MSc Global Media and Communications (LSE and Fudan)

The unique MSc double degree in Global Media and Communications enables you to study for one year at LSE in London, the UK's media capital, and one year at Fudan University – a top journalism faculty with close links to Shanghai's media industry.

The programme will provide you with a critical exploration of mediation in the global context, examining processes of globalisation in relation to organisation, production, consumption and representation in media and communications. In our ever increasingly globalised world, international experience gained on one of our global programmes is invaluable and provides an excellent knowledge and experience base to work from.

Set out below, you'll find 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.

It's not essential that you read everything on the list - the intention is simply to give you an idea of the level and range of material covered.

• Appadurai, A. (1996). Modernity at Large: Cultural Dimensions of Globalization. Minneapolis, MN: University of Minnesota Press.
• Flew, T. (2007) Understanding Global Media. Basingstoke, New York: Palgrave Macmillan.
• Kraidy, M. (2005) Hybridity, Or, The Cultural Logic of Globalization. Philadelphia: Temple University Press.
• Maxwell, R.(ed.) (2001) Culture Works: Essays on the Political Economy of Culture. Minneapolis: University of Minnesota Press.
• Miller, T. (et al.) (2005) Global Hollywood 2. London: BFI Publishing.
• Orgad, S. (2012). Media Representation and the Global Imagination. Cambridge: Polity Press.
• Pickering, M. (2001) Stereotyping: The Politics of Representation. Basingstoke: Palgrave.
• Rantanen, T. (2004) The Media and Globalization. London: Sage.
• Silverstone, R. (2007). Media and Morality. Cambridge: Polity Press.
• Tomlinson, J. (1999) Globalisation and Culture. Cambridge: Polity Press.
• Thussu, D. (2006) Media on the Move: Global Flow and Contra-Flow. London and New York: Routledge.
• Silverstone, R. (2007) Media and Morality. Cambridge: Polity Press.

First year, at LSE

The first year at LSE lays solid theoretical and methodological foundation for future media and communications professionals to examine issues of media and communication within their political, social and cultural context. Please note that at LSE we don't provide practical training in journalism, production, campaigning or media management.

In addition to the courses below, you'll attend 40 hours of Mandarin language classes at the appropriate level in the LSE Language Centre or the LSE Confucius Institute for Business. Mandarin language assessment doesn't form part of the MSc assessment, but attendance, for which there's no additional fee to you, is required for all students on this programme except those already completely fluent in Mandarin.

Second year, at Fudan University

During the second year at Fudan University in Shanghai, you'll immerse yourself – via research and applied learning – in Chinese language, culture and media in order to broaden your horizons and enhance your knowledge of China.

Through various core and optional courses, you'll be given the opportunity to gain a thorough understanding of China's multi-media environment in both theoretical and applied contexts.

More details of the year at Fudan

The Department of Media and Communications is a world-leading centre for education and research in the field. Our department is ranked number 1 in the UK and number 2 globally for communication and media studies (2024 QS World University Rankings).

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
• 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.

Fudan University students

Students already enrolled in a master’s programme at Fudan University are eligible to apply through the normal application process, but it's advisable that they consult with Fudan University before submitting an application.

Applicants from mainland China

Junior college students who are citizens of the People’s Republic of China (PRC), including students who are already enrolled in undergraduate programmes in Fudan University and other prestigious mainland Chinese universities, are eligible to apply to this programme through the recommendation (推荐) system, which enables qualified undergraduate students to participate in graduate programmes without taking the National Postgraduate Entrance Examination.

Interested applicants should first apply in September, to track three of Fudan School of Journalism’s two-year professional master's degree programme Global Media and Communication International Double Master Degree Programme. Applicants are required to have, or expect to have, a minimum GPA 3.5 (or equivalent) from their previous study, as well as meeting the necessary language entry requirements.

Further information on language requirements

Applicants from Taiwan, Hong Kong and Macao

Applicants who are citizens of Taiwan, Hong Kong and Macao, are required by Chinese law to complete the National Postgraduate Entrance Examination for Taiwan, Hong Kong and Macao applicants and meet all the requirements, before their applications are jointly reviewed by Fudan University and LSE.

Further information on application requirements

Consult with Fudan University

Please consult with Fudan University of School of Journalism before submitting an application:

Mr Wang Kun, Programme Coordinator, LSE-Fudan Double-Degree, Fudan University – School of Journalism 
Tel: 00-86-21-55664686
Email: jakewang2011@gmail.com

Data sharing

Double degrees and certain other degrees and scholarships require that LSE shares personal data with another university or partner. In our agreements we will use the School’s standard data sharing template for universities and partners in the EU and EEA and in an adequate country. Standard contract clauses will be used for any other country. If you have any questions about this or how your personal data will be treated by LSE, please contact the Data Protection Officer via glpd.info.rights@lse.ac.uk or check our Student Privacy Notice.

Please note: The applications, intake and ratio values below include the MSc Global Media and Communications, LSE and USC, and LSE and UCT.

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.

Year 1 (at LSE, 2025/26):

Home students: £28,900

Year 2 (at Fudan, 2026/27):

Home students (ie, non-Chinese nationals): to be confirmed, but for reference in 2024/25 students paid CNY 120,000 (provisional)

Please note that all students are also expected to pay an application fee of approximately CNY 800 (provisional) in the second year of the programme.

Year 1 (at LSE, 2025/26):

Overseas students: £28,900

Year 2 (at Fudan, 2026/27):

Overseas students (ie, non-Chinese nationals): to be confirmed, but for reference in 2024/25 students paid CNY 120,000 (provisional)
Chinese nationals, second year (2025/26 at Fudan) - fee set by Chinese Ministry of Education (Contact Fudan for further details)

Please note that all students are also expected to pay an application fee of approximately CNY 800 (provisional) in the second year of the programme.

Formal classroom teaching is usually completed by the end of the Winter Term. Coursework is usually submitted in January and May, and examinations are generally held in May and June. The remaining months are set aside for you to complete the dissertations, supported by staff supervision.

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.

Teaching and assessment in the second year will vary according to each institution.

On graduating, our students enter a variety of global careers including broadcasting, journalism, advertising, new media industries, political marketing, market research, regulation and policy, media management and research in both 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.