Media, Campaigning and Social Change MA
London, United Kingdom
MA
DURATION
1 year
LANGUAGES
English
PACE
Full time, Part time
APPLICATION DEADLINE
EARLIEST START DATE
Sep 2026
TUITION FEES
GBP 18,000 / per year **
STUDY FORMAT
On-Campus
* International Deadline | Home Deadline – 4 September
** international | UK: £10,900
Key Summary
About: This MA covers campaign strategy, media and activism, developing practical skills and theory. It offers flexible delivery for full- or part-time study and draws on an advisory panel including Amnesty UK and Friends of the Earth. Teaching is at the University of Westminster's West End and Harrow campuses; placements are limited. The PGCert usually takes one year part-time; the PGDip one year full-time or two years part-time.
Career Outcomes: You'll move into charity, NGO, public sector, political and corporate social responsibility roles. Employers include Amnesty International. Roles: campaigns manager, head of communications, digital content manager. Plus Westminster Employability Award.
This innovative Master's degree aims to equip students with the skills, knowledge and strategic approach to develop and analyse social change campaigns and activism, with a particular focus on the role of communications and the media. This is the only postgraduate programme of its kind and has a flexible delivery to suit both full-time and part-time students.
The course builds on our close links with leading campaigners and communicators in London's vibrant social change sector. An advisory panel, with representatives from Amnesty UK, Friends of the Earth, Save the Children, Advocacy Hub, Tearfund, FairSay and The National Council of Voluntary Organisations, among others, will ensure we always reflect the skill sets in demand and deliver an exciting learning experience. A limited number of work placements and internships will be available.
The course is aimed at those with some experience or interest in social change, the media, and communications or campaigns within not-for-profit organisations. The course will help you improve your practical skills, develop a deep understanding of the theories and frameworks that underpin and shape campaign communications, and enjoy the space to reflect critically on current and past practice. It is designed to help you start, or progress, a career in charity, pressure group or public sector campaign communications. It may also be of interest to those working in corporate social responsibility. Alumni work in a range of senior campaign and communications roles in charities, NGOs, agencies, think tanks and government departments.
The course team has extensive experience both in developing social change campaigns and in academic research into the connections between media, protest and social change. The course is jointly led by Michaela O’Brien and Dr Anastasia Kavada, with additional teaching by practitioners and members of our internationally renowned Communication and Media Research Institute. It is taught at our campuses in the West End of London and also at the Harrow campus.
The course offers a number of delivery modes to suit the different needs of students and can be taken either part-time or full-time. In addition to the Media, Campaigning and Social Change MA, we offer a Media, Campaigning and Social Change Postgraduate Diploma and a Media, Campaigning and Social Change Postgraduate Certificate, which comprises fewer modules than the full MA and so can be completed in a shorter period of time.
To study for the Postgraduate Certificate, you'll be required to take the three core 20-credit modules listed in the Course Structure. The Postgraduate Certificate usually takes one year to complete part-time. Apply for the Postgraduate Certificate now via the Westminster online application form.
To study for the Postgraduate Diploma, you'll be required to take the three core 20-credit modules listed in the Course Structure and also choose an additional three 20-credit modules from the Option modules list. The Postgraduate Diploma usually takes one year to complete full-time or two years to complete part-time. Apply for the Postgraduate Diploma full-time or for the Postgraduate Diploma part-time now via the Westminster online application form.
Westminster is a leading provider in this academic discipline and is ranked top 10 among UK institutions for Communication and Media Studies in the QS World University Rankings 2021. The University is also ranked 4th in the UK in the Complete University Guide 2022 for Research Quality in Communication and Media Studies.
Top reasons to study with us
- Study in London's vibrant social change sector – This course has been designed with advice from London's leading social change organisations to ensure you receive a current, exciting learning experience.
- Experienced teaching – Your course will be taught by a team with extensive experience both in developing social change campaigns and in research into the connections between media, protest and social change.
- Study with a leading provider – Westminster is ranked top 10 among UK institutions for Communication and Media Studies in the QS World University Rankings 2021 and ranked 4th in the UK in the Complete University Guide 2022 for Research Quality in Communication and Media Studies.
Why study this course?
- Industry links
Our advisory panel, with representatives from Amnesty UK, Friends of the Earth, FairSay, Mencap, the National Council of Voluntary Organisations and Tearfund, among others, ensures that we always reflect the skill sets in demand and deliver an exciting learning experience. - Leading provider
We are ranked top 10 among UK institutions for Communication and Media Studies in the QS World University Rankings 2021 and 4th in the UK in the Complete University Guide 2022 for Research Quality in Communication and Media Studies. - Experienced teaching
Your course will be taught by a team with extensive experience both in developing social change campaigns and in research into the connections between media, protest and social change.
The University is dedicated to supporting ambitious and outstanding students and we offer a variety of scholarships to eligible students.
This course is particularly relevant if you want to start, or to progress, a career in communications and campaigning for social change, whether in a charity or non-governmental organisation; in a public sector body; in a political party or election campaigning setting; or even in a corporate social responsibility role. It could also be a stepping-stone towards a PhD and an academic career in this growing field of study.
- Excellent career prospects
A limited number of work placements and internships are available, and students have interned at charities and not-for-profits including WaterAid, the Sheila Makechnie Foundation, Children England, Mencap and Climate Bonds Initiative. - Develop in-demand skills
This course is designed to develop your practical skills to help you start, or progress, a career in charity, pressure group or public sector campaign communications. - Employers around the world
The University’s Careers and Employability Service has built up a network of over 3,000 employers around the world, helping all our students explore and connect with exciting opportunities and careers.
Industry links
We have strong links with leading campaigners and communicators in and around London, who give guest lectures, run practical training sessions for students, provide live briefs for assessed coursework and host visits to their offices. Some of which include:
- Advocacy Hub
- Amnesty UK
- Eve Appeal
- FairSay
- Friends of the Earth
- Save the Children
- Tearfund
- The National Council of Voluntary Organisations
Job roles
This course will prepare you for roles such as:
- Campaigns manager
- Community organising assistant
- Digital content manager
- Head of communications
- Head of fundraising
- Lead Advisor – Impact and Evaluation
- Media and comms officer
- Philanthropy associate
- PR and comms officer
Graduate employers
Graduates from this course have found employment in charities, NGOs, think tanks, communications and public affairs agencies, in agencies specialising in virtual reality and in national government departments in the global south running behaviour change campaigns. Organisations that have employed our graduates include:
- Amnesty International
- Change.org
- United Nations High Commission for Refugees
- RSPCA
- National Council for Voluntary Organisations (NCVO)
- Sarcoma UK
- Campaign Against Living Miserably
- The Fostering Network
- Lever for Change
- Solar Aid
- Church Mission Society
Alumni from each cohort are building an international course network through our course-specific closed Facebook group.
Westminster Employability Award
Employers value graduates who have invested in their personal and professional development – and our Westminster Employability Award gives you the chance to formally document and demonstrate these activities and achievements.
The award is flexible and can be completed in your own time, comprising a set of core and optional extracurricular activities.
Activities might include gaining experience through a part-time job or placement, signing up for a University-run scheme – such as mentoring or teaching in a school – or completing online exercises.
Open days, both online and on campus, are an excellent opportunity to explore study options at Westminster. An open day allows prospective students to visit the facilities, learn more about specific courses and speak directly with academic staff.