Screen Studies MA

Program Overview

It provides a comprehensive understanding of the global impact of these media and equips students with research, analytical, and practical skills for careers in the screen entertainment sector or further academic pursuits.

Program Outline

Degree Overview:

The Screen Studies MA program at the University of Liverpool is designed for individuals interested in the industrial and economic aspects of contemporary screen media, including film, television, and video games. The program explores the complex ways in which these media interact with societies and cultures globally. It utilizes cutting-edge research in the field and prepares students for careers in the screen entertainment sector or for pursuing a research degree.

Objectives:

The program aims to:

• Provide students with an in-depth understanding of the industrial and cultural dimensions of screen-based media.
• Focus on the historical evolution of film, television, and video games, as well as their shifting place in contemporary media industries and cultures.
• Enable students to comprehend the complexity of current media trends on a global scale.
• Cultivate fundamental transferable skills related to media research, develop applied knowledge, and provide real-world insights informed by digital-led approaches and tools.
• Integrate practical experience through input from top screen industry practitioners who share their knowledge in specially organized events.

Outline:

The program is structured as follows:

• Semester 1:
• Compulsory Modules:
• Screen Cultures A (COMM743): Introduces students to the diversity of cultural contexts and histories that have shaped the formal, industrial, institutional, and political meanings of cinema.
• Researching Screen (COMM749): A research methods module that demonstrates the fundamental principles of academic research design and the ideas and philosophies that underpin it.
• Optional Modules:
• Big data and society B: foundations, politics, and policy (COMM752)
• Fundamentals of Strategic Communication B (COMM517)
• Introduction to Data Science B (COMM767)
• Media and Politics: Theories and Cases B (COMM765)
• Understanding Media Change B (COMM757)
• Semester 2:
• Compulsory Modules:
• Screen Industries A (COMM745): Examines the industrial logic of particular media industries that produce entertainment reaching audiences through the mediation of screens.
• Optional Modules:
• Influencing Strategies in Digital Media (COMM520)
• Artificial Intelligence and Communication B (COMM718)
• Big data and society D: algorithms and platforms (COMM754)
• Branding Strategy and Communication (COMM521)
• Data Visualisation (COMM740)
• Digital Media Audiences (COMM739)
• Global Journalism and Politics (COMM748)
• Media and Politics: Economy and Society B (COMM763)
• Media Practices and Everyday Life B (COMM759)
• Redefining Television (COMM750)
• PHILOSOPHY OF FILM (PHIL757)
• Visual Cultures: Institutions, Exhibitions, Interventions (COMM761)
• Semester 3:
• Compulsory Modules:
• Dissertation (COMM716): A self-contained piece of individual and original research, offering the student the chance to study in depth a topic that interests them guided by a member of the Department’s academic staff as their supervisor.

Assessment:

The program utilizes a variety of assessment methods, including:

• Project pitch
• Wide Readership article
• TV viewing research journal
• Workshop run
• Research Methods comparison
• Research-led essays
• Essay proposals
• Annotated bibliographies
• Formative assessments

Teaching:

The program employs a range of teaching methods, including:

• Weekly workshops that combine formal lectures and interactive engagement with students.
• Independent study fostered by progressively more demanding essay work and specified preparation for workshops or seminars.

Careers:

The Screen Studies MA program opens up opportunities in the following fields:

• Screen-based media:
• Media industries (production, distribution, exhibition, sales, research in film, television, streaming platforms/on-demand video companies) on a global scale.
• Local, regional, national, and international institutions and organizations that support, regulate, and collaborate with screen-based companies.
• Local, regional, national, and international organizations, institutions, publications, and projects that research, analyze, and report on screen-based media.
• Further qualifications or employment within the field of screen-based media:
• The degree provides a strong platform for pursuing a PhD in media industry studies.
• The MA program equips students to study at other universities.
• General Graduate employment opportunities:
• Journalism
• Law
• Civil Service
• Management
• Consultancy
• Teaching

Other:

• The program benefits from the input of top screen industry practitioners who share their knowledge in specially organized events.
• The program is strongly interdisciplinary, bringing together elements from a diverse range of disciplines within the arts and humanities, including film studies, television studies, games studies, communication studies, media studies, policy studies, political economy, and others.
• The Department of Communication and Media is a friendly and close-knit department with well-established systems to support students.
• The University of Liverpool has a long-standing reputation for innovative research in media, cultural, and communication studies.
• The University of Liverpool is ranked 4th in the sector for outstanding (4 ) research impact, with 100% of its impact classified as either outstanding (4 ) or very considerable (REF 2021).
• The University of Liverpool offers a range of scholarships and bursaries that could help pay tuition and living expenses.
• The University of Liverpool offers a meet and greet service at Manchester Airport for students moving from abroad.
• The University of Liverpool offers careers and employability support, including help with career planning, understanding the job market, and strengthening networking skills.
• The University of Liverpool offers confidential counselling and support to help students with personal problems affecting their studies and general wellbeing.
• The University of Liverpool has exciting partnerships with industry, arts, and key creative venues both in the city and internationally.
• The University of Liverpool offers opportunities for participation in major screen media events organized in Liverpool (such as Eurovision 2023).
• The University of Liverpool offers teaching opportunities as part of running workshops.
• The University of Liverpool offers a graduate visa that lets students stay in the UK for up to two years after graduation.
• The University of Liverpool offers Pre-Sessional English courses for international applicants who do not meet the minimum required standard of English language.
• The University of Liverpool is a member of the Russell Group.
• The University of Liverpool is committed to providing a curriculum that is accessible to all students.
• The University of Liverpool is committed to advancing knowledge to transform lives.
• The University of Liverpool is a diverse and creative city that is ideal for postgraduate studies.
• The University of Liverpool offers a range of accommodation options for students.
• The University of Liverpool offers a range of scholarships and bursaries to help students pay for their studies.
• The University of Liverpool is committed to supporting students throughout their time at the university.
• The University of Liverpool is committed to providing a high-quality learning experience for all students.
• The University of Liverpool is committed to preparing students for successful careers.
• The University of Liverpool is committed to making a positive impact on the world.

Your tuition fees, funding your studies, and other costs to consider. Tuition fees UK fees (applies to Channel Islands, Isle of Man and Republic of Ireland) Full-time place, per year £10,800 Part-time place, per year £5,400 International fees Full-time place, per year £22,400 Part-time place, per year £11,200 Fees stated are for the 2024-25 academic year. Tuition fees cover the cost of your teaching and assessment, operating facilities such as libraries, IT equipment, and access to academic and personal support. You can pay your tuition fees in instalments. All or part of your tuition fees can be funded by external sponsorship. International applicants who accept an offer of a place will need to pay a tuition fee deposit. Additional costs This could include buying a laptop, books, or stationery. Additional study costs Close This could include buying a laptop, books, or stationery.