MA International Public and Political Communication

About the course

Messages and viewpoints are all around us, in public spaces, at all times. Political parties, public and governmental institutions, pressure groups, charities and NGOs shape messages in particular ways, advocating viewpoints and constructing campaigns to influence public opinion, specific audiences and policymakers. Our MA in International Public and Political Communication (IPPC) teaches you to be an expert in both the analysis and development of such messages.

Join us on the degree and you'll learn about media relations, political marketing and the scope and significance of political communication. You'll develop skills in communicating with the media (including media training) and using different media outlets to promote ideas through advocacy and lobbying. Our teaching offers a deep and critical understanding of key debates around intersection of the media and public and political communication internationally.

The IPPC course combines a rigorous academic foundation with strong practical content. Taught by both research-active staff and practitioners who are proven experts in their field, our students analyse public and political communication activities both internationally and historically – and then put their findings to practical use, developing their own political and public communication campaigns or marketing tools.

After completing the course you'll be a media and communication expert who can analyse, manage and design campaigns, market and communicate ideas, and undertake effective media relations and lobbying. If you're looking for a career in national or local government, international agencies, NGOs, trade unions, political parties, charities, media organisations and lobbying, it's ideal preparation. The degree also offers a route into further academic study.

This degree offers students an advanced understanding of cutting-edge debates concerning media, power and democracy both nationally and internationally.

Rooted in our ground-breaking academic research, and offering practical, hands-on experience of political communication, this masters programme offers a route into PhD study and a solid foundation for careers in lobbying, journalism, public relations and more.

Your career

The International Public and Political Communication masters provides a solid grounding for those wishing to pursue research at PhD level and careers in political or public communications, marketing, lobbying, public relations, political campaigning, NGO work with development and advocacy – and, of course, journalism.

Recent graduates are working in media and public organisations across Europe and Asia in particular. Roles include media relations analyst, lecturer, journalist, website and media manager, and political reporter. Employers include the European Commission and European Parliament, South China Morning Post, the Pakistan government, the Tokyo Foundation and University of Sulaimani.

About us

Our teaching staff are professionals who have worked at the highest level in newspaper, magazine, radio, television and online journalism. This is a great place to learn practical skills. Three quarters of our research is rated world-leading or internationally excellent. The discussion of ideas about journalism, its past, present and future, is part of all our courses.

We have strong links with the industry. We send our masters students on a three-day field trip to London, visiting national news organisations for briefings on current developments with senior editors and meeting politicians and political journalists.

Guests from the media industries, regulators, campaigning groups and research institutes give lectures in the department. Broadcast editors run radio and television newsdays, and print and online production editors bring their expertise to newspaper, web and magazine exercises.

Professional accreditation

All our applied postgraduate courses are accredited by the main professional bodies representing the media industries: the National Council for the Training of Journalists, the Broadcast Journalism Training Council and the Professional Publishers Association. Our International Public and Political Communication and Global Journalism programmes are not accredited and have limited practical content.

Real-world learning environment

The University has invested £3 million in a superb new home for the department in 2014, with four large newsrooms designed to simulate a real working environment. The print newsroom is equipped with 30 PCs, all of which have access to the latest print production software such as Adobe Indesign, Incopy and Photoshop. You’ll also have access to a Press Association newsfeed, telephones, daily newspapers and Sky TV.

The broadcast newsroom is equipped with industry-standard software for radio production. We have a state-of-the-art radio studio and digital audio recorders. Students on the applied MA courses learn how to create packages, put together live news bulletins, shoot professional news pieces on HD TV cameras, and use Apple Final Cut X to cut rushes together. They acquire the skills needed to prepare text, audio and video content for publication online. These degrees also show how to use audio recorders, video and stills cameras to gather content. In the web newsroom, students use audio, video and image editing software to create their own sites.

Studentships

Postgraduate student loans are available for UK and EU students to a current value of £10,280.

Several scholarship funding awards are also available to MA International Public and Political Communication students. These include the following.

• The Sheffield Postgraduate Scholarship (for UK and EU students) is worth £10,000 and open to high-achieving students and those from groups that are underrepresented in higher education. More info
• Sheffield scholarships for international students are designed to support talented applicants from all over the world. More info

Please see the Department of Journalism Studies' taught postgraduate funding page for more general details on the above, including an overview of deadlines.

Other sources of funding may be available – please see the University's postgraduate funding pages to investigate.

Teaching and assessment

We teach through lectures, seminars, workshops and research exercises. You’re assessed by essays, examinations and a dissertation.

Visit the MA International Public and Political Communication page on the University of Sheffield website for more details!