Communication is the lifeblood of human society, whether it’s TikTok videos, news headlines, protest signs, or conversations between friends. Communication shapes politics, business, culture and personal relationships; it brings us together and tears us apart. Today’s fast-changing communication technologies bring both serious challenges and exciting new opportunities.

Studying Communication will allow you to explore and understand what these challenges and opportunities mean for our world and your future career opportunities and professional pathways. You can study important ideas, debates and controversies in 21st communication, covering diverse topics, including misinformation, digital ethics, the impacts of artificial intelligence, and advertising in the digital age.

You will also be able to develop critical communication skills, which are in high demand in today’s employment market. These include professional writing skills; audio and visual communication; public speaking and presentation skills; understanding and applying Māori and Pacific communication principles and practices.

Communication is critical in the world today. Organisational, social and global change are all strongly influenced by the ways in which politicians, activists, entrepreneurs and leaders communicate. Our doctoral programme in Communication gives you an opportunity to produce in-depth research in an exciting interdisciplinary research area that resonates nationally and internationally.

As a doctoral candidate, you'll benefit from financial support for research expenses through PReSS funding, high-calibre supervision practices, and the networks and expertise of our world-class academic researchers.

We have expertise in a wide range of research areas, including:

• Communication theory
• Intercultural communication
• Linguistics and discourse analysis
• Māori and Indigenous communication
• Media and film theory/practice
• Digital journalism studies
• Computer and data sciences
• Communication technologies

Solid PhD research proposals in other areas may also be considered. Doctoral candidates can opt to undertake a PhD with Creative Practice.