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School of Humanities, Media and Creative Communication
The School of Humanities, Media and Creative Communication is a community of scholars, teachers, students and staff who share a love of languages, cultures and stories. The disciplines in the School bring together many different aspects of what it means to be human and the ways we create and communicate meaning. We ask fundamental questions about society and culture, and examine our individual and collective achievements, fascinations and follies in both the past and present. Learning about and studying languages, literature, media and modes of communication and creativity across cultures is excellent preparation for participating in our increasingly global and interconnected world.
The School teaches the following specialisations: Applied Linguistics, Chinese, Classical Studies, English, Expressive Arts, French, History, Japanese, Linguistics, Media Studies, Philosophy, Portuguese, Spanish and Theatre Studies.
Study
The School of Humanities, Media and Creative Communication teaches undergraduate and postgraduate programmes in English, creative writing, expressive arts, professional and public writing, linguistics, languages, academic English, classical studies, history, philosophy theatre studies and media studies. Find out more about Massey's programmes in these areas.
Study English, writing and theatre
Research expertise
Our staff have internationally recognised expertise and are award-winning writers, film-makers, communicators and theatre-makers. From the history and culture of ancient societies to the impact of digital technologies and modern language study, our research is diverse in form and approach.
English, writing and theatre research
Meet our graduates
As an actress wanting to study, Massey University’s distance programme was the obvious choice.
Antonia Prebble
Bachelor of Arts (English)
Teachers were very available and so encouraging. The four years at Massey equipped me well to become a language teacher.
Christine Feuillade
Bachelor of Arts (Spanish, Minor in French)
In my last semester I did an exchange and studied in Alicante on the Mediterranean coast in Spain. It was an amazing opportunity.
Deborah Thompson
Bachelor of Arts (Spanish); Minor in Linguistics
The best part about studying at Massey is that I could study subjects that I enjoyed with clearly enthusiastic tutors and peers.
Hamish Boyle
Bachelor of Communication (Expressive Arts and Media Studies)
This study established new long-term relationships between the participants and me... the students frequently asked for my advice on their language learning plans as a trusted brother and teacher.
Huy Cuong Pham
PhD Applied Linguistics
Poetry is like fiction – it can be close to the truth, but it is a piece of art.
Janet Newman
Master of Creative Writing
I chose to study a BA in English and Media Studies because I knew these were skills I wanted to develop. I had always wanted to be a writer.
Jessica Pawley
Bachelor of Arts (English and Media Studies)
Between my first writing course at Massey and finishing my master’s, I’ve published novels, short stories, non-fiction and poetry.
Jillian Sullivan
Master of Creative Writing
My degree has taken me all over the world and moulded a career full of interesting projects and experiences.
Michelle Whitmore
Bachelor of Arts (History)
I greatly appreciated the flexibility that the distance learning programme at Massey University offers.
Nathan Hawkins
Master of Arts (Philosophy)
Linguistics gave me a greater appreciation and understanding of language, ideologies and motivations. My study through Massey has been one of the cornerstones in catalysing my career.
Olie Body
Bachelor of Communication (Linguistics) minor in marketing
I have found the skills I learnt from the degree to be hugely valuable across the different fields I have found myself in.
Rebecca Forrest
Bachelor of Communication (Linguistics)
My thesis included the play I wrote, Trans Tasmin. Subsequently, a professional theatre company has shown interest in the script.
Robert Gilbert
Master of Arts (English)
The ability to conduct in-depth research and convey that understanding in a clear meaningful way is a skill this major engenders.
Sasha Unverricht
Bachelor of Arts (Classical Studies)
My post-graduate studies made me standout and were a definite factor in being selected for the roles I've had since graduating.
Stevie Greeks
Bachelor of Communication (Expressive Arts)
The creative component was both challenging and exhilarating. For me it was an opportunity to test myself with long-form fiction, and I used it to write a substantial portion of a novel.
Sue Wootton
Master of Creative Writing
I gained a lot of transferable skills in the Bachelor of Communication at Massey that have helped me perform in my career.
Whitney Nuku
Bachelor of Communication (Media and Expressive Arts)
Research centres
Classical World New Zealand
Classical World New Zealand demonstrates the modern world’s ongoing dialogue with ancient Greece, Rome and Egypt and highlights New Zealand’s contribution to this conversation.
Joint Centre for Research in Applied Linguistics
The centre is a joint venture between Massey University and Beijing Language and Culture University to research distance language acquisition of Chinese in digital environments.
Political Ecology Research Centre
The Political Ecology Research Centre (PERC) is dedicated to connecting groups and individuals whose work emphasises and critiques the relationships between society, environment and politics. PERC members study, teach, research and/or practise political ecology.
W.H. Oliver Humanities Research Academy
The academy fosters a vibrant, creative and responsive research culture among humanities scholars, to anticipate and addresses current and future research challenges.
Staff
College of Humanities and Social Sciences
The School of Humanities, Media and Creative Communication is a department of the College of Humanities and Social Sciences at Massey University.