Media, Communications and Critical Practice

Overview

The MA Media, Communications and Critical Practice programme at University of the Arts London (UAL) integrates the study of media theory with creative and professional practice.

You will be encouraged to think critically about the role of media in the digital age, exploring emergent problems and challenges through your engagement with key theories of media, culture and communication alongside a range of creative media practices.

You will gain a sound understanding of key theories of media and communications and apply your knowledge and critical perspective to a wide range of case studies. You will investigate how global media production, circulation and consumption relate to issues of diversity, equality and identity, as well as to environmental and ethical challenges.

You will be encouraged to express your ideas and solve problems through a range of creative media practices. Working with images, texts, sound, and data, you will learn how to produce different types of media content for different purposes, and explore the social and cultural impacts of your interventions.

What can you expect?

• High quality, interactive teaching, in the form of lectures, seminars, workshops, and external visits.
• Dynamic project briefs, relevant to emergent issues in the media and communications sector.
• Introduction to a range of visual and print-based creative media skills, including video production, blogging, podcasting, and digital image production.
• Access to the college’s Kit Room and Digital Space, and support in using technical resources.
• Opportunities to implement practice-based projects through collaboration with students from other courses and/or partners outside the university.
• Flexibility in your programme of study, through the selection of preferred topics, media, and methods of enquiry.
• Opportunities for networking with industry professionals and creatives, through our Industry Speaker Series.
• Individual support from lecturers who are active in research and/or creative practice.

Work experience and opportunities

Professional practice is a key element of the course. You’ll be introduced to new perspectives on employment in the creative industries and be supported in organising a work placement or implementing an industry-focused research project.

Previous work placement hosts include:  

• Abbott Mead Vickers BBDO
• AKA Promotions
• BBC World Service
• British Science Association
• The Canary
• Dazed
• GGHQ Fashion Intelligence
• Grazia
• IPR London
• NME
• Talk Radio
• twelveNYC
• United Nations
• Unity PR and communications agency