Master of Digital and Social Media
PostgraduateCUR-MIC-MAS2025
Course information for 2025 intake View information for 2024 course intake
Download a deeper understanding of how communication works online
Broaden your appreciation of the communicative power of the world wide web. Punctuate your ongoing digital communication studies with an in-depth research project. Place an emphasis on creativity in digital writing, design and interaction practices.
- Study method
- 100% online
- Assessments
- 100% online
- Applications close
- 19 Feb 2025,
- 21 May 2025
- Credit available
- Yes
- Duration
- Approx. 1.5 years full time or part time equivalent
- Total subjects
- 10
- Available loans
- Australian Higher Education Loan Program (HELP)
Master of Digital and Social Media
About this degree
At the completion of this degree students will be able to:
- understand and apply at an advanced level key concepts of Internet Studies and apply transdisciplinary thinking to the application and creation of ideas concerning networked technologies of information and communication
- think critically, creatively and reflectively so as to imagine, design, use and critique networked technologies of information and communication
- conduct advanced scholarly and professional research to find, access, organise, evaluate and synthesise information through a variety of media and apply that information to the construction of knowledge
- communicate and facilitate communication through a variety of media, for different purposes, and for different audiences
- use the Internet and related networked technologies of information and communication with an understanding of the complex interaction of political, cultural, and economic forces that constitutes technology as social
- further develop skills and knowledge through independent research and self-directed learning
- understand and utilise in their research and work the complex interplay of local, national and global factors that influence and are expressed through the Internet and networked technologies of information and communication
- recognise and value cultural difference and understand its significance in relation to network technologies and their use in society for communication and information
- act ethically and responsibly to use, sustain and expand the social, business and cultural networks that exist via the Internet, when working independently and in teams.
This degree was previously known as Master of Internet Communications.
The Master of Digital and Social Media provides you with an opportunity to learn in detail about the human dimensions of the Internet: how people network, collaborate, and share information through Internet communications, media and design. You will develop advanced skills in creating, maintaining and managing online communications for personal and commercial interactions, as well as gaining knowledge of the social and cultural contexts within which those interactions occur. You will also gain advanced research skills through a substantial independent research project. The approach is interdisciplinary: you develop skills in websites, public communication, social network management, collaboration via virtual organisations, and web media production. At the same time you will understand the political, economic and social changes associated with the Internet. By taking this degree, you will add to your existing qualification the knowledge and skills needed for you to become an astute, engaged professional communicator via the Internet.
Recommended study pattern
To complete the degree, you are advised to follow the recommended study plan as follows:
Year 1
- MIC501 Web Communications OR MIC502 Digital Culture and Everyday Life
- HUMN600 Masters Research Project 1 (double subject) - Students are recommended to have completed at least 100CP of subjects in the degree before starting this subject.
- 5 option subjects
Year 2
- HUMN610 Masters Research Project 2 (double subject)
- 2 option subjects
MIC501 Web Communications and MIC502 Digital Culture and Everyday Life can be selected as an optional subject. Please contact Curtin Connect if you would like to study one of these subjects as an optional subject.
Award requirements
Successful completion of 10 subjects (including 2 double credit subjects).
Exit points
This degree has exit awards of the Graduate Certificate in Digital and Social Media and Graduate Diploma in Digital and Social Media.
Degrees are usually made up of core subjects and electives. Some degrees include a choice of majors, so you can focus your studies on a specialisation.
This list is a general overview. Download the full Degree Guide for more information.
Transition arrangements are changes that occur when courses are updated or phased out. This happens regularly as part of continuous improvement. It may affect you if you are currently enrolled in this course, or if you plan to use credit from previous study towards it.
2025 Changes
This program will be withdrawn. Final application intake will be Study Period 2, 2025.
Students of the Master of Digital and Social Media have 7 years to complete the program from course commencement.
All subjects in the program will remain available and students will have the usual advertised time to complete the course.
2024 Changes
The following subjects will no longer be offered in 2024:
- INFM600 Advanced Discipline Project 1
- INFM610 Advanced Discipline Project 2
Students who have completed the above subjects will have them counted towards the completion of their degrees.
Where these subjects are removed, they will be replaced by the following subjects offered from 2024:
- HUMN600 Masters Research Project 1
- HUMN610 Masters Research Project 2
For assistance with Student Services, please phone 1300 222 888 between 8:30 am to 4:30 pm AWST (Tuesday from 9:30 am), Monday to Friday, or contact Curtin Connect via the Ask Connect Webform.
Open Universities Australia is a not-for-profit organisation. You will not pay any fees for using our services.
Indicative first year fee
$21,879
Indicative total fee $32,818
The amounts shown here are indicative for an Australian citizen studying full-time, which is typically 8 subjects per year.
Fees may vary depending on:
- the subjects you choose
- credit from previous work experience
- your eligibility for government funding loans or subsidies such as HECS-HELP or a Commonwealth supported place.
To learn more, go to Fees or contact a student advisor.
Start your career with Curtin’s globally recognised courses and extensive industry connections. Through OUA, their online courses offer an interactive and collaborative learning experience that gets you the same degree as if you studied on campus. Curtin is a global university with a vibrant culture of innovation and collaboration and is ranked in the top one per cent of universities worldwide.
Learn more about Curtin University.
Explore Curtin courses.
- QS Ranking 2024:
- 14
- Times Higher Education Ranking 2024:
- 15
Entry requirements
This is a restricted degree. Subject enrolment is only available to students admitted into this degree.
Subject to the duration of the degree applicants usually require a Bachelor Degree or equivalent (and may require relevant work experience), Bachelor Honours Degree, Graduate Certificate or Graduate Diploma. Any specific degree entry and completion requirements must also be met. Details are provided at How to Apply.
Specifically, applicants require a 3 or 4 year bachelor degree in any field from a recognised tertiary education institution OR successful completion of 2 or more subjects in the Graduate Certificate in Digital and Social Media. Students who have completed more than 50 credit points of Digital and Social Media or Internet Communications undergraduate subjects, or any previous versions at Curtin University are not eligible for entry to this degree.
Applicants need to meet Curtin’s English Language requirement as all degrees are taught in English.
If your education degrees were not solely in English, as per the International Handbook of Universities or the World Higher Education database please attach a scanned original copy of English Proficiency Test results. Admission requires an overall International English Language Testing System (IELTS Academic) (or equivalent test) score of at least 6.5 and competence in all test components (IELTS score of 6.0).
Please refer to the 'Minimum English Entry Requirements' document at English Language Requirements.
Applicants are required to meet University academic and English language entry standards; details are provided at: English Proficiency Tests.
*** Please Note: If any academic or legal document is not in English, you must provide a colour scan of the non-English documents, including a colour scan of the official English translations of these documents. This is for comparison purposes. ***
Credit for Recognised Learning (CRL) is assessed on individual merit and is awarded for different types of learning, for example, studies you have previously completed or for relevant work experience.
Students must be admitted in an award degree of study before lodging their completed CRL application, along with all required supporting documentation for a formal assessment.
To apply for CRL, please visit the Curtin University website: Credit for Recognised Learning (Advanced Standing)
It is important to note accepted documentation includes scans of the original Transcripts and/or Award Certificate; front and back; in colour; and original size. For further information see the scanned documents and certification requirements and guidelines.
More information about the policies and procedures related to CRL assessment and appealing a CRL assessment outcome can be found in the Credit for Recognised Learning Policy (PDF).
Career opportunities
The internet is now an essential part of the media and communications environment in society and is part of most people’s everyday lives. This degree will enable you, depending on the choices you make in the subjects you study, to work in a number of fields of employment: internet communications, social media, marketing and public relations; internet content management; internet policy and regulation; online research and analysis; virtual communities; website design and development; online media production; web publishing and more. Your studies will also lead to careers in more traditional media and information industries that are now moving online, as well as any corporate entity, public or private, that utilise online communications.
Australian job snapshots
Data sourced from Australian Jobs 2023.
Role | Earnings | Employment change |
|---|---|---|
Advertising and Marketing Professionals | $75K to $93K | Up 21.3% |
Journalists and Other Writers | $75K to $93K | Up 0.9% |
Marketing specialists | N/A^ | N/A^ |
Public Relations Professionals | $93K to $120K | Up 20.8% |
^ There is no data available
Degree FAQs
How long does it take to finish an online degree?
That's up to you! Because we let you choose when to study online, you can actually pick up and pause study when it suits you. Many universities have a set time you need to complete your degree within. For some this is up to 10 years, and for others there is no limit.
There are some degrees that are stricter about when you can take breaks, and about how many years you can take to complete your degree. Please always check with your uni what the limits are.
As a general guide, Commonwealth supported place students have 10 years to finish their undergraduate degree through OUA, However, if you're studying with Griffith University, there's a limit of 8 years to complete your studies. If you want to take a break that lasts more than two study terms, you'll need to apply for a leave of absence. You can apply for a leave of absence for up to 12 months, as long as you complete your studies within the maximum time allowed for your degree.
If you're studying with Macquarie University, with the exception of certain degrees, there's no limit to how long you can take. But, please check with Macquarie Student Administration to be sure.
If you're studying with the University of Adelaide, you have up to 9 years to complete your undergraduate degree and graduate.
If you're studying with La Trobe University and want to take a break of minimum 1 study term, you must apply for leave of absence to avoid being inadvertently withdrawn from your degree.
Through OUA, you can study all year round, so it's possible to fast-track and finish up sooner than studying at a traditional uni would allow. That said, you need to spend around 12 hours a week on each undergraduate subject you do, so taking on extra work to finish ahead of time can be challenging.
How can I pay for my studies?
You may be eligible for a HELP loan from the Australian government, depending on your citizenship status and where you'll be living during your studies. You can also pay upfront with your credit card.
Payment options are explained in Fees, and you can contact a student advisor for more information.
How does studying through Open Universities Australia work?
You might find learning through OUA a little different to how you've studied in the past. It can take time to develop the skills you need for independent online study.
We connect you with subjects and degrees that are taught by leading Australian universities. You can complete single subjects, or follow a degree structure to work towards a specific qualification. Subjects are offered in several study terms throughout the year, so you can choose to study part-time or full-time, continuously or with breaks.
We help you find the subjects or degree that's right for you, and we handle your enrolment in uni and some administration. Your uni sends you your study materials and deals with all academic matters. They're also in charge of your assessment and graduation. If you go on to complete a degree, you'll graduate from the uni offering your degree, for example, RMIT University or Griffith University.
How do I know if I‘m eligible to apply for a course?
Before starting an enrolment, it's important to read the entry requirements for your chosen course to ensure that you're eligible to apply. If you don't quite meet the requirements, we can help you find a pathway into your course through open-entry subjects, which anyone can study. Contact us to find out more.
When is my cut-off date for enrolment?
Our close of enrolment times vary. You can check the cut-off dates for upcoming study terms by visiting Key dates.
Why should I study online through Open Universities Australia?
There are a lot of reasons to study your course online through us.
You can enrol without entry requirements
We have a unique open-door policy that makes it possible for everyone to enrol in university study, no matter their academic history. If you don't meet the entry requirements for a degree, we'll help you get in through single undergraduate subjects and transition into a qualification from there.
You have total control over how you study
Upskill without committing to a whole degree upfront. Or enrol in a full degree, but take it a subject at a time. We'll introduce you to flexible study options you didn't even know about, so you can fit uni around what matters to you.You'll graduate with the same qualification as an on-campus student
Once you enrol through us, you'll study online with the university that provides your degree. This means that when you complete your qualification, you'll graduate with the same degree as on-campus students.We'll help you navigate the university world
Our friendly student advisors will be your guide every step of the enrolment journey. They'll help you compare universities, choose a course, provide documentation and understand your finance options.
How do I enrol?
Here at Open Universities Australia, we make enrolling online as straightforward as possible. To get started, find the course for you by browsing the options on this page. You can also compare different qualifications using our handy comparison tool, or request help from one of our student advisors.
When you've made your choice, click 'Apply now' on the relevant course page and follow the prompts to begin your enrolment. We'll ask you to supply some supporting documentation, including proof of your identity, your tax file number, and a unique student identifier (USI) during this process.
Your university will get in touch with you via email to confirm whether or not your application has been successful.
If you get stuck at any time, reach out to a student advisor and we'll talk you through it.
You can also take a look at our online self-service enrolling instructions.