(Full time / Part time) 2019 start
Media Industries MA
Overview
The media play an important role in entertaining and informing the public, but they also make up a global industry that employs thousands of people. This programme will give you an insight into both aspects of the media industries, as you analyse their cultural and economic dimensions.
You'll explore the full range of media production, from individual bloggers to huge corporations. Taking an international approach, you’ll study the development of contemporary media to understand current trends. It’s an interdisciplinary programme, drawing on communication and cultural studies, economics, anthropology, business and management studies, sociology, politics, law, literature, art history and music.
Guided by leading researchers in the field, many of whom are involved in our Media Industries Research Centre, you’ll gain an insight into how television, film, music, online media, newspapers, magazines and advertising are produced, and what it’s like to work in each industry.
Course content
You’ll develop your knowledge of the full range of media industries through core modules that run in each semester.
You’ll be introduced to issues and debates in media studies as well as the impacts of developments such as digitalisation and marketisation. Then you’ll explore the organisational dynamics of industries such as television, film, music, digital media, newspapers, magazines and advertising to consider what it’s like to work in them.
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.
Alongside the compulsory modules, you’ll be able to tailor the programme to suit your own interests by selecting from a range of optional modules on topics such as television narrative, identity and media, political communication, cultural policy, international film industries and public relations, among others.
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
- The Media Industries 30 credits
- Media Production Analysis 30 credits
Optional modules (selection of typical options shown below)
- Television Narrative 30 credits
- Understanding the Audience 30 credits
- International Film Industries 30 credits
- The Reporting of Politics 30 credits
- Popular Music and Society 30 credits
- Innovations in Political Communication 30 credits
- Communication and Public Opinion 30 credits
- Identity and Culture 30 credits
- The Cultural History of Promotional Communication 30 credits
- Radio Technologies, Industries and Cultures 30 credits
- Cultures of Contemporary Photography 30 credits
- Cinematics and Photography 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
- Critical Debates in Culture and Place 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
We use different methods to assess your progress, depending on the modules you choose. These are likely to include essays, video or photography work, presentations or project work and reports.
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 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. 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: £20,500 (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 will prepare you for a variety of careers in the management and production of media content, both in the UK and worldwide. You’ll also be equipped to work in communications in broader contexts such as communications and media policy, PR or other cultural and creative industries.
You’ll also be well placed to pursue your research at PhD level, and even 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.