MA Media, Culture and Society
Key details
- Attendance
- Full Time
- Award
- Degree of Master of Arts
- Course Length
- 1 year
- Course Start Date
- September 2027
Course options
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UEA is ranked top 20 in the UK for Research QualityCourse Overview
Why MA Media, Culture and Society at UEA?
Explore how media shapes culture, communication, and everyday life across today’s connected world. Build critical and practical skills through flexible study, professional opportunities, debates, internships, and media production activities.
Why Choose UEA
- Cultural insight: Understand how media shapes identity, society, and change
- Storytelling skills: Build practical media skills for creative and communication careers in Norwich, the City of Stories
- Flexible pathways: Shape your course around your interests and goals
What is Media, Culture and Society?
Explore how media shapes the way we think, communicate, and connect in a digital world. Drawing on politics, economics, law, and international development, you’ll examine the forces behind media production, distribution, and influence.
You’ll explore the ideas, debates, and methods used to make sense of today’s fast-changing media landscape. With flexible optional modules, you can shape the course around your interests and future career plans.
You’ll also have opportunities to gain practical experience through internships, debates, media projects, and other hands-on activities.
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Careers
Career Pathways
With a MA Media, Culture and Society degree, you could develop a career as a:
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Media or Journalism Professional: Write, research, and communicate stories shaped by strong media insight
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PR and Communications Officer: Create strategic messages for organisations, brands, and public audiences
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Digital Marketing Specialist: Develop content, campaigns, and social media strategies for digital platforms
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Policy and Advocacy Officer: Support public, government, or NGO communication around social and political issues
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Research Analyst: Analyse media, culture, and society for think tanks, cultural organisations, or further
Career Support
Throughout your degree, you’ll be supported by UEA’s Career Central(opens in a new window), with a wide range of resources to help you succeed. Within the School of Media, Language and Communication Studies, you’ll also benefit from industry speakers, alumni panels, mentoring, AI literacy sessions, career confidence support, and assessments that help you reflect on your skills development. Our annual Industry Week in spring gives you the chance to take part in events with industry leaders and careers specialists, while learning new skills to support your journey after graduation.
After the Course
In conjunction with Career Central(opens in a new window), we host dedicated career events to support you in finding and applying for jobs in the media industries. At these events, you'll hear from alumni and professionals working at organisations such as the BBC, ITV, and Sky News, giving you valuable insights, advice, and networking opportunities. Our school also has a dedicated careers advisor who offers one-to-one support, helping you identify internship opportunities and job openings. They run regular CV-building workshops and provide guidance on interview preparation. Recent graduates have secured roles in news organisations, marketing firms, digital media companies, think
Study and Modules
Structure
Your MA will take place over one year, during which you’ll deepen your understanding of how media and culture shape our perceptions of society. To succeed in the media industries, it’s essential to appreciate the media’s power and its role in shaping our view of the world. You’ll explore key questions about the relationship between media and society while developing the critical and practical skills needed to thrive in today’s media landscape. You’ll build your awareness of digital media cultures, gain insights into the global media economy and the cultural and creative industries—including how they’re organised, structured, and managed. You’ll also explore how media communicates, influences, and engages diverse audiences.
You’ll be able to choose from a wide range of optional modules, allowing you to focus on areas that interest you most—such as digital media, intercultural communication, audience research, and media industries.
You’ll complete your masters with a dissertation, giving you the opportunity to explore a topic of personal or professional interest in depth. This is an excellent way to apply your research skills to a substantial project, with the potential to align it with your future career goals. Your dissertation will demonstrate your ability to manage a large-scale project—an attractive skill to prospective employers.
Compulsory Modules
Optional A Modules
(Min Credits: 20, Max Credits: 40)Optional B Modules
(Min Credits: 20, Max Credits: 40)Whilst the University will make every effort to offer the modules listed, changes may sometimes be made arising from the annual monitoring, review and update of modules. Where this activity leads to significant (but not minor) changes to programmes and their constituent modules, the University will endeavour to consult with students and others. It is also possible that the University may not be able to offer a module for reasons outside of its control, such as the illness of a member of staff. In some cases optional modules can have limited places available and so you may be asked to make additional module choices in the event you do not gain a place on your first choice. Where this is the case, the University will inform students.
Teaching and Learning, and Assessment
Teaching and Learning
This course is taught by a multidisciplinary team of experts whose research brings fresh insight into the classroom. Through seminars, lectures, workshops, and one-to-one tutorials, you’ll build analytical and intercultural communication skills with personalisedacademic support. Independent study is central to the course, leading to a dissertation where you complete an in-depth research project with guidance from a dedicated supervisor.
Assessment
Assessments reflect real-world professional practice, combining essays with portfolio work that shows your ability to communicate clearly and professionally. You’ll also develop skills in critical reflection, research design, and presentation through tasks such as reflective writing, research proposals, and oral presentations. This varied approach helps you build transferable skills, including critical thinking, teamwork, and project management, valued across today’s media industries.
Entry Requirements
- This course is open to
This course is open to UK and International applicants. The annual intake for this course is in September each year.
- Typical UK Entry Requirements
Degree classification
Bachelors degree - 2.2
Degree Subject
Any subject area
- Additional Entry Requirements
If you have alternative qualifications that have not been mentioned above then please contact the university directly for further information.
- Admissions Policy
Our Admissions Policy applies to the admissions of all postgraduate applicants.
- This course is open to
This course is open to UK and International applicants. The annual intake for this course is in September each year.
- Typical International Entry Requirements
Degree classification
UK Bachelors degree - 2.2 or equivalent
Degree Subject
Any subject area
- Additional Entry Requirements
If you have alternative qualifications that have not been mentioned above then please contact the university directly for further information.
- English Foreign Language
Applications from students whose first language is not English are welcome. We require evidence of proficiency in English (including writing, speaking, listening and reading):
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IELTS: 6.0 overall (minimum 5.5 in each component)
Test dates should be within 2 years of the course start date.
We also accept a number of other English language tests. Review our English Language Equivalencies(opens in a new window) for a list of qualifications that we may accept to meet this requirement.
If you do not yet meet the English language requirements for this course, UEA International Study Centre offer a variety of English language programmes which are designed to help you develop the required English skills.
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- UEA International Study Centre
If you do not meet the academic requirements for this course, you may be able to study the International Pre-Masters programme offered by UEA International Study Centre. This programme guarantees progression to selected Master's degrees if students achieve the appropriate grade. For more details, please click here:
- Admissions Policy
Our Admissions Policy applies to the admissions of all postgraduate applicants.
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Fees and Funding
Tuition fees for the Academic Year 2027/28 are:
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UK Students: £11,200
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International Students: £23,580
We estimate living expenses at £1,171 per month.
Further Information on tuition fees can be found here(opens in a new window).
Scholarships and Bursaries
The University of East Anglia offers a range of Scholarships(opens in a new window); please click the link for eligibility, details of how to apply and closing dates.
Course Related Costs
Please see additional course fees(opens in a new window) for details of course-related costs.
How to Apply
How to apply
Applications for Postgraduate Taught programmes at the University of East Anglia should be made directly to the University.
To apply please use our online application form(opens in a new window).
Further information
If you would like to discuss your individual circumstances prior to applying, please do contact us:
Postgraduate Admissions Office
Tel: +44 (0)1603 591515
Email: admissions@uea.ac.uk(opens in a new window)
International candidates are also encouraged to access the International Students(opens in a new window) section of our website.