Program Overview

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Overview

The Cross-Cultural Communication and Media Studies MA offers theory, research, and practical training in media studies and intercultural communication. This covers approaches to understanding journalism, public relations practice, and cultural studies.

What You'll Learn

• Language and communication: Applied linguistics academic staff from the School of Education, Communication and Language Sciences deliver this strand. It comprises one compulsory module and a number of optional modules available to all cross-cultural communication students.
• Media studies pathway-specific modules: Media and cultural studies academic staff from the School of Arts and Cultures deliver the media studies strand of taught modules. You'll study with other media students.

Modules

You will study modules on this course. A module is a unit of a course with its own approved aims and outcomes and assessment methods.

• Compulsory Modules:
  • Research Portfolio
  • Introduction to Intercultural Communication
  • News and Media Analysis
• Optional Modules:
  • The Social Psychology of Communication
  • Sociolinguistics
  • Professional Communication in Intercultural Settings
  • English in the World
  • Language and Social Interaction
  • Multimodal Communication
  • Multilingualism
  • Media and Promotional Cultures
  • Cultures of Data Visualization
  • Digital Politics, Communication, and AI

How You'll Learn

Delivery and teaching methods:

• In-person lectures
• In-person small group teaching
• In-person small group workshops
• Online lecture videos and activities
• Online interactive lessons

Assessment methods:

• Case study
• Computer assessment
• Essay
• Oral presentation
• Portfolio
• Reflective log
• Research proposal
• Research paper
• Written exercise

Your Development

You'll develop a range of skills valued in media and PR roles, such as:

• The ability to deliver and evaluate a PR event in the public, private and voluntary sectors
• Skills to set up a campaign network and deliver PR campaign messages
• Skills to produce effective press releases and script, shoot and edit digital films
• Skills to produce news reports in a range of media forms
• Skills to script, shoot and edit digital films

Your Future

The Cross-Cultural Communication and Media Masters course is relevant if you wish to study communication, language and culture, especially in the context of media and public relations. The course will prepare you for work in international and intercultural environments.

Quality and Ranking

• 42% of our research is classified as 4* world-leading research – Research Excellence Framework 2021
• 65% increase in research power since 2014 – Research Excellence Framework 2021
• Global Top 140 University – QS World University Rankings 2026
• Global Top 160 University - Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2025
• Top 125 for Social Sciences – Times Higher Education World University Rankings by Subject 2025
• Top 150 for Communication and Media Studies - QS World University Rankings by Subject 2025
• Top 25 in the UK and Top 100 in the world for sustainable development – Times Higher Education Impact Rankings 2024

Facilities

As a student in the School of Education, Communication and Language Sciences, you'll have access to facilities and a growing collection of online resources, including:

• A well-stocked Education Resource Centre
• A language analysis lab
• A phonetics lab
• An audio-video lab
• A recording studio

Fees and Funding

Tuition fees for 2026 entry (per year)

• Qualification: MA Full time
  • Home students: Full time: 12 months, Tuition fees (per year) £11,400
  • International students: Full time: 12 months, Tuition fees (per year) £25,900
• Qualification: MA Part time
  • Home students: Part time: 24 months, Tuition fees (per year) £5,700

Entry Requirements

Academic entry requirements

A 2:1 honours degree, or international equivalent, in the following disciplines:

• Anthropology
• Communication
• Ethnography
• Intercultural Communication
• International Relations
• Linguistics
• Philosophy
• Psychology
• Politics
• Social Anthropology
• Social Psychology
• Sociology
• TESOL
• Modern Foreign Languages
• Journalism
• Media Studies
• Public Relations

English Language requirements

Select your qualification:

• IELTS
• Pearson
• Duolingo English Test
• TOEFL
• Other
• Pre-Sessional Entry - 6 weeks
• Pre-Sessional Entry - 10 weeks

Admissions policy

This policy applies to all undergraduate and postgraduate admissions at Newcastle University. It is intended to provide information about our admissions policies and procedures to applicants and potential applicants, to their advisors and family members, and to staff of the University.

Credit transfer and Recognition of Prior Learning

Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) can allow you to convert existing relevant university-level knowledge, skills and experience into credits towards a qualification. Find out more about the RPL policy which may apply to this course.

Pre-Master’s and English Language courses

Need an alternative route to study this course? Our International Study Centre offers Pre-Master’s degrees and English language courses to prepare you for study.

How to Apply

Before you start

• Start Dates: The course starts in September.
• Closing Dates: There is no application closing date for this course.
• Deposit: If you are an international student or a student from the EU, EEA or Switzerland and you need a visa to study in the UK, you must pay a deposit of £1,500 or submit an official letter of sponsorship.

Programme codes

• Qualification: MA Full time, Programme Code: 4070F
• Qualification: MA Part time, Programme Code: 4070P

Using the application portal

The application portal has instructions to guide you through your application. It will tell you what documents you need and how to upload them. You can choose to start your application, save your details and come back to complete it later.