Massey’s BA (Media Studies) is an exciting discipline that will prepare you for future challenges in an information-rich society. Media studies analyses the production, consumption and content of a range of media including film, social media, television, popular music and smartphones. You will explore the formal characteristics of these media and their social, cultural, political and economic implications.

Media studies is taught through an innovative programme that blends theory with creative practice. The skills you will develop with this major are versatile and highly sought-after in many careers, with digital media literacy becoming increasingly important across all sectors.

• Explore the ways in which media texts, audiences and users create and circulate meanings
• Analyse the relationships between media, culture and society and how they influence our views of the world
• Communicate your findings effectively in speech and writing
• Tackle open-ended questions where there are no simple right or wrong answers
• Develop creative and critical approaches to producing media.

The Media Studies major contains courses that explore the histories and theories of media and communication via the industries of television, cinema and print media, as well as new media such as the Internet. It is designed to be a stimulating discipline that prepares you for future challenges in an information rich society. You commence your studies by gaining an understanding of the broad concepts of media through the 100-level courses. As you go through to the more advanced courses these concepts are developed more fully and you can start to concentrate on specific areas in which you are interested.

A major in Media Studies consists of 135 credits (nine courses). At least 120 credits (8 courses) must come from 154 and 139 prefix courses.

Subject Courses

154.101 Introduction to Media Studies 
154.115 Stardom and Celebrity in the Media 
154.120 Transmedia Narrative and Storytelling 
172.131 Language and Communication 
139.275 Gothic 
146.206 Visual Ethnography 
154.201 Television Studies 
154.202 Advertising and Consumer Society 
154.203 Popular Culture and the Media 
154.204 Digital Media Production I 
154.205 Popular Music Studies 
154.206 Topics in Film History 
154.212 New Zealand Cinema 
154.215 Cult Media and Fandom 
154.222 The Art of the Film 
154.224 Documentary (Non-Fiction) Film 
154.228 Media History 
219.204 News Media Processes 
139.323 Media Script Writing 
139.376 Sexual/Textual Politics 
146.316 Visual Anthropology: Southasia and Global Issues 
154.301 Cultural Studies and the Media 
154.302 Gender and Race in the Media 
154.303 Hollywood Cinema 
154.304 Digital Media Production II 
154.308 Screen Fictions 
154.309 Communications and Culture 
154.311 Social Media and Digital Cultures 
154.312 Trauma and the Media 
154.313 Global Media Cultures 
154.314 Independent Media in the Information Age

A minor consists of 75 credits in Media Studies, including 15 credits at 300-level; 30 credits at 200- and/or 300-level; and 30 credits at any level from the Media Studies schedule.

The Massey University High Achiever scholarships were established to support new students enrolling at Massey University with a previous record of high achievement in the areas of: Academic, Arts, Sport. Thre are also other undergraduate scholarships available.

High achiever scholarships

Massey University Vice Chancellor's High Achiever Scholarship (Academic)

The Massey University Vice Chancellor's High Achiever Scholarship (Academic) was established to support new students enrolling at Massey University with a previous record of excellence in one or more subject areas and/or a record of merit in several subject areas.

Massey University Academy of Sport Scholarship

The Massey University Academy of Sport Scholarship was established to support new student athletes enrolling at Massey University with a previous record of high achievement in sport and who show future potential in their chosen sport.

Massey University Vice Chancellor's High Achiever Scholarship (Academic)

The Massey University Vice Chancellor's High Achiever Scholarship (Academic) was established to support new students enrolling at Massey University with a previous record of excellence in one or more subject areas and/or a record of merit in several subject areas.

Massey University Vice Chancellor's High Achiever Scholarship (Art)

The Massey University Vice Chancellor's High Achiever Scholarship (Arts) was established to support new students enrolling at Massey University with a previous record of excellence in one or more of the arts fields both inside and outside of the school context.

Massey University Academy of Sport Scholarship

The Massey University Academy of Sport Scholarship was established to support new student athletes enrolling at Massey University with a previous record of high achievement in sport and who show future potential in their chosen sport.

Massey University Albany Vice Chancellor's Natural Sciences Excellence Award

The Massey University Albany Vice Chancellor's Natural Sciences Excellence Award was established to support new students enrolling at the Albany campus, Massey University with a previous record of  academic excellence in the natural sciences. Recipients are expected to be committed to studying and completing the Bachelor of Natural Sciences degree.

Massey University Albany Vice-Chancellor’s Innovation and Academic Excellence Scholarship

The Massey University Albany Vice Chancellor's Innovation and Academic Excellence Scholarship was established to support new students enrolling fulltime at the Albany campus, Massey University who  are currently attending a North Shore or West Auckland secondary school who have a minimum of 20 NCEA L2 credits (or equivalent in CIE or IB) with a record of excellence or merit.

Massey Business School Future Leaders Scholarship

The Massey Business School Future Leaders Scholarship was established to recognise and support future leaders enrolling in full-time business programmes at Massey University who have a previous record of leadership and high academic achievement. 

Encouraging Kiwis into Engineering Massey University Full-Fees Scholarship

The Encouraging Kiwis into Engineering Massey University Full-Fees Scholarship was established to encourage more students into engineering, particularly those currently studying maths, physics, and/or chemistry. Applicants are expected to be studying NCEA Level 3 or equivalent in Mathematics with Calculus, Physics and perhaps also Chemistry; have involvement in extracurricular Science, Engineering or Technology and show leadership and creative skills.