Master of Global Media Communication (MC-GMCOM)

Overview

Award title	Master of Global Media Communication
Year & campus	2025 — Parkville
CRICOS code	045345C
Fees information	Subject EFTSL, level, discipline and census date
Study level & type	Graduate Coursework
AQF level	9
Credit points	200 credit points
Duration	24 months full-time or 48 months part-time

The Master of Global Media Communication (MGMC) equips graduates to work in media and communication sectors as well as across a broad range of professional domains, including government, corporate and NGO sectors, in which communication skills and knowledge of media platforms and strategies provide a key competitive advantage.

In the contemporary globalised world, knowledge of the changing landscape of media industries, production pathways, and a critical understanding of social and economic transformations are vital professional attributes.

Students undertaking the course will acquire a deep and critically informed understanding of how media industries, policies, technologies and formats are implicated in contemporary social and economic life. They have the opportunity to build knowledge relating to key areas, such as journalism, public relations and communications advocacy, and skills in audiovisual media production and media writing.

Students can opt to do an industry internship as part of their masters degree. MGMC students also have the opportunity to undertake a research thesis that can provide a pathway to PhD study.

Links to further information

http://arts.unimelb.edu.au/culture-communication

Entry requirements

1. In order to be considered for entry, applicants must have completed:

an undergraduate degree with a weighted average mark of at least H2B (70%), or equivalent.

Meeting this requirement does not guarantee selection.

2. In ranking applications, the Selection Committee will consider:

prior academic performance; and
relevance of previous studies.

3. The Selection Committee may seek further information to clarify any aspect of an application in accordance with the Academic Board rules on the use of selection instruments.

4. Applicants are required to satisfy the university’s English language requirements for graduate courses. For those applicants seeking to meet these requirements by one of the standard tests approved by the Academic Board, performance band 6.5 is required.

Applicants with the following may be awarded up to 50 points of credit:

an undergraduate degree in a cognate discipline with a weighted average mark of at least H2B (70%), or equivalent.
an undergraduate degree in any discipline, with at least H2B (70%) average, or equivalent, and at least two years of documented, relevant work experience

Applicants with the following may be awarded up to 100 points of credit:

an honours degree in a cognate discipline, with a weighted average mark of at least H2B (70%), or equivalent; or
an undergraduate degree in a cognate discipline, with a weighted average mark of at least H2B (70%), or equivalent, and at least two years of documented, relevant work experience.

Applicants seeking credit for relevant work experience must document their experience with a brief curriculum vitae detailing the experience, contact details of two referees who can confirm the authenticity and nature of the experience claimed, and a covering letter that explains how the experience is relevant to the program and prepares them for it.

Inherent requirements (core participation requirements)

The University of Melbourne is committed to providing students reasonable adjustments to assessment and participation under the Disability Standards for Education (2005) and the Assessment and Results Policy (MPF127). For the purposes of considering requests for reasonable adjustments, academic requirements for this course are articulated in the overview, attributes, outcomes and skills of this entry. Further details about how to seek academic adjustments can be found on the Student Equity and Disability Support website: http://services.unimelb.edu.au/student-equity/home

Intended learning outcomes

Students who complete the Master of Global Media Communication should:

Demonstrate the knowledge and capacities required to work at high levels in industry, government and advocacy
Provide leadership in the areas of public communication and policy at a national and global level
Understand the fundamental principles for making critical and ethical judgments regarding professional practice
Evaluate the dynamic processes of change operating in contemporary media and communication industries
Develop strategy and policy, and communicate effectively through written and oral presentations to academic, policy and cross-cultural forums
Combine an understanding of the different perspectives of industry, public sector and civil society professionals with the research skills and methodologies of professional media and communications
Demonstrate advanced skills in research, analysis and interpretation with particular emphasis on questions of globalisation/localisation, identity, citizenship, power and democracy

Generic skills

Students who successfully complete the Masters should enhance their skills in:

Research: through competent use of advanced information sources and retrieval of appropriate information
Critical and theoretical thinking: through presentation of research papers, conceptualising theoretical problems, forming judgements and arguments from conflicting evidence, and by critical analysis
Time management and planning: through managing and organising workloads
Team work: through group activities
Advanced skills in writing, reporting and communicating facts and ideas

Graduate attributes

Graduates will be equipped with the skills necessary for advanced critical analysis, strategic management, problem-solving and policy making in media-related organisations, including the skills to:

Analyse key areas of contemporary media strategies, governance and advocacy
Engage with the social, political, economic and ethical dimensions of media practice
Understand communication as a process that is central to the exercise of contemporary power, and apply research skills to a range of contexts
Draw on a range of disciplines and develop a future-oriented, comparative and global focus

Course structure

200 point program

Duration: 2 years full-time / 4 years part-time

Coursework only option

Foundation Compulsory Subjects (37.5 points)(must be taken in the first semester)
Foundation Elective Subject (12.5 points) (must be taken in the first semester)
Core Subjects - List A (50 points)
Core Subjects - List B (minimum 62.5 points)
maximum of 37.5 points of elective subjects

Minor Thesis Option

Foundation Compulsory Subjects (37.5 points)(must be taken in the first semester)
Foundation Elective Subject (12.5 points) (must be taken in the first semester)
Core Subjects – List A (50 points)
Core Subjects – List B (50 points)
MECM90029 Media and Communication Thesis Part 1 and MECM90030 Media and Communication Thesis Part 2 (37.5 points total)
ARTS90032 Research Principles & Practice subject (12.5 points)

150 point program

Duration 1.5 years full-time / up to 3 years part-time

Coursework Only Option

Core Subjects - List A (50 points)
Core Subjects - List B (minimum of 62.5 points)
Maximum of 37.5 points elective subjects

Minor Thesis Option

Core Subjects - List A (50 points)
Core Subjects - List B (50 points)
MECM90029 Media and Communications Thesis Part 1 and MECM90030 Media and Communications Thesis Part 2 (37.5 points)
ARTS90032 Research Principles and Practices (12.5 points)

100 point program

Duration: 1 year full-time / 2 years part-time

Coursework Only Option:

Core Subjects (minimum of 62.5 points)
Elective subjects (maximum of 37.5 points)

Minor Thesis Option:

Core Subjects (50 points)
MECM90029 Media and Communications Thesis Part 1 and MECM90030 Media and Communications Thesis Part 2 (37.5 points)
ARTS90032 Research Principles & Practices (12.5 points)

Please note the following:

Students who undertake the thesis option are not eligible to undertake the Internship subject.
Any variation of the electives must be discussed with the program coordinator.

Capstone Requirement:

All students are required to complete the Capstone Requirement for the program (at least 25 points). Students must complete one capstone option, towards the end of their program.

Capstone Stream 1: MULT90019 Internship II (Semester Long) (25 points)

Purpose: An opportunity to apply knowledge and research skills to solve problems that arise in professional contexts and develop an integrated understanding of knowledge, research and practice

Capstone Stream 2: MECM90029 Media and Communications Thesis Part 1 and MECM90030 Media and Communications Thesis Part 2 (37.5 points total)

Purpose: An opportunity to integrate knowledge and research skills to address a research question

Capstone Streams 3 - 8: (25 points total)

MECM90020 Global Media: Theory and Research and

One of:

MECM90041 Political Economy of Digital Life or

MECM90002 Global Media Governance and Policy or

MECM90003 Mobility, Culture and Communication or

MECM90009 Global Crisis Reporting or

MECM90016 Digital Politics or

MECM90017 Media Writing: Rhetoric and Practice

(12.5 + 12.5 = 25 points)

Purpose: Multiple opportunities to acquire research methods skills and integrate knowledge and research skills to address a research question, project or substantial piece of work

External Subject Rule

Student may undertake an external subject (not listed within the program structure) with the permission of the program and subject coordinator. All external subject requests must be for the elective subject requirement, not as a compulsory, core or capstone subject. The maximum external subjects allowed are as follows:

200 point program undertaken at University of Melbourne (2 years): maximum 25 points.
150 point program undertaken at University of Melbourne (1.5 years): maximum 12.5 points.
100* point program undertaken at University of Melbourne (1 year): 12.5 points
50*^ point program undertaken at University of Melbourne (0.5 years): 0 points.

* GC-ARTS, GD-ARTS, GCA-ARTS and GDA-ARTS students are not normally granted permission to undertake external subjects towards their degree.

^ Exception: Students admitted to 50 point programs may apply to take LING90002, Presenting Academic Discourse, as an external subject.

Please note that advanced standing contributes to a student’s remaining points undertaken at University of Melbourne, and may affect how many points the student can undertake outside the enrolled program.

For policies that govern this degree, see Academic Services Policy in the University Melbourne Policy Framework. Students also should also refer to information in the Student Policy Directory.

Majors, minors & specialisations

Name	Credit Points
200pt Program	200
150pt Program	150
100pt Program	100

Further study

Students who complete the thesis option may be eligible to undertake a PhD or Masters by Research program.

Last updated: 20 April 2025