Master of Arts in Media and Culture

at Leeds Beckett University - City Campus United Kingdom

Engage with all forms of mass communication – the internet, social media, television, radio, popular music and cinema – on this dynamic course that critically explores cultural trends and media industries.

As part of your course you’ll:

• Get hands-on to create photographic essays, blogs and podcasts
• Design a talk programme for a radio station
• Invent and pitch a lifestyle TV concept
• Design and create an online game and form an anti-racism campaign group
• Work with professionals from social media, marketing, TV and magazine production
• Graduate with a recognised degree and employable skills across all current and potential future media platforms

The Northern heart of culture and the arts
You’ll be offered unique opportunities to gain work experience with the media, cultural and creative industries in Leeds, such as museums, art galleries, theatres, film production companies and recording studios that surround the city centre campus. You may also get involved in many regional events; for example, the Harrogate Film Festival, the Ilkley Literature Festival or the Leeds West Indian Carnival.

Industry links
Take advantage of the special relationships we’ve developed with employers and cultural industries throughout the city and across the region. Students have completed placements in the editorial team at Hallmark Studios and with Peepal Tree Press – an internationally-renowned publisher based in the city.

As part of this course you’ll:

• Explore criminological issues alongside a psychological focus
• Learn new ways of thinking about society while honing your understanding of people
• Engage with assumptions about the place of crime in society and our responses
• Gain an understanding of the causes and effects of crime and deviant behaviour through social research
• Use a range of psychological approaches to study human behaviour and thought to understand why people respond the way they do to crime 

Volunteering will enable you to develop your professional skills and add experience to your CV. Previous students have volunteered as learning support workers for the Leeds Youth Justice Board.

Develop your abilities to become a highly skilled music and audio producer.

As part of your course you’ll:

• Hone your skills in the creative, technical and compositional aspects of music production
• Gain a solid academic and practical base from which to develop your craft further
• Apply your knowledge to a variety of creative and industry-focused briefs and scenarios
• Understand the professional environment and how it will inform your practice
• Learn through lectures, tutorials and seminars delivered by academic staff and industry professionals
• Have the opportunity to work with other students in production teams, further enhancing your team working and project management abilities and employability opportunities

You’ll have access to software such as Logic Pro, Cubase, Adobe Audition, MAX MSP and Synthmaker. Your specialist modules might require you to use Pro Tools, Ableton Live, Unreal and other industry standard software.

This course is accredited by JAMES (Joint Audio Media Education Support) which encourages the delivery of workshops and lectures from industry professionals. A placement option and your final year project will provide you with opportunities to work with industry partners.

Artist in Residence Programme
The Artist in Residence programme gives our students an opportunity to work with professional artists and gives them a taste of what is it like to work on a professional music project. We have welcomed artists Chris T-T, Ian Prowse, I Monster, Tom Williams and Utah Saints.

Develop your own approach to the study and practice of graphic design through a combination of brief-led and self-initiated projects.

As part of your course you’ll:

• Explore a wide spectrum of disciplines including design for print, illustration, photography, typography, animation and moving image
• Discover your strengths and develop your own individual style
• Have the opportunity to show off your projects to the public and impress industry by exhibiting your work at the end of your final year
• Drive your own learning and set your own targets, as you would in the workplace

Our students have worked alongside practitioners and on live briefs from organisations such as Harvey Nichols, the BBC, Leeds Art Gallery and the NHS.

Gain valuable professional skills and specialist knowledge in both marketing and public relations.

As part of your course you’ll:

• Explore a range of topics, from digital marketing to reputation management and campaign development to customer relations
• Understand and positively respond to the changing technological, political, ethical and legal contexts within which organisations currently operate
• Take a real-life client-centred approach to learning though project work, campaigns and consultancy in this dynamic sector

Your employability is at the heart of this course, so you’ll have a wealth of opportunities to network and work with potential employers and industry professionals through a series of lectures, workshops and placements during your study.

As well as the chance to work with a variety of employers, you’ll have access to our specialist facilities, including the Simulation Suite where you can replicate real-life PR scenarios and a media suite.

Examine our relationship with the natural environment and learn to understand and consider responses to the challenges of climate change, globalisation, urbanisation, development and regeneration.

As part of your course, you’ll:

• Explore a range of contemporary issues within geography and environmental science such as remote sensing, natural hazard management, energy and environmental governance, climate adaptation, GIS and specialist technical field work
• Develop your understanding of the relationships between human activity and environmental change and combine theories about the physical nature, characteristics and environment of the world with human interactions

We have an excellent network of employers who will be able to offer relevant experience to help you develop employability and personal skills to help prepare you for employment. We also offer a work placement module to hone your personal, professional and employability skills.

Field trips, which include visits to sites of geographical and environmental importance, will help you gain an understanding of real-world issues and develop competence in practical research skills.

Develop your critical, analytical and interpretive skills and forge a deeper understanding of the world around you.

As part of this course you’ll:

• Examine social theory, class, gender, culture, the media, globalisation, and urban sociology
• Learn about changes and tensions in society and come to recognise how and why they develop
• Complete a range of innovative and creative assessments and research-based assignments
• Pick from a variety of modules to shape your course to your career interests

Our careers advisors will be on hand to offer guidance on your future career and to help you recognise and sharpen your employability skills. This course will develop your transferable skills in team working, time management, and written and oral communications.

Our graduates have established rewarding careers in a variety of fields, including marketing, advertising, social work, teaching and with charity, voluntary and community groups.

Develop key skills in economics, accounting and management with a strong vocational focus.

As part of your course you’ll:

• Explore the principles of economics and how they apply to business
• Gain both a theoretical and practical understanding of the economic decisions faced by business managers
• Develop the ability to analyse the economic and social environments in which those decisions are taken

If you take a paid work placement in your third year you’ll develop and enhance your employability skills. Past students have completed placements with companies including Mercedes Benz, Price Waterhouse Cooper and high street retail banks.

Start on the path to becoming a chartered engineer.

As part of this course, you’ll:

• Gain an understanding of the scientific and mathematical principles and methodologies that underpin Civil Engineering
• Build your understanding of structures, hydraulics, geotechnical engineering, management, health, safety and welfare, surveying, materials science and sustainable development
• Look at using materials in new ways, the principles of experimental design, and the engineering behind roads, bridges and other major structures
• Know what's needed to investigate and evaluate different engineering situations

You’ll understand how civil engineering works and know how to use your knowledge to solve structural problems. As well as honing your technical expertise, you’ll develop a flair for communication, problem solving and project management. We’ll prepare you to play a leading role in industry by nurturing your ability to manage and work in team environments.

Our modern, well-equipped laboratories will give you the chance to get involved with industry standard tools and testing. We'll show you how to examine the strength of materials for structures, and understand the latest geotechnical and structural analysis software packages.

We offer great links with industry, thanks to our teaching team which includes Chartered Engineers who have extensive experience across different areas of engineering. Guest lectures and talks on engineering projects will provide you with great opportunities to network with professional engineers and understand how what you're learning can be applied to real situations.

As part of your course you’ll:

• Develop expertise in managing all aspects of marketing activity
• Study topics such as research, branding, communications and optimising the use of digital content
• Learn how to plan and implement innovative strategies and campaigns to satisfy audiences in a variety of contemporary markets
• Have the opportunity to be mentored by marketing practitioners with a wealth of professional experience

The CIM is the leading professional body for marketers worldwide and exists to develop the marketing profession, maintain professional standards and improve the skills of marketing practitioners. Leeds Beckett University has joined forces with CIM to give you the opportunity to gain professional qualifications through the CIM Graduate Gateway. CIM qualifications are highly sought after by employers, and their content is reflected in our own degrees which ensures we are equipping you with the best opportunities for a successful marketing career.