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Why choose the School of Arts and Creative Industries
We are members of the British Fashion Council, The Association of Fashion and Textiles Courses, the Association of Illustrators and AA2A (Artists Access to Art Colleges), enhancing your graduate employment opportunities
Our Fashion Design graduates have entered many areas of the fashion industry and completed internships with Alexander McQueen, Mary Katrantzou, Sophia Webster and Amanda Wakeley
Our students work on live briefs for companies such as Bedford Creative Arts, London Luton Airport, Luton Town FC, Luton Culture Trust and Penguin Books and participate in collaborative projects with leading art and design practitioners
About the course
As elements of mass media converge it is increasingly important to understand how interconnected the industry is. This Master's course examines the key issues affecting media and communication today while introducing the theories that underpin their practice and applying them to real-life examples.
For this course you address the central issues and concepts informing the study of the media in a culturally diverse modern society. The course offers units dealing with fundamental principles and topics such as current research in mass communications; media institutions structures and policies; and research methods in the area of media. There is also a core unit focusing on international development.
You undertake a final independent dissertation based on a research project. It is this project work that provides you with the opportunity to tailor the course to your own interests (subject to staff supervisory expertise).
Why choose this course?
- Choose to start your studies in October and complete the course in 12 months (full time) or start in February and complete over 15 months (full time); part-time options are also available
- Learn from specialists in audience studies journalism political communications and radio
- Benefit from access to external industry and academic speakers through seminars organised by our Research Institute for Media Arts and Performance (RIMAP)
- Study the theories that underpin the practice of media and communication and place theory in real-life scenarios through a range of case studies
- Analyse contemporary issues through applying your growing knowledge of the media and its cultural forms
- Examine policy and ethical issues whether in the public domain or in other areas of democratic participation and citizenship
- Employ skills in critical analysis research and communication - as well as generic and creative skills - to propose solutions to contemporary issues
- Develop strong academic skills in research and critical thinking problem solving and analysis – the skills needed to progress into MPhil and PhD studies
What will you study?
Media And International Development
This unit provides an overview of the main issues relating to media and International Development. It takes an interdisciplinary approach, combining concepts of media studies and development studies, considering key issues such as democracy, human rights, freedom of expression, media structures and media capacity building. Students will examine examples of media output (particularly broadcast, print and ICT) and analyse examples of media and development activities. The unit will also critically analyse selected examples of past and current practices, tracing the historical and identifying trends within the present day development media sector.
Media Institutions Structures And Policies
This unit offers an overview of media systems, institutions, structures, and policies. It explores the political economy of the media. It examines concepts such as press freedom, public sector broadcasting, de-regulation, and traces how media institutions adapt to changing circumstances. Themes will include the relation between the state the media and private enterprise; the relations between media and their audiences; media economics; and the impact of technological changes in the media industry.
Current Research In Mass Communications
This is a Master's level unit that explores research at the forefront of the discipline including advanced levels of media theory and the implementation of such theory in specific analyses of media material. This unit gives you a firm grounding in the major issues of media theory applicable both to established and emergent media.
Research Methods
This unit ensure that you understand the place of research in relation to government, enterprise and scholarship. It provides an introduction to the range of research methods typically used in studying the media and to develop the ability to assess the strengths and weaknesses of specific methodologies. You will learn the ethical implications of conducting research and you will develop the skills necessary to produce a research project proposal (that could be used for your final master project), choosing appropriate methods.
Final Project In Mass Communications
In this unit you will develop your research project, in the form of a master dissertation, having the opportunity to investigate a specialist media topic as the culmination of your Masters, supervised by an academic supervisor. This project will require you to work to a high standard in at least one area of mass communications. Your project will follow the guidelines of ethical practice for the British Sociological Association, confirmed through the compilation and approval of CATS ethics form.
How will you be assessed?
The course is fully compliant with University regulations for assessment mitigation appeals and complaints. The assessment strategy is designed to provide students with the knowledge and skills that are required in a professional environment. Assessments take a variety of forms including written work (essay report research proposal dissertation) oral presentations and practical work (empirical research). For some assessments there will be opportunity for formative feedback on assessments-in-progress before the assessment deadline and you are encouraged to integrate formative and summative feedback into your work in order to develop as mass media experts and academic researchers.
Careers
The knowledge and understanding you gain on this course will be invaluable when seeking employment in the media. In addition the project work on the course helps you make professional and industry contacts while developing specialist knowledge of a specific area of personal interest helping you develop your career in that direction if you choose.
Typical areas for Mass Communications graduates to find employment include broadcasting; journalism; media development; arts administration; photography; theatre; media research; PR and advertising; design; and copywriting. It can also open the way to work in areas such as education and human resource management.
As an MA graduate you also have the opportunity to study at Doctoral level with an MPhil or PhD.
Entry Requirements
Entry Requirements
Fees for this course
UK 2024/25
The full-time standard fee for a taught Master's degree for the Academic Year 2024/25 is £10,000 per year. You can apply for a loan from the Government to help pay for your tuition fees and living costs. Visit www.gov.uk/postgraduate-loan
Alternatively if you have any questions around fees and funding, please email admission@beds.ac.uk
International 2024/25
The full-time standard fee for a taught Master's degree for the Academic Year 2024/25 is £15,600
If you have any questions around fees and funding, please email international@beds.ac.uk
Fees for this course
UK 2024/25
The full-time standard fee for a taught Master's degree for the Academic Year 2024/25 is £10,000 per year. You can apply for a loan from the Government to help pay for your tuition fees and living costs. Visit www.gov.uk/postgraduate-loan
Alternatively if you have any questions around fees and funding, please email admission@beds.ac.uk
International 2024/25
The full-time standard fee for a taught Master's degree for the Academic Year 2024/25 is £15,600
If you have any questions around fees and funding, please email international@beds.ac.uk
