Our experiences of reality, relationships and politics are shaped by media and communication.
Our curriculum will enable you to:
Why study Film and Media Studies?
Our courses will challenge your thinking, broaden your views and help you develop an increased awareness of the role of media in transforming society and culture.
Our mission is to prepare students to engage critically and creatively in an increasingly mediated world and allow them to contribute to their communities and chosen professional field. To serve this goal, our scholarship and teaching is interdisciplinary, inventive and practical.
But that is not all that we do. Employers look for life-long skills – written and visual literacy, communication skills, the ability to lead and contribute to teams, and to solve problems through effective research methods. All of these skills are taught in our programmes; they underlie most of what we do.
We also value and develop an understanding of cultural diversity and difference, so it is not surprising that our graduates are to be found in many walks of life.
We have a well-established record of teaching and research, with staff who are internationally recognised in their disciplines.
Whether you are advancing your career with our specialised graduate qualifications or pursuing in-depth research and expertise through our postgraduate programmes, Otago is here to support your aspirations.
Postgraduate qualifications
Honours, Master’s, PhDs, and other advanced degrees for graduates. Just one additional year of study will earn you a valuable postgraduate degree. Or perhaps you want the depth of a full year of research-only time during a Master’s or to step up to a PhD.
MFCO 401 Advanced Media, Film and Communication Theory
One further 400-level MFCO papers, or other approved papers
The Postgraduate Diploma in Arts Subjects (PGDipArts) programme in Film and Media Studies is the same as the programme for the degree of Bachelor of Arts with Honours (BA(Hons)).
GEND 401 Debates in Gender and Sexuality may be substituted for one 400-level paper
Note: Students are able to take one of HUMS 501-503 not already taken as an optional paper in this pathway.
Thesis
Thesis: FIME 5
Note: Students who have not completed a Bachelor of Arts (BA(Hons)) in Film and Media Studies or a Postgraduate Diploma in Arts Subjects (PGDipArts) in Film and Media Studies must complete the required papers for the BA(Hons) in Film and Media Studies prior to undertaking the thesis.
1st Non standard period (28 February 2025 - 20 February 2026), 2nd Non standard period (11 July 2025 - 3 July 2026)
Contacts
Media, Film and Communication Programme School of Social Sciences Web otago.ac.nz/mfco
This information must be read subject to the statement on our Copyright & Disclaimer page.
Regulations on this page are taken from the 2025 Calendar and supplementary material.
World-class research
The University of Otago has a global reputation for research excellence. Our expertise is vast across health, society, culture, sustainability and the environment.
