Program Overview

---

1 year, full-time

This is for you if... you want to explore advertising in its complexity and in a global perspective, as a cultural phenomenon that plays a crucial role in contemporary society.

Course information

Tuition Fees

• UK fee: £9,550
• International fee: £21,400

Taught by

Media and Communication

20% alumni discount

International student information

Course description

The MA Media and Advertising will equip you with both the theoretical and the practical research skills to understand and critically evaluate one of the most creative promotional industries in the world: advertising. You will explore this dynamic phenomenon from different standpoints and use multidisciplinary approaches deriving from Media, Communication and Cultural Studies, as well as Marketing and Consumer Studies.

The course covers a range of topics, including:

• the role of advertising in media and consumer societies (history, industry and issues)
• the ubiquity of promotional culture (political advertising, public service advertising, branding, anti-consumer movements, etc.)
• the importance of researching advertising messages and campaigns using a variety of methods
• the position of advertising in the marketing toolkit available to companies
• the necessity to understand consumers' behaviour

You will also explore advertising from the standpoint of Marketing and Consumer Behaviour, and explore the relevant key concepts and practices. You will investigate how advertising promotes brand awareness and influences consumers' decision making processes. You will gain an understanding of the creative strategies used in advertising and the use of research in relation to advertising effectiveness, as well as the ability to work and be assessed on live creative briefs and advertising research projects. During the course you will also have the opportunity to hear guest speakers from the industry, who will share their valuable experiences with you.

Entry requirements

• 2:2 degree or equivalent professional qualification.
• We can give special consideration to applicants who have significant work experience in a relevant field.

English Language Requirements

• IELTS 6.5 or equivalent.
• If your first language is not English, you may need to provide evidence of your English language ability.
• If you do not yet meet our requirements, our English Language Teaching Unit (ELTU) offers a range of courses to help you to improve your English to the necessary standard.

International Qualifications

Find your country in this list to check equivalent qualifications, scholarships and additional requirements.

Careers and employability

Our Masters degree will demonstrate to potential employers that you have an in-depth knowledge of advertising, its working mechanisms and its global industry, which can help you to stand out in the job market. Our programme has a strong emphasis on international content and research methods, which will have a practical application in the professional world.

Some of the key career destinations include advertising agencies, advertising research institutes, companies, as well as international media outlets, news agencies, government departments (e.g. publicity, education, health) and PR agencies, amongst others.

Course structure

Core modules

• Advertising and Society
• Media Research Methods
• Advertising Analysis
• Advertising and Promotion in the Digital Age
• Promotional Cultures
• Advertising for a Client

Plus your Media and Communication Dissertation

Option modules

Choose one option module from:

• Media Audiences and Users
• Researching Media and Public Communication
• Advertising Creativity
• Critical Approaches to Data Analytics and the Digital Economy
• Digital Media, Online Persuasion and Behavioural Change
• Strategic Communications Management
• Gender Politics in Contemporary Media
• Digital Media in Everyday Life

Dissertation

You will be required to complete a dissertation on a topic of your choice in the area of advertising and media, allowing you to focus on a particular topic that interests you. You will be able to apply the skills you have developed throughout the degree in the management of an advertising-related research project, the analysis of advertising materials and data, and the application of the most relevant critical advertising theories and studies.

Key dates

• Application deadline: 8 September 2025 (Please note if you require a visa to study you will be required to submit your course application by 25 July 2025)
• Deposit payment deadline: 8 August 2025
• CAS request deadline: 5 September 2025
• 70% tuition payment deadline: 5 September 2025

University Information

The University of Leicester received a gold rating in Teaching Excellence Framework 2023. This means our student experience and student outcomes are typically outstanding.

Legal and Other Information

The University of Leicester is a registered charity. For further information about the University, its charitable status, and its charitable objectives, please see our website. For information about how to make a complaint or a compliment, please see our website. For information about how we use your personal data, please see our website. For information about how we protect your data, please see our website.