Media and Communication MA
Subject and course type
- Language and Media
- Postgraduate
Kingston University’s MA in Media and Communication will give you the expertise, problem solving skills and creative mindset needed to pursue a wide range of high-impact professions. When you graduate, you’ll have a rich, versatile collection of multimedia works based on real-world contexts – your key to exciting opportunities in the world of work.
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Accelerate your creative communications career
Build proficiency in marketing, PR and advocacy while developing a critical understanding of today's media landscape and communication practices.
Studying our MA in Media and Communication could lead to a range of careers in the media, culture, government, PR, publishing, radio and journalism and social media. You might even go on to launch your own successful start-up.
During the course, you’ll investigate new developments in analogue and digital media. You’ll explore emerging fields such VR, algorithmic governance, experience design, social media psychology and digital content creation.
You’ll even take part in specialist activities such as journalism lectures, publishing masterclasses, marketing and media industry events and educational visits to media hubs in and around London.
Through a blend of classroom teaching and vibrant extracurricular activities, you’ll cover recent developments in media technologies, industries and cultures – both locally and globally.
This mix of academic research and media practice gives you everything you need to build a wholesome professional portfolio.
My favourite thing about the Media and Communication MA were the lecturers. They were knowledgeable about the subjects and have created space in every module for students to engage in debates and discussions. This made the lectures cosy and informative while fostering friendships among students.
Why choose this course
While you study, you’ll benefit from top quality teaching at Kingston University. We’re ranked Gold in the Teaching Excellence Framework, and our leading academics and expert practitioners are primed to create a forward-thinking, collaborative learning environment.
As part of Kingston School of Art, you’ll benefit from joining a creative community where we encourage collaborative working and critical practice. Our workshops and studios are open to all disciplines, enabling students and staff to work together, share ideas and explore multi-disciplinary making.
As an MA student, you’ll have access to our specialist film and media labs, which are equipped with iMacs running software like Final Cut Studio Pro and the Adobe Creative Suite. You’ll also be able to use our dedicated film studio, photography studios, digital video and audio editing suites, podcast rooms and animation labs.
Through a combination of modules and a written or practice-based dissertation, you’ll research chosen areas in depth, with supervision from academic mentors and personal tutors. You’ll learn in a diverse, multicultural environment, studying alongside students from a wide range of backgrounds, countries, occupations and experiences.
Outside the classroom, you’ll have plenty of opportunities to enrich your learning. In the past, we’ve welcomed feature writers for the Guardian and Time Magazine, as well as investigative journalists in global politics. Our lunchtime lectures have even heard insights from BuzzFeed UK’s special correspondent, James Ball, and undercover BBC producer and filmmaker, James Jones.
The Art School Experience
As part of Kingston School of Art, students on this course benefit from joining a creative community where we encourage collaborative working and critical practice.
Our workshops and studios are open to all disciplines, enabling students and staff to work together, share ideas and explore multi-disciplinary making.
Course content
This course offers a critical overview and survey of today's media landscape and media environments. The coursework is a mixture of academic research and media practice, enabling you to build a wholesome professional portfolio of media projects.
Classroom teaching is supported by extracurricular activities; these include journalism lectures, publishing masterclasses, marketing and media industries events, and organised educational visits to media hubs in and around London.
You'll take three compulsory modules, including a dissertation, worth 120 credits in total. Then, you will choose from two optional modules worth 30 credits each. In total you'll complete 180 credits.
Please note: Optional modules only run if there is enough demand. If we have an insufficient number of students interested in an optional module, that module will not be offered for this course.
Modules
The compulsory core modules give you a comprehensive grounding in the theoretical and empirical approaches to studying media institutions, texts and communication practices.
With a broad choice of option modules, you can specialise in research areas that interest you, and examine various media industries and communication practices within their historical, economic, political and social contexts.
Core modules
60.00 credits
This module enables students to demonstrate their ability to undertake a sustained piece of independent project in media and communication at an advanced level on a topic of their choice agreed in conjunction with their dissertation supervisor. Dissertations may be based on some primary research into a particular case study, archive or canon in combination with an engagement with secondary material, criticism or literature review. Students can either undertake a standard dissertation (12- 15,000 words) or a practice-based dissertation (plus a maximum of 5,000 word reflection on practice and/ or the creative process). The second part of MD7001 provides the teaching for this module, and covers research skills such as constructing a proposal, editing and composition, reflection on practice, referencing, and on online and electronic research methods.
30 credits
The culture of the West is no longer the sole driver of globalisation. All nations around the world are enjoined to compete on multiple media platforms and cultural arenas where culture and economy are conjoined across globalized communications networks. At the same time, even as national cultures seek to position their ‘brands' in the global ‘marketplace', they are challenged by trans- and post-national corporations, particularly new media companies among the wealthiest in the world.
The rise of popular social and nationalist movements contesting the inequalities represented by these elites take place, similarly, across global media networks. This module explores the current debates around the cultural politics of the new globalization that is continually being transformed by the radical changes being introduced by technological ‘disruptions' that have collapsed familiar spatial and temporal dimensions of the world. Through addressing pertinent theoretical perspectives and case studies from different parts of the world, the module examines the political, social, cultural and moral issues that arise in the context of the new realities and conflicts being produced and facilitated by globalized media and communication.
30.00 credits
This module provides a broad-based exploration of the conceptual history of electronic and digital media technologies and their effect on society, culture and politics. Contemporary case studies from everyday media are used to evaluate the usability of different theoretical frameworks discussed in the first part of the module. These are organised into three major topics.
1) The transition to managerial governance, cultural politics, consumer cultures and the media industries.
2) The analogue-digital interface in media aesthetics and media art.
3) Emerging trends in theorising new media and digital cultures.
Optional modules
30.00 credits
This one-semester module is an elective primarily offered to students taking an MA in Media & Communication or an MA in Film but it is also relevant to those taking postgraduate degrees in politics, political communication, human rights and conflict. It deals with some of the most hotly-debated issues in different societies about how to balance core freedoms (expression, press and protest) with the state protecting what and who may be potentially harmed by certain forms of expression through censorship. Even then, these remain open debates as new forms of subversion and resistance emerge with new technologies or through the use of the body to express protest. The module explores these at two levels. The first outlines different approaches to, and principles governing, censorship depending on whether expression is through images, words, ideas and beliefs, information or action. These are then explored more deeply in sessions that draw on staff specialisms, for instance, in film, news, information-privacy and protest movements.
30 credits
This module explores content creation through physical and digital archives in the contemporary media landscape; it shows how archival practices shape personal, local, and global memories, identities, and stories. The module aims to consider the diverse ways in which we encounter the modern archive, its spaces, uses, and formats, to gain an understanding of how archives and archival methods are being creatively reinvented and disrupted in traditional and digital media environments.
The module also examines the changing role of the archivist, the politics of data collection and storage in the digital era and how it impacts our perception of current events and the world we live in today. The module invites students to interrogate gaps and absences in archives to develop ethical and globally aware practices of excavating marginalised voices.
Students will gain critical and practical skills to navigate different types of analogue and digital media archives through their own practical engagement and digital experience, to recognise themselves as archival practitioners.
30.00 credits
This module aims to provide you with the practical skills necessary to work as successful journalists, underpinned by an understanding of the constraints and tensions inherent in magazine offices, and online operations developing in a changing industry. You will examine the structure of this fast-expanding sector, with a particular emphasis on the role played by freelance journalists and production staff in generating content.
You will have the opportunity to acquire the core skills for producing online and print publications which will include the use of social media/analytics/branding/research and interview techniques. You will be equipped with multimedia reporting, production and design skills in demand in the journalism industry and will be confident about telling stories through video and audio as well as the written word.
The module offers valuable opportunities for you to work together to produce and run your own group website, and magazine, developing your teamwork skills and experiencing the reality of different job roles in a multimedia operation. This classroom experience will provide a valuable introduction to the two-week work placement all students will be required to undertake as part of the module.
30 credits
This is a practical module designed to enable you to experience and work in a professionally-focused industry environment, and develop television production skills such as multi-camera operation, sound, mixing and teleprompting.
You will learn how to work and operate a professional broadcast studio as well as developing TV production skills. In addition, you will build on and reinforce employability skills such as problem-solving, time management and dependability sought by employers looking to fill graduate positions. You will be encouraged to reflect on your professional practice and critically evaluate your teaching and learning contributions.
This module builds practical and theoretical knowledge and skills towards the creation of a final year production piece. You can make either TV drama or TV documentary but must use the production studio for at least part of their production. This caveat will contribute to the wide range of skills that the industry demands of graduates.
30 credits
This special study examines art / media management and production in relation to opportunities and challenges posed in the current digital landscape. Students are able to familiarise themselves with how projects are managed; rights management issues, defining and understanding rights in the context of their own topical areas of interest; professional practice; and/or, production work.
Looking at such rights as copyright, brand rights, image rights, privacy, freedom of expression and information, censorship, and regulation - students explore how these work in practice. They also develop knowledge and understanding of the use of agreements and of licensing, and relate these to art / media production and, professional practice. Students have a wide range of case studies to focus on: film, music, fashion, advertising, PR, publishing, and art; global media production and cultures of appropriation.
There will be an opportunity for portfolio development and the study of theoretical aspects of ‘digital disruption', the impact and use of free / open media and, how making media is affected by share culture, remix/mashups. Production work with archives and issues raised by archival rights are an important focus and students learn how to navigate these. To understand what happens to art and media work once produced, students look also at distribution, the rights affecting distribution, and the impact on these of e.g. download culture, cultural appropriation, globalisation; transborder flow, media convergence and spreadability.
Students may EITHER write an extended essay OR engage in production or practice-based projects. The focus topics are wide and based on student choice (such as, in the past, free expression and identity; cyber-bulling & social media; documenting conflict; PR and reputation work; culture jamming; brand management; style and advertising; online art trade; music production).
The output options are also wide ranging (from critical essays; to video essay; blogs; podcasts / vlog websites; music and video mashups; short video documentary). There is a substantial opportunity to transfer employability skills and knowledge acquired in the module to a range of professional contexts.
30 credits
This module seeks to synthesize and draw together students' understanding of theoretical and contextual approaches to the interpretation of media and culture, which they have learnt about in the first two years of the degree. Furthermore, the module enables students to apply this heightened understanding of theory to analysis of contemporary issues, practices and debates reviewed in the module.
The module is taught in different strands, to provide students with a breadth of themes and specialists subjects on the most contemporary issues in media and communication, which are being debated and discussed both by the public and by academics. The content of the strands may range from discussions on consumerism, neoliberalism, and selfie culture, to debates about art, creativity and digital technologies.
Each strand is taught by a different lecturer and has its own syllabus and reading lists. Whilst the number and specific focus of the strands may vary from year to year, the content is always current and teaching delivery pattern as well as assessments in various strands remain the same.
Optional placement year
The Professional Placement module is a core module for those students following a masters programme that incorporates professional placement learning, following completion of 120 credits. It provides students with the opportunity to apply their knowledge and skills in an appropriate working environment, and to develop and enhance key employability skills and subject specific professional skills in their chosen subject.
You may wish to use the placement experience as a platform for your subsequent major project module, and can use it to help inform your decisions about future careers.
I chose Kingston University for its reputation and location. Most importantly, the MA Media and Communication course structure was tailored to my needs as a communications professional.
Career opportunities
After you graduate
You could take on an internship or progress straight to a full time role. Previous graduates have gone on to work in the media and cultural industries. Others have roles in government, PR, publishing, radio and journalism, or social media content creation.
Links with business and industry
We organise and host international conferences on a wide range of subjects. Previous events have included the E-Poetry Conference, Black Metal conference, Hegel and world history conference, and BTS: A Global Interdisciplinary Conference Project in 2020.
Research with impact
Many of our staff are active in research, which means they bring the latest thinking and best practice to your studies. Their portfolio of academic works, digital art exhibitions and practical projects covers disciplinary areas including video production, digital art, electronic literature, globalisation theories and the music industry.
Teaching and assessment
Essays, reports, position papers, presentations, research projects, practice-based projects, and dissertation (either written or practice-based).
When not attending timetabled sessions, you will be expected to continue learning independently through self-study. This typically involves reading and analysing articles, regulations, policy documents and key texts, documenting individual projects, preparing coursework assignments and completing your PEDRs, etc.
Your independent learning is supported by a range of excellent facilities including online resources, the library and CANVAS, the University's online virtual learning platform.
At Kingston University, we know that postgraduate students have particular needs and therefore we have a range of support available to help you during your time here.
A course is made up of modules, and each module is worth a number of credits. You must pass a given number of credits in order to achieve the award you registered on, for example 360 credits for a typical undergraduate course or 180 credits for a typical postgraduate course. The number of credits you need for your award is detailed in the programme specification which you can access from the link at the bottom of this page.
One credit equates to 10 hours of study. Therefore 180 credits across a year (typical for a postgraduate course) would equate to 1,800 notional hours. These hours are split into scheduled and guided. On this course, the percentage of that time that will be scheduled learning and teaching activities is shown below. The remainder is made up of guided independent study.
- 16% scheduled learning and teaching
The exact balance between scheduled learning and teaching and guided independent study will be informed by the modules you take.
Your course will primarily be delivered in person. It may include delivery of some activities online, either in real time or recorded.
Type of assessment
Assessment typically comprises practical (e.g. presentations, audio/video production) and coursework (e.g. essays, position papers, reports, self-assessment, portfolios, dissertation). The approximate percentage for how you will be assessed on this course is as follows, though depends to some extent on the optional modules you choose:
- 100% coursework
Please note: the above breakdowns are a guide calculated on core modules only. If your course includes optional modules, this breakdown may change to reflect the modules chosen.
We aim to provide feedback on assessments within 20 working days.
To give you an indication of class sizes, this course normally enrols 20 to 30 students and lecture sizes are normally suitable for interactive teaching. However this can vary by module and academic year.
Fees and funding
| Fee category | Fee |
|---|---|
| Home (UK students) | |
| Full Time | £12,400 |
| Part Time | £6,820 |
| International | |
| Full Time | £20,700 |
| Part Time | £11,385 |
| Fee category | Fee |
|---|---|
| Home (UK students) | |
| Full Time | £11,900 |
| Part Time | £6,545 |
| International | |
| Full Time | £19,900 |
| Part Time | £10,945 |
Funding support for postgraduate students
If you are a UK student living in England and under 60, you can apply for a loan to study for a postgraduate degree on the government's website.
Scholarships and bursaries
Interested in studying Media and Communication MA at Kingston? The following funding support is available:
Get a 40% reduction in fees for taught masters or postgraduate diploma courses with September start dates. Find out more.
Receive up to £5,000 towards tuition in your first year of study. Find out more.
Get a 15% reduction in tuition fees. Find out more.
Kingston University offers a 10% discount on full- and part-time postgraduate degree course tuition fees to our alumni. Visit our alumni discount page to find out more.
Kingston University embraces differences in nationalities, races, gender, abilities and academic backgrounds. This makes the University feel like a home away from home, especially for international students like myself. There are so many different, amazing people you can befriend and work with academically.
Additional course costs
Some courses may require additional costs beyond tuition fees. When planning your studies, you’ll want to consider tuition fees, living costs, and any extra costs that might relate to your area of study.
Your tuition fees include costs for teaching, assessment and university facilities. So your access to libraries, shared IT resources and various student support services are all covered. Accommodation and general living expenses are not covered by these fees.
Where applicable, additional expenses for your course may include:
Our libraries have an extensive collection of books and journals, as well as open-access computers and laptops available to rent. However, you may want to buy your own computer or personal copies of key textbooks. Textbooks may range from £50 to £250 per year. And a personal computer can range from £100 to £3,000 depending on your course requirements.
While most coursework is submitted online, some modules may require printed copies. You may want to allocate up to £100 per year for hard-copies of your coursework. It’s worth noting that 3D printing is never compulsory. So if you choose to use our 3D printers, you’ll need to pay for the material. This ranges from 3p per gram to 40p per gram.
Kingston University will pay for all compulsory field trips. Fees for optional trips can range from £30 to £350 per trip.
Your tuition fees don’t cover travel costs. To save on travel costs, you can use our free intersite bus service. This route links the campuses and halls of residence with local train stations - Surbiton, Kingston upon Thames, and Norbiton.
How to apply
Before you apply
Please read the entry criteria carefully to make sure you meet all requirements before applying.
How to apply online
Use the course selector drop down at the top of this page to choose your preferred course, start date and mode, then click 'Apply now'. You will be taken to our Online Student Information System (OSIS) where you will complete your application.
If you’re starting a new application, you’ll need to select ‘new user’ and set up a username and password. This will allow you to save and return to your application.
Application deadlines
We encourage you to apply as soon as possible. Applications will close when the course is full.
After you apply
If the admission tutor wants to see your portfolio, we will email asking you to upload your zipped portfolio to the OSIS portal within three weeks. If we need more information or want to invite you for an interview, we will be in touch directly. After that you will then hear whether your application has been successful.
Course changes and regulations
The information on this page reflects the currently intended course structure and module details. To improve your student experience and the quality of your degree, we may review and change the material information of this course. Find out more about course changes
Programme Specifications for the course are published ahead of each academic year.
Regulations governing this course can be found on our website.
