Media Studies has offered some awesome opportunities—ranging from interesting guest speakers from across the parliamentary sector and journalists, as well as the chance to take on some very creative assignments that move away from the traditional essay. Some courses allow flexibility with the more creative assignments too, so you can play to your creative strengths.

I decided on Media Studies as my major because I believed it would challenge and teach me the most. It is a subject and industry that is always changing and evolving with every passing moment, and I think this is an exciting aspect of the subject especially for research, there is so much to read, learn, analyse, and explore!

I was surprised at just how different my university experience would be to high school. I found my time to be far more flexible and it was nice to have more independence with my timetable in scheduling tutorials. The assignments are bigger and therefore more is expected of you, but because you are specialising in something you are really passionate about, it feels good and right to have those challenges.

Ultimately it was the creativity of this little city that enticed me to study here. Having lived in Auckland my whole life, I had only ever visited Wellington a few times for school music trips but loved it so much that I knew one day I wanted to live here. I chose to study at this University so I could get an education and live in one of my dream cities.

Coming from such a large city like Auckland, being able to live, study, work, and socialise all within a ten-minute walking radius is special and something I wasn't used to before now. There are so many great spots to work off-campus too. Wellington has truly served me well as a source of great inspiration throughout my studies.

Studying at Victoria University of Wellington allowed me to work with incredibly talented and intelligent lecturers who love to share their passion for their discipline with their students. While I was pursuing my Master’s, my supervisors gave me the guidance I needed to find my way, while encouraging me to have confidence in my ideas and find my own voice.

Media Studies helps you to think critically about your own perceptions of the world you live in by exposing you to a wide variety of content. Whether it's television, music, news or social media, understanding how the content we consume is shaped and influenced by political and economic factors allows you to open your mind and appreciate different perspectives.

After leaving the University I moved to Auckland to work in advertising and marketing. I worked as an account executive, managing photo shoots, producing print and TV ads, creating social media plans and helping execute New Zealand-wide campaigns for both national and international brands.

I’ve since moved back to Wellington to take up a job as marketing coordinator for Capital E. In this role, I manage social media to promote digital workshops, cultural events and art experiences that aim to educate young New Zealanders about the intersection of art and technology.

The greatest thing about studying in Wellington is that you are at the hub of creativity in New Zealand. There are so many opportunities to get involved and be exposed to a wide variety of art and culture through our museums, art galleries, cinemas, bookstores, live music venues, and even our local night markets. The city inspires you to find your own creativity and invites you to be a part of its thriving community.

The University’s Media Studies staff are incredible teachers and researchers. Collectively, we research and write about topics as diverse as celebrity scandal, cute robots, mock meat, social media, surveillance, media policy, premium television drama, Māori TV and fake news. Students are getting the most up-to-date, relevant and innovative lecture material. It’s also great to be based in Wellington, we have close ties to both the creative industries and the government sector—providing excellent opportunities for guest lectures, class visits and other forms of creative and intellectual exchange.

I’m interested in the interrelationship between subjectivity and technology. I’m currently working on a project with a colleague from the School of Design on the culture and design of social robotics. We’ve recently published an article on how the ‘cute’ design of social robots enables certain kinds of relationships with their human users. We’re also working on an article about the role of Hollywood character animators in creating ‘appealing’ robotic products.

I teach a first-year course on popular culture, which is always fun. I really enjoy examining media forms that are usually dismissed or derided, and figuring out what makes something popular, what role pop culture has in society, and how pop culture can be considered ‘political’. These lectures are usually filled with weird and wonderful media examples, and always with lots of input from the students.