MA Audio, Radio & Podcasting

Course information

Media, Communications and Cultural Studies

1 year full-time

Course overview

Sound is the most dynamic part of the media industry right now and this long-standing MA in Audio, Radio and Podcasting will give you the theoretical knowledge and practical experience to navigate it and excel in it. We value what you have already achieved. Creativity in the audio medium is a uniquely personal experience and your existing knowledge and skills mean you'll be able to add diversity to the area of the industry you intend to join.

Why study MA Audio, Radio and Podcasting

Audio is a medium that has the potential to be transformative, to further the human experience. It’s a medium that creates a sense of intimacy, while continually generating questions. This is a degree that will empower you to create something permanent, something with a life beyond your own, something significant.

You'll be working in The Department of Media, Communications and Cultural Studies (MCCS). The department has been ranked 2nd in the UK for 'world-leading or internationally excellent' research (Research Excellence Framework, 2021) and 16th in the world (3rd in the UK) in the 2024 QS World Rankings for communication and media studies.

Students regularly win major and prestigious audio awards, including:

Charles Parker Prize (Gold in 2013,2019 and 2023)
Rising Star Award 2019 (European Broadcast Union)
Best Radio Feature at the BJTC (British Journalism Training Council in 2016, 2020 and 2021) and Best Podcast (2022)

Goldsmiths graduates regularly win commissions for speech-based programmes with leading independent producers and for the BBC.

With such a well-established and successful degree, our alumni hold important positions throughout the audio industry and include leading journalists, sound designers and independent producers. Alumni include Hannah Walker-Brown (a multi-award-winning audio documentary maker, writer and the Creative Director for Broccoli Productions, a London-based podcast production company) Hunter Charlton and Ben Tulloh (directors of Burning Bright productions), Tayo Papoola (music producer, DJ and podcaster), Jason Phipps (former commissioning Editor of BBC Sounds and now Head of Content & Development at Chalk & Blade, Mark Burman (BBC features producer) , Hanna Dean (award-winning freelance features producer), Arlie Adlington (freelance audio producer, sound designer and mix engineer) Wei Dong Lin, studio director (BBC) and podcast sound designer (The Economist)) and many more.

We'll excite your curiosity about the modern audio landscape

The MA poses questions about the influence of audio as a medium and the power it has to stir emotions, evoke feelings, and conjure vivid mental images. We look at the ways in which recording technologies can preserve and hold on to an aspect of our existence – be that a cultural exchange or an artistic communication – and how we can inspire future generations with the work we create.

How you'll do this

The degree blends theory and practice. You'll spend the majority of your time actually producing content. You'll study contemporary radio and the audio revolution of podcasting. We look at the history of the audio medium; we think it is vital to understand how the industry has got to where it is now, and it is a fascinating story!
You'll work in professional-standard digital studios and post-production suites with a dedicated newsroom. An optional bonus: Goldsmiths also has its own student radio station broadcasting online.
Journalism skills are vital to news and documentary production and this is one area where you'll spend a lot of time gathering original stories and crafting news programmes. Online multimedia publishing and social media production form part of the skills mix.
Our media law module is one of the most intensive in the UK. You'll learn how to report in a legal and safe manner, including ethical treatment of topics and contributors. Law courts are a constant source of fascinating news stories and we include reporting visits to some of London's biggest courtrooms.

Deciding to join our MA Audio, Radio and Podcasting degree

We don’t get in the way of your talent; we encourage and support it. We give you the space and time and facilities to explore different strands of thought and ways of expression.
We adopt a reflective, humanitarian approach to storytelling. In order to develop creative imagination, we need to embrace diversity and understand all kinds of belief systems. Our students go and spend time within communities, continue questioning, continue listening and continue learning well after their graduation and throughout their careers.
You can develop your own individual ideas about the sonic arts. We encourage you to explore everything from investigative journalism to interactive soundscapes and cutting-edge audio drama.
This MA gives you skills which employers want. The ability to think critically and act confidently, ask the right questions and apply research rigour are valuable in adjacent industries and freelance work.
We assemble some of the best audio producers (either directly as lecturers, or as visiting industry experts) who will share their experience with you, motivate you, and offer you feedback to help each piece of work be better than the last.
This degree is part of our School of Journalism. Find out more about what we do and other degrees we teach.

Promise of Performance

This minimum 70% media practice one-year programme aims to provide teaching and learning to a minimum professional standard in creative audio writing and production, radio and multimedia journalism, audio documentary and drama, and live radio broadcasting.

This is combined with advanced teaching and assessment in media law, regulation and ethics in the international context, use of voice in broadcasting, sound newsgathering, production and publication online as well as broadcasting, journalistic research and preparation of commissioning proposals for broadcasters and audio publishers.

You'll be expected to meet professional and industry standards through your attendance in this programme. This includes obtaining a minimum of 15 days of professional experience in a journalism production environment. Through attendance on this programme, you'll be expected to demonstrate a professional understanding of public affairs, interpretation of media statistics, applying maths in journalism, and an effective working knowledge of current affairs. You will also be expected to meet all set deadlines for the submission of work.

Contact the department

If you have specific questions about the degree, contact Richard Shannon or Robert Freeman.

What you'll study

You'll complete the following compulsory modules:

Module title	Credits
Media, Law and Ethics	30 credits
Creative Audio	60 credits
Radio Journalism	45 credits
Radio Studies – A Cultural Enquiry	15 credits
Asking the Right Questions: Research and Practice	15 credits
Sound Storytelling and Intertextuality of Narrative	15 credits

Assessment

Portfolio of recorded work; unseen examination; essay; 15-minute radio drama script.

Download the programme specification.

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

What our students say

Karin Svensson

Studying at Goldsmiths set me on my path towards a successful career as a freelance journalist.

A life-changing experience

Studying at Goldsmiths was a life-changing experience for me. It gave me practical skills as well as the confidence to explore my creativity, and set me on my path towards a successful career as a freelance journalist. My tutor, Professor Tim Crook, was very encouraging and inspiring, and I am happy to say we still keep in touch.

A successful career

After starting out in the newsroom of a syndicated press agency I have now been a freelance journalist since 2007, writing and making radio about popular culture and how it intersects with other areas – such as politics, science, history and psychology – for a number of Scandinavian media outlets. I am currently producing the podcast Nobel Prize Conversations, in collaboration with The Nobel Foundation.

A fascinating and rebellious history

New Cross might not be as scenic as some other parts of London, but it does have a fascinating and rebellious history (check out the Goldsmiths History Project blog for more on this), great diversity and lots of rugged charm.

Advice for prospective students

My advice for anyone studying at Goldsmiths would be to soak it all up – the teaching as well as the social side. Make friends from all over the world, and hold on to them – those relationships will enrich your life, professionally and personally.

Entry requirements

You should usually have a first degree at 2:1 level but consideration is given to those with a professional background in radio and media, and there is special entry for applicants who could not go to university because of social circumstances.

Applications are also assisted by including evidence of broadcasting or programme production.

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 7.0 with a 7.0 in writing and no element lower than 6.5 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
International - full-time: £22640

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

CDs or URLs of your audio/radio work and other forms of multimedia may assist your application. When submitting your application, please also submit (upload under 'additional') an example of your recent work in a related field, or include links to a page hosting that work. If you experience any issues with the upload process you can instead email your portfolio to admissions(@)gold.ac.uk quoting your reference number. Find out more about providing work.

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.

We 'batch' applications for this programme. This means that we'll wait until the closing date and then assess all applications together, to make sure they receive equal consideration. Therefore you won't receive a decision from us until after the closing date.

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.

Deadline for applications

There is no deadline for applications, but the programme is oversubscribed so applicants are encouraged to apply early.

How are applications considered?

Applications are considered on a rolling basis. Decisions are usually made within one month of a completed application being received.

Are applicants interviewed?

Yes. Interviews held in person on campus, by Skype, or if necessary by telephone.

Is a portfolio required?

It is advisable though not compulsory for applications to provide evidence of work they have done in audio, radio whether broadcast or online.

What we look for in a personal statement

We look for a passion for radio and sound. We also ask for you to explain why you have applied for this particular course, and what you hope to achieve.

Find out more about applying.

Staff

Find out about staff in the Department of Media, Communications and Cultural Studies.

Careers

Our graduates go on to work as broadcast journalists, creative programme makers, and foreign correspondents – and MA students are consistently winning significant awards for their work. For example in 2012, MA Radio students had considerable success in the Charles Parker student radio feature awards and the Broadcast Journalism Training Council (BJTC) Awards for Best Radio News Feature and Best Online News Website.

In 2013 MA Radio students took Gold and Silver in the Charles Parker awards, and in the 2015 BJTC awards all the awards for Best Radio Feature and Best Radio Documentary went to Goldsmiths radio students. Our MA Radio alumni are also winning awards in the UK and abroad for their professional work too.

Find out more about employability at Goldsmiths.