Global Media and Postnational Communication

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The MA in Global Media and Postnational Communication starts from three premises. One is that globalization is a set of complex and dense processes with unequal effects in different parts of the world but sufficiently strong to invite analysis of a post-national spatiality of global social relations. The second is that central to these processes is the role of communications technologies as infrastructure and skeins of connectivity and the circulation of mediated products that structure competing social imaginaries.

The third is the growing convergence between the previously separable areas of broadcasting, telecommunications and the Internet, so that study of the current moment needs to address not just conventional media (press, radio, television) but also the explosion in new communication technologies, including the Internet, satellite technologies and mobile telephony. Thus the remit of this degree is the study of the dynamics of globalization and its critiques, and the roles and nature of communications technologies and mediated content within these processes and the consequent changes in the nature of political, economic, financial, social and cultural activity.

The specific and unique focus of this degree will be its exploration of the responses to globalization in the South and the dynamic developments in media and communications within Asia, Africa and the Middle East. It examines the growing significance of Asia, Africa and the Middle East as the locations of new media players and new cultural genres, of complex audience involvements with mediated communication and as the sites of critical and creative responses to globalization processes.

It is not only media content that circulates but people themselves who move, and one aspect of this degree is to take seriously the development and use of mediated forms by minority ethnic, diasporic, exilic and refugee populations, be that in minority television channels, deterritorialized political action or other forms of cultural and political representation. Additionally, reactions to globalization and its more problematic outcomes increasingly take on postnational forms so the course will explore the dynamics of global civil society and the use of ICTs to build movements of solidarity.

Each student takes 4 units in total: the Compulsory Course (1 unit), the Dissertation (1unit), two List 3 half units, and one unit of Options of their choice.

In choosing their courses, MA students are advised to pay careful attention to the balance of coursework across the two terms. In particular it is important to ensure that each term you have three taught courses. However much you might wish to take a mixture of courses that requires more coursework in one term than the other, it is most unwise to attempt to take four courses in one term and two in the other. Experience has shown that students simply cannot manage the load during the heavy term with the result that they either do very badly, fail or are unable to complete the courses in question. As a result Directors of Studies for the degrees and the Faculty staff will not approve a selection of courses which results in an imbalanced workload. An imbalance of courses between terms is only possible with the written permission of the convenor of the degree .

1. Compulsory Course:

* Global Media and Postnational Communication: Theoretical and Contemporary Issues
Course Assessment: * A critical essay of 5,000 words based on reading relevant to issues in global media and postnational communication.
* A critical essay based on a short research project (which may include a multimedia component).



2. Dissertation in Global Media and Postnational Communication

* Dissertation in Media Studies (supervisor to be allocated according to the dissertation topic).

3. Courses in Media Studies

Students are required to take TWO half unit courses from List 3.

* Emerging digital cultures in Asia and Africa - Theory and Practice - 15PMSH018 (0.5 Unit) - Term 2
* International Political Communication - 15PMSH009 (0.5 Unit) - Term 2
* Japanese Transnational Cinema: From Kurosawa to Asia Extreme and Studio Ghibli - 15PMSH017 (0.5 Unit) - Term 1
* Mediated Culture in the Middle East: Politics and Communications - 15PMSH003 (0.5 Unit) - Term 1
* Rethinking Audiences - 15PMSH011 (0.5 Unit) - Term 2
* Studies in Media, Information Communication Technologies and Development - 15PMSH019 (0.5 Unit) - Term 1
* Theoretical Issues in Media and Cultural Studies - 15PMSH005 (0.5 Unit) - Term 1
* The Transnational News Environment: Production, Representation and Use - 15PMSH006 (0.5 Unit) - Term 1
* Transnational Communities and Diasporic Media:Networking, Connectivity, Identity - 15PMSH004 (0.5 Unit) - Term 2

4. Optional Courses:

Students may take a course or courses to the value of one full unit from the following lists:

Courses in Cinemas of Asia and Africa

* Japanese Post-War Film Genres and the Avant-Garde - 15PMSH001 (0.5 Unit) - Term 2
* Japanese Television since 1953 - 15PJKC006 (1 Unit) - Full Year
* Genders and Sexualities in South East Asian Film - 15PSEH011 (0.5 Unit) - Term 2 - Not Running 2012/2013
* (Post) Colonialism and Otherness in South East Asia on Screen - 15PSEH010 (0.5 Unit) - Term 2
* Indian Cinema: Its History and Social Context - 15PSAH001 (0.5 Unit) - Term 1 - Not Running 2012/2013
* Indian Cinema: Key Issues - 15PSAH002 (0.5 Unit) - Term 1 - Not Running 2012/2013
* Iranian Cinema - 15PMSH010 (0.5 Unit) - Term 1
* Aspects of African film and video 1 - 15PAFH006 (0.5 Unit) - Term 1
* Aspects of African film and video 2 - 15PAFH007 (0.5 Unit) - Term 2 - Not Running 2012/2013
* Arab Cinemas - 15PMSH013 (0.5 Unit) - Term 2
* Approaches to the Other in Horror and Science Fiction Films - 15PANH043 (0.5 Unit) - Term 1
* Modern Chinese Film and Theatre (MA) - 15PCHH001 (0.5 Unit) - Term 2
* Modern Film from Taiwan and the Chinese Diaspora - 15PCHH002 (0.5 Unit) - Term 1
* Critical Approaches to the Study of Regional Cinemas - 15PMSH008 (0.5 Unit) - Term 1

Courses in Social Anthropology

* Culture and Society of China - 15PANC089 (1 Unit) - Full Year
* Culture and Society of East Africa - 15PANC084 (1 Unit) - Full Year
* Culture and Society of Japan - 15PANC086 (1 Unit) - Full Year
* Culture and Society of South Asia - 15PANC087 (1 Unit) - Full Year
* Culture and Society of South East Asia - 15PANC088 (1 Unit) - Full Year
* Culture and Society of West Africa - 15PANC083 (1 Unit) - Full Year
* Culture and Society of the Near & Middle East - 15PANC097 (1 Unit) - Full Year
* Anthropology of Development - 15PANC090 (1 Unit) - Full Year
* Perspectives On Development - 15PANH033 (0.5 Unit) - Term 1
* Media Production Skills - 15PANH050 (0.5 Unit) - Term 2

Courses in the Department of Development Studies

* Civil society, social movements and the development process - 15PDSH001 (0.5 Unit) - Term 1

Courses in the Department of Economics

For the following courses a background is required - admission is on a case-by-case basis

* The economic development of South East Asia - 15PECC004 (1 Unit) - Full Year
* Economic problems and policies in modern China - 15PECC035 (1 Unit) - Full Year
* Economic dynamics of the Asia-Pacific region - 15PECC334 (1 Unit) - Full Year

Courses in the Department of Politics

* Government and politics of modern South Asia - 15PPOC003 (1 Unit) - Full Year
* Government and politics of modern South East Asia - 15PPOC247 (1 Unit) - Full Year

Courses in the Department of the Languages and Cultures of Africa Courses in the Department of the Study of Religions and Art and Archaeology

* Christianity and Social Change in Sub Saharan Africa - 15PSRC157 (1 Unit) - Full Year - Not Running 2012/2013
* Contemporary Themes in Media and Religion - (0.5 Unit) - Not Running 2012/13
* Critical Theory and the Study of Religions - 15PSRC037 (1 Unit) - Full Year
* Jewishness on Screen - 15PSRH044 (0.5 Unit) - Term 1
* Photography and the Image in Africa; and other Regional Perspectives - 15PARC036 (1.0 Unit) - Not Running 2012/13
* Theory and Method in the Study of Religion - 15PSRC010 (1 Unit) - Full Year

Applicants should have a first or good second class honours bachelors degree from a UK university, or equivalent, in a subject appropriate to that of the programme to be followed. As an approximate comparison, an equivalent BA from a US university would have a Grade Point Average of either 3.3 or 3.5 depending on the awarding university. If an applicant does not have a bachelors degree in an appropriate field s/he may be required to complete a qualifying year or a one year diploma before entering the masters programme. Relevant work experience may also be taken into consideration. Individual courses may have specific entry requirements, so you are advised to consult the postgraduate prospectus for further information.English language requirementsIn order to ensure that SOAS students have a sufficient standard of English to study effectively, we require overseas students to submit evidence, during the application process, of their current level of proficiency.Score for Unconditional Entry * IELTS: Overall 7+ with at least 7 in all sub scores * TOEFL: iBT105+ with at least 25 in all sub scores * Pearson Test of English - Academic: Score of 75 or above with at least 70 in all sub scores English Language Requirements IELTS band: 7 TOEFL iBT® test: 105 IMPORTANT NOTE: Since April 2014 the ETS tests (including TOEFL and TOEIC) are no longer accepted for Tier 4 visa applications to the United Kingdom. The university might still accept these tests to admit you to the university, but if you require a Tier 4 visa to enter the UK and begin your degree programme, these tests will not be sufficient to obtain your Visa. The IELTS test is most widely accepted by universities and is also accepted for Tier 4 visas to the UK- learn more.

Scholarships and Bursaries

There are some scholarships and bursaries available for postgraduate students. These are very competitive and early application is advised.

* The Ahmad Mustafa Abu-Hakima Bursary (programme must include studying the history of the modern Arab world)
* AKS Postgraduate Bursary (in Korean Studies)
* Bernard Buckman Scholarship (MA Chinese Studies, for UK/EU fee paying students)
* The Canon Collins Scholarships at SOAS. There are two scholarships available available in 2013-14 for study at SOAS. These scholarships are for Masters study in any subject field. Open a national of and resident in one of the following countries:
Angola, Botswana, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Swaziland, Zambia, Zimbabwe. The application process normally opens in December and closes in February, for study commencing in September the following year. Please go to the Canon Collins website and click "Apply for A Scholarship" and then "Canon Collins Scholarship for Masters Study in the UK" for further information on how to apply.
* Commonwealth Shared Scholarship (for students from African Commonwealth countries)
* D.G.Hall Scholarship (Taught Masters programmes at SOAS, for applicants holding a Burma/Myanmar passport)
* Felix Scholarships (for Indian students)
* Ferguson Scholarships (for African nationals from an African Country)
* HSBC SOAS Scholarships (MA Sinology & MA Chinese Literature, for UK/EU fee paying students)
* Kamran Djam Scholarships (MA Iranian Studies)
* Professor Stuart Wilson Scholarship (MA South East Asian Studies)
* Standard Chartered Scholarships (for a range of full-time Taught Masters programmes. The programmes relate to Asia, Africa, and the Middle East/NorthAfrica)
* Tibawi Trust Awards (for Palestinian students currently enrolled in a programme at SOAS)
* SOAS Master's Scholarships - Faculty of Arts & Humanities - (for any full-time taught masters programme in the Faculty of Arts & Humanities)
* SOAS Master's Scholarships - Faculty of Language & Cultures (for the full-time MA Gender Studies, MA Postcolonial Studies, MA Linguistics, MA Applied Linguistics & Language Pedagogy, MA Language, Documentation and Description, MA Translation Theory and Practice (Asian and African Languages)
* SOAS Master's Scholarships- Faculty of Law and Social Sciences (for any full-time master's programmes in the Department of Development Studies, Economics, Law, Politics & International Studies and Financial & Management Studies)
* Tallow Chandlers and M. W Beer scholarship (MA) (MA Anthropology of Food, for UK/EU fee paying students)
* William Ross Murray Scholarship (LLM, for students from a developing country)