Qualification Regulations
Part I
These regulations are to be read in conjunction with all other Statutes and Regulations of the University including General Regulations for Postgraduate Degrees, Postgraduate Diplomas, and Postgraduate Certificates.
Part II
Admission
1. Admission to the Postgraduate Diploma in Journalism requires that the candidate will:
(a) meet the University admission requirements as specified; and have
(b) been awarded or qualified for a relevant Bachelor’s degree with at least a B- grade average in the 300-level majoring courses, or equivalent; and
(c) achieved an academic IELTS of at least 7.0 in all bands, or an equivalent TOEFL score, or other evidence that is acceptable to Academic Board or its delegate, if English is not the applicant’s first language.
Qualification requirements
2. Candidates for the Postgraduate Diploma in Journalism shall follow a flexible course of study, which shall consist of courses totalling at least 120 credits at 700 level, comprising:
(a) the courses listed in the Schedule for the Postgraduate Diploma in Journalism;
(b) attending contact workshops, block courses, field trips, studios, workshops, tutorials, and laboratories as required.
Specialisations
3. The Postgraduate Diploma in Journalism is awarded without specialisation.
Student progression
4. In cases of sufficient merit, the Postgraduate Diploma in Journalism may be awarded with Distinction or Merit.
Completion requirements
5. The timeframes for completion as outlined in the General Regulations Postgraduate Degrees, Postgraduate Diplomas, and Postgraduate Certificates will apply.
6. Candidates may be graduated when they meet the Admission, Qualification and Academic requirements within the prescribed timeframes.
Unsatisfactory academic progress
7. The general Unsatisfactory Academic Progress regulations will apply.
Transitional provisions
8. Subject to any Maximum Time to Completion and the Abandonment of Studies provisions specified in the Part I regulations for the diploma, candidates enrolled in the Graduate Diploma in Journalism prior to 1 January 2026 may substitute a course or courses already completed within the schedule for one or more of 219712, 219713, 219714 or 219715. Such students who have only taken one of 115758 or 115759 may complete an approved 15 credit course.
9. This transition regulation expires 31 December 2028.
Schedule for the Postgraduate Diploma in Journalism
Course planning key
- Prerequisites
- Courses that need to be completed before moving onto a course at the next level. For example, a lot of 200-level courses have 100-level prerequisite courses.
- Corequisites
- Courses that must be completed at the same time as another course are known as corequisite courses.
- Restrictions
- Some courses are restricted against each other because their content is similar. This means you can only choose one of the offered courses to study and credit to your qualification.
Key terms for course planning
- Courses
- Each qualification has its own specific set of courses. Some universities call these papers. You enrol in courses after you get accepted into Massey.
- Course code
- Each course is numbered using 6 digits. The fourth number shows the level of the course. For example, in course 219206, the fourth number is a 2, so it is a 200-level course (usually studied in the second year of full-time study).
- Credits
- Each course is worth a number of credits. You combine courses (credits) to meet the total number of credits needed for your qualification.
- Specialisations
- Some qualifications let you choose what subject you'd like to specialise in. Your major or endorsement is what you will take the majority of your courses in.
Compulsory courses (Choose 120 credits from)
Course code: 219712 Advanced News Journalism 30 credits
Students study the theory and practice of gathering and writing news journalism for publication, including generating news-story ideas, gathering the relevant information, writing these news stories, and publishing them in mainstream media outlets. Students critically reflect on their experience, making links to the relevant scholarly literature.
View full course detailsCourse code: 219713 Advanced Audio-Visual Journalism 30 credits
Students study the theory and practice of journalism in various non-print media platforms, including radio, television and multi-media platforms.
View full course detailsCourse code: 219714 Journalism and Society 30 credits
Students study and critically reflect on the role and function of journalism in society. This includes the principles of media law and ethics.
View full course detailsCourse code: 219715 Advanced Data and Investigative Journalism 30 credits
In the era of big data, journalists need the tools of data and investigative journalism to mine, refine and present stories that matter to their audiences. Students in this course will learn the principles and methods of advanced data and investigative journalism and apply them in a data-investigative journalism project.
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