masters in communication uk

This course will give you an understanding of how messages flow across borders in a globalised world and how they relate to political, economic and cultural affairs.

You’ll explore the concept of ‘global media’ and whether mass media inspire or simply report events. You’ll look at the role of social media in communication and how global audiences understand and consume media products.

Core modules will give you the context and theoretical knowledge to consider these questions, and you’ll choose from optional modules to focus on the areas that suit your interests or career aspirations. The content of the course modules is informed by the research interests and practice of academic staff who teach them.

You could study war reporting, identity in the media, public relations and more, to gain the skills to thrive in a fast-paced and challenging sector.Course content

You’ll study core modules throughout the course that give you the contextual knowledge, research and critical analysis skills to support your studies.

These will explore the relationships between communication and international systems: how communication networks can function as a source of power, how they are regulated and how new technologies are changing the landscape. You’ll also think about the economic and cultural impacts of globalised communication.

On top of this, you’ll build specialist knowledge through your choice of optional modules. These can include topics such as the media and globalisation, public relations, and media and democratisation. The optional modules allow you to focus on topics that suit your own interests or perhaps reflect your career plans.

Throughout the course, you’ll also be preparing for your dissertation through the Dissertation and Research Methods module. Your dissertation is a major independent research project on a topic of your choice, which you submit at the end of the course.

If you choose to study part-time, you’ll complete the course over two years, instead of one, taking fewer modules each year.

Have a look at some student work produced on this course.

Course structure

The list shown below represents typical modules/components studied and may change from time to time. Read more in our Terms and conditions.

For more information and a full list of typical modules available on this course, please read International Communication MA Full Time in the course catalogue

For more information and a full list of typical modules available on this course, please read International Communication MA Part Time in the course catalogue

Modules

Year 1

Compulsory modules

Communication and International Affairs30 credits
Media, Culture and Globalisation30 credits
Dissertation and Research Methods60 credits

Optional modules (selection of typical options shown below)

Choose 30 credits from:
Feminism, Identity and Media30 credits
Understanding the Audience30 credits
The Media and Democratisation: Global Perspectives30 credits
Keywords in Political Communication30 credits
Identity and Culture30 credits
Rhetoric and Public Speaking15 credits
International Organisations: Context, Theory and Practice15 credits
Critical Debates in Culture and Place30 credits
Creativity and Innovation Management30 credits
Cultural Policy and the Politics of Culture30 credits
Inequalities: Exploring causes, Consequences and Interventions30 credits
Choose 30 credits from:
Critical Studies in Visual Communication30 credits
Television Narrative30 credits
International Film Industries30 credits
The Reporting of Politics30 credits
Popular Music and Society30 credits
Innovations in Political Communication30 credits
Communication and Public Opinion30 credits
Communication and Development30 credits
The Cultural History of Promotional Communication30 credits
Climate Communication30 credits
Cultures of Contemporary Photography30 credits
Digital Platforms: Critical and Cultural Analysis30 credits
Videogames and Society30 credits
Reality TV: Truth or Fiction?30 credits
Arts and Activism30 credits
Racism, Decoloniality and Migration30 credits
Researching Inequality in the Media30 credits

Discovery modules

You can choose to replace up to 30 of your optional credits with up to 30 discovery module credits. (Discovery module codes must begin with a three or five).

Learning and teaching

We use a range of teaching and learning methods including lectures, group learning and project work, seminars, tutorials and workshops.

Independent study is crucial to this degree, as an opportunity to deepen your knowledge of the subjects introduced in lectures and seminars, and to develop your skills in analysis and research. You can anticipate spending at least 20 hours per week on independent study associated with your modules.

You’ll be taught by active researchers in the field of communication and media. The research interests and practice of your tutors inform the content of the course.

On this course you’ll be taught by our expert academics, from lecturers through to professors. You may also be taught by industry professionals with years of experience, as well as trained postgraduate researchers, connecting you to some of the brightest minds on campus.

Assessment

Assessments can also take a variety of forms depending on the modules you choose. These will include exams and essays as well as group and individual presentations and project work, reports and case studies.Applying, fees and funding

Entry requirements

A bachelor degree with a 2:1 (Hons) in a social sciences or humanities subject.

Applications based on degrees in other subjects may be considered on an individual basis by the course leader. If you don’t have a degree in social sciences or humanities, we may request a personal statement explaining why you should be offered a place on this course.

We receive a high number of applications and places on this course are limited. Meeting the entry requirements of this course doesn’t guarantee an offer of a place.

International qualifications

To see equivalent entry requirements for your country, check our international entry requirement directory.

For more information contact the School of Media and Communication admissions team.

Applying from China

Due to the large numbers of applications we receive, we’re only able to offer places to applicants who have attended selected Chinese institutions. With regret, any applications we receive from applicants awarded a qualification in China from an institution that isn’t on this list will be rejected, and we recommend applying elsewhere.

Deadlines to apply

International applicants: 17 February 2020*
Home/ EU applicants: 10 September 2020

*Due to exceptionally large numbers of applications and strong competition for places, the deadline to submit international applications has been brought forward. We’ll give preference to applicants who exceed our minimum entry requirements. Applications received after this deadline won’t be considered. Due the volume of applications, we’re unable to respond to queries about the progress of your application.

If you intend to apply for funding, we advise you to submit an application for your chosen course as early as possible and at least one month before any scholarship deadline.

English language requirements

IELTS 6.5 overall, with no less than 6.0 in any component. For other English qualifications, readEnglish language equivalent qualifications.

Improve your English

International students who do not meet the English language requirements for this programme may be able to study our postgraduate pre-sessional English course, to help improve your English language level.

This pre-sessional course is designed with a progression route to your degree programme and you’ll learn academic English in the context of your subject area. To find out more, read Language for Communication and Society (6 weeks) and Language for Social Science and Arts: Communication and Society (10 weeks).

If you need to study for longer than 10 weeks, read more about our postgraduate pre-sessional English course.

How to apply

APPLY (FULL TIME)

APPLY (PART TIME)

This link takes you to information on applying for taught programmes and to the University’s online application system.

If you’re unsure about the application process, contact the admissions team for help.

Documents and information you need

Your degree certificate and transcripts, or a partial transcript if you’re still studying
Your most recent CV
If English is not your first language, you’ll need to provide evidence of your English language qualifications.

Read about visas, immigration and other information in International students. We recommend that international students apply as early as possible to ensure that they have time to apply for their visa.

Admissions policy

Faculty of Arts, Humanities And Cultures Postgraduate Admissions Policy 2020

Fees

UK/EU: £9,500 (total)
International: £21,500 (total)

For fees information for international taught postgraduate students, read Masters fees.

Read more about paying fees and charges.

Brexit
Visit our Brexit page for the latest information on the effect of the UK’s exit from the EU on current students and applicants to the University.

Part-time fees
Fees for part-time courses are normally calculated based on the number of credits you study in a year compared to the equivalent full-time course. For example, if you study half the course credits in a year, you will pay half the full-time course fees for that year.

Additional cost information

There may be additional costs related to your course or programme of study, or related to being a student at the University of Leeds. Read more about additional costs

Scholarships and financial support

If you have the talent and drive, we want you to be able to study with us, whatever your financial circumstances. There may be help for students in the form of loans and non-repayable grants from the University and from the government. Find out more at Masters funding overview.

Head of School Masters Scholarships

We offer scholarships to applicants holding an offer to study a Masters at the School of Media and Communication. Three are available for UK/EU applicants, each worth the full tuition fees, and three for international applicants, each worth half the tuition fees.

To find out how to apply and to see all funding opportunities, visit our scholarship and funding opportunitiespage.Career opportunities

This course will give you an in-depth understanding of the different aspects of international communication. It will equip you with sophisticated skills in research, critical analysis, interpretation and communication. You’ll also have good political, cultural and social awareness, which are valuable skills in a wide range of sectors and industries.

Graduates have gone onto succeed in roles for a range of international organisations and agencies. Others have launched careers in journalism, with a focus on international affairs – and some also use the course to prepare for further research at PhD level.

Careers support

We encourage you to prepare for your career from day one. That’s one of the reasons Leeds graduates are so sought after by employers.

The Careers Centre and staff in your faculty provide a range of help and advice to help you plan your career and make well-informed decisions along the way, even after you graduate. Find out more at the Careers website.