Course information

Department

Sociology
Media, Communications and Cultural Studies

Length

1 year full-time or 2 years part-time

Course overview

This programme introduces you to recent debates on gender in the disciplines of sociology and media, as well as to the interdisciplinary domains of feminist social and cultural theory. There are a range of topic choices available, including: embodiment, feminist methods, media and sexuality, and postcolonialism.

Why study MA Gender, Media and Culture at Goldsmiths

  • You’ll develop cutting-edge critical skills in relation to cultural approaches to gender formation and gender theory.
  • The degree will provide you with a solid understanding of the importance of epistemology and methodology for the evaluation of empirical investigations of gender formations.
  • You’ll be introduced to, and trained in, the key socio-cultural methods for the study of gender in the contemporary world, including methods for the study of visual culture, the body and affect, and memory.
  • You’ll benefit from tailored supervision in the development of a research project on a specific topic.
  • As an interdisciplinary degree, this programme draws from a range of areas, including sociology, media and communications, humanities, science and technology studies, and philosophy.
  • You’ll become part of a lively research environment in a politically active university.
  • The Department of Media, Communications and Cultural Studies has been ranked 2nd in the UK for 'world-leading or internationally excellent' research (Research Excellence Framework, 2021) and 12th in the world (2nd in the UK) in the 2022 QS World Rankings for communication and media studies.

Contact the department

If you have specific questions about the degree, contact Dr Nirmal Puwar.

What you'll study

Compulsory modules

You'll complete the following compulsory modules, as well as a 60-credit in-depth Dissertation where you'll research a relevant topic of your own choosing.

Module title Credits
Introduction to Feminism and Cultural Theory 30 credits
Gender Affect and the Body 30 credits

Option Modules

You will also take 60 credits of option modules related to gender from across the University.

Please note that not all modules are suitable for students from all academic backgrounds; you will discuss your choices with the Programme Convenor at the start of your degree.

Examples of recent relevant modules have included:

Module title Credits
Embodiment and Experience 30 credits or 15 credits
Race, Empire and Nation 30 credits
Feminist Methods 30 credits
Gender, Sexuality and Media 30 credits

You can also choose option modules from the following Departments across Goldsmiths. Not all modules are suitable for students from all academic backgrounds; you will discuss your choices with the Programme Convenor at the start of your degree.

Assessment

The assessment consists of coursework, extended essays, presentations, practice-based projects or essays/logs, group projects, reflective essays, and experimental proposals.

Download the programme specification.

Please note that due to staff research commitments not all of these modules may be available every year.

Entry requirements

You should have (or expect to be awarded) an undergraduate degree of at least upper second class standard in a relevant/related subject. 

You might also be considered for some programmes if you aren’t a graduate or your degree is in an unrelated field, but have relevant experience and can show that you have the ability to work at postgraduate level.

We are open to unconventional routes through education.

International qualifications

We accept a wide range of international qualifications. Find out more about the qualifications we accept from around the world.

If English isn’t your first language, you will need an IELTS score (or equivalent English language qualification) of 6.5 with a 6.5 in writing and no element lower than 6.0 to study this programme. If you need assistance with your English language, we offer a range of courses that can help prepare you for postgraduate-level study.

Fees, funding & scholarships

Annual tuition fees

These are the fees for students starting their programme in the 2024/2025 academic year.

  • Home - full-time: £10350
  • Home - part-time: £5175
  • International - full-time: £20460

If your fees are not listed here, please check our postgraduate fees guidance or contact the Fees Office, who can also advise you about how to pay your fees.

It’s not currently possible for international students to study part-time under a student visa. If you think you might be eligible to study part-time while being on another visa type, please contact our Admissions Team for more information.

If you are looking to pay your fees please see our guide to making a payment.

Additional costs

In addition to your tuition fees, you'll be responsible for any additional costs associated with your course, such as buying stationery and paying for photocopying. You can find out more about what you need to budget for on our study costs page.

There may also be specific additional costs associated with your programme. This can include things like paying for field trips or specialist materials for your assignments. Please check the programme specification for more information.

Funding opportunities

Find out more about postgraduate fees and explore funding opportunities. If you're applying for funding, you may be subject to an application deadline.

How to apply

You apply directly to Goldsmiths using our online application system. 

Before submitting your application you’ll need to have:

  • Details of your academic qualifications
  • The email address of your referee who we can request a reference from, or alternatively a copy of your academic reference
  • Copies of your educational transcripts or certificates
  • personal statement – this can either be uploaded as a Word Document or PDF, or completed online. Please see our guidance on writing a postgraduate statement

You'll be able to save your progress at any point and return to your application by logging in using your username/email and password.

When to apply

We accept applications from October for students wanting to start the following September. 

We encourage you to complete your application as early as possible, even if you haven't finished your current programme of study. It's very common to be offered a place that is conditional on you achieving a particular qualification. 

Late applications will only be considered if there are spaces available.

If you're applying for funding, you may be subject to an earlier application deadline.

Find out more about applying.

Staff

Staff who teach on this programme include:

Research

The Centre for Feminist Research (CFR) offers a symbolic and intellectual home for the MA in Gender, Media and Culture, co-convened by the Departments of Media, Communications and Cultural Studies and Sociology. It provides a coordinating hub for feminist work at Goldsmiths, organising seminars and conferences.

The MA programme is supported by the wide variety of international events, talks and screenings organised by the Centre. Students are encouraged to become involved in these activites. You can find out about upcoming events and activites here.

There are a number of off-site visits organised throughout the year, including trips to art galleries, the London Film Festival and a feminist tour of Westminster.

Suggested reading

Suggested preliminary readings

E (1990) Sexing the Self: Gendered Positions in Cultural Studies. Routledge

Marshall B and A Witz (2004) Engendering Social Theory. Open University Press

Grace Cho (2008) Haunting the Korean Diaspora: Shame, secrecy silence and the Forgotten War. Minnesota Press

A (2003) Archive of Feelings: Trauma, Sexuality and Lesbian Public Cultures. Duke University Press.

Patricia Elliot (2010) Debates in Transgender, Queer and Feminist Theory

James, J. and T.D. Sharpley-Whiting (Eds.) (2000)The Black Feminist Reader. Oxford: Blackwell Publishers.

Haraway, D (1991) Simians, Cyborgs and Women: The Reinvention of Nature. Routledge.

Butler, J (1990) Gender Trouble. Routledge.
Colebrook, C (2004) Gender. Palgrave.
Fraser, M. and Greco, M (2005) The Body Reader. Routledge.
Gill, R (2007) Gender and the Media. Polity.

Publications 

Relevant journals

European Journal of Women’s Studies (Sage)
European Journal of Cultural Studies (Sage)
European Journal of Social Theory (Sage)
Feminist Economics (Routledge)
Feminist Media Studies (Routledge)
Feminist Review (Routledge)
Feminist Theory (Sage)
Feminism & Psychology (Sage)
Feminist Studies (Jstor)
Gender & Society (Sage)
Gender, Technology and Development (Sage)
Journal of Gender Studies (Routledge)
Media, Culture and Society (Sage)
Sexualities (Sage)
Signs (Jstor)
Sociological Methods & Research (Sage)
Sociology (Sage)
Subjectivities (Palgrave)
Theory, Culture & Society (Sage)

Careers

Skills

Graduates from this programme gain conceptual and methodological knowledge of the key concepts and debates in the study of gender and culture; the skills of critical analysis; the ability to distinguish and appraise a range of socio-cultural research methodologies; the skills to design and develop a research project; and the ability to recognise and account for sensitive ethical issues relating to research and representation.

The two core courses provide you with the necessary skills to understand the relationships between early debates in the fields of gender studies, feminist theory and feminist cultural theory, and the ability to critically engage with new developments in these fields. Furthermore, you will gain a critical appreciation of the role and place of the body and affect in the development of feminist cultural theory and gender theory, and the challenges that contemporary socio-cultural changes bring to the theorisation of the body.

Careers

Previous graduates have embarked on professional careers in social research, think tanks, the arts and cultural sectors, government and public administration, development, human rights, NGOs, and in media and communications globally. They have also progressed to PhD study.

Find out more about employability at Goldsmiths

Similar programmes

MA Cultural Studies

The MA Cultural Studies offers an interdisciplinary approach to the study of contemporary to culture, politics and society.

MA Race, Media & Social Justice

How we live with difference is the key issue of our time. Issues relating to race and ethnicity, whether immigration, Islamophobia, #blacklivesmatter, or media diversity, are at the forefront of public debate. The MA Race, Media and Social Justice will equip you with critical and theoretical tools to unpack and deepen your understanding of contemporary debates on race, ethnicity and racism.

MA Human Rights, Culture & Social Justice

This MA examines contemporary issues concerning justice. You will learn how to conceptualise and study the possibilities of human rights, going beyond legal formulations to look at the conditions in which human rights claims are made.

MA Black British History

The MA in Black British History is an exciting opportunity to study and research the histories of Africans and African-descended peoples in the United Kingdom.

Related content links