Program Overview

Radio, Audio and Podcasting MA

Overview

Radio and podcast production is still a major growth area in the audio sector and this master's course offers great opportunities to gain the skills required to stand out from the crowd. The course is integrated with our award-winning radio station, Spark Sunderland, and offers practical experience in radio production, presentation, and station management, alongside opportunities to create your own creative podcasts and podcasts for external clients.

Why us?

• We’re the only university in the North of England with a full-time community radio licence. We’re fully integrated into the multi award-winning Spark Sunderland.
• You’ll receive your own copy of a SADiE6, a high-end professional digital editing system, for the duration of the course, as well as receiving training and experience in using ProTools and other industry-standard editing systems for broadcast and podcasting
• Our academics are currently working in public service, commercial and community radio, podcasting, and audiobooks production

Course structure

Compared to an undergraduate course, you'll find that this master's degree requires a higher level of independent working. We use a wide variety of teaching and learning methods which include lectures, seminars, workshops, and practical demonstrations.

Your active involvement in our on-campus radio station, Spark Sunderland, is integral to your learning experience, as well as a commitment to practical podcast production projects. Theory and practice will go hand in hand as you plan, undertake, and evaluate projects, podcasts, and programmes.

You'll have high levels of contact with tutors, who give regular feedback and support, and you'll also work in groups to develop skills in communication and teamwork.

Assessment methods include essays, projects, presentations, and a major project/dissertation.

Course modules

Radio and Podcast Studies (30 credits)

Radio is a resilient medium, constantly reinventing itself, and the industry is evolving fast, creating new opportunities for audio producers in broadcast, online, and podcasting sectors. You'll be introduced to the contextual history of radio, radio studies, radio management and podcast studies and engage in current debates about radio, audio and podcasting. You'll develop critical reading and essay writing skills, knowledge and understanding of the different sectors of the UK radio and audio industries. You'll also develop skills and awareness of key roles in radio, producing and managing content and people, in community radio and other broadcast/online projects in the mediaHUB and our multi-award winning University community radio station, Spark.

Radio and Podcast Production (30 credits)

The expansion of podcasting means that creative audio skills are more relevant than ever. Learn the core skills you need to plan and produce creative work for established radio networks and these new digital spaces. Gain the research and production skills to enable you to develop and produce your own portfolio of audio content, including skills in visualisation. We will also give experiences to help you navigate the process used to pitch skills to the BBC, where you will get feedback from experienced producers. The BBC have commissioned programmes pitched to this module including ‘The Egg Dealer’ and ‘A Journey Through English’. Will your idea be next?

Audio Industry Project (30 credits)

Whether you intend to work in the BBC, in commercial radio, in podcasting or as a freelance creative producer, this module will enable you to develop and realise audio, radio and podcasting projects. These projects will be supported by visiting industry speakers and workshops that will develop your knowledge and skills of managing programming, broadcast and online content, people, partnerships and resources. You will also explore business opportunities within the creative audio sector and develop skills to evaluate and critique your work and develop critical management skills for different sectors of the radio, audio and podcasting industries. Media Law and compliance workshops with direct relevance to broadcast and online will prepare you for identifying potential issues and pitfalls in live and prerecorded work.

Advanced Radio and Podcast Production (30 credits)

This module will teach you the skills to make your podcast stand out amongst the boundless competition; the radio industry may feel like a gated community but we’ll give you the keys to unlock your potential in creative audio production. You will take your podcast and radio production skills to the next level – producing creative content for Spark and other distribution platforms. You will create a portfolio of work that challenges the current and established formats in the audio industry and beyond.

Radio, Audio and Podcasting Masters Project (60 credits)

In this final module, you will consolidate your experiences into a final project that showcases your skills as a content creator. It might be that you want to produce creative drama, or explore stories or ideas through documentary. You might want to show your skills as a live radio producer by creating work on Spark, or even manage projects at the station. Equally, you could use that great podcast idea you have and produce it as part your first step into the world of freelancing. But, don’t be limited by our ideas, this is your chance to make your mark and develop your niche!

Facilities

The David Puttnam Media Centre is a thriving place to study and experience media. We are the is the only university in the North of England with a full-time community radio licence. Spark Sunderland broadcasts from our purpose-built studios. Rub shoulders with BBC Newcastle and Tyne & Wear TV, who are both based in the building. Volunteer with award winning Spark Sunderland, write for one of our suite of websites or edit Spark Magazine in our MediaHUB. Get hands on in TV and Radio Studios, Journalism and Digital editing suites. Learn from experts in this centre of excellence for training.

Entry requirements

Our typical offer is:

• Qualification | Minimum grade
  • a bachelor's degree (3 years) | 2:2 classification

If you already hold a postgraduate qualification, please see our Applying for additional postgraduate degrees Help and Advice article.

If you don't meet our standard entry requirements, you can take one of the foundation pathways at our partners ONCAMPUS Sunderland. Find out more information and whether your course is eligible on our ONCAMPUS page.

If your qualification is not listed above, please contact the Student Administration team at for further advice.

Applications are welcome from holders of an honours degree in a relevant subject. All applicants should be able to demonstrate practical, critical, and conceptual skills.

Students requiring the necessary practical skills are encouraged to attend undergraduate modules in radio or the Radio Summer School.

If English isn't your first language, you'll need an International English Language Testing System (IELTS) overall score of 6.5, with at least 5.5 in each component: reading, writing, listening, and speaking (or equivalent).

After 6 April 2015, you must take your IELTS exams at one of the test centres listed on the UKVI website. If you took your IELTS exam before 6 April 2015, this doesn't apply, and your qualification is still valid regardless of which test centre you used.

Fees and finance

Full-time fees are:

• £9,000 if you're from the UK/Europe
• £17,000 if you're an international student

Part-time fees are £500 per 10 credits. Please note that part-time courses aren't available to international students who require a student visa to study in the UK.

Take a look at the scholarships and bursaries that may be available to you.

This information was correct at the time of publication.

Career ready

Postgraduates are highly employable and, on average, earn more than individuals whose highest qualification is an undergraduate degree. On completing this course, you'll be equipped for roles in the radio industry, and also throughout the broader media industry.

Recent graduates have moved into jobs at a variety of radio stations and companies, including BBC Radio 1, 6Music, 5live, BBC Radio Drama, Sun FM, Metro Radio, and BBC Newcastle.

Our former students are also employed at radio stations in Europe, the USA, and Australia.