MA International Communications Studies

Key information

Degree

Types of study

Full time / Part time

Duration

12 months full-time / 24-48 months part-time

Start date

September each year

Faculty

International Communications / Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences

Entry requirements

Course Requirements: Open to graduates of any subjects. This master programme requires students to have a bachelor's degree (or international equivalent) from a recognised institution at the same standard as a UK university's 2:1 (upper second class honours degree or international equivalent).

English Language Requirements: Applicants whose first language is not English, and who do not have a degree from a UK institution, are required to have the following English language qualifications before they can register on an academic programme:

IELTS: 6.5 (with no less than 6.0 in each element) or
PTE Academic: 71 (minimum 65) or
TOEFL (IBT): 90 (minimum 19 in Writing and Listening, 20 in Reading and 22 in Speaking)

Further Requirements: Applicant's CV and *an academic writing sample should be provided.

*Writing sample could be a section from the dissertation/essay or a translated section from the dissertation or a translated essay (word length: around 1,000).

Course overview

The MA in International Communications Studies is designed to meet the needs of graduates from all disciplines who want to add international communications to their specialist knowledge. You will have the opportunity to study communications against the background of recent theoretical and methodological developments and will gain vital insights into the skills required by the contemporary communications sector.

The aim of this programme is to provide a focus for creativity and innovation across a range of research fields. We offer a vibrant, intellectually challenging environment for postgraduate students who are keen to deepen their understanding of international communications issues.

This programme will enable you to delve into the theory and practice of communications from many angles. You will explore a range of critical-theoretical concepts relevant to the creative industries, culture, digital media, globalisation, ‘the information society’, mass media, multiculturalism and technology. You will apply your knowledge to internationally relevant issues.

Course structure

The MA International Communications Studies degree programme can be taken full-time in one year or part-time over a maximum of six years. The programme is divided into 20 credit taught compulsory and optional content modules with a 60 credit Dissertation component. Students may also choose from 10 credit optional language modules. Students must take 180 credits (including 60 credits for a dissertation). Students will normally proceed directly from the taught stage of their course to the dissertation/project stage.

The compulsory and optional content modules strike a balance between, on the one hand, grounding the student’s learning in the classic concepts, theories and methods of media, communication, and cultural studies, and, on the other hand, exploring contemporary trends in storytelling, music, creative industries, cinema, game, journalism, transcultural communication, and political communication. Towards the end of the second semester, each student is assigned a dissertation supervisor based on project proposals.

Semester One

Compulsory modules provide the core skills and knowledge needed to analyse various forms of communication in their contemporary social and cultural settings.

Semester Two

Students will take optional modules that allow them to immerse themselves in topics suiting their interests and future career goals.

Year 1 modules

+

ACADEMIC YEAR 2026-2027

Compulsory

Students must take all modules in this group.

Code	Title	Credits	Taught
INCM4033	Current Issues in International Communications	20	Autumn
INCM4034	Media and Communication Theory	20	Autumn
INCM4115	Strategic Communication and Transcultural Perspectives	20	Autumn
INCM4125	Media and Communication Research Methods	20	Spring
INCM4021	Dissertation in International Communications Studies	60	Summer

Restricted - Group 1

Students who do not choose any modules from Restricted Group 2 must take a minimum of 40 and a maximum of 40 credits from this group. Other students must take a minimum of 20 and a maximum of 40 credits from this group.

Code	Title	Credits	Taught
INCM4022	Journalism: Theory and Practice	20	Spring
INCM4036	Chinese Cinemas	20	Spring
INCM4111	Critical Game Studies	20	Spring
INCM4112	Storytelling and Video Production	20	Spring
INCM4114	Music Technology, Production and Industry	20	Spring
INCM4124	Perspectives on Political Communication	20	Spring

Restricted - Group 2

Students must take a minimum of 0 and a maximum of 20 credits from this group. Students must maintain the same language selection throughout the academic year (autumn and spring terms).

Code	Title	Credits	Taught
LANG1062	General French Through Tourism 1A	10	Autumn
LANG1064	German Language and Culture 1A	10	Autumn
LANG1066	Communicative Japanese 1A	10	Autumn
LANG1068	Spanish Language and Culture 1A	10	Autumn
LANG1070	Korean Language and Culture 1A	10	Autumn
LANG1084	Mandarin Listening and Speaking 1A	10	Autumn
LANG1063	General French Through Tourism 1B	10	Spring
LANG1065	German Language and Culture 1B	10	Spring
LANG1067	Communicative Japanese 1B	10	Spring
LANG1069	Spanish Language and Culture 1B	10	Spring
LANG1071	Korean Language and Culture 1B	10	Spring
LANG1085	Mandarin Listening and Speaking 1B	10	Spring

Please note that the structure of this degree and its modules may be subject to change.

Careers and further study

Our Careers Development Service will work with you to explore your options. They will invite you to attend recruitment events featuring potential employers, and will suggest further opportunities, such as relevant work experience placements and skills workshops.

Fees

Chinese Mainland students

120,000 RMB / year

China's Hong Kong, Macao & Taiwan students

120,000 RMB / year

International students

130,000 RMB / year

Scholarships, sponsorships and bursaries

To encourage academic excellence, we offer a comprehensive and expanding range of full and partial scholarships.

Please click here and find more information about scholarships.

More information

Our MA International Communications Studies programme enables students to spend their second semester of study at our UK campus. The scheme has proved very popular with many students expressing an interest in studying on the International Media and Communications Studies programme at Nottingham. You will receive notification from our Global Engagement Office once you successfully register.