MSc Media, Communication and Development

The main aim of the programme is to offer an advanced interdisciplinary education and training in contemporary theory and research in the field of media, communication and development, and their application in the Global South, with a particular emphasis on low income country contexts.

The programme will enable you to critically examine the intersection of the fields of media and communications and development research. You'll develop an understanding of a range of theoretical and methodological approaches to the study of development, media and communication. The programme will provide you with research training, which will prove valuable if you wish to go on to pursue MPhil/PhD research in the media, communication and development field, and will prepare you for work in a variety of media, communication and development related careers.

Here are some suggested readings that will prove helpful to you in preparing for your arrival at LSE, and for finding out about courses you may be interested in taking.

Don't feel you have to read everything on the list - the intention is simply to give you an idea of the level and range of material covered.

Most of these books are available in the library and we don't expect you to buy these.

• Artz, L. and Kamalipour, Y. (eds.) (2003) The Globalisation of Corporate Media Hegemony, Albany: State University of New York Press.
• Baaz, M. E. 2005. The Paternalism of Partnership: A Postcolonial Reading of Identity and Development Aid. London and New York, Zed Books
• Bailey, O., Cammaerts, B. and Carpentier, N. (2007) Understanding Alternative Media, Maidenhead: Open University Press.
• Banaji, S. (ed.) (2010) South Asian Media Cultures: Representations, Audiences, Contexts, London and New York: Anthem Press.
• Comaroff, J. and J. L. Comaroff (2012). Theory from the south, or, how Euro-America is evolving toward Africa. Boulder, CO: Paradigm Publishers.
• Downing, J., with Ford, T. V., Gil, G. and Stein, L. (2001) Radical Media: Rebellious Communication and Social Movements, London: Sage.
• Eagleton, T. (1991) Ideology: An Introduction, London: Verso.
• Escobar, A. (1995) Encountering Development: The Making and Unmaking of the Third World, New Jersey: Princeton University Press.
• Fanon, F (1965) A Dying Colonialism, New York: Grove Press.
• Freire, P (1972) Pedagogy of the oppressed, London: Penguin Books.
• Galeano, E. 1973. Open Veins of Latin America: Five Centuries of the Pillage of a Continent. New York and London: Monthly Review Press.
• Guijt, Irene, and Meera Kaul Shah, eds. 1998. The Myth of Community: Gender Issues in Participatory Development. London, UK: Intermediate Technology Publications.
• Hall, S. (ed.) (1997) Representation: Cultural Representations and Signifiying Practices, Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications.
• Hemer, O and Tufte, T (2003) Media and Glocal Change: Rethinking Communication for Development, Gšteborg and Buenos Aires: NORDICOM and CLASCO.
• Hickey, S and Mohan, G. 2004. Participation: From Tyranny to Transformation? Exploring New Approaches to Participation in Development, London and New York: ZED Books.
• Kapoor, I. (2008). The Postcolonial Politics of Development. London and New York: Routledge.
• Lukes, S. (1974/2005) Power: A Radical View, London: British Sociological Association.
• Manyozo, L (2011) Engaging Communities Using Radio: Sustainable Development in Africa, Penang, Malasia: Southbound.
• Manyozo, L. (2012). Media, Communication and Development: Three Approaches. London: Sage.
• Melkote, S. R. and Steeves, H. L. (2001) Communication for Development in the Third World: Theory and Practice for Empowerment, 2nd Edition. London: Sage.
• Mody, B. (ed.) (2003) International and Development Communication: A 21st Century Perspective, 2nd Edition, Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications.
• Mohanty, C. et al. (eds.) (1990) Third world women and the politics of feminism, Bloomington: Indiana University Press.
• Nyamnjoh, F. B. (2005). Africa's media, democracy and the politics of belonging, London: Zed Books.
• Roy, S. (2005) Globalisation, ICT and Developing Nations: Challenges in the Information Age, New Delhi: Sage.
• Quebral, N (1988) Development communication, Laguna: UPLB College of Agriculture.
• Said, E. W. (1978). Orientalism. London: Penguin
• Servaes, J (Ed.) (2008) Communication for Development and Social Change, New Delhi, Thousand Oaks, London and Singapore: Sage.
• Wieringa, S. and Sivori, S. (eds) (2014) The Sexual History of the Global South: Sexual Politics in Africa, Asia and Latin America. London: Zed Books..
• Wilkins, K. G. (ed.) (2000) Redeveloping Communication for Social Change: Theory, Practice and Power, Lanham, MD: Rowman and Littlefield.

You take one course on media and communications theories and concepts, a course in research methods, and a media, communication and development course. You'll choose courses from a range of options within the department and across other relevant departments, such as International Development. In addition, you'll submit a dissertation of 12,000 words.

The Department of Media and Communications is a world-leading centre for education and research in the field. Our department is ranked first in the UK and sixth globally for communication and media studies (QS World University Rankings by Subject 2026).

We offer students a wide selection of programmes, including master’s degrees, doctoral research training and short courses. At any one time, we have around 270 master’s students and 30 PhD students from around the world – all varying in age, professional experience and backgrounds.

Within the department, our research is organised around four key themes: media culture and identities, media participation and politics, communication histories and futures, and communication technology, rights and justice. The outputs from our research are shared with organisations such as the BBC, Facebook, Google, UNICEF, Ofcom and the UK/EU governments.

LSE’s location at the heart of London, one of the world's media capitals, allows us to foster close links with media and communications industries and policymakers.

Graduates from our programmes progress to interesting roles in broadcasting, journalism, advertising, new media industries, political marketing, market research, regulation and policy, media management and research in the public and private sectors.

Department of Media and Communications

We welcome applications from all suitably qualified prospective students. At LSE, we want to recruit students with the best academic merit, potential and motivation, irrespective of background.

We carefully consider each application and take into account all the information included on your application form, such as your:

• academic achievement (including predicted and achieved grades)
• statement of academic purpose (see further information below)
• two academic references
• CV.

See further information on supporting documents.

You may need to provide evidence of your English language proficiency. See our English language requirements.

Statement of academic purpose: specific requirements

Write a short statement (up to 800 words) about why you want to do the programme. This might cover, for example, what suits you to the programme: your experiences and skills in relation to social justice, development or communication; what attracts you to this particular programme and where you see yourself in ten years after the programme.

Also answer the following questions (your answers should be approximately 250 words each)*:

• What should a developed society be like according to you?
• How will studying theory help you to understand development and communication practice?
• Why do you think we need to be critical of aspects of contemporary communication and development?

*The total length of your statement of academic purpose, including the answers to the above questions, should therefore be between 1,000-1,500 words.

Applications for this programme are considered on a rolling basis. This means that applications will close once the programme is full.

There is no fixed deadline. However, if you’d like to be considered for any funding opportunities, you must submit your application (and all supporting documents) by the funding deadline. See the fees and funding section below for more details.

For this programme, the tuition fee is different for home and overseas students depending on their fee status.

For this programme, the tuition fee is different for home and overseas students depending on their fee status.

All taught courses are required to include formative coursework which is unassessed. It's designed to help prepare you for summative assessment which counts towards the course mark and to the degree award. LSE uses a range of formative assessment, such as essays, problem sets, case studies, reports, quizzes, mock exams and many others. You'll be summatively assessed by written examinations (seen and unseen), research assignments, essays and the dissertation, which must be submitted in August.

On graduating, our students enter a variety of careers in the UK and abroad, including NGO communications, broadcasting, journalism, advertising, new media industries, political marketing, market research, regulation and policy, media management and research in both the public and private sectors.

Further information on graduate destinations for this programme

From CV workshops through to careers fairs, LSE offers lots of information and support to help you make that all-important step from education into work.

Many of the UK’s top employers give careers presentations at the School during the year and there are numerous workshops covering topics such as job hunting, managing interviews, writing a cover letter and using LinkedIn.

See LSE Careers for further details.