MA
Promotional Media: Public Relations, Advertising and Marketing
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Why study MA Promotional Media: Public Relations, Advertising and Marketing at Goldsmiths
The MA Promotional Media explores the impact of digital platformisation and automation on promotional professions, skills and techniques
- You will explore the convergence between public relations, advertising, and marketing roles, as well as hybridised fields such as digital marketing, social media management and UX/UI design. This MA isn’t about studying ads or press coverage, but about becoming a professional who can cross-examine and critique the power dynamics between promotional professions, their client-organisations and today’s platformised media landscape.
- At its core, this Masters looks at how you can better serve society by improving communications across the promotional disciplines, and how public relations (PR), advertising, and marketing professionals can best develop within a challenging digital world. You’ll learn how to reflect on contemporary intellectual theories – including digital media studies, sociology, feminist theory and algorithmic culture – and apply them to workplace realities so you plan the next decade of your career.
- The Department of Media, Communications and Cultural Studies has been ranked second in the UK for 'world-leading or internationally excellent' research (Research Excellence Framework, 2021) and 12th in the world third in the UK) in the 2022 QS World Rankings for communication and media studies.
The questions we explore
- We want you to understand the existing power struggles between traditional and emerging promotional professions, therefore, this programme will look at public relations, advertising, and marketing as inter-related disciplines, drawing on theoretical and professional debates around industry issues as they happen.
- You will explore, for example, the implications of digital platformisation on the increasingly data-driven nature of promotional work, including the use of Artificial Intelligence and automation, among other topics.
- You’ll also examine current industry expectations and trends, and look at the crossovers between digital skills, creativity, management, and strategy.
The processes we use
- This is a theory-based programme, but you’ll have many practice-based options in subjects from different departments; from online news reporting and social media campaigning, to film making fundamentals or design methods, to consumer behaviour or marketing strategy.
- You'll also get the latest insights from industry professionals across PR, advertising and, marketing through our visiting speaker series. Recent industry guests have discussed: earned vs paid media, transmedia storytelling, programmatic advertising, SEO analytics, and social media community management.
- We periodically host public seminars such as Critical Perspectives on Promotional Cultures, with prestigious academic speakers from around the UK.
- You will also be encouraged to attend the Department’s Media Forum, which covers everything from Why Local Journalism Matters, to Reporting Africa.
Contact the department
If you have specific questions about the degree, contact Dr Clea Bourne.
Length
1 year full-time or 2 years part-time
Entry requirements
You should have (or expect to be awarded) an undergraduate degree of at least 2:1 standard in a relevant/related subject. You might also be considered if you aren’t a graduate or your degree is in an unrelated field, but you have relevant experience and can show you can work at postgraduate level.
Fees
Home - full-time: £11250
Home - part-time: £5625
International - full-time: £22000
Department
Overview
Throughout the compulsory components of the degree, you'll examine the many ways that public relations, advertising, marketing and emerging promotional specialisms are represented in society, together with the skills and techniques enacted by practitioners in their day-to-day roles. You will be encouraged to develop your critical and analytical skills, but also to think creatively and become more confident in your academic judgment.
Note that this isn’t a business studies-style MA. It’s a rigorous, academic programme that investigates promotional workers, their workplace experiences, and their use of media in today’s campaigns and debates.
Our compulsory modules apply fields such as sociology, anthropology, feminist studies, digital media and digital cultural studies to public relations, advertising and marketing, exploring how these and other promotional professions work together, where they overlap, and where the tensions lie.
You also have the freedom to choose optional modules from across theory and practice in different departments.
Goldsmiths prides itself on its innovative and critical approaches, and you will be encouraged to immerse yourself in its wider intellectual environment to deepen your understanding of the cultural infrastructure surrounding PR, Advertising, Marketing and other promotional work.
What you'll study
Compulsory modules
All students take the following modules:
| Module title | Credits |
|---|---|
| Promotional Media I: Changing Fields & Contexts | 30 credits |
| Promotional Media II: Campaign Skills & Techniques | 30 credits |
Note about optional modules (if available): The above is indicative of the typical modules offered, but is not intended to be construed or relied on as a definitive list of what might be available in any given year. The module content and availability is subject to change.
Structure
The Masters is built up of modules worth 180 credits. The programme comprises:
- Two compulsory modules taught in the Department of Media, Communications and Cultural Studies (60 credits in total)
- A 12,000-word dissertation (60 credits)
- Option modules chosen from Department of MCCS or from other departments (60 credits)
How you'll be assessed
- You will be assessed primarily through coursework essays and written projects.
- Both compulsory modules include group presentations, including the opportunity to develop a promotional campaign.
- Practical modules may require audiovisual elements to be submitted.
- This MA will also include a dissertation of approximately 12,000 words.
What our students say
Entry requirements
You should have (or expect to be awarded) an undergraduate degree of at least upper second class standard in a relevant/related subject.
You might also be considered for the programme if you aren’t a graduate or your degree is in an unrelated field, but you have relevant experience and can show that you have the ability to work at postgraduate level.
International qualifications
We accept a wide range of international qualifications. Find out more about the qualifications we accept from around the world.
If English isn’t your first language, you will need an IELTS score (or equivalent English language qualification) of 6.5 with a 6.5 in writing and no element lower than 6.0 to study this programme. If you need assistance with your English language, we offer a range of courses that can help prepare you for postgraduate-level study.
How to apply
Apply directly to Goldsmiths using our online application system
Before submitting your application you’ll need to have:
- Details of your academic qualifications
- The email address of your referee who we can request a reference from, or alternatively a copy of your academic reference
- Copies of your educational transcripts or certificates
- A personal statement – this can either be uploaded as a Word Document or PDF, or completed online. Please see our guidance on writing a postgraduate statement
You'll be able to save your progress at any point and return to your application by logging in using your username/email and password.
When to apply
We accept applications from 1 October for students wanting to start the following September.
We encourage you to complete your application as early as possible, even if you haven't finished your current programme of study. It's very common to be offered a place that is conditional on you achieving a particular qualification.
Late applications will only be considered if there are spaces available.
If you're applying for funding, you may be subject to an earlier application deadline.
Selection process
Admission to many programmes is by interview, unless you live outside the UK. Occasionally, we'll make candidates an offer of a place on the basis of their application and qualifications alone.
Find out more about applying.
Fees and funding
Annual tuition fees
These are the PG fees for students starting their programme in the 2025/2026 academic year.
- Home - full-time: £11250
- Home - part-time: £5625
- International - full-time: £22000
If your fees are not listed here, please check our postgraduate fees guidance or contact the Fees Office, who can also advise you about how to pay your fees.
It’s not currently possible for international students to study part-time under a student visa. If you think you might be eligible to study part-time while being on another visa type, please contact our Admissions Team for more information.
If you are looking to pay your fees please see our guide to making a payment.
Funding opportunities
Explore the Goldsmiths scholarships finder to find out what funding you may be eligible for.
Paying your fees
Find out about how to make a payment.
If you are a UK student you may be eligible for a postgraduate loan.
Additional costs
In addition to your tuition fees, you'll be responsible for any additional costs associated with your course, such as buying stationery and paying for photocopying. You can find out more about what you need to budget for on our study costs page.
There may also be specific additional costs associated with your programme. This can include things like paying for field trips or specialist materials for your assignments. Please check the programme specification for more information.
Staff
Find out about staff in the Department of Media and Communications.
Recent dissertations
Your dissertation (60 credits) is an opportunity to dissect industry trends or issues.
Recent dissertation topics include:
- Advertising Effectiveness vs Creativity: Modern ‘Wengqing’ Culture in Taiwan
- China’s Millennials: Rejecting Luxury Products?
- Empowering Disability Narratives: Disabled Bodies on Social Media
- #IStandWithPP: Planned Parenthood and 21st Century Reputation Management
- Live from the White House: Government communication and the Trump Administration
- Online Ad Fraud and Search Engine Advertising on Baidu
- Media Brands’ Response to ‘Fake News’
- Place Branding and Hong Kong: Twenty Years Since the Handover
- Public Relations and Participatory Culture in South Korea
- Public Sector Brands on Social Media: The NHS and The Met Police
- Rebranding Strategies in Aviation Marketing
- #Repealthe8th: Social Media and the Irish Repeal Movement
- Switzerland’s Stop AIDS Campaign: Advertising Practitioners as Cultural Intermediaries
- Youtubers: Promoting Products…and Political Opinions?
Careers
Where your Masters could take you
MA Promotional Media graduates work across disciplines and countries in wide-ranging roles, including:
- Account executives
- Content marketers
- Corporate communicators
- Digital copywriters
- Event managers
- Government communicators
- Product managers
- Media buyers
- Media planners
- Marketing officers
- Programmatic advertising executives
- SEO analysts
- Social media community managers
- Sponsorship coordinators
- UI/UX copywriters
You can read more about possible career options after you graduate on our careers page.
Skills
Our students acquire general transferable skills, including critical thinking, pattern recognition, research skills, and career management.
Specific transferable skills for the promotional industries include: message framing; storytelling and narrative construction; segmentation, measurement and evaluation; professional ethics and regulatory standards.
