Media Practice for International Development at the University of Sussex

Goals

This innovative MA brings together the expertise of two of Sussex’s leading areas of research and study – media practice and development studies in the School of Media, Film and Music and the School of Global Studies – for those who are interested not only in media and their role in relation to development processes and social action, but media as a tool for social change.

Eligibility Criteria

UK entrance requirements

A first- or upper second-class undergraduate honours degree in an appropriate discipline. We also welcome applicants who do not have this academic qualification but who have work experience in the field of development or media. The latter applicants will be shortlisted on the basis of their CV and a personal statement to demonstrate analytical and
writing skills.

Overseas entrance requirements

Please refer to column A on the Overseas qualifications table.

If you have any questions about your qualifications after consulting our overseas qualifications table, contact the University. E pg.enquiries@sussex.ac.uk

English language requirements

IELTS 6.5, with not less than 6.5 in Writing and 6.0 in the other sections. Internet TOEFL with 92 overall, with 21 in Listening, 22 in Reading, 24 in Speaking and 25 in Writing.

Description

This degree, unique in the UK, equips you with practical skills in mobile media, radio, documentary and/or photography and interactive media and gives you a critical foundation in development and media theory. You will consider questions such as:

How do ownership and media regulation connect to development processes?
How do social movements and other civil society organisations use media to strengthen their influence and impact?
In what ways can media support processes of democratisation and social change?

This MA offers a forum for critical debates on development and social change and analysis of the contemporary global media landscape. It includes a practical project and culminates in a professional placement, an independent media project engaging with real-world issues, or a written dissertation.

You will:

gain an understanding of how different media can and have been used in processes of social change
experience practical applications and creative projects that will help you use media for change
work in a lively, creative environment in which you can learn from your fellow students, exchange ideas and skills, build on existing professional experience and acquire new skills, insights and impetus.

This MA may appeal to you if you already work for an NGO or are employed in the voluntary sector, or have other work commitments, as the two-year part-time study option has been designed to enable you to complete the course while being on campus on only one day per week.

Assessment

Assessment will consist of a variety of practical media projects, critical reflection reports, presentations, essays and the final project in the form you have chosen: work placement, independent media project, written dissertation.

Programme structure

We continue to develop and update our courses for 2012 entry to ensure you have the best student experience.

Autumn term: Critical Approaches to Development and Social Change • Producing Media for Development and Social Change.

Spring term: you take two options, one in a specialist area of development studies (School of Global Studies), and one in a specialist area of media (School of Media, Film and Music).

School of Global Studies options: Activism for Development and Social Justice • Knowledge, Power and Resistance • Migration, Inequality and Social Change • Poverty, Marginality and Everyday Lives • The Architecture of Aid.

School of Media, Film and Music options: Activist Media Practice • Global Journalism (note that this is not a practical module) • New Developments in Digital Media • New Moving Screens • Photography: Documentary, Landscape, Politics.

Summer term: you begin either a placement with a social movement, civil society organisation or international development organisation and produce a media project in the field together with a critical reflection report, orexecute an independent media project together with a critical reflection report, or write a desk-based 15,000-word dissertation.

Fees

‘Home’ UK/EU students: £5,600
Channel Island and Isle of Man students: £5,600
Overseas students: £12,800

For more information, visit Fees, Fees by programme, Living expenses, and Other costs.

Funding

Refer to Funding, and find out more about our extensive range of scholarships and bursaries in our online funding guide.

Contact

Student Recruitment Services
T +44 (0)1273 876787
E pg.enquiries@sussex.ac.uk

Further Information