Master of Communication

"I began my time at Bond University in the Student for a Semester program while still in high school where I studied Writing for News Media, thinking I’d like a career in Journalism. Owing to a changing media landscape, I choose to study a Bachelor of Communication and then after a year of agency work in Europe, returned to complete a Master of Communication, majoring in Social Media.

I choose Bond University because of its class sizes, degree structure, trimester timetable, international networks, and flexibility in what I could study. I choose a Bachelor of Communication because it was the field I wanted to work in and allowed me to study a breadth of different things including advertising, mass media, journalism, digital design, video games, and French!

I choose to complete my Master of Communication at Bond University because the degree outline was new and offered masterclasses in public relations, advertising, corporate communication and social media. I use the skills I honed during this time in my role every day.

I best thing about studying at Bond is the environment! I could always find a space to get work done at Bond or even if I just wanted to hang out with friends I could do that too. Because of the university’s size, it felt like its own little world where it’s easy to meet and get to know people from all over the world.

My Bond experience was varied and I feel like I said yes to as many things as I could: I got involved with clubs and societies, made friends from all over the world, studied in just about every location on campus (I will forever love and remember the batlabs and fishbowl!) and coffee from Blackboard, actually. Wow I miss Blackboard coffee – started by Bond Entrepreneurship grads too I hear!

I undertook an international exchange where I completed my final semester in London, UK. I had to complete many forms and applications in order to secure my place there but the experience it offered me was complementary to my Bond experience, rounding out the international experience I felt Bond offered me.

I am currently an Employment Communications and Social Media Advisor at Telstra. I love this job title because it has both the title of my degrees and my major in it! In my role, I help support the external and internal communications that come from Telstra as an employer and look after all the outgoing social media that goes along with that. I work within the Employment Brands and Marketing team, which is like the marketing arm of HR as a whole. It’s an exciting position to be in as the world goes through significant change and digitisation, so thinking about ways we can harness that to improve what we do keeps me going.

There were some specific subjects that equipped me with the right mindset to prepare for the future at work. Taking Digital Media & Society made me aware of how technologies and innovations have shaped and changed people and our ways of interacting, really helping with what I do in a technology company that reaches millions of people around the world. Further, my studies in Human, Intercultural, and Relational Communication have helped me to communicate who a whole range of stakeholders from those I meet every day to people who are worlds apart. I came armed and ready to hit the ground running from day one and still use the knowledge and skills from my classes today, which is something I find most valuable.

Having journeyed to other universities overseas as well as hearing how friends describe their own university experiences, I feel really proud and fortunate to have studied at Bond. My classes were small so I could make better relationships with my tutors, lecturers and classmates, some of which I’m still in touch with today. Whenever I needed something I could find it whether it was technical support, technology, somewhere to relax, workout, hang out, study, or get help on an assignment. Everything was there for me and because the university is so tight-knit, I didn’t have to fight to get there.

If you’re serious about your studies and want to make an impact on the world, Bond University is the place to be. If you’re willing to put yourself out there, to make connections, study hard, and apply yourself Bond University is the springboard to connect you to your dream job. Without a doubt, if I could go back and do it again I would – which is partly why I chose to return to Bond to complete my Master’s degree. If you want degree flexibility, industry-connections, internships, international exchanges, second-language studies, and an amazing campus you’re already looking in the right place. If I were speaking to a prospective student today, I’d say only this: What are you waiting for? 

When I first started at university, I was certain that whatever job I wanted in the Communications and Media industry didn’t exist yet. Thanks to my degree’s structure and support from Student Services, I chose subjects I felt would give me the best transferable skills so that whether I ended up in advertising, public relations, journalism, or digital media I would have what I needed to succeed. Six years on, I can see I was right – my job today didn’t exist back then. The tools I use didn’t exist. The technology wasn’t available. Nobody would have known that social media would take over the way we communicate with the world as it does today and my job is how we can best utilise that to achieve our work priorities. Thanks to my degree, my forward thinking lecturers, and relevant classes, I left uni with everything I needed to thrive.

"I completed a Master of Communication at Bond University. I choose to study a Master of Communication for a number of reasons. Upon graduating from high school, I completed an undergraduate degree in Human Movement Science (Major: Exercise Science) at another university. Following this I worked in the sport and recreation Industry for many years.  Whilst I thoroughly enjoyed these roles, I realised it was the communication and engagement with various stakeholders that I enjoyed the most. This prompted me to begin looking at other career options and opportunities for further education.

When I stumbled across the Master of Communication program, I was pleasantly surprised by the flexibility of the degree and the length in which it could be completed. I already lived in the Robina area and realised that it is something which could easily fit into my existing lifestyle. For me, the ability to maintain my current full time position whilst developing the skills that I would need to pursue a new career was the biggest appeal initially. However, it was the experience of the lecturers and the small class sizes that I enjoyed most about studying at Bond. The lecturers were extremely approachable, and demonstrated a genuine interest in your personal and professional development.

Each time I stepped foot onto the Bond campus I felt extremely grateful. The campus itself is breathtakingly beautiful and all of the staff are extremely helpful and friendly. The campus was always a buzz with students of all ages and backgrounds soaking up every second of university life. The range of extra-curricular activities on offer made it easy to meet people outside of your program and I have developed a range of lifelong friendships with people from all over the world. I was also a frequent visitor at the Learning Development Centre and the Career Development Centre to ensure I had equipped myself with as many skills as possible to gain future employment in my new chosen career. 

Throughout my degree I had the opportunity to undertake three internships with the help of my lecturers and staff at the Career Development Centre. My responsibilities were varied but included writing digital copy for websites, news blogs and social media posts, scanning media, approaching business owners to conduct interviews for story opportunities, developing media releases and attending various media opportunities to gain an understanding of the communications/media industry. These internships allowed me to put all of the theory I had learnt in the class room into real-world practice. They exposed me to the issues and challenges facing the media industry and introduced me to a range of professional contacts that I could utilise for future employment.

I am currently a Project Officer, Engagement, for the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games Corporation. In this role, I contribute to the function area strategic planning, operational planning and contingency planning, manage athlete and key stakeholder relations database, assist with the develop of content for channels and audiences, develop media kits, and assist with the development of stakeholder engagement. The combination of the theoretical knowledge gained in the classroom at Bond and the real world skills developed through internships equipped me with the skills I needed to perform all of the responsibilities in my new role.

Bond University provides a flexible and caring environment in which you can learn the skills you need for your chosen industry whilst developing the professional contacts you can leverage for future employment.  The professors genuinely care about your personal and professional development and will go that extra mile to ensure you are completely satisfied with your Bond experience.

Whether you are entering tertiary education for the first time or looking to develop skills in a completely new industry, I would strongly recommend Bond as your choice of university. The Master of Communication Program is the perfect option for anyone wanting to further their career in the media/communication/public relations industry or develop the skills to transition into this industry."

I have had an unforgettable experience during my Master's degree at Bond University. The University makes you feel like you are a part of a community, a family. Professors here are passionate, friendly and extremely helpful, as they genuinely care about the success of each student. The learning techniques inspire students to think independently and creatively. This is what sets Bond apart from other universities in Australia.

Michael graduated from Bond University in 2011 with a Master of Communication (Business). Michael has a wealth of knowledge in the marketing industry in both the public and private sector, and is currently the Chief Marketing Officer/ Co-Founder of Imaginovation, LLC. Michael has been responsible for the rapid business growth in marketing and sales. Located in the United States, Imaginovation is a web development and design company that specialises in online presence. Since its foundation in 2011, Imaginovation has won a number of awards, including a 2017 Video Award Winner in the American Business Awards, a Horizon Interactive Award, and a Muse Creative Award.