Media, Society and Cultural Studies (Research) MA

Overview

The Media, Society, and Cultural Studies (Research) MA is a research master's course. This means it's primarily designed to support your exploration of a chosen research area.

The programme is built around your individual research project. This is bolstered by dedicated research modules and a selection of modules in media, social, and cultural studies.

Whether you intend to pursue a PhD or enhance your professional qualifications in a specific area, this master's program is for you.

As a taught master's in research, you'll have a timetable that encourages independent work within a structured framework. Monthly meetings with course leaders allow you to refine your project, and you'll engage in modules that will equip you to design and complete a master's-level research project.

Additionally, the program provides a selection of optional modules to complement your research.

This programme is also recognised nationally by the Economic, Social Research Council. It can form the initial training component for the four-year (MA plus PhD) - ESRC Northern Ireland/ North East (NINE) Doctoral Training Centre

You'll undertake advanced master's-level training in research skills, learning the most effective ways to explore and understand media, society and culture. You will complement your research expertise by developing your ability to be critical and analyse. The culmination of your learning will be for you to develop a potentially publishable piece of research.

Upon completing the MA programme, you'll have the skills needed to move onto a PhD programme or undertake sophisticated and nuanced research projects. By the program's conclusion, you will have achieved the following:

• Developed comprehensive knowledge of diverse research practices, methods, and paradigms.
• Gained awareness of a broad range of critical, cultural, and societal theories that inform media, social, and cultural studies.
• Attained expertise in a specific area of media, social, and cultural studies that meets your own needs.

Important information

We've highlighted important information about your course. Please take note of any deadlines.

Your course and study experience - disclaimers and terms and conditions

Please rest assured we make all reasonable efforts to provide you with the programmes, services and facilities described. However, it may be necessary to make changes due to significant disruption, for example in response to Covid-19.

View our Academic experience page, which gives information about your Newcastle University study experience for the academic year 2023-24.

See our terms and conditions and student complaints information, which gives details of circumstances that may lead to changes to programmes, modules or University services.

 

What you'll learn

During the MA you'll undertake advanced master's-level training in media, society, and culture research. You'll complete a combination of specialist media-based modules plus a range of research-focused modules.

After completing your MA, you'll have all the skills required to move into PhD research. On the completion of the course you'll:

• understand the role of media and communication systems in shaping meaning
• develop knowledge of the range of research practices, methods and paradigms
• have awareness of a broad range of critical, cultural and societal theory that inform the field of media, social and cultural studies

Modules

You will study modules on this course. A module is a unit of a course with its own approved aims and outcomes and assessment methods.

Course content changes

Module information is intended to provide an example of what you will study.

Our teaching is informed by research. Course content changes periodically to reflect developments in the discipline, the requirements of external bodies and partners, and student feedback.

Full details of the modules on offer will be published through the Programme Regulations and Specifications ahead of each academic year. This usually happens in May.

Optional modules availability

Some courses have optional modules. Student demand for optional modules may affect availability.

To find out more please see our terms and conditions.

Media, Society and Cultural Studies (Research) MA modules

Compulsory Modules	Credits
Thinking about Research	10
Dissertation Preparation	10
Qualitative Methodology in the Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences	20
Quantitative Analysis	20
Media Analysis	20
Dissertation in Media and Society (Research)	60

Optional Modules	Credits
Race, Culture and Identity	20
Sex, Sexuality and Desire	20
Visual Culture	20
Celebrity Culture	20
Conflict and Crisis Reporting	20
Youth, Identity and Contemporary Media	20
Fashion, Communication and Culture	20
Storytelling and Collective Psychology	20
Religion and Recent US Film	20
Advertising and Consumption	20
Feminist Approaches to Media Analysis	20
Digital Discourses and Identity	20
Media and Promotional Cultures	20
International Media and Law (Semester 1)	20
Strategies and Management in PR	20
Theoretical Approaches to PR	20
Representations: feminism, race and intersectionality	20
Cultures of Data Visualization	20
Digital communication for cultural institutions and organisations	20
Power, Politics and Communication	20
Public Relations in Government and Politics	20
Music, Politics and Policy	20

How you'll learn

Assessment methods

Depending on your modules, you'll be assessed through a combination of:

• Case study
• Computer assessment
• Dissertation
• Essay
• Report
• Written exercise

Student support

Your teaching and learning is also supported by Canvas. Canvas is a Virtual Learning Environment. You'll use Canvas to submit your assignments and access your:

• module handbooks
• course materials
• groups
• course announcements and notifications
• written feedback

Throughout your studies, you’ll have access to support from:

• peers
• academics
• personal tutors
• our University Student Services Team
• student representatives

You'll also be assigned an academic member of staff. They will be your personal tutor throughout your time with us. They can help with academic and personal issues.

Quality and ranking

All professional accreditations are reviewed regularly by their professional body

Recognition of professional qualifications outside of the UK

From 1 January 2021 there is an update to the way professional qualifications are recognised by countries outside of the UK

Check the government’s website for more information.

Facilities

As a postgraduate research student in media, society and cultural studies you'll benefit from dedicated research suites within the School of Arts and Cultures.

Fees and funding

Tuition fees for 2024 entry (per year)

Tuition fee increases

If your studies last longer than one year, your tuition fee may increase in line with inflation.

EU, other EEA and Swiss nationals - tuition fee status

Depending on your residency history, if you’re a student from the EU, other EEA or a Swiss national, with settled or pre-settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme, you’ll normally pay the ‘Home’ tuition fee rate and may be eligible for Student Finance England support.

EU students without settled or pre-settled status will normally be charged fees at the ‘International’ rate and will not be eligible for Student Finance England support.

If you are unsure of your fee status, check out the latest guidance here.

Scholarships

We support our EU and international students by providing a generous range of Vice-Chancellor's automatic and merit-based scholarships. See our searchable postgraduate funding page for more information. 

What you're paying for

Tuition fees include the costs of:

• matriculation
• registration
• tuition (or supervision)
• library access
• examination
• re-examination
• graduation

Find out more about:

• living costs
• tuition fees

Deposit

If you are an international student or a student from the EU, EEA or Switzerland and you need a visa to study in the UK, you may have to pay a deposit.

You can check this in the How to apply section.

Funding deadlines

If you're applying for funding, always check the funding application deadline. This deadline may be earlier than the application deadline for your course.

For some funding schemes, you need to have received an offer of a place on a course before you can apply for the funding.

Search for funding

Find funding available for your course

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How to apply

Using the application portal

The application portal has instructions to guide you through your application. It will tell you what documents you need and how to upload them.

You can choose to start your application, save your details and come back to complete it later.

If you’re ready, you can select Apply Online and you’ll be taken directly to the application portal.

Alternatively you can find out more about applying on our applications and offers pages.

Apply Online  

Open days and events

You'll have a number of opportunities to meet us throughout the year including:

• campus tours
• on-campus open days
• virtual open days
• webinars

Find out about how you can visit Newcastle in person and virtually

Overseas events

We regularly travel overseas to meet with students interested in studying at Newcastle University.

Visit our events calendar for the latest events