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Springboard yourself into a career behind the mic or behind the scenes. Get practical experience in radio production, presentation, and station management. Graduate with skills that are relevant not only, in radio, audio, and podcasting, but in the growing and developing world of audio production.
Radio and podcast production is still a major growth area in the audio sector and this master's course offers great opportunities to gain the skills required to stand out from the crowd. The course is integrated with our award-winning radio station, Spark Sunderland, and offers practical experience in radio production, presentation, and station management, alongside opportunities to create your own creative podcasts and podcasts for external clients.
The production modules cover a variety of genres including live studio and feature production, podcasting, multiplatform, and visualisation skills. You'll learn how to pitch ideas to specific audiences, budgeting, research, advanced interviewing, editing, and creative post-production techniques. This highly practical vocational coursework will be supported by contextual studies. The final stage of the course takes the form of research leading to a major practical project or a dissertation with a contextual report and evaluation.
Compared to an undergraduate course, you'll find that this master's degree requires a higher level of independent working. We use a wide variety of teaching and learning methods which include lectures, seminars, workshops, and practical demonstrations.
Your active involvement in our on-campus radio station, Spark Sunderland, is integral to your learning experience, as well as a commitment to practical podcast production projects. Theory and practice will go hand in hand as you plan, undertake, and evaluate projects, podcasts, and programmes.
You'll have high levels of contact with tutors, who give regular feedback and support, and you'll also work in groups to develop skills in communication and teamwork.
Assessment methods include essays, projects, presentations, and a major project/dissertation.
Our typical offer is:
| Qualification | Minimum grade |
|---|---|
| a Canadian bachelor's degree | GPA 2.40 |
| a USA bachelor's degree | GPA 2.5 |
If you already hold a postgraduate qualification, please see our Applying for additional postgraduate degrees Help and Advice article.
If you don't meet our standard entry requirements, you can take one of the foundation pathways at our partners ONCAMPUS Sunderland. Find out more information and whether your course is eligible on our ONCAMPUS page.
If your qualification is not listed above, please contact the Student Administration team at studentadmin@sunderland.ac.uk for further advice.
Applications are welcome from holders of an honours degree in a relevant subject. All applicants should be able to demonstrate practical, critical, and conceptual skills.
Students requiring the necessary practical skills are encouraged to attend undergraduate modules in radio or the Radio Summer School.
If English isn't your first language, you'll need an International English Language Testing System (IELTS) overall score of 6.5, with at least 5.5 in each component: reading, writing, listening, and speaking (or equivalent).
After 6 April 2015, you must take your IELTS exams at one of the test centres listed on the UKVI website. If you took your IELTS exam before 6 April 2015, this doesn't apply, and your qualification is still valid regardless of which test centre you used.
Full-time fees are:
Part-time fees are £500 per 10 credits. Please note that part-time courses aren't available to international students who require a student visa to study in the UK.
Take a look at the scholarships and bursaries that may be available to you.
This information was correct at the time of publication.
Postgraduates are highly employable and, on average, earn more than individuals whose highest qualification is an undergraduate degree. On completing this course, you'll be equipped for roles in the radio industry, and also throughout the broader media industry.
Recent graduates have moved into jobs at a variety of radio stations and companies, including BBC Radio 1, 6Music, 5live, BBC Radio Drama, Sun FM, Metro Radio, and BBC Newcastle.
Our former students are also employed at radio stations in Europe, the USA, and Australia.
For radio, the facilities are by far the best I’ve visited in the country.
The Masters course was really hands on, which was brilliant.
