Course details

Summary

Dunedin is a UNESCO City of Literature, supports an International Science Festival, and is the wildlife capital of New Zealand, with colonies of seals, albatross and penguins in the city's boundaries. It is perhaps no accident, therefore, that it has also become a hub for natural history filmmaking. The outstanding natural environment and dynamic cultural environment provide an excellent setting for the University of Otago’s Centre for Science Communication, the home of story-telling and science. Students in endorsement produce a thesis comprising a creative component (e.g. film, book, exhibition etc.) and original research.

Papers and Thesis

SCOM 402 The Craft of Storytelling

SCOM 403 Science and Creative Non-Fiction Writing

SCOM 409 Introduction to Science Communication

SCOM 413 Digital Production for Science Communication

Two other 400-level papers

(One other paper at 400-level may be substituted for one of the prescribed papers, with approval from the Director of the Centre for Science Communication).

Thesis: SCOM 5A (60 points) and SCOM 5B (60 points) (including a substantial creative writing project).

Entry criteria

Admission to the programme shall be subject to the approval of the Pro-Vice Chancellor (Sciences), on the advice of the Director of the Centre for Science Communication.

Every applicant must either

• be a graduate, or
• have equivalent qualifications or experience acceptable to the Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Sciences).

In considering an applicant’s qualifications, regard will be had to the detail of the course of study followed to gain the qualification, as well as the applicant’s performance in the programme.

English Language Requirements: IELTS - Score of 6.5 in the academic module (with no individual band below 6.0); Internet-based TOEFL Score of 95 with a minimum writing score of 22.; Paper-based TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) score of 587 (TWE 4.5); Cambridge Certificate of Proficiency in English (CPE) – Overall score of 176 (with no individual band below 169); Cambridge Certificate in Advanced English (CAE) – Overall score of 176 (with no individual band below 169); APIEL Advanced Placement International English Language Examination - Grade 4 or higher; Pearson Test of English (PTE) Academic - Overall score of 64 with no communicative skills score below 57; University of Otago Foundation Studies Ltd: Completion of 'English for Postgraduate Academic Purposes' with a grade of C or higher.