MSc Media and Communications (Research)

This programme examines the frameworks used to study socio-cultural aspects of media and communications, covering tradition and innovation in media and communications’ research related to political economy, regulation, infrastructure, production, content, influence, and audience reception.

You’ll engage with diverse theoretical, conceptual, and methodological approaches in media and communications research, culminating in an independent research project. You can also study courses in related areas such as sociology, gender, law, psychological and behavioural science, and research methodology.

Our MSc Media and Communications (Research) attracts students from diverse backgrounds, including many media and communications professionals – creating a rich exchange of ideas within our vibrant research community.

The programme offers ideal preparation for an MPhil/PhD or career opportunities in the media, business insight, policymaking bodies, and research institutes.

You may also be interested in the non-research track of this programme with our MSc Media and Communications.

• Allen, Stuart (ed) (2010) The Routledge Companion to News and Journalism. Routledge.
• Beckett, Ch. (2008) SuperMedia: Saving Journalism So It Can Save The World. Malden, MA: Blackwell/Wiley.
• Briggs, A. and Burke, P. (2002) A Social History of the Media: From Gutenberg to the Internet. Cambridge: Polity.
• Calabrese, A. and Sparks, C. (eds) (2004) Toward a Political Economy of Culture, Capitalism and Communication in the 21st Century, Lanham MD: Rowman & Littlefield.
• Castells, Manuel. (2009). Communication Power. Oxford University Press.
• Couldry, N. (2012). Media, Society, World: Social Theory and Digital Media. Cambridge: Polity.
• Curran, J. and Gurevitch, M. (eds) (2005) Mass Media and Society. 4th ed. London: Arnold.
• Curran, J. and Seaton, J. (2003) Power Without Responsibility. London: Routledge.
• Mansell, R. (2012) Imagining the Internet: Communication, Innovation and Governance. Oxford University Press.
• Mattelart, A. (2003) The Information Society: An introduction. London: Sage.
• McChesney, R (2000) Rich Media Poor Democracy. New York: New Press.
• Papacharissi, Z. A. (2010). A Private Sphere: Democracy in a Digital Age. Cambridge: Polity.
• Silverstone, R. (2007) Media and Morality. Cambridge: Polity.
• Silverstone, R. (1999) Why Study the Media? London: Sage.
• Thompson, J.B. (1995) The Media and Modernity: A Social Theory of the Media. Cambridge: Polity.
• Wasko, J. (ed.). (2005) A Companion to Television. Malden, MA: Blackwell.
• Wu, Tim. (2010) The Master Switch. The Rise and Fall of Information Empires. Borzio Books.

You'll take a course on media and communications theories and concepts and a course on research methods, and will choose courses from a range of options within the department and across other relevant departments, such as Sociology, Gender, Law, Methodology and Psychological and Behavioural Science. 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 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.

Please note: The applications, intake and ratio values below includes MSc Media and Communications, MSc Media and Communications (Data and Society) and MSc Media and Communications (Media and Communication Governance).

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, all students pay the same tuition fees, regardless of their fee status.

For this programme, all students pay the same tuition fees, regardless of 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 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.