Humanities (Media, Communication and Culture)

Humanities (Media, Communication and Culture) - MRes

On this Master of Research (MRes), you'll be supported to build a bespoke programme of advanced research and study to match your personal and professional interests - you can learn a language, explore palaeography, broaden your field of study, or complete a work placement. The Media pathway allows for the critical study of media forms, from television to advertising to social media. It offers the change to look in-depth both at the issues shaping historical and contemporary media, and at the increasingly important part such media play in culture, politics and everyday life.

Month of entry

September

Mode of study

Full time, Part time

Location

Keele University campus

Subject area

Humanities

Fees for 2023/24 academic year

UK - Full time £8,900 per year. Part time £4,900 per year.
International - £17,700 per year.

Duration of study

Full time - 1 year/Part time - 2 years

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Please note: this course is no longer accepting applications from international students for September 2023 entry

Why study Humanities (Media, Communication and Culture) at Keele University?

Keele is ranked among the UK Top 10 universities for the research opportunities offered to postgraduate students (Postgraduate Research Experience Survey, 2019)

Choose to specialise in English, Film, History, Media, or Music, tailoring your degree around your research and career plans, supported by one-to-one expert supervision

High staff-to-student ratio enhanced by small-group tutorials and a strong, inclusive research community with discipline-specific research training provided throughout the course

Opportunity to undertake a work placement – past students have gone into local schools, the National Trust, and Staffordshire and Stoke Archive Service

Keele is a member of the North West Consortium Doctoral Training Partnership (NWCDTP) and the North West Social Science Doctoral Training Partnership (NWSSDTP)

Course summary

Highly flexible and with a focus on one-to-one supervision throughout the course, you can tailor this MRes around your research and career plans. You’ll graduate with knowledge of research design, methods and processes, together with the creative, critical, reflexive, and analytical mindset that employers desire. The MRes can also be used as a stepping-stone to further research at PhD level.

From the outset, you will be paired with an experienced supervisor to support your personal and professional development, working together to advance your research interests and develop your individual research, writing and communications skills.

The MRes Humanities (Media) pathway responds to the predominance and significance of varied media forms – such advertising, social media, television and film – both in history and in contemporary life. It allows for an in-depth analysis both of these media forms in practice and of the theory around their use.

Supervised by staff who are prominent researchers in their fields of media study and practice, studying on this programme provides you with an in-depth understanding of media’s importance within culture, politics and everyday life. You'll develop key transferrable skills in research, analysis and communication to enhance your career prospects across a range of sectors or to prepare you for further academic study.

As part of the bespoke Individual Research Orientation module, you’ll agree a tailored learning plan to expand your knowledge, skills and experience. For example, you can learn a foreign language, study subject matter from a different discipline like statistical modelling or improve your ability to read old manuscripts.

Using our contacts or through your own networks, you can also undertake a work experience placement here in the UK or abroad. In the past, our students have helped staged exhibitions, catalogued an archive, reviewed educational material and reflected on the selection of historical textbooks in a school.

The School of Humanities benefits from world-leading and internationally excellent research across the main areas of humanities: English Literature; Creative Writing; English and American Literature; Film Studies; History; Media, Communications and Creative Practice; and Music and Music Technology.

This wide range of staff expertise not only enables us to offer five specialist pathways (in English, Film, History, Media, or Music), but also considerably broadens the scope for potential interdisciplinary research topics. This makes it an ideal choice for students who want the freedom to conduct in-depth research on a subject of their choosing, while also receiving the guidance expected of a taught master’s.

Keele is a member of the Arts and Humanities Research Council’s North West Consortium Doctoral Training Partnership (NWCDTP) and the Economic and Social Research Council's North West Social Science Doctoral Training Partnership (NWSSDTP). These both offer financial support to outstanding UK students in applicable disciplines.

Other courses you might be interested in:

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Course structure

Whether you are choosing to study the MRes Humanities for personal or career development, or to pursue doctoral study (PhD), the strength of our course lies in its flexibility and breadth of subject choice. As such, the specific content you study will vary considerably, depending on your research project and career plans.

All of our MRes Humanities students take two compulsory research-based modules, Research Skills in the Humanities (15 credits) and Reflective Practice in the Humanities (15 credits), which equip you with the knowledge and skills to design and implement advanced postgraduate research, introducing key methods, concepts and research skills relevant to Humanities.

In order to graduate in your chosen pathway, you must then choose three compulsory modules related to your specialist subject, comprising an Individual Research Orientation (30 credits) module, an additional module (30 credits) tailored to research approaches within your chosen discipline, and the Dissertation (90 credits).

Learning from experienced researchers, you’ll be given advice on how to construct, develop and write an extended dissertation, based on independent research. This includes guidance on the sources and resources available and the methodological debates relevant to it. You will begin your dissertation at the start of the course and continue working on it throughout the duration of your studies.

For this reason, and to enable us to allocate the most appropriate supervisor early on, when submitting your online application, please use your personal statement to describe the dissertation or equivalent project you hope to carry out (500-700 words). You should include specific research questions and aims, such as: What is the fundamental purpose of your project? What will your research clarify or explain? Is any hypothesis proposed? How do you plan to conduct the research (i.e. what your methodology will be)?

The MRes Humanities can be studied as either a one-year full-time or two-year part-time course, with a September start date. It's also possible to study more flexibly part-time on a modular basis, accumulating degree credits by taking individual modules over a period of maximum of five years.

To achieve the MRes, you must complete 180 credits.

Compulsory research modules (all MRes Humanities)

HIS-40017 Research Skills in the Humanities (15 credits, Semester 1)
You will receive training in the practical and technical skills necessary for postgraduate research in the humanities, so you will be able to plan, then find and use the necessary resources for your research and writing. This includes: relevant University regulations; procedures for managing a research degree; the differences between popular press dissemination of research and academic forms; how to identify issues of research ethic affecting your work; and how to use real-world and digital archives and be creative in looking for primary research sources, such as film archives, digitised magazines and pamphlets, first editions of out of print literature. You will also develop essential personal and professional skills in time, stress and project management.

HIS-40016 Reflective Practice in the Humanities (15 credits, Semester 2)
Reflective practice describes a systematic approach to reflection that involves creating a habit, structure and routine around reflecting on our experiences and engaging in continuous learning. Whether you choose to learn from experience as an individual or with others, there are many benefits to be gained from sharing ideas, experiences and considering how you can change or improve your creative practice. Throughout this module, you will be asked to explore the intellectual connections between your research area and wider fields of study. We look at ‘big ideas’ relevant to contemporary society, such as the concept of ‘post truth’, ‘big data’ and the pulling down of statues, and we work to understand them from the perspective of our disciplines.

Compulsory pathway-specific modules (Media, Communication and Culture)

MDS-40001 Cultural Theory (30 credits, Semester 1)
The module aims to introduce students to and further develop their knowledge of cultural theory appropriate to the field of Media and Communications. It enables students to explore some of the major movements in cultural and screen media theory. The module introduces students to the theory and practice of reading culture in general as well as various specific forms and modes of cultural self-representation. Topics to be considered may include cultural history, subcultures, cybercultures, cultural geographies, modernity, postmodernism, (post-) feminism, postcolonialism, psychoanalysis, and ecocriticism

MDS-40003 Individual Research Orientation (30 credits, Semester 2)
The module aims to further students’ understanding of the research area or topic that has been chosen as the theme of the dissertation. It comprises individual study, directed by a reading programme drawn up by the student and their prospective supervisor, and the student works with their supervisor to plan and develop an essay topic. A literature review is usually completed to enable the student to situate their projected work within current disciplinary debates. It is the student’s responsibility to meet their supervisor regularly and determine what form the IRO assessment will take.

MDS-40002 (MCC) Dissertation (90 credits, studied throughout the course)
Depending on the area of research chosen, students research, plan and produce one of the following: A Dissertation of 20,000 words, supervised by an expert from their discipline, or: a Media Project, supervised by an expert from their discipline. The nature of this project and balance between practical and critical components are negotiated and agreed with the supervisor and approved by the appropriate research committee, but at least 25% of the submitted work should comprise an accompanying critical essay.

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Your career

Given its focus on research, the MRes provides an excellent foundation for further research, doctoral (PhD) training or academia, here in the UK, Europe or the rest of the world.

Support is available for CV-building and PhD applications alike, and there are work experience and internship opportunities available in the School, in addition to the wide range of extra-curricular activities, many organised by the Keele Postgraduate Association (KPA).

If you’ve not yet decided on a firm career, the course offers an opportunity to study and conduct research into a subject that fascinates you. The personal and professional skills you will learn include clear and analytical thinking, originality, problem-solving, persuasive writing and speaking, innovative questioning and effective reasoning, all of which can open a wide range of careers.

You will be equipped to excel in any role which values critical thinking, communications skills, and the gathering, assessment and analysis of data and evidence, working across the public, voluntary or private sector, for example, in the civil service, for non-governmental organisations (NGOs), think tanks or research institutes.

Our alumni go into a wide variety of professions, such as radio, journalism, teaching, archives, museums, politics, law, orchestras, music theatre houses, multimedia arts, advertising, and accounting.

Positions may include:

Academic
Author
Civil servant
Copywriter
Creative director
Curator
Events manager
Historian
Local government officer
Marketing executive
Novelist
Policy officer
PR officer
Social researcher
Teacher

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Teaching, learning and assessment

How you'll be taught

Your teaching and assessment may vary considerably, depending on how you tailor your programme and the Individual Research Orientation module in particular. With smaller-sized classes, our ethos is very much about learning co-operatively and supportively in a friendly, nurturing environment, sharing your ideas with tutors and peers and vice versa.

Typically, the taught elements of the course includes a combination of taught classes, lectures, seminars, large and small group work and guided independent study.

As a postgraduate student, you are also able to attend the School’s annual research seminar series, which will enable you to become involved in the School's research culture. Fascinating topics covered by past seminars have included 'Representing the White South in late-20th Century American Cinema' and 'Literature and Political Failure: Brecht in Exile 1933-47'.

You can also take advantage of the wide range of creative and cultural events and societies hosted at the University, courtesy of ArtsKeele, giving you access to valuable networks of professional contacts. The fortnightly Keele Hall Readings, for instance, recently featured acclaimed writer Okechukwu Nzelu, whose first book won a Betty Trask Award, and Caleb Parkin, self-proclaimed 'day-glo queero techno eco poet and facilitator'.

How you’ll be assessed

All MRes degrees culminate in the 20,000-word dissertation (or equivalent composition or artistic production). Assessment elsewhere varies depending on the modules chosen, but is likely to include written work in the form of essays, presentations, literature reviews, and research proposals. Criteria upon which you will be assessed is likely to include: research excellence evidenced by the quality of the material located and selected; your ability to produce clearly structured and coherently argued written work; the quality of your analytical, presentational and writing skills, as evidenced in the production of effective, thoughtful, sensitive and interesting prose.

You’ll be encouraged to attend dissertation workshops to develop writing skills, write reports of any research seminars you attend, and present your research proposals within your discipline cohort and to the wider humanities community in our annual research symposia.

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Keele Postgraduate Association

Keele University is one of a handful of universities in the UK to have a dedicated students' union for postgraduate students. A fully registered charity, Keele Postgraduate Association serves as a focal point for the social life and welfare needs of all postgraduate students during their time at Keele.

KPA interior

Hugely popular, the KPA Clubhouse (near Horwood Hall) provides a dedicated postgraduate social space and bar on campus, where you can grab a bite to eat and drink, sit quietly and read a book, or switch off from academic life at one of the many regular events organised throughout the year. The KPA also helps to host a variety of conferences, as well as other academic and career sessions, to give you and your fellow postgraduates the opportunities to come together to discuss your research, and develop your skills and networks.

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Our expertise

Teaching staff

The Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences is the largest of the three Faculties at Keele University. Our research and teaching focus on many and varied dimensions of human experience and on the full range of cultural, economic and social challenges we face in a fast-changing world. We draw on our progressive heritage to promote theoretically inventive scholarship that has the potential to transform the ways in which we engage with one another as human beings in contexts ranging from the local to the global.

We enjoy significant contributions from other academics within the University’s coCREATE network, which brings together researchers with a passion for public engagement together with local, national and international partners and communities. From large third-sector organisations to small charities and individual artists, each partner works with us to design and deliver public engagement activities to the wider community, whether here in the UK or globally. Local partners include B arts (Beavers Arts ltd), the New Vic theatre, Restoke and Urban Wilderness.

Staff on the Media pathway are recognised authorities in their specialist areas of theory and practice, and have held numerous project research grants from bodies such as the Arts and Humanities Research Council and the British Academy. Particular areas of research interest include: cultural politics, with a specific interest in cultural memory; digital and social media; news production; inequalities and exclusions within the media; feminist approaches to science and technology; global social movements; relationships between on and offline activism; alternative media; and uses of digital media to gain visibility; documentary film and environmental politics.

The David Bruce Centre for American Studies is an internationally recognised centre for the study of the United States, which supports seminars, conferences, colloquia, occasional lectures and small exhibits, and encourages postgraduate study by means of scholarships and research grants.

Teaching team includes:

All current teaching staff within the School of Humanities are involved in the MRes, and your supervisor will have expertise in the area in which you are interested. For current staff and their interests, see the School of Humanities webpages.

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Facilities

The School of Humanities delivers a wide range of undergraduate and postgraduate taught programmes in the discipline areas of English Literature/Creative Writing/English and American Literature, Film Studies, History, Media, Communications and Creative Practice, and Music and Music Technology. As well as traditional teaching spaces offering easy access to lecture and seminar rooms, library facilities and computer laboratories as appropriate, we also have an impressive range of specialist creative facilities.

Media Building

Open 24/7, the dedicated Media Building houses extensive digital media production facilities, including film and photography studios and digital post-production labs with access to professional media production equipment and software as part of the programme. They include:

Two Apple Macintosh labs with industry standard software such as Premiere Pro, Photoshop, QuarkXPress, Motion, Sound Pro and Live Type.
A range of professional digital video, photographic and sound equipment.
A professional photographic studio and print finishing room with large scale print equipment.
An exhibition space and workshop for the design of multimedia installations
A sound recording booth for voiceovers and podcasts.
A screening room with specialist surround sound environment.

Music Department

The Music Department hosts five studio areas with three computer music labs and areas for sound recording, mixing and mastering, surround sound, computer music composition, sound design, MIDI sequencing, audio-visual editing, film and videogames scoring. Access to the studios and practice rooms is available 24/7 via an electronic key system.

There are eight practice rooms, which each come with a piano, while five of them have grand pianos. There are dedicated rooms for drummers, popular music and jazz practice rooms with drum kits, PA systems, keyboards and guitar/bass amplification.

We have a motion capture facility with Octaphonic audio and two large rehearsal spaces for orchestras, bands and choirs, including the Keele University Chapel. We also offer a comprehensive range of software, including Logic Pro, Ableton Live Suite, Max MSP, Pro Tools, Sibelius and Final Cut Pro, and have a huge range of instruments and microphones available to record and/or loan.

Music and music technology facilities are housed within three sites, all within walking distance:

The Clock House: This beautiful early 19th century building features purpose-built studios for music technology, practice rooms, teaching spaces and offices. There are computer labs, project studios and a high-spec recording studio.
Lindsay Studios: Adjacent to the Music Department, this complex houses two large lecture areas with multimedia presentations and projection facilities. There is a recording studio with two live rooms, an isolation recording booth and large performance space. The Lindsay Recording Studio can be used to record anything from a soloist to a full orchestra.
The Chapel: Located in the heart of Campus, hosts a church organ, grand piano and an upright piano. The chapel is used for orchestra rehearsals, performances and recitals.

The Keele Music Forum organises recitals, workshops and research seminars. There are also numerous music societies you can get involved in through the Students’ Union, including four professionally-conducted societies – Keele Philharmonic Orchestra, Keele Voices, Keele Concert Band and Keele Brass Band.

The University also has its own art gallery, located in the Chancellor’s Building, which hosts an eclectic mix of exhibitions and events.

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