PGDip in Race, Media and Social Justice

Course information

Media, Communications and Cultural Studies

1 year full-time or 2 years part-time

Course overview

The Postgraduate Diploma in Race, Media and Social Justice offers a rigorous and academic approach to this subject to deepen your understanding of contemporary issues regarding race and ethnicity. This will enable you to form your own interventions that can contribute to social justice and equality.

The programme will provide an in-depth exploration of research and scholarship into race and ethnicity across the overlapping fields of sociology, media and cultural studies. An interdisciplinary approach is employed to give you the analytical tools and skills to explain and critique why contemporary understandings and representations of race take the shape that they do. The programme is broadly framed in terms of issues social justice, specifically the social ideals of equality, valuing diversity, and the right to live in dignity, and how this relates to the formation of racial and ethnic identities.

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 16th in the world (3rd in the UK) in the 2024 QS World Rankings for communication and media studies.

The Postgraduate Diploma has two main components:

The conceptual basis

You will be given a foundation in sociological and critical cultural approaches to race and ethnicity, offering a strong conceptual basis for understanding matters of race and racialisation historically and with regard to contemporary contexts and debates. This includes a critical analysis the social/political theory of the liberal/ multicultural/postcolonial/cosmopolitan settlements of ‘race’. The aim is to deepen your understanding of the formation of ethnic and racial identities, racism and multiculturalism in relation to issues of social justice.

Context within the media

The second component situates the study of race and racism more explicitly within the context of the media, looking at issues of representation and the persistence of historical constructions of Otherness. The unique intervention of the PGDip is in drawing attention to the context of production, exploring the experience of people of colour working in the cultural industries. This component will be enhanced by be a series of industry talks from BAME practitioners working in the creative, cultural and communication industries, which will give students a practical insight into the experience of race in the media.

Contact the department

If you have specific questions about the degree, contact Anamik Saha.

What you'll study

Aims of the programme

Demonstrate an informed understanding of the complexities of race, social justice, activism and research;
Understand the formation of ethnic and racial identities in relation to social justice specifically the social ideals of equality, valuing diversity, and the right to live in dignity;
Understand how modern understandings of race and ethnicity are shaped by history and the legacies of empire and colonialism, as well as contemporary forces of commercialism and global capital;
Develop a systematic understanding of key theoretical approaches to race and ethnicity and media apply them to critically examine current debates on race, ethnicity and racism;
Recognise the media as a key site where understandings of race and ethnicity are simultaneously reinforced and challenged;
Develop the critical and analytical skills to identify, explain and evaluate discourses of race and ethnicity, particularly in the media;
Develop knowledge and/or skills that can be applied in a practical work context

Full-time mode

Compulsory modules

Module title	Credits
Race Critical Theory and Social Justice	30 credits
Race, Empire and Nation	30 credits

Optional modules

Optional modules to the value of 60 credits.

Part-time mode

Year 1: Compulsory modules

Module title	Credits
Race Critical Theory and Social Justice	30 credits
Race, Empire and Nation	30 credits

Year 2: Optional modules

Optional modules to the value of 60 credits.

Download the programme specification.

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

Entry requirements

Applicants will normally have, or expect to gain a first degree of at least upper second class standard (or equivalent).

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: £6910
Home - part-time: £3455
International - full-time: £13640

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

Find out more about applying.

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