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University of Otago
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Postgraduate Certificate in Science Communication (PGCertSciComm)

This course is available

On-Campus, Online

Level of Study

Postgraduate Certificate or Diploma

Duration

0.5 year

Next start date

Expected Jul 2023

Campus

University of Otago

Summary

The Postgraduate Certificate in Science Communication (PGCertSciComm) caters for a range of students – those with no prior experience in science communication who want an introduction to the discipline as well as those who are already professional science communicators and have a desire to fill a skills gap or increase their understanding of the science of science communication.

Programme requirements

Papers

Three of:

SCOM 402 The Craft of Storytelling

SCOM 403 Science and Creative Non-Fiction Writing

SCOM 404 Science Communication Internship

SCOM 406 Science Exhibitions and Interpretation

or SCOM 409 Introduction to Science Communication

One other paper at 400-level may be substituted for one of the prescribed papers, with approval from the Head of the Department of Science Communication.

SCOM 432 The Craft of Storytelling

SCOM 433 Science and Creative Non-Fiction Writing

SCOM 434 Science Communication Internship

SCOM 439 Introduction to Science Communication may be substituted for SCOM 402, SCOM 403 and SCOM 409 as Distance options.

Entry criteria

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

Every applicant shall either

  • have been admitted to the degree of Bachelor of Science; or
  • have alternative qualifications acceptable to the Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Sciences).

English language requirements

  • IELTS Academic - Score of 6.5 in the academic module (with no individual band below 6.0). IELTS Online is also accepted.
  • Internet-based TOEFL - Score of 90 with a minimum writing score of 21
  • Paper-based TOEFL - score of 587 (TWE 4.5)
  • Cambridge Certificate in Advanced English (CAE) & Cambridge Certificate of Proficiency in English (CPE) - Minimum of 176
  • Pearson Test of English (PTE) Academic - Overall score of 58 with no communicative skills score below 50.
  • LanguageCert - International ESOL: C1 Expert (LRWS) with a high pass overall and no less than a pass in each skill OR C2 Mastery (LRWS) with a pass overall and no less than a pass in each skill
  • NZCEL - NZCEL 5 Academic endorsement
  • University of Otago Language Centre ‘English for Otago’, English for Postgraduate Academic Purposes (EPAP) - Grade C or higher
  • University of Auckland English Language Academy (ELA) pathway programmes - Successful completion of the English Pathway for Postgraduate Studies (EPPS) with a B Grade
  • University of Auckland Foundation Certificate in English for Academic Purposes (FCertEAP) - Successful completion of the certificate with a B Grade
  • English NZ's Accredited Pathway Assessment - English NZ’s Accredited Pathway Assessment Level 3 (with no skill lower than Level 2).

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