Master of Arts - Media and Communications

The new MA Media & Communications course is aimed at those who wish to pursue a career in communications, public relations and social marketing. Throughout the year, students will combine creative and professional skills with critical engagement of social issues such as regional development, social inclusion, economic policy and sustainability, meaning that they will be prepared top work with organisations that have a strategic, communicative, social and political focus. Having both an academic and practical focus, many of the sessions will be seminars and workshops, alongside a handful of lectures so students are able to engage with some of the academic and intellectual foundations of media theory, the public sphere and communications practices such as framing and reframing. Students will develop their digital and professional skills while gaining the critical skills to analyse communications and messaging across different sectors and channels. This means that students will be equipped with a strong awareness of media language and impactful storytelling, while being able to tailor their content and communications to wide range of different audiences. Students will also have the chance to engage with those working in the communications industry in the third sector, NGOs and policy think tanks through live projects, guest speakers and case studies. This programme is a professionally oriented course that puts an emphasis on authentic assessment. This means that many of the methods of assessment will mirror those found in professional practice. In the Final Project, students will be writing and designing their own communications strategy for a defined piece of policy or a campaign, and detailing how it will achieve its strategic objectives and win over hearts and minds. When pitching and designing their own communications strategies, students will have the opportunity to specialise in causes and campaigns that are important to them. Students will complete their MA with the powerful understanding of how different types of media can be deployed to facilitate social and cultural change, and be well placed to enter numerous industries that require multi-skilled communications professionals to further their aims and objects through effective storytelling, communications, public relations and marketing.