Applicants are required to have an upper second-class honours degree (NFQ Level 8) or international equivalent.
Those whose first language is not English must demonstrate English language proficiency of IELTS (Academic) Overall Band Score of 6.5, with 6.5 in Reading and Writing and no other component below 6.0 normally required or equivalent.
This programme is intended for applicants with an undergraduate degree in any discipline and with an interest in pursuing postgraduate studies in communication and media. The MSc in Communication & Media is designed to complement and expand existing programmes and research expertise at the School of Information & Communication studies. It is the first postgraduate degree in this field in Ireland to be offered from an Information school perspective.
These are the minimum entry requirements – additional criteria may be requested for some programmes
Students on this MSc in Communication & Media will learn how to: Understand the theoretical foundations of communication and media studies Cultivate deep knowledge and research on interpersonal, mediated and mass communication in both theory and practice Analyse the interactions and relationships between communication, media, people and power Assess the principles of creation, exchange, management, meaning and impact of information through digitally mediated communications Apply this learning to specific fields of communication and media (e.g. health, public data, human-computer interaction, culture etc.) or technological domains (mobile technology, speech interfaces, data visualisation etc.) Critique past, current and future structures, platforms and paradigms for communication and digital media Comparatively evaluate international communication and media conten, structures and policy Develop high quality research projects with the potential for further academic or industry career progression in communication and media This MSc degree aims to produce future professionals with a deep understanding of the communication and media landscape. On graduating, our students will be able to embark on a variety of careers in Ireland and abroad, whether in the digital media industries, in communication regulation and policy or in media design, management and research, both in the public and private sectors. This programme will also provide an ideal foundation for applicants with an interest in pursuing further postgraduate research towards a PhD at UCD School of Information & Communication Studies or at another location The programme's structure across different suggested tracks will allow students to develop specialised knowledge in communication and media studies for a specific setting. All tracks include 60 credits of core modules that cover basic knowledge and skills (with a thesis or media project option), with a further 30 credits of elective modules according to track choice. Students will gain an international perspective from lectures and seminars as well as guest talks, combining professional industry and research experience with strong theoretical foundations. Below is a list of all modules offered for this degree in the current academic year. Click on the module to discover what you will learn in the module, how you will learn and assessment feedback profile amongst other information. Incoming Stage 1 undergraduates can usually select an Elective in the Spring Trimester. Most continuing undergraduate students can select up to two Elective modules (10 Credits) per stage. There is also the possibility to take up to 10 extra Elective credits.