(Full time / Part time) 2019 start
Political Communication MA
Overview
Modern democracies are increasingly shaped by the relationships between politicians, mass media and citizens. This interdisciplinary programme applies ideas from a range of approaches to give you an insight into the context and production of political journalism and communication.
Core modules will introduce you to political communication in established and emerging democracies worldwide, exploring the ethics and power dynamics at play. You’ll ask questions around media freedom, the responsibilities of journalists, ‘spin doctors’, the impact of emerging technologies and whether elections really are decided on TV.
You can tailor the programme to suit your personal and career interests, choosing from optional modules on topics such as digital media, PR and the role of the media in democratisation.
Course content
Throughout the year you’ll study two core modules that cover the foundations of the programme, exploring the role of communications in contemporary politics.
You’ll look at different models of contemporary democracy and compare the relations between political actors, the media and citizens. From there you’ll move onto recent innovations sparked by cultural, technological and political change. With this in mind, you’ll then design a political campaign that incorporates some of these developments.
On top of this, you’ll build specialist knowledge through your choice of optional modules. These vary every year, but can include topics such as television narrative, media and globalisation, urban narratives, 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 year, 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 year.
If you choose to study part-time, you’ll complete the MA 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.
Modules
Year 1
Compulsory modules
- Dissertation and Research Methods 60 credits
- Innovations in Political Communication 30 credits
- Keywords in Political Communication 30 credits
Optional modules (selection of typical options shown below)
- Public Relations Theory 30 credits
- Feminism, Identity and Media 30 credits
- Understanding the Audience 30 credits
- The Media and Democratisation: Global Perspectives 30 credits
- The Reporting of Politics 30 credits
- Popular Music and Society 30 credits
- Communication and Public Opinion 30 credits
- Journalism Practice and Policy 30 credits
- Identity and Culture 30 credits
- The Cultural History of Promotional Communication 30 credits
- Stylistic Aesthetics of Chinese Language in Media and Communication 15 credits
- Rhetoric and Public Speaking 15 credits
- Managing Business Across Cultures 15 credits
- International Organisations: Context, Theory and Practice 15 credits
- Writing for Professional Purposes 15 credits
- Cultural Policy 30 credits
- Researching Inequality in the Media 30 credits
- Reality TV: Truth or Fiction? 30 credits
Learning and teaching
MA modules will use a range of teaching and learning methods including lectures, group learning and project work, seminars, tutorials and workshops. Independent study is also 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 should anticipate spending at least 20 hours per week on independent study associated with your modules.
Assessment
Assessments also take different forms so you can develop diverse skills. These are likely to include essays and exams as well as group presentations, projects and reports, as well as campaign analyses and case studies.
Applying, fees and funding
Entry requirements
A bachelor degree with a 2:1 (hons) in a social sciences or humanities subject. Relevant professional experience will also be considered.
Applications based on degrees in other subjects may be considered on an individual basis by the programme leader. If you do not have a background in politics, 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. Please note, meeting the entry requirements of this course does not 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.
English language requirements
IELTS 6.5 overall, with no less than 6.0 in any component. For other English qualifications, read English 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
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 2019
Fees
- UK/EU: £8,500 (total)
- International: £19,500 (total)
Read more about paying fees and charges.
For fees information for international taught postgraduate students, read Masters fees.
Part-time fees 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.
Tuition Fee Scholarships
The School of Media and Communication offers three tuition fee scholarships to UK/EU students, each worth the full tuition fees. We also offer three tuition fee scholarships to international students, each worth half the tuition fees.
To see all our scholarship and funding opportunities, visit the School of Media and Communication scholarships page.
Career opportunities
This programme isn’t a practical training course, but it does give you an in-depth understanding of the role and importance of political communication – a sector which is constantly growing.
Our graduates have entered a wide range of related careers in political journalism, government communications, communications analysis and advisory roles for political parties. Others have gone on to work for international organisations and pressure groups.
You’ll also be prepared to continue with further research at PhD level and pursue an academic career.
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.