Departmental website: lse.ac.uk/media@lse|
Number of graduate students (full-time equivalent)
Taught: 188
Research: 25
Number of faculty (full-time equivalent): 15
RAE: 75% of the Department's research was rated world leading or internationally excellent
Location: St Clement's
About the Department
The Department of Media and Communications is interdisciplinary and draws upon resources and support from the Departments of Sociology, International Development, Geography and Environment, Government and Law, the Information Systems and Innovation Group, and the Gender and Social Psychology Institutes.
In the 2008 Research Assessment Exercise carried out by the Higher Education Funding Council for England, the Department was ranked third in the UK on grade point average. The aim of the Department is to bring together teaching and research in media and communications from across the social sciences, with a strong focus on media, communication and technological change and their implications for social, economic and political life, as well as for media and communications policy.
The Department benefits from LSE's geographical location at the heart of one of the world's media capitals, and has excellent links with media and communication industries and policy makers in the UK.
All the MSc programmes in the Department of Media and Communications offer the following benefits:
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An intensive, high quality graduate education in media and communications.
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A broad social science foundation in qualitative, quantitative, empirical and critical skills.
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A diverse, multi-disciplinary and theoretically-oriented approach to contemporary developments, issues and debates in the field.
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A range of specialist courses within media and communications and related fields, including an independent empirical research project.
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An intellectually stimulating, well-resourced learning environment, with strong links to media and communications industries and policy makers.
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The opportunity for lively cross-cultural exchange of ideas among a dynamic group of fellow students in the Department and School.
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Study with internationally-recognised active researchers with expertise in media and communications and politics and democracy, regulation and policy, technological change, audiences, globalisation, culture, and more.
As a rule, most half unit courses in the Department are taught as a weekly lecture (one hour) and a weekly seminar (one hour), so two hours for each half unit course. Check the graduate course guide in the Calendar for each course for further details and for information on courses outside the Department.
The core courses in the Department are taught as follows:
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Theories and Concepts I and II - Weekly lecture (one hour) and weekly seminar (one and a half hours)
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(Advanced) Methods of Research - Michaelmas term, weekly Lecture (one hour), weekly satistics lecture (two hours), weekly satistics class (one hour). Lent term, two workshops (three hours)
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Dissertation Lent term, Symposium (two hours), two group supervisions (two hours). Summer term, Symposium (two hours), group supervision (two hours). Ad hoc individual supervision throughout Lent term and Summer term.
Our PhD programme and our MSc Media and Communications (Research) programme are recognised by the Economic and Social Research Council's 1+3 and +3 schemes and by the Arts and Humanities Research Council. Home and EU offer holders may be eligible for nomination for ESRC or AHRC funding.
Demand for programmes is high and we have to be selective when offering places. We recommend that you apply early.
Staff and their academic interests
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Dr Nick Anstead: New political communication, electoral and campaigning politics, engagement and citizenship, the evolution of political institutions and their relationship with technology.
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Dr Shaku Banaji: Political contexts and the media, South Asian media, audiences and texts, social and civic uses of the internet, youth participation.
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Dr Bart Cammaerts: Participatory democracy, globalisation/transnationalisation; public sphere, power, social change; counter-hegemonic strategies of resistance.
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Professor Lilie Chouliaraki: Social and cultural theory; ethics and political philosophy; corporate communication; communication theory and discourse studies.
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Dr Myria Georgiou: Diaspora, migration and transnationalism, identity, community and the media.
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Dr Ellen Helsper: Social and digital exclusion; mediated identity and relationships; cross-cultural comparisons; quantitative methods in media and communications research.
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Professor Sonia Livingstone: Social contexts and consequences of new media; media audiences (uses, reception, effects); children and young people's use of the internet; media literacy.
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Professor Robin Mansell: Information and communication technologies and services; social exclusion, policy and regulation of older and newer media.
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Dr Linje Manyozo: Media, communication and development; communication for development; participatory research methods.
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Dr Bingchun Meng: Political economy of media and information industries; copyright regulation and creative activities; new media.
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Dr Shani Orgad: Media and everyday life; media and globalisation; narrative and media; health and new media; internet and computer mediated communication.
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Professor Terhi Rantanen: Globalisation and media; media history; international news; media in post-communist countries.
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Dr Damian Tambini: Media and communications regulation and policy.
Opportunities for research
We welcome applications from well-qualified students for admission as an MPhil/PhD student to our two doctoral programmes: PhD in Media and Communications and PhD in New Media, Innovation and Literacy. Candidates should have a good pass (minimum of 65 or above) in an appropriate master's degree from a British university or equivalent qualification. You will need to have a clear sense of your research topic so that we can match your interests with supervisors. We encourage you to discuss your application in advance of formal submission. Formal applications must be accompanied by a 2,000 word research proposal.
On admission you are allocated a principal supervisor, a second supervisor, and a thesis committee. You initially register for the MPhil and follow a taught programme which involves coursework that is formally assessed. This normally includes core taught theoretical courses in the department, the Research Seminar in Media, Communications and Culture, and a broad training in research methods together with specialist courses selected in discussion with your supervisors. Towards the end of your first year you will produce a 10,000 word research proposal. This paper will include a substantive statement of the aims, theories and methods proposed for the thesis, a tentative chapter outline, an indicative bibliography and a timetable for its completion. Evaluation of this paper, together with an oral examination based on the thesis proposal and the submission of satisfactory coursework, will contribute to assessing whether students are permitted to upgrade from MPhil to PhD and continue into their second year.
Taught programmes