MA in Political Communications
This MA offers teaching that is critical, innovative and diverse. It combines theory with practical, applied elements, and draws on a range of research and contemporary examples. These come from current work in politics, political science and media studies, and also from political sociology, cultural theory and journalism. The curriculuum covers political communication, from the national and international down to the local and personal, from governments and parties to NGOs and local activist groups. It engages with cultural, alternative and digital, interactive communication as well as traditional mass media.
Elisabeth, MA in Political Communications
1 year full-time or 2 years part-time.
Deadline: 1 March for entry the following September (14 February if you are applying for funding).
Applications received by the deadline are guaranteed consideration; we will consider later applications if there are vacanciesDue to the popularity of this programme we ask you for a deposit of £450 to secure any offer made to you after applying for the programme. The deposit will be credited against your tuition fees when you enrol. Please note: You will only be required to provide a deposit if you are offered a place, you do not need to pay a deposit in order to apply.
Find out more about applying
You should have an undergraduate degree of at least upper second class standard in a relevant subject. If your first language is not English, you normally need a minimum score of 7.0 in IELTS (including 7.0 in the written element) or equivalent. Find our more about our English Language requirements.
- AHRC
- Department Fee Waivers, see main text (right)
The course caters to both recent graduates and those with experience who are looking for career change or advancement. Recent graduates have found (re)employment in political journalism, political parties, government institutions, interest groups and international bodies.
Those completing the course come out with a mixture of field expertise, new analytical skills, an understanding of research methods, and practical, applied knowledge.
Please see Tuition fees.
Please see more detailed information about this programme.
Please see Staff research interests.
Contact Dr Aeron Davis
This dynamic programme, first and foremost, offers critical engagement. It asks difficult questions about politics, economic policy, society and the media. Taking this course will not just give you an understanding of the the forms and impacts of political communications. It will also help you contextualise that knowledge in relation to the structures, institutions and actors that are at the heart of politics and media.
The programme offers a mix of depth and range in its options. You get to chose a combination of larger 30 credit and shorter 15 credit modules. Thus you may opt for four 30 credit modules or chose up to six subjects in a mix of 30 credit and 15 credit modules.
This course is broadly conceptual in focus, but also offers several practical, applied options as well as skills-based components. All students take a research skills module and are supervised through a disertation with a research component. There are options, such as Campaign Skills and Asking the Right Questions, which are entirely practice-based and taught by professionals in the field. There are also several speaker series running each year with guests from the worlds of politics, journalism, business and campaigning coming to talk.
Teaching draws on the professional and research expertise of the department’s highly regarded staff. Research generates global interest with 80% of staff producing research classified as ‘world leading’ or ‘recognised internationally’. Currently, all core teaching staff are active participants of the Leverhulme Spaces of the News research project, investigating developments in digital news media and politics, and the Centre for the Study of Global Media and Democracy.
The course also takes advantage of the diverse set of teaching, research and practical resources available to the Department of Media and Communications at Goldsmiths. This large department offers a wide range of theoretical subjects and perspectives. The department also employs several practising journalists, media producers, campaigners and promotional experts. Students may also select options from other departments in the college, including Politics, Sociology, Anthropology, History, English and the Centre for Cultural Studies.
Goldsmiths’ London location means that students remain in close proximity to a range of national and international political institutions, political parties, interest groups and media centres. The MA also attracts a stimulating combination of recent graduates and experienced professionals, as well as a mix of UK and international students from across Continental Europe, the Americas, Asia and Africa.
See recent student experiences and testimonials.
What you study
Students take course modules to the value of 180 credits. They must take two 30 credit core course modules taught in the Department of Media and Communication (60 credits in total). They also take a research skills module and produce a dissertation to the value of 60 credits. 30 credits worth of modules (either one 30 credit or two 15 credit) are chosen from the Department of Politics. The final 30 credits worth of modules (one 30 or two 15 credit) may be chosen from Media or Politics, or from the departments of Sociology, Anthropology, English and Comparative Literature, and the Centre for Cultural Studies.
The programme’s core curriculum will address a range of contemporary issues, debates and theory in political communication, including work on: comparative media systems; theories of communication and democratisation; global media, international governance and transnational communication; economic, financial and industrial policy; digital media and online politics; media sociology and news production; political parties, party ideologies and party-member dynamics; public relations, political marketing and spin; government communication systems and media management; media audiences, effects and agenda-setting; public opinion and public sphere debates; interest groups, social movements and alternative media; advocacy, civil society and public affairs; new technologies and the information society; citizenship and public engagement; the policy process and government decision-making; politics and culture; social theories of power, culture and communications.
Theory is usually applied to a number of case study areas on, for example: conflict and war; elections; social and environmental debates; foreign affairs; the economy, finance and business; crime and disorder. Theory and discussion is always related to current events and debates.
See more detailed information about what you study.
Fee Waivers NOW AVAILABLE for 2012/13
Fee waivers now available for 2012/13 across all MA programmes to selected students. Whichever MA course you apply for this year, if you accept an unconditional offer you will automatically become eligible for the fee waiver scheme that will fund waivers equivalent in total to 13 full time home/EU fees.
Overseas students are also eligible for the scheme. Only applications received by the official deadline will be considered for fee waivers. Successful students will be notified by May 30 2012.
Assessment
The majority of modules are assessed by long essay (5-6000 words). Some modules have other assessment elements, such as examination, presentation, project or report. All students also produce a dissertation supervised by a staff member (12-15,000 words).Register your interest
If you register your interest in this programme we will keep you informed about open days and send you relevant further information. If you subsequently decide to apply for this programme you will be able to use the same login details to apply.
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