About the course

On this programme you will study:

• Media systems, industries, production and content
• International management, marketing theory and skills
• Creative media practice or applied management studies as a specialism or a combined pathway

This MA will provide you with an interdisciplinary understanding of media management in an international context: equipping you with an understanding of the global media business environment, the skills of organising diverse cross-cultural work places and professionals, and developing marketing strategies; all of which are necessary for meeting the organisational goals of increasingly complex cultural industries.

You will leave with the in-depth understanding of global media and production, of different business and management approaches within the global economy and the skills needed to manage these processes. This combination of theory and practice will enable you to pursue a career in the media and cultural industries with a particular emphasis on management and/or marketing. 

Please also refer to MA Global Media & Management Handbook 2017-18

Aims of the course

• Think, talk, and write at an advanced level about global media and culture and the ways in which cultural and media organisations intersect with general political and economic processes.
• Understand, evaluate and apply a range of theories about culture and media production, especially those associated with globalisation, and international management.
• Engage in comparative analysis of media and cultural production from different areas of the world.
• Pursue options in developing creative skills and practices involved in media and cultural production at a level commensurate with postgraduate study.
• Critically engage with debates in management studies regarding the future of capitalism and the relationship between globalisation, international business organisations and the wider social environment
• Develop enhanced managerial skills and practical marketing skills that are rooted in a critical understanding of the (global) media and creative industries.
• Acquire a thorough understanding of contemporary marketing knowledge and techniques, as applied in a range of commercial and public organisations with particular emphasis on the media and cultural industries
• Develop research skills commensurate with postgraduate study in the field of media and cultural studies, international management and marketing theory. 

Entry Requirements

An honours degree at second class or higher (or international equivalent) in Media Studies, Cultural Studies, Business Studies, Management or Marketing, or another appropriate Humanities or Social Sciences subject. Applicants with other qualifications and appropriate experience will be considered on a case-by-case basis.

Students for whom English is a second language will require English language proficiency of at least 6.5 in IELTS test scores (or equivalent).

Course content

The programme consists of 180 credits. As a full time student, in the first semester, you will take the four compulsory core modules covering all areas of the course. In semester two, in addition to the compulsory module Globalisation, Culture, Media II, you will choose three from seven optional core modules. If you would like to work in the area of creative media, and are aiming to produce a Media Project in semester 3, you should take the Creative Media Practice option in semester 2. In the final semester, depending on your prior choices, you will have the option of doing a Media Project, a Dissertation on a subject of your choice, or joining the innovative Applied Company Research project. If you opt for this route, you are required to take the module Creativity and Personal Development in Semester 2.

As a part-time student, you will take Critical Management Studies and Mediated Communications in semester 1 of your first year, followed by two from the list of Optional Core modules in semester 2. In the second year, you will take Globalisation, Culture Media I and Marketing Management in semester 1, and in semester 2 you will take Globalisation, Culture Media II and one from the remaining available modules, followed by one of the compulsory projects in the final semester (as with the full time programme, if you are aiming to do the Media Project in semester 3, you would need to take Creative Media Practice in semester 2).

Teaching and assessment

You will be taught by a range of experts in theory and practice from both the Media and Management Departments.

The MA enables you to benefit from research-led teaching in the areas of Media Communications and Internal Business Management. Modules are generally taught through a combination of seminars, workshops, small group discussions, individual supervision and computer laboratory classes. Practical use is made of standard educational software and data sources. There is a strong emphasis on independent learning and students are expected to work on their own to produce work. Assessment is diverse through the use of essays, skills portfolios, reflective diaries, exams, workbooks, presentations, marketing plans and reports, and practical projects. The pass mark is 50%. A merit will be awarded where students obtain 60% or over for the dissertation (or equivalent project or performance) and an average of 60% on their other coursework. A distinction will be awarded where students obtain 70% or over for the dissertation, and an average of 70% in their other coursework.

Semester 1 runs from the end of September to the end of January, with an assessment period in January.

Semester 2 runs from the last week of January to the middle of June, with the assessment period in June.

Semester 3 involves the production of the dissertation, media project or company research project and runs from June to the end of September. There will be no formal group classes during this period, but students may arrange individual consultation with their supervisors.

Additional costs

Apart from additional costs for text books, inter-library loans and potential overdue library fines, we do not anticipate any additional costs for this postgraduate course.