Join the elite
Gain a qualification of international-standing with strong practical industry skills. Massey’s journalism programmes are the only ones in Australia or New Zealand accredited by US organisation the Accrediting Council on Education in Journalism and Mass Communication.
The Postgraduate Diploma in Journalism is based on leading overseas journalism qualifications. It is for those with no journalism experience who wish to enter the industry, or those with some experience who wish to develop specialist knowledge. Either way, you will learn the skills needed to be a successful journalist.
The programme enjoys a close relationship with leading news organisations. This is reflected in our strong internship programme. Our students are regular winners of national journalism prizes.
The PGDip Journalism is a stepping stone to a Master of Management (Journalism). For only another 60 credits, you can gain a master’s qualification in journalism.
For those wishing to enter the industry, you will learn news writing, feature writing, interviewing, photojournalism, specialist reporting such as police, court, politics and sports advanced audio-visual journalism including TV, radio and podcasting, media ethics, law and. For those wishing to develop a specialist interest, you will have the opportunity to specialise in advanced audio-visual storytelling, sport, arts, investigative/data journalism or even journalism management.
For those new to the industry, the programme will build a foundation for an exciting career in journalism. If you wish to develop specialist skills, you can choose from courses that build advanced capability.
You will spend time working at media organisations then do a full-time work placement. This gives you relevant experience sought after by employers.
Read more about the Postgraduate Diploma in Journalism.
Many of our graduates are now top journalists at Stuff, TVNZ, NZ Herald, Newshub, Radio NZ or Newsroom or overseas news organisations such as the BBC, CNN, Reuters and ABC. One of our graduates, Alison McCulloch, was part of the team that won a Pulitzer Prize in journalism for its coverage of the Columbine killings.
A 2017 Ministry of Education publication The post-study earnings and destinations of young domestic graduates, found that in New Zealand:
New Zealand is a great place to study. Massey University’s reputation is supported by our international rankings, accreditations and associations. We are rated five star plus by the QS World University Rankings.
Massey University has small class sizes, and our lecturers and staff are friendly and approachable.
As an international student, there are entry requirements that will apply to you. We recommend that you apply at least three months before your anticipated start date so your application can be processed in time. There are additional steps you will need to take. These include obtaining a visa and travel bookings if your study is to be in New Zealand.
All students must meet university entrance requirements to be admitted to the University.
This programme is a selected entry programme. This means there are several extra requirements you must meet. To enter the Postgraduate Diploma in Journalism you will:
You will need to provide verified copies of all academic transcripts for studies taken at all universities other than Massey University.
If your first language is not English and you have not gained a New Zealand university entrance qualification, or an overseas entrance qualification in a country where the main language is English, you will be required to provide the below as evidence of your proficiency in English:
Applicants may be contacted for an interview by the programme coordinator (usually by Skype or Zoom).
For information on prior learning, exemptions and transfer of credit or other questions:
If you need help with your English language skills before you start university, we have courses and programmes that may help.
From the Schedule to the Diploma
Attend contact workshops, block courses, field trips, studios, workshops, tutorials, and laboratories as required.
See ‘Courses for this programme’ below for schedules of courses.
| 30 credits | ||
|---|---|---|
| 115758 | Interpersonal Communication at Work | 15 |
| 115759 | Current Issues in Business | 15 |
| 295700 | Examining Business Dilemmas | 30 |
| 30 credits | ||
|---|---|---|
| 219712 | Advanced News Journalism | 30 |
| 219714 | Journalism and Society | 30 |
| 60 credits | ||
|---|---|---|
| 115790 | Special Topic | 30 |
| 219713 | Advanced Audio-Visual Journalism | 30 |
| 219714 | Journalism and Society | 30 |
| 219715 | Advanced Data and Investigative Journalism | 30 |
If you study full-time, you’ll take 120 credits per year or 60 credits per semester.
All five compulsory courses in this qualification are corequisites for each other and must be undertaken simultaneously as full-time, double-semester courses.
There are maximum time limits to complete postgraduate qualifications. If you do not complete within the maximum time, you may be required to re-apply for the programme if you wish to continue your studies.
Where your qualification is completed within the stated time limit and to a high standard, you may be able to graduate with a class of Honours, Distinction or Merit.
Your tuition fees may be different depending on the courses you choose. Your exact fees will show once you have chosen your courses.
There will also be some compulsory non-tuition fees and for some courses, there may also be charges for things such as study resources, software, trips and contact workshops.
If you already know which courses you are going to take, you can use our fees calculator to get an estimate of your fees.
You may be eligible for a student loan to help towards paying your fees.
The New Zealand Government offers fees-free tertiary study for eligible domestic students. Find out more about the scheme and your eligibility on the Fees Free website. To use the site's eligibility checking tool, you will need your National Student Number.
Current and returning Massey students will find their National Student Number on their student homepage.
“
I've worked as a reporter in Sydney, London, Canberra and outback Australia. The Massey programme had a great emphasis on industry skills and practical learning, much of which I still use in the newsroom every day.
” Steve Trask
Digital editor, SBS News
James has worked in senior roles in newspapers and radio. He is an experienced journalist and educator with a special interest in investigative journalism. His book A Moral Truth: 150 years of Investigative Journalism in New Zealand is the only anthology of NZ investigative journalism. His doctoral dissertation was on the decision-making processes of reluctant witnesses, and he has published on the characteristics and attitudes of New Zealand journalists, media reporting of suicide, disaster reporting, and the practice of investigative journalism. He is also interested in journalism psychology, photojournalism, and contemporary journalism practice.
James Hollings
Senior Lecturer & Programme Leader - Journalism
Massey’s Bachelor of Communication is the only degree outside the Americas and the Middle East to be recognised by the Accrediting Council on Education in Journalism and Mass Communication (ACEJMC).
Massey Business School is rated in the top 5% of global business colleges by AACSB International.
Massey University is ranked by QS (Quacquarelli Symonds) as one of the top 300 universities for business and management.
Massey is ranked in the world’s top 150 universities for communication and media studies, by the Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) ranking.
Massey University's communication programme is ranked #1 in New Zealand, and in the top 200 universities in the world, by ShanghaiRanking.
Massey University is ranked #1 in New Zealand and in the top 150 universities globally for business administration and finance by ShanghaiRanking.
Compare qualifications and academic information across different New Zealand institutions.
Review this important information before you apply for this programme. This gives you full details of the rules and regulations about what you need to study and what you must achieve in order to graduate with this qualification. That includes structure, courses and requirements. These regulations should be read in conjunction with all other Statutes and Regulations of the University including the below.
General Regulations for Postgraduate Degrees, Postgraduate Diplomas and Postgraduate Certificates.
If you are ready to apply, have a look at our application checklist. It will help you get prepared with what you need. Please also check the entry requirements carefully before you apply.
You will apply for the programme using the Apply now button on this page. You’ll also choose your specialisation (major, subject or endorsement) if applicable.
Some programmes have additional requirements such as the submission of a portfolio or CV. Click on Apply now and you will be able to submit those documents as part of the application process.
You will receive an Admission Offer of Place when you have been accepted into the programme. You need to accept this before you can enrol in your courses. International students also need to pay their fees at this point.
You’ll then get access to your own student homepage (also known as the student portal). This is where you can enrol in courses. Any updates on your application or enrolments will also be on your student homepage. Make sure you check this regularly.
When you choose courses, ensure you check for any requirements that apply including:
Each of our courses has its own webpage where you can find this information. You can use our course search to find course pages.
More information on courses is in the ‘Courses for this programme’ section on this page.
You can find information on application due dates and semester dates on the key dates page.
We look forward to welcoming you to Massey!
If you have any questions, contact us through the Enquire button on this page.
Each Massey programme is made up of courses (in some tertiary institutions they are called ‘papers’).
You will have some compulsory courses and some you can choose from.
Each course is worth a certain amount of credits (often 15 credits, but this does vary). You must gain a set number of credits to be able to graduate from this programme.
There may also be some rules about which courses you need to pass to progress to the next year, or stage, of your study (known as progression). There are also courses you must pass to graduate with a specialisation.
The first three digits of our course numbers show you which subject the course is about.
The second three digits show you the level and course ID number. For instance:
| 1 | 6 | 2 | . | 3 | 0 | 1 | |
| Subject area | Level | Course ID number | |||||
Use this tool to help determine how much time you will need each week to complete your studies.
For returning students, there may be changes to the majors and minors available and the courses you need to take. Go to the section called ‘Transitional Provisions’ in the Regulations to find out more.
In some cases the programme or specialisation you enrolled in may be no longer be taking new enrolments, so may not appear on these web pages. To find information on the regulations for these programmes go to the Massey University Calendar.
Please contact us through the Enquire button on this page if you have any questions.
There are a number of scholarships available for new and current students. They could relate to your situation, achievement or interest.