Master of Strategic Communication

Note

This course will be available from Autumn 2025.

This course is tailored for communication professionals and those aspiring to enter the field, seeking to enhance their strategic communication capabilities. Choose this course to stay on top of the evolving landscape where technology, media, and societal issues intersect, influencing stakeholder engagement and organisational reputation.

What sets this course apart is its focus on equipping you with practice-oriented knowledge and skills to tackle real-world communication challenges. You'll learn to apply a full spectrum of communication strategies and techniques for effective problem-solving, grounded in contemporary scholarship and industry insights.

You will gain an understanding of effective communication principles and stakeholder engagement, essential to ensuring organisations achieve their goals. You'll also develop the ability to diagnose and strategise solutions for communication challenges, and master methods for gaining audience insights to inform impactful communication strategies, using both formal and informal research and evaluation techniques.

The learning experience is interactive and practical, involving a blend of theoretical study and hands-on application. You'll engage with case studies, participate in discussions, and work on projects that simulate real-life scenarios, ensuring that you leave the course ready to drive strong stakeholder relationships and deliver positive organisational outcomes.

Facing ongoing technological and social developments, strategic communication becomes critical in every organisation’s practices. Emerging technologies, dynamic media environments, and diverse social issues shape the way individuals engage with or respond to organisations’ communication. In addition, individuals’ preferences keep changing in this fast-pacing environment. To keep up with these changes, many organisations strive to meet social and stakeholder expectations. However, it is often challenging for organisations to do so. This is because different stakeholders exhibit different levels of motivation to engage and collaborate with those organisations. Therefore, strategic communication is required to effectively connect with those diverse stakeholders by grasping key audience insights and formulating possible strategies across complex, fragmented media ecosystems. Strategic communication builds a critical foundation of organisational success. Communication professionals are expected to understand the role of strategic communication in cultivating favourable stakeholder relationships and maintaining positive reputation for organisational survival and legitimacy.

Admission requirements

To be eligible for admission to this course, applicants must meet the following criteria.

Applicants must have one of the following:

• Completed Australian master’s degree, Australian graduate certificate, or Australian graduate diploma, or overseas equivalent, in any field of study

OR

• Completed Australian bachelor's degree, or overseas equivalent, in Management and Commerce, Society and Culture, or Creative Arts

OR

• Completed Australian bachelor's degree, or overseas equivalent, in any field of study AND A minimum of 2 years full-time, or equivalent part-time, relevant professional experience

Applicants who do not meet the criteria above should consider applying for C06153 Graduate Diploma in Strategic Communication.

Supporting documentation to be submitted with the application

For applicants who need to demonstrate work experience:

• Curriculum Vitae AND Statement of service in one of the following formats:
  • A 'Statement of Service' provided by the employer
  • A completed 'UTS statement of service’ signed by the employer
  • A statutory declaration confirming work experience (for Australian Residents only)
  • An official letter from the applicant’s accountant or solicitor on their company letterhead confirming the applicant’s work experience or engagement with the business, duration of operations, and the nature of the business
  • A business certificate of registration in original language and English (e.g. provision of ASIC documentation or ABN or similar documentation for Australian Businesses)

The English proficiency requirement for international students or local applicants with international qualifications is: IELTS Academic: 6.5 overall with a writing score of 6.0; or TOEFL iBT: 79-93 overall with a writing score of 21; or AE5: Pass; or PTE: 58-64 with a writing score of 50; or C1A/C2P: 176-184 with a writing score of 169.

Eligibility for admission does not guarantee offer of a place.

International students

Visa requirement: To obtain a student visa to study in Australia, international students must enrol full time and on campus. Australian student visa regulations also require international students studying on student visas to complete the course within the standard full-time duration. Students can extend their courses only in exceptional circumstances.

To be eligible for admission to this course, applicants must meet the following criteria.

Applicants must have one of the following:

• Completed Australian master’s degree, Australian graduate certificate, or Australian graduate diploma, or overseas equivalent, in any field of study

OR

• Completed Australian bachelor's degree, or overseas equivalent, in Management and Commerce, Society and Culture, or Creative Arts

OR

• Completed Australian bachelor's degree, or overseas equivalent, in any field of study AND A minimum of 2 years full-time, or equivalent part-time, relevant professional experience

Applicants who do not meet the criteria above should consider applying for C06153 Graduate Diploma in Strategic Communication.

Supporting documentation to be submitted with the application

For applicants who need to demonstrate work experience:

• Curriculum Vitae AND Statement of service in one of the following formats:
  • A 'Statement of Service' provided by the employer
  • A completed 'UTS statement of service’ signed by the employer
  • A statutory declaration confirming work experience (for Australian Residents only)
  • An official letter from the applicant’s accountant or solicitor on their company letterhead confirming the applicant’s work experience or engagement with the business, duration of operations, and the nature of the business
  • A business certificate of registration in original language and English (e.g. provision of ASIC documentation or ABN or similar documentation for Australian Businesses)

Eligibility for admission does not guarantee offer of a place.

• Communication specialist
• Corporate communication specialist
• Crisis communication consultant
• Advertising director
• Advertising coordinator
• Brand manager
• Director of public affairs
• Public relations director
• Digital media planner