How do marketers create messages that resonate, and convince you that you cannot live without an item in your life?
That’s what you’ll learn when studying the broad academic field known as Mass Communications. The mass communications major (or minor) explores how messages are crafted for and transmitted to mass audiences.
To help you create persuasive and compelling content, a typical mass communications course will offer specialisations such as video production, public relations, journalism, broadcasting or marketing.
While many mass communication students enter media after graduating, the art of effective communication puts you in good stead for any field or industry—and your personal life. In fact, 45% of all LinkedIn Premium jobs posted from June to August* 2022, for example, have mentioned the importance of communication skills[i]. The Corporate Recruiters Survey 2022, conducted by the Graduate Management Admission Council (GMAC), also reveals that 73% of corporate recruiters were confident in hiring business school graduates because of their strong communication skills![ii]
Without further ado, let’s delve into a list of mass communications courses and find out what each has on offer!
Courses* (in no particular order)
Diplomas
1) Ngee Ann Polytechnic, Diploma in Mass Communication
Ngee Ann Polytechnic’s Diploma in Mass Communication (MCM) is Singapore’s first and most established polytechnic media course. Held in high regard, its network of media alumni comprises famous personalities such as Sonia Chew of 987FM.
The school’s connections and experience open doors to exciting internships, unique capstone projects and exclusive mentorship opportunities. You will get a chance to build a solid portfolio and access to state-of-the-art facilities which include TV and radio studios, media labs and editing suites.
Duration: 3 years (full-time)
Curriculum: Course modules cover topics such as Public Relations, User Experience Design, Media Entrepreneurship, Visual Communication and more
Course Fees: (SGD) $3000 for Singaporeans, $6,200 for Permanent Residents and $11,400 per annum
2) MDIS, International Foundation Diploma in Mass Communications
MDIS is Singapore’s oldest not-for-profit professional institute for lifelong learning. This course seeks to deepen the learner’s specialised knowledge in the areas of Print, Broadcast, Advertising and Public Relations. It consists of actual action based-training of skills and techniques to ensure that students can properly apply the theoretical knowledge that they have acquired. Successful completion of this programme will enable students to proceed to the MDIS Higher Diploma in Mass Communications.
Duration: 7 months full-time, 12 months part-time
Curriculum: Media and Marketing Communications, Portfolio building and more
Course Fees: $6,634 for Singaporeans, S$7,490 for International students
Accreditation: MDIS is EduTrust certified.
3) Republic Polytechnic, Diploma in Mass Communication (R32)
Their Diploma in Mass Communication (DMC) seeks to help students build up a strong foundation across multiple media platforms which include digital, social media, print and broadcast. The Journalism track introduces you to the integrated newsroom of the future while the Public Relations and Marketing Communication track immerses you in a fast-paced communications environment at the convergence of traditional and digital media. You will cap off your studies with a 20-week immersion programme, with the chance to intern at notable organisations such as Singapore Press Holdings, GroupM and Ogilvy.
Duration: 3 years (full-time)
Curriculum: Study modules such as Cross Cultural Communication, Media and Society, Impact Journalism, Crisis Communication and more
Course Fees: (SGD) $3000 for Singaporeans, $6,200 for Permanent Residents and $11,400 per annum
4) Temasek Polytechnic, Diploma in Communications & Media Management
Also known as CMM, Temasek Polytechnic’s Diploma in Communications & Media management helps students gain real-world exposure through projects, networking and opportunities with strategic partners like MediaCorp and SPH.
Their students, for example, had an exclusive chance to present an hourly show on 987FM weekly, for 3 months!
Temasek Polytechnic’s fully-equipped industry-standard MediaBiz Studio, on-campus radio station RadioActive, news portal Stories and Co. and production arm Media Co-Creators will grant you much-desired opportunities and sufficient creative space to hone your craft. There will also be a 6-month internship, through which you can consolidate your knowledge.
Duration: 3 years (full-time)
Curriculum: Includes modules such as Mobile Journalism, Digital Content Management, and Business Technology & Analytics
Course Fees: (SGD) $3000 for Singaporeans, $6,200 for Permanent Residents and $11,400 per annum
5) Nanyang Polytechnic, Diploma in Mass Media Management
This course is tailored for those who love content and creativity and wish to enter the media industry. It seeks to impart you with the right balance of business knowledge and media skills to help jump-start your career there. In their state-of-the-art NYPTV Studio@D1 and Media Hub, you will learn to use the latest software and equipment. Meanwhile, you will also get to work on exciting industry projects with companies like A+E Networks, Disney, Turner Asia Pacific and Mediacorp.
Students have had the opportunity to participate in interesting real-world projects, such as webinar production, for the Masterclass series by the Asian Academy of Creative Awards (AAA) Producers Summit.
Duration: 3 years (full-time)
Curriculum: Includes modules such as Software Applications for Mass Media, Digital Film & Video Production, Multi-Camera Production and more
Cost: (SGD) $3000 for Singaporeans, $6,200 for Permanent Residents and $11,400 per annum
| Did you know?
According to NTUC LearningHub’s Emerging Jobs and Skills Report, 58% of employees (respondents) agree that communication is a critical core skill! |
Degrees
6) Singapore University of Social Sciences (SUSS), Bachelor of Communication
This course provides professional training for adult learners to pursue a career in the communication industry. It also enhances the relevant knowledge and skills for those already in the profession. These industries include journalism, editing, public relations, business communication, advertising, entertainment, media relations, media research, copywriting and media management.
SUSS also allows its students to take up a minor of their choice, helping them to pursue other fields of choice and become more versatile. Minor selections include Translation, Criminology and Data Science, ensuring that there’s something for everyone.
Duration: Go at your own pace (part-time, maximum candidature of 8 years), 130 credit units (generally 5 per course)
Curriculum: Modules include Advertising Design, Android/iOS Application Development, and Media/Multimedia Translation
Course Fees: $15,218.61–15.565.29 (estimated)
7) National University of Singapore (NUS), Major in Communications and New Media
NUS ranks 26th worldwide (QS World University Rankings by Subject 2022) for Communications and Media Studies, and is the only university in Singapore and Southeast Asia to offer a single degree programme covering interactive media design, communication management, media studies and cultural studies. Students of this programme graduate with a Bachelor of Social Sciences (Honours option available), and its alumni have gone on to work for organisations such as Singapore Airlines and The Gallup organisation.
Curriculum: You will get to study modules such as Theories of Communications and New Media, Qualitative Research Methods, and Advanced Communications and New Media Research.
Duration: 4 years (full-time)
Course Fees: $8,250 for Singaporeans, $11,550 for Permanent Residents and $17,650 for International students per annum
8) Nanyang Technological University (NTU), Bachelor of Communication Studies
The Wee Kim Wee School of Communication and Information offers this programme for undergraduates interested in majoring in Strategic Communication, Broadcast Media & Cinema Studies, Data Science and Media Studies and/or in Journalism and Media Policies. Students have the choice of specialising in one or more tracks or acquire a more generalised skillset—in fact, they can also undertake a double major in Governance and International Relations.
NTU currently ranks 5th worldwide (QS World University Rankings by Subject 2022) for Communications and Media Studies. Its students have many opportunities for industry exposure, ranging from the school’s in-house news publication, The Nanyang Chronicle, to organising a film festival (Perspectives Film Festival) from scratch.
Curriculum: Modules include Speech and Argumentation, Foundation of Information Analytics
Duration: 4 years (full-time)
Course Fees: $8,250 for Singaporeans, $11,550 for Permanent Residents and $17,650 for International students per annum
9) Kaplan International, Bachelor of Arts (Hons) Mass Communication With Public Relations (Top-up)
The Bachelor of Arts (Hons) Mass Communication with Public Relations, a direct Honours with dual specialisation programme, is a Joint Honours Degree. It consists of 11 modules with classes being conducted on weekday evenings and weekends. Students with relevant qualifications can gain direct entry into the final year of this programme as long as the relevant requirements are met and approval is obtained. This programme is offered under Northumbria University’s School of Arts and Social Sciences. This UK university is in the top 1% of elite institutions worldwide.
Duration: 16 months full-time, longer + at own pace for part-time
Curriculum: Study modules such as Media Methodologies, Promotional Writing, and Cultural Identities on Screen
Course Fees: $22,363 for full programme, $14,659 for direct entry condensed version (Singaporeans and Permanent Residents). $27,606 for International students, only applicable for full-time programme.
Accreditation: Kaplan International is EduTrust certified.
10) PSB Academy, Bachelor of Arts with Honours in Media and Communications
This communication and media degree seeks to boost students’ creativity and critical thinking skills within a broad spectrum of cultural practices and contemporary media. Students will be exposed to the screen, new and digital media, global and international contexts of media and culture, creative industries, media history and theory, media and cultural research and media and cultural production. They will also automatically become members of the Student Chapter of the Institute of Public Relations of Singapore (IPRS), giving them access to industry visits and IPRS-hosted events such as general meetings.
Duration: 3 years (16 months for students with relevant experience/post-module exemptions)
Curriculum: Study modules such as Media Methodologies, Promotional Writing, and Cultural Identities on Screen
Course Fees: $32,742.00 for Year 1 Entry, $21,828.00 for Year 2 Entry and $10,914.00 for Year 3 Entry (Singapore-based and International students)
Accreditation: PSB Academy is EduTrust certified.
11) SIM Global Education, Bachelor of Communication (Professional Communication)
This interdisciplinary communications programme is awarded and developed by RMIT University, Australia. It covers broader communication issues and theories, while imparting important professional skills such as news gathering and grounding them within an Asian media and cultural context. The programme’s teaching faculty comprises of RMIT teaching faculty and local academics who are also industry practitioners.
RMIT currently ranks 40th worldwide (QS World University Rankings by Subject 2022) for Communications and Media Studies.
Duration: 8-24 months (full-time)
Curriculum: Study modules such as Asian Mobilities: Practices, Experiences and Impacts, Art Direction, and Client Management
Course Fees: $15,194 to $48,278.40
Accreditation: SIM GE is EduTrust certified.
Postgraduate
12) NTU, Master of Media and Communication
The Master of Media and Communication (MMC) is a Master by Coursework. These are structured courses similar to undergraduate programmes, offering candidates an opportunity to study a chosen field at a more advanced level and gain a higher level of mastery.
The MMC requires candidates to have one year of working experience (internships excluded). A key highlight of the programme is the overseas study elective to a country within the region to gain first-hand experience of its media and communication landscape. Teaching faculty are local and international, offering a wide variety of perspectives; the Wee Kim Wee School of Communication and Information is also the top school in Asia.
NTU also offers a Master of Communication Studies (Research) for those leaning towards academia or considering advancing to a PhD.
Duration: 1 year full-time, 2 years part-time
Curriculum: Study modules such as Communication, Technology & Society, Public & Promotional Communication Issues & Strategies, and Communicating Corporate Narratives with Transmedia.
Course Fees: $28,200 for Singapore-based students, $29,700 for International students
13) NUS, Master of Social Sciences in Communication
The MSocSci in Communication programme counts itself as the first in Asia to focus on digital communication and leadership. Candidates have the opportunity to specialise in Strategic Communication, Data and Communication or Global Media Communication (with an Asian perspective). The curriculum is equally split between theory and practice, and what candidates may find practical is the programme’s thoughtful inclusion of an internship or mentorship option. The former is tailored to individuals with less than two years of experience in relevant industries and the latter is for individuals with over two years of experience.
Duration: 1 year full-time, 2 years part-time
Curriculum: Depending on your specialisation, modules include Computer-Mediated Environments, Advanced Health Communication, and Media, Policy and Markets.
Course Fees: $35,000.00 (excluding misc. fees)
Short Courses
14) NUS, Professional Certificate in Media Communication
NUS offers four short courses on demand that count towards the Professional Certificate in Media Communication. Each course is 2-days long. These are eligible for SSG funding, which requires 75% attendance and the passing of all assessments. Do keep an eye out for the next round on the NUS Executive Education website!
Courses: Crisis Communication, Social Media and Public Relations, Engaging a media audience: Public speaking in the digital age, and Getting Your Message Across In Today’s Media Landscape
Modes: Online, Face-to-face (dependent on course)
Course Fees: S1,900 each pre-funding and GST, $609.90 post-funding
Conclusion
That’s all for the courses! All the best in improving your communication skills and landing a career in your field of choice.
*Figures and content were last updated October 2022. This is not an exhaustive list.
[i] https://www.linkedin.com/business/learning/blog/top-skills-and-courses/learn-top-skills-to-future-proof-your-career.
[ii] https://www.gmac.com/-/media/files/gmac/research/employment-outlook/2022_infographic_corporate_recruiters_survey.pdf