Opportunities

The Master of Arts (Research Training) at Monash University provides advanced preparation for research and professional work across Film, Media, Communications & Journalism, combining specialist coursework with substantial independent research. Students graduate with research design, critical analysis, specialist disciplinary knowledge and the ability to translate research for professional contexts, supporting progression into media research, communications, journalism, cultural organisations and further academic research.

Relevant career directions include media researcher, communications specialist, journalist, research/policy analyst.

Key progression and employment opportunities include:

Career development: Monash Arts supports graduate career development through professional activities, research training and engagement with academics and industry. The Faculty reports more than 81,000 Arts alumni across 130 countries, providing a broad alumni network across industries.
Research and professional skills: The degree includes specialist coursework and a 20,000–25,000-word research thesis or approved alternative output, supported by at least two expert academic supervisors. This provides substantial evidence of independent research capability for professional or academic applications.
Industry connections: Monash's Media, Film and Journalism area has established connections with media organisations and industry professionals. Related communications and media programs specifically identify connections with organisations including ABC, SBS, Channel 9, News Ltd, Fairfax, Foxtel, Nova and Southern Cross Austereo, alongside an industry board involving media professionals.
Specialist research opportunities: Students researching film and screen studies can work with the Freda Freiberg Film and Screen Studies Library, which contains around 2,000 books, hundreds of periodicals, special collections, newspaper clippings, press kits and other film and television industry materials. A dedicated research grant provides a A$5,000 one-off stipend for eligible incoming Master of Arts (Research Training) candidates using the collection.
Graduate employment: Monash reports that the 2020 Graduate Outcomes Survey placed it first in Victoria for full-time graduate employment in communications; the same report states that 85.4% of domestic postgraduate students were in full-time employment within six months and 91.4% were working in some capacity. These figures are institution-wide postgraduate results rather than outcomes specifically for this research master's.
Salary information: Monash's published Arts material states that Arts graduates' starting salaries are on par with graduates from other disciplines, but the university does not publish a current program-specific salary or median salary for the Master of Arts (Research Training).
Graduate destinations: Monash's media and communications graduate profiles include roles such as journalists, communications officers, public-relations managers, content writers, producers and media professionals, with alumni working for organisations including SBS, Herald Sun, The Age and government departments.
Long-term academic value: The research training provides a direct foundation for Higher Degree by Research (HDR) study. Monash's communications and media master's pathway explicitly identifies a research pathway for students seeking eligibility for HDR studies, while the Arts Faculty offers doctoral research through the Doctor of Philosophy (PhD).
Professional recognition: The value of this qualification is primarily its university-awarded research master's credential and demonstrated research capability; Monash's official course information does not state a separate professional accreditation for the Master of Arts (Research Training), so no additional accreditation claim is made.

Further Academic Progression: After completing the Master of Arts (Research Training), students can use their research experience and thesis to pursue doctoral study/PhD research, particularly within Monash's Media, Film and Journalism Graduate Research Program. Monash's graduate research environment provides supervision across areas including film and screen studies, media and communications, and journalism, allowing students to develop their master's research into a more extensive doctoral project.