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Graduate (Taught)
Application code:P4U1
Department of Media and Communications

MSc Media and Communications

Study the impact of media and communications on society, technology, economics and politics.

Overview

Introduction

You’ll examine key theoretical issues in media and communications within the context of social change.

As you progress, you’ll deepen your understanding of the historical, political, economic, and technological dimensions of the media and a changing society.

The MSc in Media and Communications provides you with a broad-based and critical understanding of the politics of technology, media, representation, and the distribution of power in society. The programme will help you understand and reframe the relationship of digitisation, global politics, and social change within complex media and technological systems. The programme gives you a theoretically grounded approach to understanding our present surroundings, including the influence of platforms on our daily lives, the politics of media labour, and social threats of artificial intelligence (AI) and algorithmic decision-making.

The programme is taught by world-leading academics – our department is rated top in the UK and second in the world for media and communications. You’ll also have the chance to hear from external speakers such as journalists, activists and media executives.

If you’re looking to undertake an MPhil/PhD or research-related career, you may be interested in the research track for this programme.

Entry requirements

Either (a) Upper second class honours (2:1) degree or equivalent in social science, or (b) Upper second class (2:1) degree or equivalent in another field with professional experience in the media and communications field.

Please select your country from the dropdown list below to find out the entry requirements that apply to you.

Overseas

English language requirements

The English language requirement for this programme is Higher. Read more about our English language requirements.

Competition for places at LSE is strong. So, even if you meet the minimum entry requirements, this does not guarantee you an offer of a place.

However, please don’t feel deterred from applying – we want to hear from all suitably qualified students. Think carefully about how you can put together the strongest possible application to help you stand out from other students.

Programme content

Year 1

You take two courses on media and communications theories and concepts and a course in research methods, and will choose courses from a range of options within the department and across other relevant departments, such as sociology, gender, law, and psychological and behavioural science. In addition, you'll submit a dissertation of 12,000 words.

Why study with us

Discover more about our students and department.

Meet the department

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.

Your application

Overview

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 the MSc Media and Communications (Data and Society), MSc Media and Communications (Research) and MSc Media and Communications (Media and Communication Governance).

1162
Applications
145
Intake
8:1
2023 Ratio

Fees and funding

The table of fees shows the latest tuition fees for all programmes.

You're charged a fee for your programme. At LSE, your tuition fee covers registration and examination fees payable to the School, lectures, classes and individual supervision, lectures given at other colleges under intercollegiate arrangements and, under current arrangements, membership of the Students' Union. It doesn't cover living costs or travel or fieldwork.

Home

£28,900

Home student fee (2025/26)

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

Learning and assessment

How you learn

Graduate destinations

Overview

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

Median salary of our postgraduate students 15 months after graduating:

£35,500

Top 5 sectors our students work in:

Advertising, Marketing, PR, Media, Entertainment, Publishing and Journalism
Government, Public Sector and Policy
Education, Teaching and Research
Consultancy
Information, Digital Technology and Data
This data is drawn from the 2021/22 Graduate Outcomes Survey, run by the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA). Median salaries are calculated for respondents who are paid in UK pounds sterling and in full-time employment.

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