Course overview
Journalism facilities
See the facilities you use when you study journalism at Teesside University
Equip yourself with the skills and knowledge to thrive in the growing digital industries:
- Adapt to digital change: learn to respond to the rapid and disruptive nature of digital media and communications.
- Develop key skills: gain expertise in technical design, creativity, project management, business understanding, teamwork, entrepreneurship, and leadership.
- Build a portfolio: engage in project and industry-led projects to showcase your practice and research and develop both platform and content creative and technical competencies.
- Act strategically: devise strategies and creative solutions to produce quality content for local, national, and global audiences.
- Transform environments: offer creative and ethical solutions to enhance professional settings and communities.
- Industry-focused: professionals and academics collaborate with Industry and live briefs with strong research profiles in digital activism, political communication; public relations; platform development.
Top reasons to study this course at Teesside University:
- Get creative: our course and campus are powered by Adobe and Apple. We’re Europe’s first Adobe Creative Campus and the only Apple-accredited University, equipping you with the digital tools and resources to hone your creative skills.
- Collaborative modules: our MA courses include interdisciplinary modules where you’ll be able to interact with people from other MA subject areas, widening your perspectives and network. Modules are also delivered in a condensed way to help you balance your other commitments.
- Industry-standard facilities: develop your skills using the latest technology including specialist technical demonstrations as part of the learning journey and access to a wide range of industry standard kit, freely and 24 hours a day.
- Expert faculty / subject experts: Learn from experienced professionals and academics with current global industry connections. Explore interactive technology, live broadcast platforms, broadcast studios, latest software, video editing and podcasting technology.
- Industry affiliations: connect with a wide association of professionals during modules, with live projects and win the chance of work placement opportunities as you widen your digital communications network.
- Future-focused employability: prepare for future challenges by exploring alternate scenarios and emerging technologies, equipping yourself as a versatile and forward-thinking professional in a rapidly growing regional, national, and global job market.
Picture yourself as a digital communications manager or consultant, digital marketing specialist, content strategist, social media manager, digital project manager, UX/UI designer / consultant, digital content producer, How about a brand manager or digital media consultant or a public relations specialist, or interactive media developer? You could be an influencer marketing manager, or a video producer or an editor.
Creative UK
Take advantage of our Creative UK membership and help futureproof your career, with networking events, a resource hub to support professional development, and bespoke workshops in partnership with industry leaders and mentors. Sign up for free student membership to get opportunities, events and newsletters sent directly to your inbox.
Course details
Course structure
Core modules
Content Production for Digital Platforms
Content Production for Digital Platforms is a student-led exercise in digital creativity. Develop your digital communication skills by creating multimedia content on a subject of your choice. Produce and optimise content for broadcast and social media platforms. Focus on user experience and design whilst you push the boundaries of creative innovation.
Explore digital media through three intertwining themes: representation, audiences and communication and culture. Delve into ideology, mediated personas, and bias as you examine intercommunication between mainstream and independent media, and the dynamics between content producers and consumers. Investigate the socio-cultural, political, and economic impacts of digital communication.
Unleash your vision as you dive into a major, in-depth, individual study tailored to your discipline and career aspirations. Whether you're interested in commercial, industrial, creative, or research fields, this project is your canvas.
Take full ownership of your project, from idea to execution. Create artefacts, exhibitions, publications, campaigns, and digital works either from scratch or significantly developing your own previous work.
Integrate all your learning into a substantial body of work that showcases your vision as a creative practitioner. This is your chance to shine your brightest.
Elevate your creative research skills, a cornerstone of all creative disciplines, fuelling both academic and creative work. Learn engaging research practices and critical thinking to tackle real-world issues, policies, and audiences. Join a vibrant postgraduate community, exchanging ideas and perspectives across various creative fields. Benefit from lectures and online tutors delivering key knowledge on current debates, issues, and research approaches in the arts and creative industries. Participate in seminars and studio sessions for active debate and practical application of research.
User Experience for Digital Platforms
Master content design and user experience as you learn how to create digital products for targeted platforms and audiences. Engage specific audiences with innovative digital content. Use various frameworks to develop a prototype and devise a digital launch and enterprise strategy. Gain the knowledge, methods, and techniques to design impactful interactive digital media for specific audiences.
Advanced practice (2 year full-time MA only)
Undertake an opportunity that builds on your existing knowledge, skills, and experience and supports your future career interests and aspirations.
Learn how to develop solutions to real-world business problems and enhance your personal and professional knowledge, skills, and behaviours through reflection, critical thinking, and action.
Modules offered may vary.
How you learn
Traditional lectures and seminars are employed, particularly around those subjects requiring a detailed, factual knowledge base. We see it as an essential component of the programme that you engage in reflective practice which informs your future personal development.
How you are assessed
Our assessment methods range from practical production tasks to traditional essay assignments. You produce a professional-level multimedia public relations campaign addressing a range of styles, genres, platforms and audiences. You produce an essay on a topic related to public relations theory and a formal business report on a new media application in an organisational context.
You write an academic essay which helps provide a broader context for the practical work undertaken for your Final Project.
For your Final Project, you research, analyse and implement a promotional multimedia campaign for a real-life business client.
Entry requirements
You are evaluated on an individual basis and the level of your achievement, experience and suitability for the degree is properly assessed. Normally a first degree (2.2 minimum), relevant experience or equivalent qualifications.
For general information please see our overview of entry requirements
International applicants can find out what qualifications they need by visiting Your Country
Employability
Career opportunities
A qualification and experience in public relations opens up a vast range of opportunities in all areas of the media and communications industries.
Graduates have forged successful careers internationally, including China, Malaysia, Nigeria and the Middle East. This course has also attracted those currently working in the media industry or looking to translate their experiences working in other countries to the UK jobs market.
Information for international applicants
Qualifications
International applicants - find out what qualifications you need by selecting your country below.
Select your country:
Useful information
Visit our international pages for useful information for non-UK students and applicants.