Program Overview

Introduction to the Media and Communication MA

The MA Media and Communication programme offers a comprehensive framework to study important contemporary issues and challenges, such as digital media innovations, the changing character of media and creative industries, the rise of big data and AI, concerns about disinformation, and the politics of representation. The programme will also provide students with the opportunity to apply their skills and knowledge on a real-world project undertaken in collaboration with a range of media organisations and external partners.

Qualification(s) available: MA

• Fees: Dependent on start date. See below.
• Scholarships available
• Entry requirements: 2:2+ (55%)
• Full-time: 1 year
• Part-time: 2 years
• Location: Loughborough
• Start date: October 2025 or October 2026
• Department: Communication and Media

Why you should choose us

• Top 100 in the world for Communication and Media Studies QS World University Rankings by Subject 2025
• 100% of Communication, Culture and Media research impact rated 'world-leading' Research Excellence Framework 2021
• Linked to Research Centre of Excellence Centre for Research in Communication and Culture
• 1st in the UK for Communication and Media Studies The Complete University Guide 2026
• 1st in the UK for Communication and Media Studies The Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2025
• Top 10 in the UK for Graduate Prospects in Communication and Media Studies The Complete University Guide 2026
• 4th in the UK for Media and Film Studies The Guardian University Guide 2025

What you'll study

The following information is intended as an example only and is typically based on module information for the 2025/26 year of entry. Modules are reviewed on an annual basis and may be subject to future changes. Updated Programme and Module Specifications are made available ahead of each academic year. Please also see Terms and Conditions of Study for more information.

Semester 1

Compulsory

• Understanding Contemporary Media (15 credits)
• Media Industries and Professions (15 credits)
• Digital Economies (15 credits)
• Researching Communications 1: Media Users and Cultural Industries (15 credits)

Semester 2

Compulsory

• Media Representations, Identity and Digital Culture (15 credits)
• Researching Communications 2: Texts and Digital Platforms (15 credits)

Optional

• Choose two optional modules:
  • Political Communication in the Digital Age (15 credits)
  • Data, Power and Democracy (15 credits)
  • Cultural Memory and the Heritage Industries (15 credits)

Semester 3

• Postgraduate Dissertation (60 credits) or Workplace Focused Dissertation (60 credits)

How you'll be assessed

You will be assessed through a variety of coursework, including essays and reports. The final assessment is a poster presentation and a dissertation, based on an original research project carried out with one-to-one guidance from a supervisor.

How you'll study

You will study through a range of seminars, lectures, tutorials, independent study and group work.

Where you'll study

The programme is based at Loughborough University.

Entry requirements

Our entry requirements are listed using standard UK undergraduate degree classifications i.e. first-class honours, upper second-class honours and lower second-class honours. To learn the equivalent for your country, please choose it from the drop-down below.

Entry requirements for United Kingdom

A 2:2 honours degree with 55% or above (or equivalent international qualification), in a wide range of subjects across diverse disciplines, such as English, the social sciences, humanities and business. Professional experience will be considered.

Country / region equivalent

• Afghanistan: Masters, 95%
• Albania: Diplomë e Nivelit të Pare, 9.5
• Algeria: Licence, 16
• Argentina: Licenciatura, 8.5
• Armenia: Bakalavri Kochum, 90%
• Australia: Honours degree, First Class, 80%
• Austria: Degree / Diplomstudium, A (or 1.5)
• Azerbaijan: Bakalavr Diplomu, 4.5
• Bahamas: Degree from University of the West Indies, 1st (GPA 3.6)
• Bahrain: GPA 4.0 scale, 3.5
• Bangladesh: 4 Year Bachelor of Science in Engineering, 1st (70%)
• Barbados: University of the West Indies, Honours degree, 1st (GPA 3.6)
• Belarus: Specialist Diploma, 9
• Belgium: Bachelor degree, 80%
• Belize: Degree from University of the West Indies, 1st (GPA 3.6)
• Benin: Maitrise, 18
• Bermuda: Degree from University of the West Indies, 1st (GPA 3.6)
• Bolivia: Licenciado, 85%
• Bosnia and Herzegovina: Diplom Visokog Obrazovanja, 10
• Botswana: Master's degree, A or 80%
• Brazil: Bacharel or Licenciado, 8.5
• Brunei: First Class, 80%
• Bulgaria: Diploma za Zavarsheno Visshe Obrazovanie, 6
• Burundi: Diplome d'Etude Approfondies, 18
• Cambodia: Master's degree, 80%
• Cameroon: Bachelor degree, 1st / 3.6
• Canada: GPA 4.0/Percentage, 3.7/85%
• Chile: Grado de Licenciado, 6
• China: Bachelor degree, 83%
• Colombia: Licenciado, 4.5
• Costa Rica: Licenciado, 9
• Croatia: Baccalaureus, 4.5
• Cuba: Titulo de Licenciado, 5
• Cyprus: Bachelor degree, 8.5
• Czech Republic: Bakalár, 1
• Denmark: Candidatus/Candidata Magisterii, 12
• Dominican Republic: Licenciado, 3.8
• Ecuador: Titulo de Licenciado, 8.5
• Egypt: Bachelor degree, 3.5
• El Salvador: Licenciado, 90%
• Estonia: Bakalaureusekraad, 5
• Ethiopia: Master's degree, A or 80%
• Finland: Kandidaattii, 3
• France: Licence, 14
• Georgia: Bachelor degree, 5
• Germany: German Bachelor, 1.5
• Ghana: Bachelor degree, First Class
• Greece: Ptychio, 8.5
• Grenada: Degree from University of the West Indies, 1st (GPA 3.6)
• Guatemala: Licenciado, 90%
• Guyana: Master's degree, GPA 4
• Honduras: Titulo de Licenciado, 91
• Hong Kong: Bachelor degree, First Class
• Hungary: Alapfokozt, 4.5
• Iceland: Baccalaurreatus degree, 8.5
• India: Bachelor degree, 65%
• Indonesia: Sarjana I, 3.3
• Iran: Bachelor degree, 17
• Iraq: Bachelor degree, 80%
• Ireland: Bachelor degree, First Class
• Israel: Bachelor degree, 90%
• Italy: Diploma di Laurea, 109/110
• Ivory Coast: Diplome d'Etude Approfondies, 16
• Jamaica: Degree from University of the West Indies, 1st (GPA 3.6)
• Japan: Bachelor degree, 3.5
• Jordan: Bachelor degree, 3.5
• Kazakhstan: Bachelor degree, 4.5
• Kenya: Bachelor degree, First Class
• Kosovo: Bachelor degree, 10
• Kuwait: Bachelor degree, 3.6
• Latvia: Bachelor degree, 9
• Lebanon: Bachelor degree, 90%
• Liberia: Master's degree, 4.0
• Libya: Bachelor degree, 85%
• Lithuania: Bachelor degree, 9
• Luxembourg: Bachelor degree, 18
• Macau: Bachelor degree, First Class
• Macedonia: Magistar, 10
• Malawi: Master's degree, A or 80%
• Malaysia: Bachelor degree, First Class
• Malta: Bachelor degree, 1st (80%)
• Mauritius: Bachelor degree, 1st (70%)
• Mexico: Licenciado, 8.5
• Moldova: Diploma de Licenţă, 9
• Mongolia: Diplom, 90%
• Montenegro: Diplomirani, 10
• Morocco: Diplôme d'Ingénieur d'État, 16
• Mozambique: Mestrado, 16
• Myanmar (Burma): Master's degree, 5
• Namibia: Bachelor Honours, 80%
• Nepal: Bachelor degree, 80%
• Netherlands: Bachelor degree, 8
• New Zealand: Bachelor Honours, First Class
• Nicaragua: Licenciado, 90%
• Nigeria: Bachelor degree, First Class
• Norway: Bachelor degree, A
• Oman: Bachelor degree, 3.5
• Pakistan: Bachelor degree, A-
• Palestine: Bachelor degree, 3.5
• Panama: Licenciado, 91
• Papua New Guinea: Bachelor Honours, 1st
• Paraguay: Licenciado, 4.5
• Peru: Licenciado, 14
• Philippines: Bachelor degree, Summa Cum Laude
• Poland: Magister, 5
• Portugal: Licenciado, 18
• Qatar: Bachelor degree, 3.5
• Romania: Diplomă de Licență, 9
• Russia: Bakalavr, 4.5
• Rwanda: Bachelor degree, 1st
• Saudi Arabia: Bachelor degree, 3.5
• Senegal: Diplôme d'Etude Approfondies, 16
• Serbia: Diplomirani, 9
• Sierra Leone: Bachelor degree, 1st
• Singapore: Bachelor degree, First Class
• Slovakia: Bakalár, 1.5
• Slovenia: Univerzitetni diplom, 9
• South Africa: Bachelor Honours, 1st
• South Korea: Bachelor degree, 3.8
• Spain: Licenciado, 8.5
• Sri Lanka: Bachelor Special, 90%
• Sudan: Bachelor degree, 1st
• Sweden: Kandidatexamen, Overall grade of VG
• Switzerland: Bachelor degree, 10
• Syria: Bachelor degree, 80%
• Taiwan: Bachelor degree, 80%
• Tajikistan: Diplom, 5
• Tanzania: Bachelor degree, 1st
• Thailand: Bachelor degree, 3.5
• Trinidad and Tobago: Degree from University of the West Indies, 1st (GPA 3.6)
• Tunisia: Licence, 16
• Turkey: Lisans Diplomasi, 3.5
• Turkmenistan: Bakalavr, 5
• Uganda: Bachelor degree, 1st
• Ukraine: Dyplom Magistra, 4.5
• United Arab Emirates: Bachelor degree, 3.5
• United States of America: Bachelor degree, 3.5
• Uruguay: Licenciado, 9
• Uzbekistan: Magistr Diplomi, 90%
• Venezuela: Licenciado, 18
• Vietnam: Bachelor degree, 8.0
• Zambia: Master's degree, A or 80%
• Zimbabwe: Bachelor degree, 1st

Fees and funding

Fees for the 2025-2026 academic year

• UK fee: £12,500 Full-time degree per annum
• International fee: £25,500 Full-time degree per annum

Fees for the 2026-2027 academic year

• UK fee: £12,900 Full-time degree per annum
• International fee: £26,300 Full-time degree per annum

Fees for the 2025-2026 academic year apply to courses starting in October 2025 or January 2026. Fees for the 2026-2027 academic year apply to courses starting in October 2026.

Scholarships and bursaries

There are scholarships and bursaries available to help with funding your study.

10% off tuition fees

Loughborough University Alumni Bursary

20% off tuition fees

Excellence Scholarship

Your development

We are committed to helping you develop the skills and attributes needed to progress successfully in your chosen career.

On completion of this programme, you will be able to:

• Critically evaluate a range of academic and public communication sector case studies and sources.
• Communicate effectively to specialist and non-specialist audiences.
• Effectively design online campaigns as if working in the public communication sector.
• Plan, organise and manage, with appropriate supervision, a significant self-directed project.
• Work flexibly, creatively and independently, displaying a high degree of self-direction and initiative.
• Deploy your independent learning ability required for continuing professional development
• Use skills and abilities expected of a professional in the public communication sector.

Our academics

• Dr Taeyoung Kim, Lecturer in Communication and Media
• Dr Marco Pino, Reader in Communication and Social Interaction
• Professor Sabina Mihelj, Professor of Media and Cultural Analysis
• Professor Vaclav Stetka, Professor of Media and Political Communication

Your future career

This MA is ideal for those wanting to prepare for a career in the media and communication industries or to conduct further post-graduate research.

It will prepare students for employment in diverse professional environments through a combination of independent work and industry exposure. It will equip students with a range of transferable research and analytic skills applicable to the media and communication professions and industries.