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QUT (Queensland University of Technology)

  • 17% international / 83% domestic

Master of Digital Communication

  • Masters (Coursework)

If having the flexibility to work across many industries appeals to you, a career in digital communication may be an excellent fit. You will learn new skills that are applicable to various media forms, including social media, data analytics, artificial intelligence and visualisation.

Key details

Degree Type
Masters (Coursework)
Duration
2 years full-time, 4 years part-time
Course Code
099302A
Study Mode
In person
Intake Months
Feb, Jul

About this course

Highlights
  • The QUT School of Communication is ranked as Australia's leading school for communication and media studies, and among the top schools in the world. QUT Media and Communication is ranked 1st in Australia and 15th in the world in the 2022 QS World University rankings.
  • Analyse and create data-driven compelling stories via diverse social media platforms (Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and WeChat).
  • Develop a deep understanding of the digital creative economy and how platforms and artificial intelligence are transforming the media and communication environment.
  • Learn how to use and build tools to deliver advanced data visualisation and analysis of audience behaviour.
  • Design, implement and evaluate a research project that integrates and applies the advanced knowledge and skills developed across the course with a scholarly academic or industry focus.
Highlights
  • The QUT School of Communication is ranked as Australia's leading school for communication and media studies, and among the top schools in the world. QUT Media and Communication is ranked 1st in Australia and 15th in the world in the 2022 QS World University rankings.
  • Analyse and create data-driven compelling stories via diverse social media platforms ( Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and WeChat).
  • Develop a deep understanding of the digital creative economy and how platforms and artificial intelligence are transforming the media and communication environment.
  • Learn how to use and build tools to deliver advanced data visualisation and analysis of audience behaviour.
  • Design, implement and evaluate a research project that integrates and applies the advanced knowledge and skills developed across the course with a scholarly academic or industry focus.

Entry requirements

Entry requirements

You must have one of the following:

2 year program
  • A recognised bachelor degree (or higher) in any field.
1.5 year program - Project Pathway
  • Completed the QUT Graduate Certificate in Digital Communication; or
  • A recognised bachelor degree (or higher qualification) in a relevant discipline; or
  • A recognised bachelor degree (or higher qualification) in any discipline followed by at least six months full-time (or equivalent) relevant professional experience.
1 year program - Project Pathway
  • Completed the QUT Graduate Diploma in Digital Communication; or
  • A recognised bachelor degree in a relevant discipline followed by at least two years full-time (or equivalent) relevant professional experience; or
  • A recognised bachelor degree plus graduate certificate both in a relevant discipline; or
  • A recognised bachelor honours degree in a relevant discipline; or
  • A recognised graduate diploma (or higher) in a relevant discipline.
Relevant discipline/work experience
  • Advertising
  • Animation
  • Communication
  • Interaction design
  • Journalism
  • Marketing
  • Media
  • Public relations
Opening of applications for 2024

Applications for the 2024 February and July intakes will open 1 September 2023.

Project Pathway option

Master of Digital Communication (Project Pathway option) - 2 year program:

  • A completed recognised bachelor degree in any discipline with a grade point average of 4.0 or higher (on QUT's 7 point scale).

Master of Digital Communication (Project Pathway option) - 1.5 year program:

  • A completed recognised bachelor degree with a grade point average of 4.0 or higher (on QUT's 7 point scale) in a relevant discipline*; or
  • Completion of QUT's Graduate Certificate in Digital Communication with a grade point average of 4.0 or higher (on QUT's 7 point scale); or
  • A completed recognised bachelor degree in any discipline with a grade point average of 4.0 or higher (on QUT's 7 point scale) and at least 6 months (full-time equivalent) professional experience in relevant discipline such as such as advertising animation communication interaction design journalism media marketing or public relations. Students applying on the basis of work experience must submit a detailed CV position details and employment statements.

Master of Digital Communication (Project Pathway option) - 1 year program:

  • A completed Australian Honours Bachelor degree with a grade point average (GPA) of 4.0 or higher (on QUT's 7 point scale) in digital communication a relevant discipline*; or
  • A completed recognised bachelor degree with a grade point average of 4.0 or higher (on QUT's 7 point scale) in digital communication or a relevant discipline and a completed Graduate Certificate with grade point average of 4.0 or higher (on QUT's 7 point scale) in digital communication or a relevant discipline*; or
  • Completion of QUT's Graduate Diploma in Digital Communication with a grade point average of 4.0 or higher (on QUT's 7 point scale); or
  • A completed recognised bachelor degree with a grade point average of 4.0 or higher (on QUT's 7 point scale) in digital communication or a relevant discipline and a minimum of 2 years of (full-time equivalent) professional experience in a relevant discipline such as such as advertising animation communication interaction design journalism media marketing or public relations. Students applying on the basis of work experience must submit a detailed CV position details and employment statements.

Advanced Project Pathway option

Master of Digital Communication (Advanced Project Pathway option) - 2 year program:

  • A completed recognised bachelor degree in any discipline with a grade point average of 4.0 or higher (on QUT's 7 point scale); or
  • A completed recognised bachelor degree with a grade point average of 4.0 or higher (on QUT's 7 point scale) in digital communication or a relevant discipline*; or
  • A completed recognised bachelor degree with a grade point average of 4.0 or higher (on QUT's 7 point scale) in digital communication or a relevant discipline and a completed Graduate Certificate with grade point average of 4.0 or higher (on QUT's 7 point scale) in digital communication or a relevant discipline*; or
  • Completion of QUT's Graduate Diploma in Digital Communication with a grade point average of 4.0 or higher (on QUT's 7 point scale); or
  • A completed recognised bachelor degree with a grade point average of 4.0 or higher (on QUT's 7 point scale) in digital communication or a relevant discipline and a minimum 2 years of (full-time equivalent) professional experience in relevant discipline such as such as advertising animation communication interaction design journalism media marketing or public relations. Students applying on the basis of work experience must submit a detailed CV position details and employment statements.

Master of Digital Communication (Advanced Project Pathway option) - 1.5 year & 1 year program options : Not available. Students who choose the Advanced Pathway will not receive the full amount of advanced standing to complete the masters in a shorter duration.

*Relevant study disciplines and work experience include: digital communication advertising animation communication interaction design journalism media marketing or public relations.

Study locations

Kelvin Grove

What you will learn

Today's communication professional needs to have the skills and knowledge to operate in a new and disruptive digital media environment as t
he digital communication technologies of tomorrow may be different to those we use now.

T

hrough this program you will
learn new skills
including social media storytelling data analytics for communication artificial intelligence and data visualisation. This knowledge and critical thinking will take your career to the next level and prove invaluable to employers in industries that rely on digital communication.

Benefiting from a cross-disciplinary approach with collaboration across a range of fields you will deepen your expertise in areas such as data analytics law and policy studies management or marketing.

Flexible delivery

The course is offered with delivery modes designed to fit with your busy lifestyle with units delivered through an intensive delivery mode offering the balance of short sharp delivery while allowing flexibility to balance work family study and personal needs. This approach including pre-work interactive workshops and webinars and further self-guided learning allows you to learn at your own pace.

Career pathways

Careers and outcomes

Graduates from our courses have successful careers in government industry and the community sector. The Master of Digital Communication opens up exciting and creative media and communication roles in a range of industry sectors with globally transferable skills enabling employment anywhere across the globe.

Your opportunities will be expanded through cross-disciplinary electives with opportunities to deepen your skills in an area such as data science law management or marketing.

Possible careers
  • Digital communication specialist
  • Digital content designer
  • Digital content producer
  • Digital copywriter
  • Digital marketing manager
  • Digital media designer
  • Digital stakeholder engagement consultant
  • Media researcher
  • Online media specialist
  • Social media brand specialist
  • Social media campaign advisor
  • Social media communication manager
  • Social media manager
  • Social media project officer

Course structure

To meet the course requirements for the Master of Digital Communication you must complete a total of 192 credit points made up of:

  • core units (108 credit points)
  • either:
    • the project pathway including one core unit (12 credit points) one core project unit (24 credit points) and 48 credit points of electives (unit options)
    • the advanced project pathway including one core unit (12 credit points) two core project units (48 credit points) and 24 credit points of electives (unit options).

If you have a relevant prior degree you may be able to complete the course in 1 or 1.5 years. See the Requirements tab for information about eligibility.

Many of the units in this course use intensive teaching periods. These intensive teaching periods are offered over shorter durations such as 5 weeks so you can focus your study on a smaller number of units. The intensive mode means that you will have increased flexibility in fitting study around your other commitments. Access more information about intensive teaching period dates (Flexible teaching periods).

What is the difference between the Project Pathway and the Advanced Project Pathway?

You might like to consider the Project Pathway if you want to undertake an appropriately scaled project that can be completed in 24 credit points which may take the form of a scholarly or industry report on a topic issue or problem (approximately 6000-8000 words). This could include a suitable work-based project (subject to approval). The pathway also prepares you for further study in a Master of Philosophy. Completing a 24-credit-point project also provides flexibility for you to diversify your study by completing up to 48 credit points of elective units.

The Advanced Project Pathway will give you the opportunity to undertake a more ambitious and deeper research 48-credit-point project on a suitable topic question or problem (approximately 12000-15000 words). This pathway also prepares you for further study in a Doctor of Philosophy. Typically the Advanced Project Pathway will involve a project twice the scope and time commitment of the Project Pathway. You can also diversify your study by completing up to 24 credit points of elective units.

To meet the course requirements for the Master of Digital Communication you must complete a total of 192 credit points made up of:

  • core units (108 credit points)
  • either:
    • the project pathway including one core unit (12 credit points) one core project unit (24 credit points) and 48 credit points of electives (unit options)
    • the advanced project pathway including one core unit (12 credit points) two core project units (48 credit points) and 24 credit points of electives (unit options).

If you have a relevant prior degree you may be able to complete the course in 1 or 1.5 years. See the Requirements tab for information about eligibility.

Many of the units in this course use intensive teaching periods. These intensive teaching periods are offered over shorter durations such as 5 weeks so you can focus your study on a smaller number of units. The intensive mode means that you will have increased flexibility in fitting study around your other commitments. Access more information about intensive teaching period dates (Flexible teaching periods).

What is the difference between the Project Pathway and the Advanced Project Pathway?

You might like to consider the Project Pathway if you want to undertake an appropriately scaled project that can be completed in 24 credit points which may take the form of a scholarly or industry report on a topic issue or problem (approximately 6000-8000 words). This could include a suitable work-based project (subject to approval).

The pathway also prepares you for further study in a Master of Philosophy. Completing a 24-credit-point project also provides flexibility for you to diversify your study by completing up to 48 credit points of elective units.

The Advanced Project Pathway will give you the opportunity to undertake a more ambitious and deeper research 48-credit-point project on a suitable topic question or problem (approximately 12000-15000 words). This pathway also prepares you for further study in a Doctor of Philosophy. Typically the Advanced Project Pathway will involve a project twice the scope and time commitment of the Project Pathway. You can also diversify your study by completing up to 24 credit points of elective units.