Program Overview

International Communication - Liaison and Advocacy MA

Overview

Our International Communication, Liaison and Advocacy MA is a dynamic, pioneering interdisciplinary course, which meets the demand for greater professionalism in interpersonal and inter-institutional bilingual communication in an international arena.

Course Structure

• You'll take five core modules, four taught and one research-based.
• Your research component is an important element of the course. You can choose to write a Dissertation or you can take International Partnership Management, where you apply your knowledge and expertise by simulating a collaborative international project and devising a communication strategy for it.
• To complete the MA, you need to choose two out of three option modules.

Core Modules

Dissertation OR International Partnership Management

• You can choose to write a Dissertation or to take the International Partnership Management module.
• Dissertation: You’ll work on the development, execution, and writing-up of an independent research project on a topic of your choice. All students will attend regular research seminars. Individual supervision will provide topic-specific guidance.
• International Partnership Management: As the culmination of the MA, this module will give you the opportunity to demonstrate not only your understanding of how theories apply in the real world, but also to show a wide range of research and international communications competences that will serve you in the workplace. Here you’ll have the opportunity to develop and enhance your research competences in a professional rather than a purely academic context. Through your research, you’ll identify a collaborative international business, network or project opportunity on behalf of an employer. You’ll then devise appropriate advocacy, management and communication strategies for the successful implementation of the partnership you have created. The module outputs are in three parts: an initial proposal to the tutors, a project report and a commentary. In this way the module will bring together the theories you’ll have studied throughout the MA, communication competences and linguistic sensitivity as well as demonstrating your own critical and reflective abilities.
• 60 credits

International Liaison and Advocacy

• This module aims to develop the communication skills necessary to facilitate interaction and engagement in global and bilingual professional settings. It considers current theories and concepts that underpin communication and co-operation in international and transnational contexts and examines the role of international organisations, both inter-governmental and international NGOs in promoting global collaboration in various fields. It provides the knowledge and competencies needed to operate successfully in multi-cultural environments and examines, simulates and critically evaluates the techniques and strategies required to facilitate global bilingual advocacy and international partnerships. It also examines the ethical dimensions and challenges of international liaison. Particular emphasis is placed on the enactment of the role of the international liaison official as facilitator, negotiator, advocate, and representative of others.
• 20 credits

Principles and Practice of International Communication

• This module introduces the key theories of international communication that underpin the MA, and considers how they are applied to current environments. Topics include world system theory, cultural imperialism, language and power and the impact of the rise in the use of technology. As well as analysing the application of these theories in relevant contexts such as international business, public diplomacy and NGOs, the module encourages you to reflect on your own competences and strategies as an international communicator - in both face to face and virtual scenarios, and how you can develop them so as to succeed in increasingly fluid multilingual international contexts.
• 20 credits

Intercultural Communication

• The module examines a wide range of theorists of intercultural communication and how these can be used to explore concepts of identity and communication strategies. You‘ll be encouraged to explore your own cultural background and how this may impact of your own world views and understandings. You’ll also examine the kinds of challenges that international and intercultural communication can involve and the communication skills and strategies that can be used to cope with those challenges. The module will also require you to apply theories and models critically with a view to refining your own intercultural behaviour in personal and professional contexts.
• 20 credits

Global Challenges and Counter Narratives

• The module will provide you with an understanding of crucial aspects of ‘issues that transcend national boundaries and cannot be resolved by any one country acting alone’ (UN). You’ll look at key political debates and challenges in our current Century, with a focus on human rights protection and international justice through, for instance, the study of migration pathways and refugees’ struggles. After engaging with dominant ideologies and policies, the module will give you an opportunity to observe how global challenges and related ‘crises’ are conveyed through international media, such as mainstream press, digital platforms, etc. The second part of the module will address forms of counter narratives and resistance to the hegemonic discourses; these will include actions of solidarity, advocacy, and resistance that will be analysed through the study of activism, protests, and artworks. Issues of identity formation, belonging, and citizenship will be discussed in relation to different forms of representation and communication. The module will host a series of guest lectures with experts working in and around global challenges (including NGOs, governmental organisations, collectives and artists).
• 20 credits

Option Modules

International Organisations and Institutional Discourse

• This module aims to develop a critical understanding of the interaction between language, discourse and power, as it is projected in an institutional communication context. The module is designed to help linguists and communicators to analyse a number of social interactions (speeches, interviews, etc.), institutional discourses (European Union and United Nations) and to reflect on their own discourse building competences in a professional institutional context. The module supports linguists and communicators in understanding how institutional narratives are created and developed.
• 20 credits

Language in Society

• This module examines concepts and issues in sociolinguistics; research methods; languages and factors such as age, class, gender, ethnicity; language variation, choice, planning, change; language in face to face interaction.
• 20 credits

Multilingualism: Concepts and Applications

• This module will introduce you to the major theoretical frameworks for studying language contact by exploring the different processes, causes, types, effects, and outcomes that emerge from contact contexts: e.g. bilingualism, pidginization, creolisation, diglossia, borrowing, code-switching, linguistic change. The module adopts a cross-linguistic perspective and will include contexts ranging from dominant language ecologies to cases of severe language endangerment.
• 20 credits

Professional Recognition

• The University of Westminster is a Higher Education Language partner of the Chartered Institute of Linguists.

Entry Requirements

• A minimum of a lower second class honours degree (2:2). Applicants must offer two languages, including English; you must be an habitual user or fluent in one language, and be capable of listening, speaking and reading in the other language to at least Council of Europe Level B2/C1. Applicants must also demonstrate valid reasons for wishing to study the course, understanding of the nature and demands of the course and the conceptual and intellectual foundations needed to study at postgraduate level. Applicants may be invited to an interview.
• If your first language is not English you should have an IELTS 6.5 with at least 6.0 in all components.
• Applicants are required to submit one academic or professional reference.

Fees and Funding

• UK tuition fee: £9,900 (Price per academic year)
• International tuition fee: £18,000 (Price per academic year)
• Alumni discount: This course is eligible for an alumni discount. Find out if you are eligible and how to apply by visiting our Alumni discounts page.
• Funding: There is a range of funding available that may help you fund your studies, including Student Finance England (SFE).
• Scholarships: The University is dedicated to supporting ambitious and outstanding students and we offer a variety of scholarships to eligible postgraduate students.

Teaching and Assessment

• Teaching methods across all our postgraduate courses focus on active student learning through lectures, seminars, workshops, problem-based and blended learning, and where appropriate practical application.
• Our postgraduate courses include a variety of assessments, which typically fall into two broad categories: Practical and Coursework.

Research Groups

• Our research achieves real-world impact and we are proud to claim a rich and diverse profile of high-quality research and knowledge exchange in a wide range of disciplines.
• Find out more about our research groups related to this course: HOMELandS (Hub on Migration, Exile, Languages and Spaces)

Supporting You

• Our Student Hub is where you’ll find out about the services and support we offer, helping you get the best out of your time with us.
• Study support – workshops, 1-2-1 support and online resources to help improve your academic and research skills
• Personal tutors – support you in fulfilling your academic and personal potential
• Student advice team – provide specialist advice on a range of issues including funding, benefits and visas
• Extra-curricular activities – volunteering opportunities, sports and fitness activities, student events and more

Course Location

• Our Regent Campus is composed of three sites, situated on and around Regent Street – one of the most famous and vibrant streets in London.
• Our Humanities subjects are based at 309 Regent Street, which includes recently refurbished social spaces, gym facilities and our Regent Street Cinema.