The Master of Communication will build your strengths in understanding the fundamentals of communication in a changing media and industry landscape, and provide valuable insight into current trends and practice.
The curriculum is delivered by a joint mix of academics and industry practitioners, giving you that balance across the theoretical and real-world applications.
Delivered online and face-to face, enabling you to design a study plan that meets your needs.
Gain professional experience and connections through projects, placements and internships.
Learn the latest communication trends from active practitioners, guest speakers and industry partners.
Prepare for the changing world of strategic communication. Offering a diverse range of professionally oriented areas to choose from, so you can specialise in what’s relevant to you.
Offered through a flexible combination of lectorials, seminars and studios, this degree provides opportunities for individual exploration, teamwork projects, engagement in industry-based work and study tours.
You can study in person, online, and will have access to course content in advance of set class times, allowing you to study at your own pace within your other commitments. Classes tend to begin from the early evening onwards, in recognition of our students’ schedules.
With only six core subjects, this is an ideal flexible postgraduate qualification for professionals moving into the communication space, or those working within it and seeking a qualification to enhance their own career management, by ensuring you have an exposure to the breadth of communication disciplines.
With a minimum of six elective subjects, you will be able to explore these areas. You'll choose from a diverse range of electives connected to a core of digital, global and strategic communication. Working with our experienced academic advisers, you have the choice to then bundle your electives and specialise your studies in areas such as community engagement, digital communication or strategic public relations.
Importance is placed on work-integrated learning. You will undertake the Strategic Communication Management subject, working with industry partners on industry projects. You also have the choice to build in an internship or placement using one of your electives, supported by RMIT’s strong industry links.
Research is present throughout the degree and in second year, you will complete a professional research project that will be presented as an industry report, a minor thesis or a practice-based project (perhaps with your employer) accompanied by an exegesis. The choice is yours, and our academic advisers work with you to arrive at the best selection for you and your career aspirations, including the onward study of a PhD should you so desire.
Communication can build stronger, more cohesive and sustainable communities and societies. Your diverse teaching team – bringing together academic and industry prowess from professional experience working in communication across more than ten countries – emphasise values of innovation, kindness, passion, empathy, listening and the celebration of difference in their teaching, research and practice.
The types of classes you have will depend on the course you’re studying. Classes are offered in various formats designed to provide meaningful engagement with staff, industry and peers and provide for access and use of spaces where learning can be applied and active, including an array of specialised equipment.
Most RMIT courses do not include passive large-scale classes such as lectures, instead the content traditionally provided in lectures is made available online. This may be in the form of readings, videos or other on-demand learning materials. This content will also support the basis of interactive learning that takes place in on-campus classes.
We have strong links with industry, giving you opportunities to undertake work-integrated learning placements in government, corporate and not-for-profit sectors.
Industry leaders and their organisations are a constant presence throughout the course, engaging at different levels whether it be via guest lecture, workshop Q&A, studio brief, internship, collaborative project or Industry Advisory Committee.
Our teaching team – your course coordinators, lecturers and tutors – has members drawn from industry, enabling real-world expertise to be infused into our teaching, preparing you for your career in a discipline projected to continue to grow into the future.
For further information about advanced standing see the Pathways section.
The Graduate Diploma of Communication is available as an exit award of this degree. Any advanced standing you receive for the masters program is not transferrable to an exit award. If you wish to exit early with the Graduate Diploma, you must have completed all courses specified in the relevant program structure.
The knowledge and skills you will acquire throughout this degree and how they can be applied in your career are described in the learning outcomes.
The degree structure supports specialist studies and allows you to refine your individual approach to current communication trends. Choose focus areas including:
You will have the opportunity to study these areas alongside students from other media and communication disciplines. You'll also get to explore subjects in communication theory and practice, financial communication, leadership and corporate storytelling, communication for social change, and international advertising.
Choose a plan below to find out more about the subjects you will study and the course structure.
Graduates move into professional and management roles in communication and PR agencies, in management consultancies and in organisations that use communication to achieve their goals.
Graduates move into professional and management roles in communication and public relations consultancies, federal, state and local government agencies, as well as not-for-profit and non-government organisations.
In fact, roles can be found in an increasing number of organisations, as they recognise the importance and value of qualified communication professionals.
The Master of Communication can position you well for digital and social media, corporate communication, political communication and community development roles depending on the electives that you select.
You need to satisfy all of the following entry requirements to be considered for entry into this degree.
You must have:
To have your professional experience considered you must submit with your application a CV and a personal statement detailing your experience.
There are no prerequisite subjects required for entry into this qualification.
A selection task is not required for entry into this qualification.
You must meet the University's minimum English language requirements to be eligible for a place in this program.
You can gain entry to this masters degree from a range of RMIT undergraduate programs, if you meet the entry requirements.
If you have successfully completed previous studies at a Bachelor degree level or above specialising in advertising, communication, journalism or public relations, or an unrelated discipline with relevant work experience, you may be eligible for credit towards your degree in the form of masters advanced standing or recognition of prior learning.
Enter your study experience below, to discover how much credit you may be eligible for:
The Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) is the national policy for Australian qualifications in vocational and higher education.
Upon successful completion of this masters degree, you may be eligible to undertake further studies in related programs at RMIT University, including postgraduate research programs, subject to the program's entrance requirements.
Amounts quoted are indicative fees per annum, and are based on a standard year of full-time study (96 credit points). A proportionate fee applies for more or less than the full-time study load.
*Fees are adjusted on an annual basis and these fees should only be used as a guide.
This program is offered on a full-fee paying basis only. If you are offered a place, you will need to pay the full tuition costs of your program. However, eligible students (such as Australian citizens or holders of an Australian permanent humanitarian visa) may apply to defer payment of some or all of their tuition fees via the Commonwealth Government’s FEE-HELP loan scheme.
For information on how to pay your fees or how to apply for a refund, please see Paying your fees and applying for refunds.
In addition to tuition fees, you will be charged an annual student services and amenities fee (SSAF), which is used to maintain and enhance services and amenities that improve your experience as an RMIT student.
The SSAF is calculated based on your enrolment load and the maximum fee for 2025 is $365.
You may also be required to purchase other items related to your course, including field trips, textbooks and equipment. These additional fees and expenses vary from course to course.
Eligible students (such as Australian citizens or holders of an Australian permanent humanitarian visa) may apply to defer payment of some or all of their tuition fees via the Commonwealth Government’s FEE-HELP loan scheme.
You may be eligible to apply to defer payment of the Student services and amenities fee (SSAF) through the SA-HELP loan scheme. If you use SA-HELP, the amount will be added to your accumulated HELP debt.
If your FEE-HELP and/or SA-HELP loan application is successful, the Australian Government will pay RMIT, on your behalf, up to 100% of your fees. This amount will become part of your accumulated HELP debt.
You only start repaying your accumulated HELP debt to the Australian Government once you earn above the minimum income threshold for repayment, which is set each year by the Australian Government (this also applies if you are still studying). The Australian Taxation Office (ATO) will calculate your compulsory repayment for the year and include this on your income tax notice.
For more information about loan repayment options see Commonwealth assistance (HELP loans) or Study Assist.
You may be eligible to apply for income tax deductions for education expenses linked to your employment.
See the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) for more information.
RMIT awards more than 2000 scholarships every year to recognise academic achievement and assist students from a variety of backgrounds.
Use our Frequently Asked Questions to learn about the application process and its equity access schemes, find out how to accept or defer your offer or request a leave of absence, discover information about your fees, refunds and scholarships, and explore the various student support and advocacy services, as well as how to find out more about your preferred program, and more.
Acknowledgement of Country
RMIT University acknowledges the people of the Woi wurrung and Boon wurrung language groups of the eastern Kulin Nation on whose unceded lands we conduct the business of the University. RMIT University respectfully acknowledges their Ancestors and Elders, past and present. RMIT also acknowledges the Traditional Custodians and their Ancestors of the lands and waters across Australia where we conduct our business - Artwork 'Sentient' by Hollie Johnson, Gunaikurnai and Monero Ngarigo.
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