Communicate across cultures
Study for a rewarding communications career focused on bridging the communications gaps between peoples to bring cultures together.
You’ll study how ideas and information are represented and communicated across languages and cultures. By studying intercultural communication from a range of perspectives, you’ll discover how language and culture affect the way people interpret different messages. Your degree examines issues like global citizenship, identity, power and conflict, and translation.
You’ll develop your skills in practical, collaborative workshops. Graduate with the cross-cultural knowledge and practical communication skills you can apply in a global, culturally diverse career.
Choose your study path
You can study Intercultural Communication as a major in the Bachelor of Communication. This subject can be one half of a double major, or you can pair it with a minor subject—minors need fewer points than majors.
Subjects that pair well with Intercultural Communication include:
- Asian Studies
- International Business
- Language Sciences
- Māori Studies
- Pacific Studies
- Languages:
- Chinese
- French
- German
- Greek
- Japanese
- Latin
- Te Reo Māori
- New Zealand Sign Language
- Matāupu tau Sāmoa | Samoan Studies
- Spanish.
Degree support and advice
We can help you match your interests and career goals with the right course of study.
If you’re a new student, talk to a Future Student Adviser.
If you’re already studying with us, talk to Tītoko—Student Success.
Study options
Find out how you can study Intercultural Communication at Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington.
Future careers
Bachelor of Communication graduates find work in a range of areas that relate to communications, language, and cultures.
They may work as:
- media and communications advisers
- translators, localisers, or interpreters
- cultural consultants
- policy analysts and researchers in migration areas
- community workers and coordinators
- international education advisers
- project coordinator or training facilitators
- recruitment agents.
You could work in a wide range of fields and contexts such as government organisations with a national or international focus, non-profit organisations (NGOs), settlement agencies or communications marketing and media in all sectors.
More career information
Find out more about careers in communication.
The government careers website, Tahatū, offers more information about jobs, salaries, and current opportunities.
Scholarships
You may be able to get a scholarship to help fund your studies.
We have first-year and school-leaver scholarships available, as well as specialised scholarships for different groups and subject areas.
We encourage you to apply—many scholarships don’t receive enough applications.
Scholarships for Humanities and Social Sciences
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The Erasmus Scholarship is open to second year students at Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington who want to major in Greek or Latin.
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This scholarship is designed to support second year students studying English at Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington by removing financial barriers to study.
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This scholarship is designed to support second year students studying History at Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington by removing financial barriers to study.
Scholarships for international students
We are currently offering a NZ$15,000 VUW Undergraduate International Scholarship to all eligible international students enrolling in a Bachelor’s degree.
Your scholarship will be processed automatically when your programme application is accepted, and the amount will be deducted from your tuition fees.
We also offer specialised scholarships for different groups and subject areas. We encourage you to apply—many scholarships don’t receive enough applications.
Scholarships for Humanities and Social Sciences
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The Erasmus Scholarship is open to second year students at Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington who want to major in Greek or Latin.
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This scholarship was established in 1980 by the former Prime Minister of New Zealand, the Rt. Hon. Sir John Marshall, GBE, CH, BA, LLM, Hon. LLD, to encourage the study of Political Science at Te Herenga Waka - Victoria University of Wellington. The Scholarship was extended to include International Relations.
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This scholarship was established to encourage students to complete a major in Language Sciences at Te Herenga Waka - Victoria University of Wellington, and continue to further study or careers in this field.
Globally ranked
Our Communications and Media Studies subjects are ranked in the top 250 worldwide in the QS World University Rankings 2026.
The QS World University Rankings is an annual global publication that gives overall rankings and subject rankings for more than 1,500 universities worldwide.
Postgraduate study
If you do well in your Bachelor’s degree, you could go on to study at postgraduate level.
Explore advanced topics related to intercultural communication in the Master of Intercultural Communication and Translation (MICAT).
Get help to manage your finances
We can help you:
- budget your money
- manage your student loan or allowance
- work out your accommodation payment schedule.
If you're facing financial difficulties, we can help you apply for the Hardship Fund.
You may be eligible for government or community support, too.
Wellington Global Exchange
If you're a current student at Victoria University of Wellington, you can complete part of your degree overseas. Choose from our 140 partner universities worldwide.
Study Abroad and Exchange Programme
If you're an overseas student, you can spend a trimester or a year at Victoria University of Wellington. You'll earn credits at your home university while you study here.