Aims of the Department

The Department aims to undertake outstanding and innovative research and to provide an excellent research based education in media and communications to students at the School.

• Be the leading research based department in media and communications in the UK and one of the top five in the world
• Provide a high quality postgraduate education in the major social scientific approaches to media and communications
• Prepare students for doctoral or professional research in media and communications and for entry into a variety of media and communications-related careers
• Conduct research of significance to academic, policy, media and public agendas, impacting on each.

• Produce research and publications to the highest possible international standard of excellence
• Generate original research ideas, insights and findings that shape the future academic agenda for media and communications in a social science context
• Contribute to and enhance the intellectual standing of the field of media and communications
• Develop effective channels by which original research in media and communications can reach and impact on current policy and public agendas
• Sustain and extend our success in raising external funds for the conduct of original research
• Educate and train doctoral students at the cutting edge of research in the field
• Sustain a generative research environment within the department, including constructive links with academic networks and organisations nationally and internationally

• An intensive, high quality postgraduate education in media and communications
• A broad social science foundation in qualitative, quantitative, empirical and critical skills
• A diverse, inter- and multi-disciplinary approach to theoretical developments and debates in the field
• A range of specialist courses within media and communications and related fields, including an independent empirical research project
• An intellectually stimulating, well-resourced learning environment, with strong links to media and communications industries and policy makers
• The opportunity for lively cross-cultural exchange of ideas among a dynamic group of fellow students in the Department and School
• Study with internationally-recognised active researchers with expertise in media and communications and politics and democracy, regulation and policy, technological change, audiences and literacies, globalisation and culture, and more