Program Requirements

The Master of Science Communication Outreach requires the completion of 48 units, which must consist of:

48 units from completion of the following compulsory courses:

SCOM8004A Fieldwork Placement (Part A)

SCOM8004B Fieldwork Placement (Part B)

SCOM8007 Exhibition Design

SCOM8014 Communicating Science with the Public

SCOM6012 Science Communication and the Web

SCOM6016 Science in the Media

Study Options

Admission Requirements

A Bachelor Honours degree, Graduate Certificate, Graduate Diploma, or international equivalent, with a minimum GPA of 5.0/7.0, with at least 8 courses in cognate area.

Cognate Disciplines
Science, Engineering and Technology degrees including Mathematical Sciences, Physics and Astronomy, Chemical Sciences, Earth Sciences, Biological Sciences, Environmental Studies, Other Natural and Physical Sciences, Information Technology, Engineering and Related Technologies, Health and Education.

English Language Requirements
All applicants must meet the University’s English Language Admission Requirements for Students.

Assessment of Qualifications
Unless otherwise indicated, ANU will accept all Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) qualifications or international equivalents that meet or exceed the published admission requirements of our programs, provided all other admission requirements are also met. Where an applicant has more than one completed tertiary qualification, ANU will base assessment on the qualification that best meets the admission requirements for the program. Find out more about the Australian Qualifications Framework: www.aqf.edu.au
ANU uses a 7-point Grade Point Average (GPA) scale. All qualifications submitted for admission at ANU will be converted to this common scale, which will determine if an applicant meets our published admission requirements. Find out more about how a 7-point GPA is calculated for Australian universities: www.uac.edu.au/future-applicants/admission-criteria/tertiary-qualifications
Unless otherwise indicated, where an applicant has more than one completed tertiary qualification, ANU will calculate the GPA for each qualification separately. ANU will base assessment on the best GPA of all completed tertiary qualifications of the same level or higher.

Scholarships

ANU offers a wide range of scholarships to students to assist with the cost of their studies.

Eligibility to apply for ANU scholarships varies depending on the specifics of the scholarship and can be categorised by the type of student you are.  Specific scholarship application process information is included in the relevant scholarship listing.

For further information see the Scholarships website.

Employment Opportunities

You will have the opportunity to sample diverse careers at the interface of science and the community.

You could go on to join our graduates in roles such as presenting science-based TV and radio, writing for science publications; organising and performing in international events like the Edinburgh International Science Festival; managing social media for peak bodies, or communicating about health science and research for institutions.

Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion, students will have the skills and knowledge to:

1. Identify, apply and evaluate science communication strategies, with a particular focus on show and exhibition development for communicating to diverse, non-specialist audiences.
2. Appraise and reflect upon the interaction of interests, contexts and people shaping science, including the social and ethical responsibilities of science and society in the modern world
3. Work collaboratively and independently to apply cognitive, technical and creative skills in new and unfamiliar environments
4. Develop appropriate qualitative and quantitative research tools and strategies to investigate, justify and interpret science communication theories, methods and conclusions

Further Information

Please note the application closing date is 31 August each year and a supplementary form is required:
Supplementary Application Information Master of Science Communication Outreach (7624) (pdf, 71KB)

All students in the program who are Australian citizens or permanent residents are financially supported by a scholarship that is paid fortnightly throughout the program. This year the scholarship was valued at $295.00 per week. An additional travel allowance of $25 per day is paid when on mainstream tour and $30 per day when touring in remote regions. This is exempt from income tax. The exact scholarship value for next year is still to be determined.

Domestic students in this program will be granted a Commonwealth Supported Place. Visit the following website for further information: http://www.anu.edu.au/students/scholarships/graduate-commonwealth-supported-places .

Your enrolment is conditional on meeting the requirements of the Working With Vulnerable People Check. On a case by case basis (depending on the destination of tours), students will be required to complete and pass additional checks for further States and Territories as deemed appropriate by the Program Convener.