MA Media, Communications and Critical Practice

Course summary:

Explore media and communications theory and creative practice and discover your future as a media professional in this unique Masters programme.

About this course:

MA Media, Communications and Critical Practice fuses media theory with creative and professional practice. You will be encouraged to think critically about the role of media in the digital age, exploring problems and challenges through your engagement with key theories of media, culture and communication alongside a range of creative media practices. Professional practice is central to the course. You'll be introduced to new perspectives on employment in the creative industries before participating in a work placement or industry-focused research project.

Previously students have benefitted from work-based learning with organisations such as the BBC, Oxfam, the British Film Institute and Versace LA. Our alumni progress to employment across the creative industries, taking up roles in a range of fields from digital marketing and strategic communications to cultural management and curation, and many other fields. Recent graduates have joined BBC factual programming, the British Council, Possible Worldwide (WPP) and Revolve Media, while others have continued their studies at doctoral level.

Anyone Interested.

Course details:

This unique course fuses media theory with creative and professional practice. You will be encouraged to think critically about the role of media in the digital age, exploring problems and challenges through your engagement with key theories of media, culture and communication as well as a range of creative media practices. You will gain a systematic understanding of major theories of media and communications and apply emergent concepts to a wide range of case studies. You will investigate how global media production, circulation and consumption relate to issues of diversity, equality and identity, as well as to environmental and ethical challenges. You will also be encouraged to express your ideas and solve problems through a range of creative media practices. Working with images, texts and data, you will learn how to produce different types of media content for different purposes, and explore the social and cultural impacts of your interventions.

What can you expect?

Most practice-based projects will be collaborative in nature, and you will also have the opportunity to create individual creative work. Professional practice is central to the course. You will be introduced to new perspectives on employment in the creative industries before participating in a work placement or industry-focused research project. Previously students have benefitted from work-based learning with organisations such as the BBC, ITV, Vogue, Capitol Records, Tate Modern, the British Film Institute, Versace LA, Oxfam, Grazia, NME, GGHQ Fashion Intelligence, and Talk Radio.

During the course you will visit galleries, exhibitions and cultural events, taking advantage of the College's central London location. You will also benefit from an Industry Speakers Series, with opportunities for networking with industry professionals and creatives.

This course is taught within the Media School.

Fees & Funding:

• Home / EU fee Full time mode -

University of the Arts London (UAL) is Europe’s largest specialist art and design university. Its unique creative community is made up of six renowned Colleges, each with its own world-class reputation: Camberwell College of Arts, Central Saint Martins, Chelsea College of Arts, London College of Communication, London College of Fashion and Wimbledon College of Arts.

UAL is the world’s sixth best University for Art and Design in the QS World University Rankings 2018. Offering an extensive range of courses in art, design, fashion, communication and performing arts, UAL is the main talent pipeline to the UK’s creative industries.

Home to a diverse community of over 18,000 students from 129 countries, UAL has a track record for launching and furthering careers. Our graduates can be found in every part and at every level of the creative and cultural sectors, from heads of global business to self-employed practitioners, and on shortlists for awards ranging from the Turner Prize to the Oscars.

Building on UAL’s association with some of the most original thinkers in the arts, students and staff are inspired to challenge convention, generate new ideas and nurture talent. Home to award-winning staff and students for more than a century, UAL’s Colleges are at the forefront of learning, creativity and practice in their specialist subjects. This close-knit College structure offers opportunities for learning and enquiry for people at all stages of their creative development.