Main menu
Staff & students
In this section

Course information

Department

Media, Communications and Cultural Studies

Length

1 year full-time or 2 years part-time

Course overview

Conceived in the context of world-systemic transformation, this MA will give you the analytical tools to understand contemporary developments and world(s) through an encounter with post-colonial theory and international political economic issues.

  • We're witnessing today a tectonic shift in global geopolitics. The emergence of China, Brazil and India as global players, the development of global governance, the financial crisis, climate change – are all symptoms.
  • On this Masters you’ll grasp concepts like race, diaspora, hybridity, difference, grassroots development, HDI, multitude, immanence, and human rights.
  • These concepts are used to analyse practical, policy and activist issues arising from globalisation: global civil society, the role of international organisations (the IMF, WTO, UN and World Bank and global NGOs), intellectual property rights, social capital, financialisation, global governance and deep democracy.
  • You'll deal with issues like terrorism, microfinance, indigenous people, gender and sexuality, multiculturalism and environmental justice.
  • The MA is ideal for anyone pursuing careers in policy research, NGOs, advocacy, charities, international organisations, cultural and political activism, global media, art and curating, as well as for further academic work leading to a PhD.

Practical placement

  • The Masters includes a supervised and assessed practical placement. This may be with NGOs in India or Africa, arts and conservation organisations in China, indigenous activists in Latin America, London-based global NGOs, diasporic communities, think-tanks, environmental organisations, publishers or financial/microfinance organisations.

Leading theorists and visiting lecturers

  • You'll be taught by leading theorists and visiting lecturers drawn from a wide circle of activists, artists, film-makers, lawyers, economists, journalists and policy-makers.
  • 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 Oana Parvan.

What you'll study

Compulsory modules

Module title Credits
Postcolonial Theory

Postcolonial Theory

30 credits

From Ferguson to Gaza, from the local to the global, this module proposes that we are faced with the necessity to revisit the canonical texts of postcolonial theory in order to make sense of our contemporary world. The aim of the module is to introduce you to a selection of these founding texts, and to consider the manner in which the spectre of colonialism persists in our present, both in our material reality and as a ‘spectropoetics’ that haunts the unconscious.

In this sense, you will read classic postcolonial texts of the twentieth century together with contemporary academic, activist and artistic interventions and countersignatures. Close, first-hand reading of texts is emphasised and you are required to probe the whole spectrum of postcolonial thinking—from literary theory, politics, psychoanalysis, diaspora studies, race and gender studies to philosophy, art, anthropology and history—and as such interrogate the production and circulation of knowledge from diverse positionalities. We seek to problematize the very notion of post-coloniality, understood not as a temporal marker but more as a style of thought—as a problem, a question and an option, an ‘epistemic and political project’.

We begin the module from the present, with a questioning of the links and divergences between postcolonial theory and current decolonial thinking (in particular where this concerns struggles across today’s global south), in order to invest our readings of canonical postcolonial texts with a sense of urgency and to set out a disciplinary framework.

Weekly topics are organised conceptually and across geographical and temporal boundaries through the themes such as the following, each of which re-inflects the next: objectivity; recognition; representation; ecology; relation; translation; ambivalence, appropriation; repair and reconciliation.

 

 30 credits
Globalisation: Politics, Policy and Critique

Globalisation: Politics, Policy and Critique

30 credits

This module aims to provide students with the theoretical tools necessary for understanding postcolonial transformations in today’s Global South. The political imperative behind Postcolonial Studies – which emerged as an academic discipline in the 1980s – was metropolitan multiculturalism. Multiculturalism emerged as a key agenda of progressive politics – responding largely to mobilizations around race, diaspora and the politics of gender. Grounded in certain notions of representation, discourse and text, it enabled the theorist to mount an attack on the ethico-political enterprise of post-Enlightenment humanism on behalf of those who were excluded from its universalist schema. The module seeks to familiarise students with both analytical tools and activist models developed over the last few decades to comprehend, analyse and intervene in these transformations.

Media, both old and new, are fast changing not just the way we perceive the world but also the way we experience our being-in-world and our interventions into the world. In view of this, elements of the module are concerned with studying the cultural aspects of globalization, including ‘the politics of aesthetics’, ‘sensible politics’ and the visual cultures of non-governmental activism. Globalization has also seen to a remapping of cultural and artistic fields, and the emergence of new cultural and commodity imaginaries. The globalization of art has resulted in the culture of spectacular biennales and new practices of curating. Museums and collections have become major tools for educating and disciplining populations.

Drawing from the tools provided during the ‘Postcolonial Theory’ module, and supplementing these with the ‘thinking and doing’ that has arisen from the ‘decolonial turn’, the module approaches many of the weekly topics through the framework of ‘decoloniality’ and what Boaventura de Sousa Santos et al have named ‘epistemologies of the South’. In addition to this, a key component of the module is the new socio-political theory developed after the end of the Cold War, which aims to understand the decline of the nation-state and the enhanced power of supranational institutions such as the UN, the World Bank, the IMF and the WTO. This requires a critical examination of a range of agendas, namely: Global Civil Society and Governance, Human Rights, Non-Governmental Organisations, Sovereignty, New Social Movements, (Intellectual) Property Rights, Environmentalism, Biopiracy, the Commons, Social Capital, etc. The module seeks to ground these concepts in political/cultural theory rather than treating them as ad-hoc ideas. Students are encouraged to draw from the critical theory tradition of cultural theory and to question the normative claims of liberal theory in the age of neoliberal globalization.

 30 credits
Policy Lab and Placement

Policy Lab and Placement

30 credits
The Policy Lab is understood to be a discussion and research forum for issues of global policy and development, with a view to identifying a set of aims and objectives, as well as concerns, issues and practical organisational needs, relevant to the placements (discussed below). Lab work provides the essential preparation and context for the placements and dossier projects, which evaluate the placements. A concern with policy and practice within organisations, seen from the perspective of postcolonial studies and geopolitics, is a core part of the module throughout the year. The Policy Lab entails a two-hour session one day each week in the Autumn and Spring terms, led by a dedicated Policy Lab tutor. Comprised of lectures and seminars, as well as presentations by guest speakers from within the broader field, these sessions allow for group discussion of conceptual, bureaucratic, political and economic issues arising from the placements. Further to this, the tutor will be available on a weekly basis for individual tutorials, and for instruction and support in relation to organisational matters for placements. 
 
Placement
 
UK-based or overseas placements would usually be undertaken at the end of Spring term and would be with an organisation or group relevant to the concerns of the programme as a whole. The placement would prepare you for your dissertation work. 
 
The placement is not focused on the delivery of training per se, but on placing you in the context of work within NGOs, advocacy and activist groups, charities, national or international policy-making and developmental organisations, and groups with cultural activist and/or anti-racist/anti-imperialist concerns. You will be encouraged to bring postcolonial theory, geopolitics and a critical perspective on culture to bear upon your experience working with such organisations and in varied contexts. If you are already engaged in relevant institutional, organisational or activist based work in some way you will be able to use the opportunity of a placement to critically reflect upon and analyse your projects, organization and working context. 
 
 
Recent placements include: 
  • Friends of the Earth
  • Kaleidoscope Trust
  • Privacy International
  • Detention Action
  • Independent Workers of Great Britain
  • The Windrush Foundation 
  • Black Cultural Archives 
  • Palestine Film Festival 
  • Trade Justice Movement 
  • Rape Crisis UK 
  • Open Democracy 
 
 
 30 credits
MA Postcolonial Culture and Global Policy Dissertation

MA Postcolonial Culture and Global Policy Dissertation

60 credits

The dissertation is an opportunity to write an extended piece of work (10,000-12,000 words) on a topic of particular interest under the guidance of an allocated supervisor within the Centre for Cultural Studies.

 60 credits

Option modules

You take option modules to the value of 30 credits. Modules can be chosen from across Goldsmiths departments and centres. Option modules are subject to availability and approval by the module lecturer/convenor.

Other option modules, by department

You may prefer to look through the full range of option modules available across Goldsmiths departments.

Please note that not all the modules listed may be open to you. Your final selection will depend upon spaces available and timetable compatibility.

Assessment

Essays and/or practical projects; dissertation.

Download the programme specification. If you would like an earlier version of the programme specification, please contact the Quality Office.

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

Between 2020 and 2022 we needed to make some changes to how programmes were delivered due to Covid-19 restrictions. For more information about past programme changes please visit our programme changes information page.

What our students say

Hope Dove
The MA in Postcolonial Culture and Global Policy was such an insightful course.

Hope's time at Goldsmiths

I enjoyed my time at Goldsmiths immensely. I learned so much in my MA that has helped strengthen my analytical thinking skills, and in fact it made me know that I wanted to pursue my PhD and teach. The MA in Postcolonial Culture and Global Policy was such an insightful course in which I engaged with some great thinkers and writers who have influenced my continued work greatly. The course director, Shela Sheikh was excellent and introduced us to media, art, and conferences that helped to open our academic repertoire to a next level. I cannot recommend this course enough!...

What's Hope doing now

I am currently studying for my PhD and teaching on an assistantship at Temple University in the U.S. I enjoy studying and working around brilliant thinkers and in a positive academic community. I would like to teach in California.

Advice for future students

Going back to university for me was one of the best decisions of my life. I came in in my 30's as a mature student and never looked back. It has afforded me greater opportunities and I have met wonderful people throughout my studies. I have already met another Goldsmiths grad at Temple, and we both remember it fondly and proudly. I transferred from LSE and found Goldsmiths to be a welcoming place where I felt comfortable almost immediately, which was not my experience at LSE. If you are thinking about going to university, Goldsmiths in particular, I would say, do it you will not regret it....

Life in South East London

There were some nice little cafes and places to eat in the area. It was easily accessible by train from central London and the campus is beautiful.

Ama Josephine Budge Johnstone
I had a truly amazing time studying at Goldsmiths. Both my MA and elective lecturers were supporting, inspiring and rigorous.

Ama's time at Goldsmiths

I had a truly amazing time studying at Goldsmiths. Both my MA and elective lecturers were supporting, inspiring and rigorous. They not only challenged, pushed and stimulated my thinking and knowledge, they believed in me and were real about what I needed to do to achieve my academic goals within the academy and all the other ways I might develop and succeed in the wider world.

Apart from my wonderful lecturers, the most incredible part of my time there was being part of such a diverse cohort (both in my MA and in the wider school). I was the only Black student in my entire undergraduate university, so it really was an absolute joy to be surrounded by amazing students from all over challenging the institution and what care, inclusion and change could look and feel like within educational spaces.

Life after Goldsmiths

I'm currently in the final year of a PhD, I never would have thought I could attempt such a thing as a PhD before studying at Goldsmiths and learning to believe in my own ability to think and write expansively. The last year is always really hard but I love my topic of study and I believe it's really important.

I am also lecturing at several universities / art schools in London and abroad, as well as sustaining my own artistic practice. In the future I hope to continue pursuing my academic and artistic careers, becoming a better teacher, artist and writer in order to inspire and support others in the ways I was at Goldsmiths.

Advice for future students

The main piece of advice I'd give would be to really invest time and energy in the extracurricular stuff. Because I was a part-time student I was able to audit extra classes, attend many lecture series across a variety of departments, organise a conference and create work for a joint exhibition as part of my feminist methodologies elective.

I'd really encourage every prospective student to make the most out of the library (especially the women's library collection) and all of the incredible resources.

Life in South East London

Being in such a BIPOC-heavy community was wonderful, with great music venues, food and theatres all around. There are also a number of great parks where we would go for lunch or to sit and study.

My favourite place to eat has got to be Lao Khee (I think that's the name, it's been a while!) Chinese, opposite - I still come back here to eat whenever I can and maintain it's one of the best Chinese food spots in London.

Rose Gordon-Orr
The MA is the only one of its kind because it looks at postcolonial theory but is embedded within contemporary global politics.

Before Goldsmiths, Rose completed her BA in Sociology at the University of Sussex. Her dissertation focused on the relationship between postcolonialism and sexuality which inspired her to do her MA in Postcolonial Culture & Global Policy at Goldsmiths. The MA is the only one of its kind because it looks at postcolonial theory but is embedded within contemporary global politics. It explores a diverse range of topics including resistance, translation and the environment. Rose has recently written an article for shado magazine about sexual identity and the UK immigration system which sparked a series of events around the topic and raised money for the charity Say It Loud Club. As part of the masters, Rose is doing a placement with the ERC-funded research project SOGICA (Sexual Orientation & Gender Identity Claims of Asylum). After graduating, she hopes to continue working to improve the immigration system and people's experience of migration.

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.

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 2023/2024 academic year.

  • Home - full-time: £9050
  • Home - part-time: £4525
  • International - full-time: £17430

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

Apply now

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
  • A 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

Applicants are encouraged to submit by 31 May, though applications after this date may still be considered 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.

Selection process

Admission to many programmes is by interview, unless you live outside the UK. Occasionally, we'll make candidates an offer of a place on the basis of their application and qualifications alone.

Find out more about applying.

Careers

Skills

The programme provides advanced training for labour market-relevant skills in transnational analysis of sovereignty, democracy, governmentality, financialisation, intellectual property rights, and the role of non-governmental organisations.

Careers

Suitable careers and areas of work for graduates of the programme include:

  • the academic sphere
  • government and non-government sectors
  • arts and art administration
  • publishing
  • journalism
  • media
  • the culture industry in general

Find out more about employability at Goldsmiths.

Similar programmes

MA Politics, Development & the Global South

How can (and should) we talk about the challenges and possibilities for development in the 21st century? This degree examines how 21st century ‘development’ has become a site of struggle, one where new forms of politics and theory have emerged.

MA Cultural Studies

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

MA Political Communications

Interrogate the status quo with leading academics who don’t just talk and write about politics, but actively campaign to create change in the world

View more programmes

Related content links