Is the MA Communication Studies more theoretical or applied?

Both — designed to integrate. The MA Communication Studies sits between a pure theory degree and an applied PR or marketing degree. Students engage seriously with current scholarship and develop applied judgment grounded in that scholarship. The dissertation can lean toward either end.

Will the MA Communication Studies prepare me for a PhD?

Yes — directly. The research-methods core and dissertation are calibrated to the entry expectations of UK doctoral programmes in communications, media and journalism studies. Several graduates each year move into PhD-track research at LSJHML or partner universities.

Does the MA Communication Studies cover digital and platform communication?

Yes — substantially. Platform-era communication research, paid social, influencer relations and current platform-policy literacy are all core content. Digital is treated as native, not as a bolt-on, throughout the degree.

Can I take the MA Communication Studies part-time alongside a full-time comms job?

Yes — many students do. The MA can be taken over 24 months part-time, with online and distance routes designed around working professionals. Evening tutorials and weekend masterclasses are scheduled to support working students.

What is the dissertation on the MA Communication Studies?

An independent 12,000–15,000 word original research project. Recent topics have included framing in UK climate coverage, employee comms during organisational change, influencer-disclosure regulation, and trust dynamics in UK political-platform communication.

MA Communication Studies in London | LSJHML | Harold International College of London

Course Overview

The MA Communication Studies at the London School of Journalism, Humanities & Modern Languages (LSJHML) is a one-year UK postgraduate degree for working communications professionals and graduates moving into research-informed senior practice. You will engage with advanced communication theory, work with primary research on platform-era communication, design and run a substantive piece of original research, and graduate with a 12,000-to-15,000-word dissertation that contributes credibly to the field.

The MA Communication Studies is taught in dialogue with the International Communication Association's research framework and the CIPR's senior professional standards. By the end, you can read communication scholarship critically, apply current research to live communication challenges, and conduct original research to a standard funders, employers and doctoral programmes recognise.

Key Features

UK postgraduate degree — one year full-time or two years part-time, with online and distance routes.
Advanced communication theory module — agenda setting, framing, audience reception, current platform-era scholarship.
Research methods core — content analysis, survey design, focus-group facilitation, interview methods, computational text analysis.
Applied research lab — design and conduct a small piece of original research alongside coursework.
Industry-led masterclasses from senior communicators across UK national institutions, FTSE corporates and major charities.
Dissertation — an independent 12,000–15,000 word piece of original communication research.

What You Will Learn

The MA Communication Studies is structured around the advanced competences of a research-informed communications professional or scholar — theoretical sophistication, methodological discipline, ethical practice and clear analytical writing. You graduate able to read communication scholarship critically, design and conduct original research, and apply both to senior-level communication challenges.

Advanced communication theory — classical and contemporary scholarship, platform-era research, current debates.
Audience research — segmentation, behavioural research, qualitative and quantitative methods at advanced level.
Strategic planning at senior level — OASIS, GCS, IPA frameworks, advanced campaign architecture.
Crisis communications — pre-mortems, holding lines, recovery, organisational learning frameworks.
Platform and digital communication — paid social, influencer relations, owned content, platform-policy literacy.
Research methods — content analysis, survey design, focus-group facilitation, interview methods, computational text analysis.
Research ethics — informed consent, vulnerability, data protection, the politics of communication research.
Dissertation craft — research-question framing, literature synthesis, original analysis, defensible argument.

Who This MA Is For

Working communications professionals (in-house and agency) moving toward director-level roles.
Bachelor's graduates in communication, media or journalism seeking advanced theoretical and methodological training.
Public-sector and civil-service communicators working under the Government Communication Service standards.
Aspiring doctoral researchers and academic-track communicators preparing for PhD-track work.

Career Pathways

The MA Communication Studies opens onto senior roles across agency, in-house, public-sector and third-sector communications, as well as academic-track careers. Typical post-MA destinations include:

Senior Communications Officer (FTSE, central government, regulator, university)
Public Relations Account Director (PR consultancy, public-affairs agency)
Internal Communications Lead (corporate, NHS trust, central government)
Campaigns Manager (advocacy organisation, political campaign, third sector)
Communications Research Manager (broadcaster, agency, research consultancy)
Doctoral Researcher (communications, media or journalism studies)

The MA serves as preparation for doctoral research, for senior leadership roles in communications, and for strategic communications consultancy practice.

Entry Requirements

A UK 2:2 honours degree (or international equivalent) in a related subject, OR a 2:2 in any subject with two years of relevant professional experience.
IELTS 6.5 overall (no band below 6.0) for non-native English speakers.
Personal statement (max 1 page) outlining your motivation, relevant experience and intended specialism.
Two academic or professional references.
Applicants without a related undergraduate degree may be considered with significant industry experience and a written sample.

Why Study at LSJHML

The London School of Journalism, Humanities & Modern Languages is a specialist higher-education provider based in central London. Our programmes are designed in dialogue with working professionals — journalists, translators, civil servants, academics, broadcasters, editors, publishers and policy researchers — so what you learn in seminar on Monday is what your future employer is using on Tuesday. We deliberately keep cohorts small, give every student named tutor support, and treat employability as a structural part of every programme rather than an optional add-on.

London is the work — politics, courts, capital markets, theatre, broadcasting, publishing, public service, the global press. Your studies are taught in the same square mile where the stories you read about happen. Whether you join us on-campus, online or by distance learning, the city is your classroom and our industry network is your launchpad.