MSc Media and Communications (Research)

London School of Economics and Political Science, University of London

This programme offers an intensive, year-long exploration of a wide range of contemporary issues in media and communications while also providing advanced research training, enhancing your methodological and analytical skills. It is particularly suited to students wishing to undertake MPhil/PhD degrees or pursue research-related careers.

The degree aims to provide a broad-based understanding of the development and forms of media and communications in relation to political economy, regulation and power, production and organisation, processes of mediation and influence, communication content and audience response. It offers an up-to-date engagement with diverse theoretical, conceptual and empirical developments in research on media and communications through a mix of compulsory and optional courses and an independent research project.

We attract students from a diverse range of backgrounds, often including professional experience working in media and communications-related fields. Indeed, the opportunity for cross-cultural meetings and exchange of ideas among the student body is a valuable feature of studying within the Department.

Teaching methods

LSE is internationally recognised for its teaching and research and therefore employs a rich variety of teaching staff with a range of experience and status. Courses may be taught by individual members of faculty, such as lecturers, senior lecturers, readers, associate professors and professors. Many departments now also employ guest teachers and visiting members of staff, LSE teaching fellows and graduate teaching assistants who are usually doctoral research students and in the majority of cases, teach on undergraduate courses only.

Assessment

All taught courses are required to include formative coursework which is unassessed. It is designed to help prepare you for summative assessment which counts towards the course mark and to the degree award. LSE uses a range of formative assessment, such as essays, problem sets, case studies, reports, quizzes, mock exams and many others. You will be summatively assessed by written examinations (seen and unseen), research assignments, essays and the dissertation, which must be submitted in August.

Careers

On graduating, our students enter a variety of careers in the UK and abroad, including broadcasting, journalism, advertising, new media industries, political marketing, market research, regulation and policy, media management and research in both the public and private sectors.