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MA Media, Communications & Critical Practice MA Media, Communications & Critical Practice University of the Arts London ../webroot/files/Institutions/cover_photo/1573470043University-of-the-Arts-London-1.jpg

University of the Arts London

Masters Degree , Media And Communication Studies

Course Description

MA Media, Communications and Critical Practice integrates the study of 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.

You will gain a sound understanding of key theories of media and communications and apply your knowledge and critical perspective 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 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?

  • High quality, interactive, small group teaching, in the form of lectures, seminars, workshops, and external visits.
  • Dynamic project briefs, relevant to emergent issues in the media and communications sector.
  • Introduction to a range of visual and print-based creative media skills, including video production, blogging, and digital image production.
  • Access to the college’s Kit Room and Digital Space, and support in using technical resources.
  • Opportunities to implement practice-based projects through collaboration with students from other courses and/or partners outside the university.
  • Flexibility in your programme of study, through the selection of preferred topics, media, and methods of enquiry.
  • Opportunities for networking with industry professionals and creatives, through our Industry Speakers Series.
  • Individual support from lecturers who are active in research and/or creative practice.
  • Visits to galleries, exhibitions and/or cultural events, taking advantage of the College’s central London location.

Course Content

Each course is divided into units, which are credit-rated. The minimum unit size is 20 credits. The MA course structure involves six units, totaling 180 credits.

Autumn, Term 1

Media, Culture and Economy (20 credits)
Analysing Contemporary Media (20 credits)

In the first week, an induction programme will familiarise you with the course structure and introduce you to effective strategies for studying at postgraduate level.

You will meet the teaching team and fellow students, along with representatives from student and academic bodies. You will also become familiar with the geography and structure of the College with tours of the library and facilities.

You will then begin two theory-focused units of study, which together provide a framework for subsequent activities and help you to initiate the independent learning crucial to Masters level study.

Analysing Contemporary Media introduces you to key theories of media and communication, while Media, Culture and Economy explores economic models in the creative industries and the ways in which these models shape the production of media content. Alongside these units you will participate in a series of media practice workshops taught by specialist staff.

Spring, Term 2

Media, Mobility and Culture (40 credits)
Collaborative Unit (20 credits)
Professional Industry Practice (20 credits)

In the Spring Term you will commence Media, Mobility and Culture, which explores the role of media technologies and representations in the production and mediation of space, place and mobility.

You will also engage in the student-driven Collaborative Unit, working with students from either another UAL Masters course or with an external partner. In previous years, School of Media postgraduate students have exhibited work developed in this unit in the Capital City and Visible Justice exhibitions and public programmes.

Towards the end of the Spring Term you will commence Professional Industry Practice. You will be introduced to new perspectives on employment in the creative industries and be supported in organising a work placement or implementing an industry-focused research project.

Alongside these units you’ll benefit from a series of talks by industry practitioners such as creative producers, journalists, business advisors and curators.

Summer, Term 3

Media, Mobility and Culture (continued)
Professional Industry Practice (continued)
Major Project (60 credits)

In the Summer Term, you will benefit from a programme of research methods workshops and tutorials which will enable you to begin working on your Major Project.

Practitioner-led sessions embedded into the Media Mobility and Culture unit will support your development of an individual media artefact which implements or responds to ideas addressed in the unit. Students have created films, photo series, models, digital media, and other diverse media work for this assignment.

Autumn, Term 4

Major Project (continued)

In the final term you will implement your research plan for your Major Project. In this project you will consolidate the knowledge and skills you have acquired throughout the course, applying them to a topic of your choice, either through theoretical or practice-based enquiry.

Topics addressed by students in recent years include:

  • Fashion and artificial intelligence: The fashion industry’s ethical debates in the machine learning era
  • Blockchain based advertising in China
  • The influence of Instagram on our travelling experience
  • #immersive: A multimodal discourse analysis of user engagement with immersive event brands
  • Man Repeller: The merits of pop culture feminism
  • Science podcast listening: Consuming science in an information society

 

Entry Requirements

MA Media Communications and Critical Practice attracts applicants from a variety of backgrounds. While some may have studied media, culture or communications before, others join the course with a background in business, marketing, economics, law, history, languages, the social sciences, and many other fields. 

We also welcome applicants with an educational background in art or media practice.

The course will also be relevant to those who are already working in the creative industries or related fields, as well as those engaged in individual creative practice. Alternatively, they may be looking to move into this sector through the career development opportunity that a Masters can offer.

Educational level may be demonstrated by:

  • Honours degree (named above);
  • Possession of equivalent qualifications;
  • Prior experiential learning, the outcome of which can be demonstrated to be equivalent to formal qualifications otherwise required;
  • Or a combination of formal qualifications and experiential learning which, taken together, can be demonstrated to be equivalent to formal qualifications otherwise required.

APEL (Accreditation of Prior Experiential Learning)

Applicants who do not meet these course entry requirements may still be considered in exceptional cases. The course team will consider each application that demonstrates additional strengths and alternative evidence. This might, for example, be demonstrated by:

  • Related academic or work experience
  • The quality of the personal statement
  • A strong academic or other professional reference
  • OR a combination of these factors

Each application will be considered on its own merit but we cannot guarantee an offer in each case.

Language requirements

All classes are conducted in English. If English is not your first language, we strongly recommend you let us know your English language test score in your application. If you have booked a test or are awaiting your results, please indicate this in your application. When asked to upload a CV as part of your application, please include any information about your English test score.

  • IELTS 7.0 (or equivalent) is required, with a minimum of 6.5 in each of the four skills.
  • If your first language is not English, you can check you have achieved the correct IELTS level in English on the Language Requirements page.

Assessment Methods

  • Practical project work
  • Prepared writing
  • Responses to case studies
  • Oral and audio-visual presentation
  • Creative work
  • Written research projects
  • The creation of a portfolio of work, which may contain a number of different activities
  • Major Project

Additional Information

Course dates

Autumn, Term 1

28 September 2020 - 4 December 2020

Spring, Term 2

4 January 2021 - 12 March 2021

Summer, Term 3

12 April 2021 - 23 July 2021

Autumn, Term 4

4 October 2021 - 10 December 2021

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