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MSc Media Management

Our MSc Media Management was the first of its kind in the UK, and will provide you with the expertise to develop your career as a communication specialist in leading global digital, creative and media organisations.

Key facts

  • Award Masters / MSc, Postgraduate Certificate, Postgraduate Diploma
  • Start date September 2024
  • Duration MSc full-time: 12 months, MSc part-time: 24 months
  • Mode of study full time, part time
  • Delivery on campus

Overview

The MSc Media Management provides a dynamic introduction to the skills needed to flourish in your chosen media career in a rapidly changing global media landscape. Using the specialist expertise developed in the Masters, you’ll help media organisations to capitalise on opportunities and to meet the challenges posed by unprecedented change and increased global competition in the sector. 

The course offers you a unique opportunity to develop your theoretical and critical understanding of the digital, creative and media industries at the same time as honing your practical and analytical skills in a strongly industry-facing course.  

You’ll explore advanced-level interdisciplinary media and management-related studies led by highly qualified team from one of the UKs leading centres for digital media, film and communication studies as well as from the prestigious Stirling Management School. The course has extensive media industry links which are drawn upon in the delivery of industry guest lectures, team project work for live clients and the opportunity for fieldtrips, including a visit to the state-of-the-art broadcast facilities at BBC Pacific Quay, the recently opened V&A Dundee and tech incubator CodeBase Stirling.

Top reasons to study with us

Work placements

As part of the delivery of teaching on the core modules, group projects will be delivered to live clients from the media sector. In the past year media sector clients have included a film festival, book publisher, a female empowerment focused podcasting company and an entrepreneurial web app developer. These can be presented to potential future media industry employers as part of a portfolio of your work.

Flexible learning

If you’re interested in studying a module from this course, the Postgraduate Certificate or the Postgraduate Diploma then please email Graduate Admissions to discuss your course of study.

Research overview

Communications, Media and Culture at the University of Stirling was ranked 2nd in Scotland overall in the most recent Research Excellence Framework (REF 2021), with 100% of our research environment and 88% of our overall research classed as world-leading or internationally excellent.

Entry requirements

Academic requirements

A minimum of a second class Honours degree (2:1 preferred) or equivalent. Applicants without these formal qualifications but with significant appropriate work experience are encouraged to apply.

Media Managers come from a wide range of backgrounds, and the profession is keen to encourage applicants from the arts, humanities, business, sciences, and the social sciences. Applications are welcomed from applicants from the broadest range of disciplines.

Other routes of entry

If you don't currently meet our academic requirements, INTO University of Stirling offers a variety of preparation programmes that can earn you the qualifications and skills you need to progress onto some of our courses. Explore INTO University of Stirling to see the pathway and pre-masters routes available.

International entry requirements

View the entry requirements for your country.

English language requirements

If English is not your first language you must have one of the following qualifications as evidence of your English language skills:

  • IELTS Academic or UKVI 6.0 with a minimum of 5.5 in each sub-skill.
  • Pearson Test of English (Academic) 56 overall with a minimum of 51 in each sub-skill.
  • IBT TOEFL 78 overall with a minimum of 17 in listening, 18 in reading, 20 in speaking and 17 in writing.

See our information on English language requirements for more details on the language tests we accept and options to waive these requirements.

Pre-sessional English language courses

If you need to improve your English language skills before you enter this course, our partner INTO University of Stirling offers a range of English language courses. These intensive and flexible courses are designed to improve your English ability for entry to this degree.

Find out more about our pre-sessional English language courses.

Course details

The MSc Media Management consists of a taught course taking place over two 15-week semesters, followed by a dissertation. The taught course involves postgraduate modules offered by, or in collaboration with, the Faculty of Arts and Humanities and the Stirling Management School. You’ll take two core modules and one elective module each semester, making for a total of six taught modules across the year.

Modules

The module information below provides an example of the types of course module you may study. The details listed are for the current academic year (September 2023). Modules and start dates are regularly reviewed and may be subject to change in future years.

Course Details

Teaching

You'll be taught through a combination of lectures, seminars, workshops and tutorials. We also have guest speakers who are experienced practitioners from the media industry able to provide a strategic or practical insight into current management issues.

Teaching is carried out through a mix of lectures, tutorials, case studies, fieldwork exercises, site visits, guest speakers and consultancy projects with real-world clients.

You'll also have the opportunity to hear from industry professionals. Recently we have had speakers from all parts of the media industries and creative sector including Editor of the Sunday National, Former editor of The Scotsman, Head of Business Multiplatform Productions, BBC Scotland, Director and Independent Creative Producer for LeithLate, Director of Crowdfunding at Communications specialists Paved with Gold. Guest lectures have also been delivered from policymakers from the British Council; Ofcom and PACT. On core modules, students also had the opportunity to deliver consultancy projects for real-world media sector clients including a film festival, book publisher, a podcasting company and a web app developer.

Fieldwork

Fieldtrips delivered as part of the core modules include a visit to the state-of-the-art broadcast facilities at BBC Pacific Quay, the recently opened V&A Dundee and tech incubator CodeBase Stirling.

Assessment

Modules are assessed by a combination of coursework including:

  • essays
  • practical reports and strategic plans
  • case studies
  • presentations
  • research design and project proposals
  • You will also complete a 12,000 word dissertation

Some of these outputs will be delivered to live clients from the media sector and can be presented to potential future media industry employers as part of a portfolio of your work.

Course director

Key staff

The course has been strengthened with the appointment of new, dedicated staff and the development of new modules. It continually evolves to keep up with the changing media world. 

Dr Katherine Champion - Course Director, Tutor for Global Media Industries, Digital Cultures for Media Managers and the Dissertation 

Dr Victoria Esteves – Tutor for Media Policy and Regulation 

Professor Steven Buchanan – Tutor for Research Methods and Human Information Behaviour 

Professor Iain MacRury – Tutor for Advertising  

Dr Melissa Avdeeff – Tutor for Research Methods 

Ask an expert

Dr Katherine Champion Lecturer in Media and Communications

Course Director, Dr Katherine Champion, a specialist in Media and Communications, explains how studying at Stirling can enhance your career prospects.

Ask an expert in media, culture and communications

 

Fees and funding

Fees and costs

2023/242024/25
Students from the UK and Republic of Ireland£8,700£9,100
International (including EU) students£19,645£20,600

University of Stirling alumni will automatically be awarded a fee waiver for the first year of Masters studies through our  Stirling Alumni Scholarship.

Applicants from the UK or Republic of Ireland who hold a first-class honours degree or equivalent will automatically be awarded a £2,000 scholarship through our Postgraduate Merit Scholarship

Fees shown are for a full-time, one-year Masters course. 

If you need to extend your period of study, you may be liable for additional fees. 

If you are studying part time, the total course fee will be split over the years that you study. The total fee will remain the same and will be held at the rate set in your year of entry. 

For more information on courses invoiced on an annual fee basis, please read our tuition fee policy.

Eligible students could receive a scholarship worth between £4,000-£7,000. See our range of generous scholarships for international postgraduate students.

Fees shown are for a full-time, one-year Masters course. 

If you need to extend your period of study, you may be liable for additional fees. 

If you are studying part time, the total course fee will be split over the years that you study. The total fee will remain the same and will be held at the rate set in your year of entry. 

For more information on courses invoiced on an annual fee basis, please read our tuition fee policy.

Postgraduate tuition fee loans

This course is eligible for a postgraduate tuition fee loan from one of the UK’s governments. See the section, below, for more details.

Additional costs

There are some instances where additional fees may apply. Depending on your chosen course, you may need to pay additional costs, for example for field trips. Learn more about additional fees.

Scholarships and funding

Funding 

Eligible international students could receive a scholarship worth between £4,000-£7,000. See our range of generous scholarships for international postgraduate students.

University of Stirling alumni will automatically be awarded a fee waiver for the first year of Masters studies through our Stirling Alumni Scholarship.

Applicants from the UK or Republic of Ireland who hold a first-class honours degree or equivalent will automatically be awarded a £2,000 scholarship through our Postgraduate Merit Scholarship.

If you have the talent, ability and drive to study with us, we want to make sure you make the most of the opportunity – regardless of your financial circumstances.

Learn more about available funding opportunities or use our scholarship finder to explore our range of scholarships.

Postgraduate tuition fee loans

Scottish students may be eligible to apply to the Students Award Agency for Scotland (SAAS) for loans of up to £11,500 to cover tuition fees and associated living costs.

English students can apply for a loan of up to £12,167 each year as part of the Postgraduate Masters Loan Scheme.

Welsh students can apply for financial support of up to £18,770 as a combination of grant and loan from Student Finance Wales.

Northern Irish students can apply for a postgraduate tuition fee loan of up to £5,500 from Student Finance NI.

Cost of living

If you’re domiciled in the UK, you can typically apply to your relevant funding body for help with living costs. This usually takes the form of student loans, grants or bursaries, and the amount awarded depends upon your personal circumstances and household income.

International (including EU) students won’t normally be able to claim living support through SAAS or other UK public funding bodies. You should contact the relevant authority in your country to find out if you’re eligible to receive support.

Find out about the cost of living for students at Stirling

Payment options

We aim to be as flexible as possible, and offer a wide range of payment methods - including the option to pay fees by instalments. Learn more about how to pay

After you graduate

A number of rewarding professional career pathways are possible as a graduate of the MSc Media Management including opportunities in business, entertainment, digital marketing or public relations (PR). There is significant global market demand for graduates who understand how to effectively utilise media to reach and engage with target audiences and customers and, in a competitive landscape, this Masters provides you a necessary competitive edge. Some graduates choose to start their own businesses or go freelance, while others work for top media brands.  

Job roles include:  

  • media manager
  • marketing manager
  • media industry consultant
  • digital strategist
  • media project planner
  • social media manager
  • digital marketing manager
  • editor
  • social media analyst
  • content strategist
  • creative team leader

The Faculty of Arts and Humanities has a dedicated Employability Manager.  The course has a high level of engagement with industry, research and recruitment partners in the course design, delivery, project work and skill development activities. 

Testimonial quotes

With this Masters you get to see how Media Management plays into the real world, you learn not only what’s on paper, but you get to see it in action as well and how it’s applied it.

Liz Tudor
MSc Media Management

Employability skills

We offer a comprehensive employability and skills programme to help you maximise your time at university and develop the graduate attributes required by employers. We have a dedicated Faculty Employability and Skills Officer. There's also our Career and Employability Service who work in partnership with academic staff to ensure you get the best out of your University experience and are given the right opportunities to make you ready for the world of work.

You'll have access to advice, information and career opportunities not only in the UK, but worldwide..

What skills can you develop through this course?

As you progress through your Media Management degree, you’ll develop a wide range of practical skills and attributes that are actively sought after by prospective employers. These include:

  • Media industry awareness
    Through case study analysis, guest lectures and site visits to media organisations, you’ll gain an understanding of what’s going on in the media sector and rapid developments in other digitally related industries.
  • Written and oral communication
    Media management involves communication with various stakeholders – both internally and externally. Our course develops your abilities to communicate through various essays, reports, presentations and online activities.

  • Team working
    Group work is an essential part of your Media Management degree, with both management and communications modules simulate real-life scenarios in business and marketing communications.
  • Research and analysis
    You’ll be given the opportunity to develop your own research skills to carry out both small-scale and larger research projects, including your dissertation.

  • Time management
    You’ll learn how to manage your time more effectively through active involvement in group projects, as well as by successfully juggling your weekly workload in order to meet your (sometimes conflicting) deadlines for coursework.

  • Self-confidence
    The media industry needs confident self-starters, and your active participation in the course and our wider postgraduate community will build your personal confidence and professional prospects.

Companies we work with

The Division of Communications, Media and Culture actively supports and encourages its staff and students to engage with a wider audience for its research. We've contributed to the work of:

  • media and creative economy policy;
  • funded research for government agencies;
  • collaborative work with NGO’s;
  • engagement with the trade associations, unions and institutes of communications;
  • media and culture professionals;
  • active dialogue and contributions to media organisations across the spectrum of broadcasting;
  • the press, film and the Internet;
  • professional contributions to charities and pressure groups in relation to public media issues and policies;
  • a range of cultural heritage activities at national and international film festivals and exhibitions.

Students will meet media professionals through talks and site visits, and will have the opportunity to focus aspects of their assessment on the needs of media organisations. Staff maintain good relationships with former graduates now working in the media, including organisations such as the BBC, Channel 4, MTV, China Radio HIT FM, Vodafone Greece and Radio One India (A Midday/BBC Joint Venture).

What our students said

Jing Zhang
Jing Zhang
China
MSc Media Management
I chose to study at the University of Stirling because of its great reputation. Now I’m working in Germany as a Business Developer and a Media Specialist.
Read Jing's story
Faith  Adesuwa Idialu
Faith Adesuwa Idialu
Nigeria
MSc Media Management
The Media Management course has set me up with confidence for my career. My favourite part was the series of guest lectures throughout the year.
Read Faith's story

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