MPhil/PhD Media and Communications

London School of Economics and Political Science, University of London

This MPhil/PhD programme explores how media and communications developments shape, and are shaped by social, cultural, political, economic and historical factors. You’ll look at the changing nature of media production, dissemination and consumption amidst growing globalisation and digitisation of information. Our research activities span four intersecting topics:
• Media Culture and Identities
• Media Participation and Politics
• Communication Histories and Futures
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• Communication, Technology, Rights and Justice.
• You’ll complete practical skills training focused on media and communications research and have the chance to contribute to original work in the field. Current PhD students are completing research on wide-ranging topics from the media and journalism in China to power and discrimination on YouTube and TikTok. You’ll begin on the MPhil and progress to the PhD (subject to meeting certain requirements). Research conducted within the department informs policymaking and industry practice nationally and internationally. Our department is ranked top in the UK and sixth in the world for media and communications (QS World University Rankings 2025). In the most recent Research Assessment Exercise, 96% of our research was rated "world-leading" or "internationally excellent". This is partly achieved through our commitment to promoting diversity in our doctoral cohort as well as our faculty, we particularly encourage applications from underrepresented groups and perspectives. Graduates from this programme find high-level roles as academic researchers as well as in strategic decision making positions in intergovernmental organisations and the public and private sectors.