Everything you need to know...
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What is the fee?
Home: £11,490 for the course
International/EU: £19,530 for the course -
How long will I study?
1 Year
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Where will I study?
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When do I start?
September 2027
Course summary
- Develop expertise in digital communication and media in contemporary societies.
- Gain the skills to critically assess media texts, industries and audiences.
- Develop creative, technical and reflective skills for research and practice.
- Grow as a professional, drawing on research expertise and advanced industry connections.
Our MA Global Communication and Media course provides broad understanding and skills for graduate students in the social sciences and professionals in the sector. You’ll study media and communications at a global scale while developing specialist knowledge and research skills – preparing to launch a career as a media professional, or to enter doctoral study.
Come to an open day
Find out more at our postgraduate open days. Book now for your place.
How you learn
The course delivery model is designed to maximise your learning experience. Online sessions focus on delivering key content, while in-person seminars and workshops provide space for collaborative discussions and hands-on practice. Group work in the taught modules mirrors the collaborative nature of professional environments, while the independent project or dissertation enables you to explore an issue in depth.
Throughout the course, you'll be empowered to take control of your learning, becoming resourceful and adaptable in the fast-paced media and digital research sectors.
Teaching takes place in person, on campus, from whole-group lectures to smaller-group seminars and workshops. Lectures provide subject-specific knowledge, key historical, cultural and material contexts, plus theoretical perspectives and methodologies. They also introduce foundational academic practice, such as research, referencing, and how to construct, structure and present written and visual information and arguments. You’ll develop your understanding and perspectives through analysis and dialogue with course mates and tutors.
You learn through:
- lectures
- seminar activities and discussion of reading
- interactive workshops
- tutorials and academic tutoring
- critical thinking and research skills
- practical work, data production and analysis
- field trips
- formative assessment activity and summative feedback
- essays and individual presentations
- guest speakers
Key themes
The course is designed to put you at the centre of your learning journey, offering a clear structure across five integrated modules. You'll explore content creation and analysis, audience and digital research, and industry and governance – alongside a conceptual module that connects key theories and debates in the field. This structure supports students from diverse academic backgrounds, allowing you to develop a comprehensive understanding of the discipline while applying the latest insights in practice.
In the third trimester, you'll have the opportunity to shape your own future by developing a project or research piece that’s tailored to your career aspirations or further study goals. This 60-credit module offers the flexibility to either pursue a traditional academic dissertation or create a portfolio, such as a campaign strategy.
Modules provide specific curated resources as well as developing your digital literacy and digital skills, supporting you to seek out new resources and tools relevant to your specific interests and research.
Course support
We embed induction into research, referencing and writing skills into the core curriculum, to ensure it’s inclusive for all students. You’ll be supported to plan and undertake learning through independent study. We’ll also encourage Continuing Professional Development – both through assessment and via an academic advising system that supports your ongoing development.
You’ll be supported in your learning journey towards highly skilled employment through a number of key areas. These include:
- access to three student support advisers to help with your personal, academic and career development
- access to our Skills Centre with one-to-ones, webinars and online resources, where you can get help with planning and structuring your assignments
- industry-specific employability activities such as live projects, learning in simulated environments and networking opportunities
Applied learning
Live projects
The field of global communications and media focuses on communication ecosystems across the world in three ways. Firstly how industries deal with ownership and their geographies. Secondly audiences across social and community contexts, and how they’re received. Finally the contents and conditions for the creation of contents across multiple platforms and languages.
There’s a wide range of ongoing research across these three fields. You’ll learn how to analyse and produce content across the three areas, connecting with relevant sectors while staying up to date with current academic and scholarly trends. Our approach also combines conceptual research, real-world case studies and briefs, employer contact, and seminar and workshop tasks – all bringing theory into your practice.
Learning by doing enables you to apply your knowledge and skills – articulating developing ideas and understanding in discussions and activities with tutors and colleagues, both in person and online. This includes researching academic and secondary sources, responding to lecture and seminar prompts and activities, as well as reflecting on ideas, concepts and perspectives.
As a masters level student you’re expected to demonstrate a high level of independence, resourcefulness and rigour in your studies, developing professional skills which translate into the workplace.
Networking opportunities
We’ll encourage you to take part in relevant symposia, conferences and festivals – for example Postgraduate Network events and Sheffield Doc/Fest.
Course leaders and tutors
Modules
Important notice: The structure of this course is periodically reviewed and enhanced to provide the best possible learning experience for our students and ensure ongoing compliance with any professional, statutory and regulatory body standards. Module structure, content, delivery and assessment may change, but we expect the focus of the course and the learning outcomes to remain as described above. Following any changes, updated module information will be published on this page.
Final year
Compulsory modules
This module challenges you to develop practice-based skills through producing a communication campaign (social media, news, media production, photography, graphic design, strategy) on a major global concern or on specific aspects briefed by an external partner. It is an opportunity to study strategic media practice in greater depth and you are supported to think about your production from the perspectives of the Global South. You will produce a portfolio of work (such as a strategy or campaign) alongside a critical evaluation. The module enables you to combine and develop expertise and apply it to a topic supporting your professional ambitions.
Supported by lecturers, you will lead your learning in this module and direct the focus of your work. Chosen topics typically are of global relevance or generated in collaboration with a partner and involve the investigation of an issue of contemporary global importance.
The module challenges you to develop research and analytical skills through producing a sustained piece of work. It is an opportunity to study a specific aspect of global communications and media theory and practice in greater depth. You are supported to identify an area of interest, developing it as a portfolio of work (such as a communication plan, a social media strategy or global campaign), alongside a critical evaluation, or as a dissertation. The module enables you to develop expertise in your chosen area, supporting your professional ambitions.
You lead your learning in this module and direct the focus of your work, supported by lecturers. Chosen topics typically are of professional relevance to the you or involve the investigation of a communications and media issue of contemporary importance.
This module introduces you to the theoretical body of work linked to the concept and processes of media globalisation and media structures (ownership). Lectures will provide you with knowledge of national and transnational media contexts and their varied historical development. Seminars will pay particular attention to region-specific case studies of media contexts and explore the differences and continuities that emerge in contemporary cultural and media creative practices.
You lead your learning in this module and direct the focus of your work, supported by lecturers.
Chosen topics typically are of professional and scholarly relevance to you or involve the investigation of a Global media and communications issue of contemporary importance.
You will trace the development of varying disciplinary approaches to the study of media, exploring the different theoretical frames that have been adopted, and their impact on the understanding and interpretation of our contemporary ‘mediated’ society. You will be introduced to the multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary nature of the media studies field, and the key debates within it.
You will explore relevant core concepts and texts that are central to theories of media and communication, and consider how these texts have been understood, applied, and critiqued, and critically evaluate their arguments.
This module will explore key debates and issues in the study of media audiences and digital media cultures. You will learn how audiences have been studied, researched, analysed, and theorised, and will critically evaluate different approaches and perspectives. These perspectives also point at problems derived from the governance of the internet and citizens' fundamental rights. You will be supported in your summative research design and will develop skills that allow you to conduct practical analysis of data, in combination with the key issues studied on the module and the skills developed in it.
You lead your learning in this module and direct the focus of your work, supported by lecturers. Chosen topics typically are of professional relevance to the you or involve the investigation of audience datasets and theoretical concepts of contemporary importance.
Future careers
This course prepares you for a career in:
- publishing and creative industries
- freelance, enterprise and entrepreneurial roles
- teaching
- published/professional content creators
- marketing and PR
- journalism and specialised press
- international social media management
- research in media and communications
- data analysis
- further study (PhD)
- international news agencies
- governmental departments
- journalism and campaign management
- charity sector campaigning
- advocacy
Previous graduates of this course have progressed on to doctorate programmes in the UK, including at Hallam. Others have gone on to work for:
- national broadcasting and documentaries in Nigeria, Thailand and India
- Nigerian and Indian companies as social media managers
- themselves as self-employed social media managers in the UK and internationally
Equipment and facilities
You’ll learn in a professional learning environment that includes lecture theatres, seminar rooms and computer labs. Beyond formal teaching rooms you’ll have access to a range of spaces around our campus to support self-directed learning, including individual and group collaboration spaces.
You’ll also have access to a wide variety of facilities across the university, such as a 24-hour learning centre, Students’ Union and cafes.
Where will I study?
You study at City Campus through a structured mix of lectures, seminars and practical sessions as well as access to digital and online resources to support your learning.
City Campus
City Campus is located in the heart of Sheffield, within minutes of the train and bus stations.
City Campus map | City Campus tour
Adsetts library
Adsetts Library is located on our City Campus. It's open 24 hours a day, every day.
Explore the libraryLearn more about your department
Media, Arts and Communications Facilities Tour
Take a look around the media, arts and communication facilities at Sheffield Hallam University with lecturer Saskia Wilson.
Entry requirements
All students
An undergraduate degree at 2:2 or above in Communications, Media, Journalism, Public Relations, History, International Relations, Politics, or related field. In some circumstances, students without traditional undergraduate qualifications will be considered. It is envisaged that these applicants will have relevant work experience.
Overseas applicants from countries whose first language is not English must normally produce evidence of competence in English. An IELTS score of 6.5 with 5.5 in all skills (or equivalent) is the standard for non-native speakers of English.
Additional information for EU/International students
If you are an International or non-UK European student, you can find out more about the country specific qualifications we accept on our international qualifications page.
For details of English language entry requirements (IELTS), please see the information for 'All students'.
Fees and funding
Home students
Our tuition fee for UK students starting full-time study in 2027/28 is £11,490 for the course.
If you are studying an undergraduate course, postgraduate pre-registration course or postgraduate research course over more than one academic year then your tuition fees may increase in subsequent years in line with Government regulations or UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) published fees. More information can be found in our terms and conditions under student fees regulations.
International students
Our tuition fee for International/EU students starting full-time study in 2027/28 is £19,530 for the course.
Scholarships and financial support
Find information on scholarships, bursaries and postgraduate student loans.
International scholarships up to £3000 ›
Alumni scholarships up to £2000 ›
Postgraduate loans for UK students ›
Additional course costs
The links below allow you to view estimated general course additional costs, as well as costs associated with key activities on specific courses. These are estimates and are intended only as an indication of potential additional expenses. Actual costs can vary greatly depending on the choices you make during your course.
General course additional costs
Additional costs for Sheffield Creative Industries Institute (PDF, 277.1KB)Legal information
Any offer of a place to study is subject to your acceptance of the University’s Terms and Conditions and Student Regulations.
