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The Master of Media Practice and Industry (Extension) is a postgraduate coursework degree designed for creative media graduates and experienced industry practitioners who want to advance their skills and employability in a rapidly evolving, hybrid media environment. The course integrates advanced media production practices with future-focused capabilities and technologies, while embedding a strong commitment to social justice, ethics and sustainable industry practices. Students engage with media industry transformations across screen, digital media and emerging platforms, selecting from innovation, industry and production subject streams that share entrepreneurial, collaborative and iterative approaches to ideas, practices and audiences. The Extension version of the degree typically spans two years of full-time study, providing additional depth beyond the standard master's, and may incorporate a creative entrepreneurship component that enables students to develop a viable media business concept from the ground up.
The course is suited to a wide range of students — from recent arts, communications or media graduates looking to build advanced production and strategic skills, to working professionals seeking to pivot into leadership roles or expand their practice across new platforms and formats. Core graduate capabilities include curation, design thinking, project-based media work, and the capacity to provide leadership across a rapidly changing media landscape. Employers who hire graduates from this field include broadcasters and streaming networks, digital media agencies, film and television production companies, advertising and PR firms, arts and cultural organisations, government communications departments, start-ups, and corporate content teams across virtually every industry sector.
Australia's media and communications sector is undergoing profound transformation driven by digital disruption, the proliferation of streaming platforms, the creator economy and the rise of AI-assisted content tools. The demand for skilled media practitioners who can not only produce compelling content but also understand audience data, platform economics, ethical frameworks and emerging technologies is growing rapidly. According to industry projections, the media and communications sector in Australia is expected to expand by approximately 13% over the next decade, creating significant demand for graduates who combine creative production skills with strategic and entrepreneurial thinking. A postgraduate qualification in this field positions graduates for leadership roles that command substantially higher salaries than entry-level positions, and equips them to navigate — and shape — an industry in constant flux.
There is a recognised skills gap in Australia between the volume of content demanded by digital platforms and the number of practitioners who can produce, curate and strategically manage that content at a professional level. This course directly addresses that gap by building production-ready skills alongside sophisticated knowledge of media industries, audience engagement, platform strategy and business development. For professionals already working in media, communications, journalism, marketing or the arts, the Extension master's provides the advanced credential and expanded skill set needed to transition into senior advisory, management or entrepreneurial roles.
Applicants are typically required to hold a recognised bachelor's degree or an equivalent or higher qualification. For applicants whose undergraduate degree is in the field of arts, society and culture, communications or creative arts, direct entry into the master's is generally available provided a minimum credit average (typically 65% or above) is achieved across the degree. Applicants whose undergraduate degree is from an unrelated field — such as business, science or engineering — are usually required to demonstrate a minimum of two years of relevant professional work experience in the media, communications, journalism, film or creative industries in addition to meeting academic entry requirements. Some providers also require applicants to submit a curriculum vitae and may request a portfolio of creative work or a personal statement outlining professional goals and media experience.
English language proficiency requirements apply to all applicants whose primary language is not English. Standard requirements across Australian providers include an IELTS overall score of at least 6.5–7.0 (with no individual band below 6.0), a TOEFL iBT score of approximately 90–96 overall, or a PTE Academic score of around 58–68 overall. Applicants who do not meet direct entry requirements for the master's degree may be eligible to commence via a Graduate Certificate or Graduate Diploma in a related field and upgrade to the master's upon successful completion of those studies with the required grade average.
This course may be offered in different study modes depending on the university, campus location, course structure and student type. Students should check the available delivery mode before applying, as not every study option is available at every institution.
On-campus study is the traditional mode of delivery where students attend classes, lectures, tutorials, workshops or seminars at the university campus. This option may suit students who prefer face-to-face learning, access to campus facilities, networking with classmates, practical workshops, group projects and direct engagement with academic staff.
Some universities may offer programs fully online or with online subject options. Online study can be attractive for students who need flexibility due to work, family, location or other commitments. Online study may suit domestic students, working professionals or students who want to study from outside Australia.
Hybrid or blended study usually combines online learning with some on-campus classes, workshops, intensive sessions or practical components. This mode may suit students who want flexibility but still want some face-to-face interaction. The exact structure varies between institutions.
Programs in Australia may have different intake structures depending on the university. The most common intake systems are semester, trimester and block mode.
Many Australian universities follow a two-semester academic calendar. The main intakes are commonly Semester 1 (around February or March) and Semester 2 (around July). Semester-based study usually allows students to complete a set number of subjects over approximately 12 to 14 weeks.
Some universities use a trimester system, which generally provides three study periods a year — around February/March, June/July and October/November. Trimester study may provide more flexibility and may help some students complete their course faster.
Some institutions may offer selected subjects or programs in block mode, where students focus on one subject at a time over a shorter, more intensive teaching period. Block mode may suit students who prefer concentrated learning or working professionals managing study around employment.
Some online or professionally focused programs may offer more frequent start dates or flexible entry points throughout the year. Students should not assume that every course has monthly or multiple intakes — availability depends on the institution, course structure and student type.
Graduates of the Master of Media Practice and Industry (Extension) are well-positioned to pursue careers across a broad and growing landscape of media, communications and creative industries in Australia and internationally. Employers include free-to-air and subscription broadcasters, streaming platforms, digital and social media agencies, advertising and PR firms, film and television production companies, podcasting networks, arts organisations, corporate communications departments, government agencies, non-profits and independent media enterprises. As organisations across every sector invest increasingly in content-driven communications, the demand for media practitioners who combine creative production expertise with strategic leadership and industry knowledge continues to grow strongly.
Entry Level
Graduate / Assistant
Graduate Media Producer, Junior Content Creator, Production Assistant, Media and Communications Assistant, Social Media Assistant, Junior Journalist
Early Career
Officer / Coordinator
Content Producer, Digital Media Coordinator, Social Media Coordinator, Media Officer, Multimedia Journalist, Podcast Coordinator, Communications Officer
Mid-Level
Adviser / Specialist
Digital Content Strategist, Media Strategist, Senior Producer, Digital Media Specialist, Senior Communications Adviser, Audience Engagement Manager, Branded Content Manager
Senior Level
Manager / Senior Adviser
Media Manager, Communications Manager, Content Marketing Manager, Senior Media Manager, Head of Content, Head of Social Media, Video Production Manager
Leadership
Director / Head / Principal
Creative Director, Head of Communications, Director of Content, Executive Producer, Chief Media Officer, Media Director, Managing Editor, Founder / Independent Media Entrepreneur
Salaries for media practice and communications graduates in Australia vary by role, sector and experience level, with significant growth potential as practitioners develop their leadership and strategic capabilities.
Melbourne
Melbourne is Australia's creative capital and home to a thriving screen production industry, including major film and television studios, advertising agencies and arts organisations, making it an ideal city for media practice graduates seeking work in narrative screen production, branded content and creative communications. The city's dense concentration of production companies, streaming platform offices and digital media agencies offers excellent networking and employment opportunities for graduates.
Sydney
As Australia's largest media market, Sydney houses the headquarters of all major free-to-air and subscription broadcasters, leading advertising and PR agencies, and a rapidly growing digital content sector, providing media practice graduates with the widest range of career opportunities in Australia. The city is also a hub for international media companies and streaming platforms with Australian operations, opening doors to globally connected roles in content strategy, production and distribution.
Brisbane
Brisbane is an increasingly vibrant media city, benefiting from significant investment in screen production infrastructure including major studio facilities and a growing games and interactive media sector, particularly in the lead-up to the 2032 Olympics which will further accelerate demand for media and communications professionals. The city offers a competitive cost of living relative to Sydney and Melbourne, and a strong community of independent media practitioners and digital agencies.
Perth
Perth offers media practice graduates opportunities in broadcast journalism, corporate communications, government media roles and a growing digital content sector supported by the city's strong resources, mining, and tourism industries which require sophisticated communications and content teams. Its relative geographic isolation has also fostered a distinctive independent media culture, with opportunities in community broadcasting, regional journalism and arts-led media organisations.
Adelaide
Adelaide has an active arts, screen production and community media sector, with institutions such as the Adelaide Film Festival and a growing presence of independent producers and digital media start-ups creating genuine career pathways for graduates in film, audio and digital content. The city's comparatively affordable cost of living and close-knit creative industry community can be particularly attractive to graduates looking to build a freelance or entrepreneurial media career.
Canberra
Canberra is a uniquely strong market for media and communications graduates interested in government communications, policy-driven media, public affairs and the non-profit sector, with a high concentration of federal government departments, regulatory bodies and policy organisations that maintain large in-house communications and media teams. The city also has a growing arts and cultural sector, including national institutions that regularly seek skilled media practitioners for content production, audience engagement and digital communications roles.
Before choosing a course, students should compare:
International students who want to study in Australia should also consider additional requirements before applying.
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