Department of Media and Communication Studies

Department Overview

The Department of Media and Communication Studies at Universiti Malaya is widely recognised as one of the country’s leading centres for media and communication education. This standing is further reflected in Universiti Malaya’s strong international reputation in Communication and Media Studies, as recognised in the QS World University Rankings by Subject 2025.

The department traces its beginnings to 1976, when it was first established as Universiti Malaya’s Creative and Descriptive Writing Programme. Over the decades, it has played an important role in shaping generations of graduates for careers in the media, communication, and creative industries. In its early years, the programme focused on training aspiring and practising journalists as well as creative writers. In 1993, it was formally elevated into a full department and renamed the Department of Media Studies, marking an important step in its academic growth and the expansion of its curriculum to reflect the changing needs of the media industry.

In 2018, the department adopted its present identity as the Department of Media and Communication Studies to better reflect developments in professional practice, technological change, and the wider advancement of the discipline. Since the 1990s, the department has continuously reviewed, strengthened, and refined its academic offerings to ensure their relevance in an increasingly dynamic and fast-evolving media environment.

At the undergraduate level, the department offers the Bachelor of Media Studies, a programme designed to produce talented, skilled and knowledgeable graduates ready to respond to the opportunities and challenges of the 21st-century media and communication landscape. The curriculum includes journalism, publishing studies, public relations, professional writing, new media, screen production and broadcasting. Offered on a full-time basis, the programme spans three and a half years, with students completing five semesters on campus and two semesters in industry, including one special semester, in line with the university’s study mode structure.

At the postgraduate level, the department offers the highly sought-after Master of Media Studies, a full coursework programme designed for both fresh graduates and working professionals. This one-year programme provides broad-based and industry-relevant training by combining current knowledge with practical skills needed to navigate the contemporary media and communication industries.

Another flagship offering is the Master of Arts in Publishing Studies, a specialised programme created for those with a strong interest in books, publishing culture, and the broader publishing industry. The programme caters to students, aspiring professionals, and industry practitioners alike, covering a wide range of areas from literary appreciation to the application of new technologies in publishing. In addition to its coursework-based programmes, the department also offers full research Master’s and doctoral degrees. Supported by a strong team of supervisors with expertise across many interdisciplinary areas, the department continues to attract postgraduate research candidates from diverse academic and professional backgrounds.

The department also takes pride in its distinguished alumni, many of whom have made significant contributions to the media and communication industry. Among them are Razaisyam Rashid, winner of Best Director at Anugerah Skrin 2016; Charles Mohan, Chief Executive Officer of Institut Onn Jaafar and former broadcast journalist and news anchor for NTV7; Rosli Mohd Noordin, RTM broadcast journalist and producer; and Hafeezzur Muzamir, TVS news anchor and award-winning senior journalist recognised for his contributions to journalism and television reporting.