Master of Arts (Media and Communications)

1 Years On Campus Masters Program

University of New England Armidale

Program Overview

The Master of Arts (Media and Communications) at the University of New England (UNE) is designed for students seeking specialised knowledge of screen media, creative industries, professional communication, and academic research, with flexibility to tailor study through advanced media and communications units. It suits graduates and professionals looking to deepen their expertise in media, journalism, digital communication, creative industries, or research while developing strong communication and critical-thinking skills.

Curriculum Structure

Year 1: Students build their core understanding through Screen Media (COMM101) and Creative Industries (COMM103), while Writing for Research (WRIT503) develops the research and academic communication skills needed for advanced study. Students can then select specialised 500-level areas such as Digital and Social Media (COMM523), Television Studies (COMM525), News and Journalism (COMM532), or The Art of Documentary (COMM581) according to their interests.

Year 2 / Extended Study Period: For students undertaking the 1.5-year pathway, the later stage allows greater emphasis on research and advanced specialisation, including options such as Research Project (HASS506), Major Research Project (HASS512), or Dissertation (HASS518). Students can also explore advanced topics such as Hollywood Cinema (COMM582), Australian Screens (COMM585), Screen Adaptations: Rewiring the Text (COMM587), and Human Rights on Screen (COMM589), depending on the units offered and their study pathway.

Focus areas

Screen media, creative industries, digital and social media, television, news and journalism, documentary, film and cinema, Australian screens, screen adaptations, human rights on screen, research and professional practice.

Learning outcomes

Graduates develop specialised media and communications knowledge, advanced communication and critical-thinking skills, research and academic writing capabilities, and the ability to investigate media and creative-industry issues through independent research.

Professional alignment (accreditation)

No specific professional accreditation is stated by UNE for the Master of Arts (Media and Communications) on its official course information; the program instead provides specialised academic and professional preparation in media and communications and can support progression to higher degree research.

Reputation (employability rankings)

UNE received 5-star ratings for Graduate Full-Time Employment and Graduate Salary in the 2026 Good Universities Guide for undergraduate study, while its official rankings page also reports 5-star Overall Experience ratings for both undergraduate and postgraduate students.

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

Students in the Master of Arts (Media and Communications) at the University of New England develop practical media, communication, research, and analytical skills through coursework and research-based study. The program includes Screen Media, Creative Industries, and research options such as a Research Project, Major Research Project, or Dissertation, allowing students to investigate media and communications topics in depth. At the Armidale campus, students can also access media recording facilities, student radio, library research resources, computer labs, and collaborative study spaces that support practical and research-oriented work.

These opportunities give students practical ways to apply their media and research skills:

Screen Media: The Screen Media (COMM101) unit develops students’ understanding of film and television, including audiovisual storytelling, genres, and changing ways of consuming screen content.
Creative Industries: Creative Industries (COMM103) is a prescribed unit within the Media and Communications major, connecting students with the study of creative industries and their professional contexts.
Research Projects: Students can undertake a Research Project, Major Research Project, or Dissertation, providing opportunities for sustained independent investigation of a media and communications topic.
Media Recording Studios: UNE provides media/AV recording studios in C034, giving students access to dedicated recording facilities on the Armidale campus.
Student Radio: TuneFM is a student-powered radio station located on campus, providing a direct environment for students interested in broadcasting and audio media.
Libraries and Research Resources: UNE Libraries provide extensive e-journals, databases, research support, computer labs, group-work rooms, and private study spaces, supporting the research-intensive components of the master's degree.
Digital and Media Facilities: Students can use UNE's broader media and digital learning infrastructure to support the creation and presentation of media-based academic work.
Group Work Spaces: The Armidale campus includes dedicated group work rooms, allowing students to collaborate on academic and research activities.
Work-Integrated Learning: UNE highlights work-integrated learning and internships within its media and communications study environment; however, the Master of Arts course page does not state that an internship is a compulsory component of the Media and Communications major.
On-Campus Academic Engagement: Armidale's small class sizes and direct access to lecturers provide opportunities for closer interaction with academic staff during on-campus study

Progression & Future Opportunities

The Master of Arts (Media and Communications) at the University of New England can prepare graduates for roles across media, communications and the broader creative industries, with study covering screen media, creative industries, professional practice, research and writing. UNE specifically identifies career opportunities for Media and Communications graduates and allows students to tailor the major with areas such as journalism, social media, film and creative non-fiction.

Typical career directions include communications professional, media professional, journalist, and public relations/marketing professional. The program can also provide a pathway toward higher-degree research.

Key progression and employment opportunities include:

Careers and Employability: UNE’s Employability and Careers Office supports students with career planning and job searching, giving students access to university-level assistance as they prepare for employment.
Work-integrated learning: UNE’s creative arts area provides the opportunity to undertake WORK500 Work Integrated Learning – Professional Skills Development, allowing eligible students to gain practical industry experience and connections.
Industry connections: UNE’s Department of Creative Arts and Communication highlights industry and multidisciplinary collaborations and states that its courses are designed to build technical capabilities alongside critical thinking and contextual analysis.
Professional networks: UNE’s Media and Communications area works within a wider network of arts, media and communication organisations, supporting connections between students, graduates and the broader arts community.
Employment outcomes: UNE participates in the Australian Government’s Graduate Outcomes Survey (GOS), which measures graduate employment, further study, skills utilisation and satisfaction. UNE reported an 86.8% domestic full-time graduate employment rate in the 2022 GOS; this is a university-wide figure and is not specific to the Master of Arts or Media and Communications.
Salary information: UNE's current results page reports a 5-star Graduate Salary rating for Communications at undergraduate level in the 2026 Good Universities Guide; UNE does not publish a current Media and Communications master's-specific median salary on the official course page, so a program-specific salary figure is not stated.
Qualification value: The Master of Arts is a postgraduate qualification aligned with AQF Level 9, giving the degree recognised Australian higher-education qualification status and supporting progression into advanced study and research.
Further research pathway: UNE describes the Master of Arts as a focused pathway to higher degree research, making it possible to build toward research-focused postgraduate study after completing the master's.
Graduation outcomes: UNE's GOS framework follows graduates after completion and records employment, further study and longer-term outcomes, including median salary through the longitudinal survey.

Further Academic Progression: After completing the Master of Arts (Media and Communications), students can progress toward a research master's pathway such as a Master of Philosophy or, subject to meeting the relevant admission requirements, pursue doctoral-level research such as a PhD. UNE's research-degree framework recognises the Master of Philosophy as an AQF Level 9 research qualification and provides pathways toward doctoral study.