Course information
UK fee £9,550
International fee £21,400
Taught by Media and Communication
Contact
+44 (0)116 252 2620
amc-enquiries@le.ac.uk
Course description
Course description
The MA Media and Advertising will equip you with both the theoretical and the practical research skills to understand and critically evaluate one of the most creative promotional industries in the world: advertising. You will explore this dynamic phenomenon from different standpoints and use multidisciplinary approaches deriving from Media, Communication and Cultural Studies, as well as Marketing and Consumer Studies.
The course covers a range of topics, including:
- the role of advertising in media and consumer societies (history, industry and issues)
- the ubiquity of promotional culture (political advertising, public service advertising, branding, anti-consumer movements, etc.)
- the importance of researching advertising messages and campaigns using a variety of methods
- the position of advertising in the marketing toolkit available to companies
- the necessity to understand consumers' behaviour
You will also explore advertising from the standpoint of Marketing and Consumer Behaviour, and explore the relevant key concepts and practices. You will investigate how advertising promotes brand awareness and influences consumers' decision making processes. You will gain an understanding of the creative strategies used in advertising and the use of research in relation to advertising effectiveness, as well as the ability to work and be assessed on live creative briefs and advertising research projects. During the course you will also have the opportunity to hear guest speakers from the industry, who will share their valuable experiences with you. In the past few years, the MA Media and Advertising featured the following guest speakers from the advertising industry:
- Jamie Mollart, Director of the advertising agency Rock Kitchen Harris
- David Bassett, Director of Analytics at the advertising research company Lumen Research
- Natalie Edwards, Director of the cultural insight and innovation consultancy Canopy
The MA Media and Advertising is taught by Media and Communication. As a result you will be well equipped to pursue a career in advertising or marketing or continue your study in a research degree (PhD).
The programme consists of core and option modules and a dissertation based on a piece of individually supervised research. This provides you with the opportunity to examine in depth a topic of particular relevance to your study and interests, and to put into practice the skills you have acquired in data analysis, project management, and research presentation.
Entry requirements
Entry requirements
2:1 degree in a relevant subject, or an equivalent professional qualification.
We can give special consideration to applicants who have significant work experience in a relevant field.
English Language Requirements
IELTS 6.5 or equivalent. If your first language is not English, you may need to provide evidence of your English language ability. If you do not yet meet our requirements, our English Language Teaching Unit (ELTU) offers a range of courses to help you to improve your English to the necessary standard.
International Qualifications
Find your country in this list to check equivalent qualifications, scholarships and additional requirements.
Countries listFees and funding
Fees and funding
UK Students
Starting in September 2025
- MA: £9,550
If you are resident outside the UK and the Republic of Ireland, you will need to pay a deposit of £3,000 to secure your place. This will be subtracted from your total tuition fee.
Find out more about scholarships and funding.
Did you know you can apply for a Government Postgraduate Loan? Find out if you're eligible.
International Students
Starting in September 2025
- MA: £21,400
You will need to pay a deposit of £3,000 to secure your place. This will be subtracted from your total tuition fee.
Find out more about scholarships and funding.
Careers and employability
Careers and employability
Our Masters degree will demonstrate to potential employers that you have an in-depth knowledge of advertising, its working mechanisms and its global industry, which can help you to stand out in the job market. Our programme has a strong emphasis on international content and research methods, which will have a practical application in the professional world.
Some of the key career destinations include advertising agencies, advertising research institutes, companies, as well as international media outlets, news agencies, government departments (e.g. publicity, education, health) and PR agencies, amongst others.
Our Career Development Service is here to support you, with advice on interviews, CVs, work experience, volunteering and more. From Freshers’ Week to Graduation and beyond, they are here to help you reach your professional goals.
Related courses
Course structure
Core modules
Core modules
- Advertising and Society
- Media Research Methods
- Advertising Analysis
- Advertising and Promotion in the Digital Age
- Promotional Cultures
- Advertising for a Client
Plus your Media and Communication Dissertation
Modules shown represent choices available to current students. The range of modules available and the content of any individual module may change in future years.
Option modules
Option modules
Choose one option module from:
- Media Audiences and Users
- Health Communication Theory and Practice
- Researching Media and Public Communication
- Advertising Creativity
- Critical Approaches to Data Analytics and the Digital Economy
- Digital Media, Online Persuasion and Behavioural Change
- Strategic Communications Management
- Critical Approaches to Consumer Culture
- Gender Politics in Contemporary Media
- The Globalisation of Sexuality: Culture and Media
- Digital Media in Everyday Life
Modules shown represent choices available to current students. The range of modules available and the content of any individual module may change in future years.
Dissertation
Dissertation
You will be required to complete a dissertation on a topic of your choice in the area of advertising and media, allowing you to focus on a particular topic that interests you. You will be able to apply the skills you have developed throughout the degree in the management of an advertising-related research project, the analysis of advertising materials and data, and the application of the most relevant critical advertising theories and studies.
Modules shown represent choices available to current students. The range of modules available and the content of any individual module may change in future years.
Why Leicester?
In 1978 the University of Leicester launched the UK's first Masters Degree in the field of media and communication.
One of the UK's longest established academic centres for communication and media studies, we are internationally recognised for our innovative research.
Our research work is being supported by major government and international organisations.
You will be taught by experienced tutors and leading researchers in the field.
Teaching and learning
You will be taught by a combination of lectures, seminars and workshops.
You will be assessed through analysis of advertising campaigns, production and presentation of a creative brief, essays, research methods assignments, etc. You will also complete a research-based dissertation of 10-12,000 words on a topic of your choice, for which you will carry out extensive independent research under the direction of your supervisor.
Key dates
September 2025 start
- Application deadline: 8 September 2025 (Please note if you require a visa to study you will be required to submit your course application by 25 July 2025)
- Deposit payment deadline: 8 August 2025
- CAS request deadline: 5 September 2025
- 70% tuition payment deadline: 5 September 2025
Apply now
Course | Qualification | Duration | Start Dates | Availability |
---|---|---|---|---|
Course Media and Advertising | Qualification MA | Duration 1 year full-time | Start Dates September each year | Availability Apply Now |