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University of South Africa - UNISA
speciality: Communication

4.3

What is a Communications degree?

Communications is a universal degree, which explores the traditional forms of communication such as verbal, physical, visual and written communication but also extends beyond that to cover mass communication and social media. There are different types of communications degrees depending on the degree level.

Overall, Communications focuses on teaching effective communication through social media, web, print, mass media and verbal communication. However, there are two types of Communications degrees that exist. For instance, a Bachelor of Arts in Communications in the US is focused on preparing students for careers that are connected to writing, marketing, promotions, journalism and public relations. In contrast, Bachelor of Science in Communications is dedicated to the technology used in the science behind modern communication and prepares students for careers in production or sound engineering.

A Communications degree teaches students about how media and communication influences cultures, societies and people’s identities. It involves a significant amount of critical writing and research and covers different disciplines such as journalism, public relations, entertainment production, marketing, event planning and so many more disciplines, which are somehow connected to exchanging information and conveying messages. There are also different specialization options associated with this degree, including political communication, mass media, journalism, health communication, etc.

It is worth noting that a Communications degree has many intersection points with psychology, sociology, linguistics and in some cases politics.

Benefits of a Communications degree

The main benefit of a Communications degree is its universal nature. It applies to almost any subject or professional setting. For example, some of the top careers in the field of Communications include announcers, art directors, editors, broadcast and sound engineering technicians, reporters, correspondents, broadcast analysts, technical writers, writers and authors, interpreters, translators, etc. Therefore, it keeps students’ career options open and doesn’t require them to have a predetermined career path that they want to follow.

Communications degrees prepare students to make an impact from the start of their careers unlike other degrees, which require further training. This is possible thanks to the multitude of professionally accredited degrees in Communications, which develop students’ abilities based on the established standards in the field. Moreover, there are many Communications courses, which offer work placement opportunities that enable students to gain the required professional skills before they have even started their career.

Another benefit associated with Communications degrees is the fact that they develop students’ written and verbal communication skills significantly.

A major advantage of Communications over other degrees is that in most cases there are no prerequisites required to study Communications.

 

Communications degree structure

The duration of a Communications degree varies depending on the country and degree level. For example, Higher Education Institutions in the UK offer 3-year Bachelor’s courses. In some cases, the course may extend to four years if students are given the opportunity to spend a year abroad or in industry between the second and third year through a sandwich course. Bachelor’s degrees in Communications in the US usually take around four years to complete.

Over the duration of a Bachelor’s Communications degree, students are expected to learn and be able to apply the established communications theories by developing the technical skills required to work in a professional setting. In the first year of their studies, students learn predominantly how media and communication influences cultures, societies and people’s identities. Optional modules may introduce them to professional communication, journalism, documentary, film-making, marketing, etc. In addition to the introductory topics, this degree allows students to learn about more complex areas of communications such as interpersonal relations, brand management and linguistics at a later stage. For instance, the second and third years enable students to get a deeper understanding of theoretical concepts related to media and culture and develop practical skills in research and communications. Additionally, students may have the opportunity to take optional modules and pursue their interests in different areas related to Communications such as gender, race, youth, culture, digital media, political communication, public relations, etc.

The most common duration of a Master’s degree in Communications is between 1 and 2 years depending on the mode of study (full-time or part-time) and country.

PhD and MPhil degrees in Communications require students to dedicate anywhere between 3 and 6 years to their studies depending on the mode and country of study.

22 Student Reviews

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  • Communication
    Ewurafua
    Online University

    This university has impressed with me their online learning classes. You can basically study from anywhere in the world as long as you have an internet connection. This flexibility allows me to work as well and I’m loving it so far. I’ll be graduating by next December so I’m pretty excited.

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    Programme: Communication
    Degree: Bachelor's
    Graduation: 2027
    Delivery Type: Online
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  • Communication and ...
    Public Relations
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    Great experience

    It was my first time studying online and the experience was pretty cool, all resources were available online, lecturers ensured that they provided us with videos and extra support. I have finally graduated and I am looking at my next qualification.

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    Programme: Communication and Public Relations
    Degree: Bachelor's
    Graduation: 2025
    Delivery Type: Online
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  • Communication Sciences
    avatar
    System crashes

    UNISA is one of the largest online learning institutions is africa however it has system crashes now and then. It gets really stressful during periods like registrations and examinations. The system had been improved however the problem still persisted.

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    Programme: Communication Sciences
    Degree: Bachelor's
    Graduation: 2026
    Delivery Type: Online
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  • Communication and ...
    Information Sciences
    avatar
    Communications Science

    UNISA – BA Communication Science
    Built strong skills in branding, PR, and corporate communication while balancing studies with work.
    Ratings:
    • Academic Content: Strong and comprehensive
    • Flexibility: Excellent, ideal for balancing commitments
    • Support: Moderate, requires self‑initiative
    • Growth: Exceptional, fosters independence and resilience

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    Programme: Communication and Information Sciences
    Degree: Bachelor's
    Graduation: 2019
    Delivery Type: On Campus
    Campus: Pretoria
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  • Communication Sciences
    avatar
    Resources and Support.

    This University is amazing because it is very supportive to its students. Its online platform has a lot of great content for students which means they always have pivotal insights and knowledge about everything they want.

    There are discussions forums on the website for every study topic and a lecturer that answers all questions. You can also join many groups full of students that can help you with everything you need. The study topics are not too complicated.

    It is a very good university.

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    Programme: Communication Sciences
    Degree: Bachelor's
    Graduation: 2024
    Delivery Type: Blended
    Campus: Pretoria
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  • Communication and ...
    Media Studies
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    amazing

    My experience studying Communications at UNISA has been fair overall. The course content is solid and covers key areas of the field, but the distance-learning structure can feel slow at times, especially when waiting for feedback or support. Still, the flexibility is a big advantage, and the modules are well-designed for independent study. UNISA is a practical option if you’re disciplined and prefer studying at your own pace.

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    Programme: Communication and Media Studies
    Degree: Bachelor's
    Graduation: 2013
    Delivery Type: Blended
    Campus: Pretoria
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  • Advertising and ...
    Public Relations + Journalism
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    Data

    This is good University for working individuals but the data which is allocated to students funded by Nsfas is very low and finishes quickly
    May they please fix that
    Overall I’m very satisfied with learning style it’s convenient

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    Programme: Advertising and Public Relations + Journalism
    Degree: Short Course
    Graduation: 2025
    Delivery Type: Online
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  • Communication
    Queen
    Affordable Option

    UNISA offers good value. The fees are low and the model is flexible. This helps people who work or have other responsibilities.

    But you do need to be independent. The communication and service can be slow at times and getting a clear answer takes time and effort.

    Overall, it’s a practical choice for the cost and the freedom. You just have to manage the process yourself.

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    Programme: Communication
    Degree: Bachelor's
    Graduation: 2026
    Delivery Type: Online
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  • Communication and ...
    Public Relations
    Nompumelelo
    University of South Africa e-Learning institution

    University of South Africa (UNISA) is one of the biggest universities. I am doing Diploma in Public relations and it has been the best and educational journey for me. The university has a account called my life account that a registered student uses to check their modules, admin and study. Each module has E-tutors that help us to study and understand our modules better. And we have these Microsoft accounts that are free for us and this enables us to type our Assignments and attend online classes. In my university we believe in academic integrity and the university ensures that students complete a cumplosory course that teaches us more about academic integrity and we earn points . Like any other universities we interact with our lecture online and sometimes we do have problems with our website because we tend to want to study all of us at the same time. The university also has an app that allows us use rather than going to Google. It’s called mooodle. I hundred percent recommend the university of South Africa because you get to learn and study at your own pace and time. As long as you make sure you always attend classes , honour academic integrity and submit your work on time.

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    Programme: Communication and Public Relations
    Degree: Bachelor's
    Graduation: 2025
    Delivery Type: Online
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  • Communication Studies
    Alicia
    Distance Learning

    I’m honestly very happy at UNISA. The online classes are so impactful that I feel like I’m actually on a campus in class. The lectures and teachers assistants make sure to keep us engaging and learning to the best of our abilities. We have campuses with libraries that we can access whenever we need which is great for those who live in noisy environments. I highly recommend this school.

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    Programme: Communication Studies
    Degree: Bachelor's
    Graduation: 2025
    Delivery Type: Blended
    Campus: Pretoria
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