Issues in Media Psychology
Postgraduate
MSc/PgDip/PgCert
Media Psychology
School of Health and Society
Attendance
Full-time
Part-time
Course
One year
Three year
Next enrolment
September 2024
In a nutshell
International applicants: please check the international intakes page for the latest information and application dates.
This is the only dedicated postgraduate course in the UK focusing on the relationships between media and psychology from both academic and professional perspectives.
The course is taught at MediaCity - the heart of the region's creative and digital industry.
You will:
- Explore the psychological effects of media, how media use can be researched and evaluated and how to communicate with different audiences across different media
- Develop a unique professional profile, applying psychology to understand, develop and predict people's interaction with media.
International
students accepted
This is for you if...
1.
You are curious about the effects of media upon the individual and society
2.
You want to pursue a career in the communications professions or media research
3.
You want to learn at MediaCity with a multi-discplinary team
All about the course
This course will allow you to study the effects of media upon the individual and society, and how psychology can be applied to enhance media design and understand media consumption. In doing so you will also discuss issues of ethics, accessibility, understanding diverse audiences, positive uses of media and professional applications.
Join a unique learning environment, where you will interact with a multi-disciplinary team of experts in psychology, media and digital experience design.
If you want to pursue a career in the communications professions or media research, this course will provide you with a unique set of relevant skills.
The full course runs full-time over one year or three years part-time, giving you the chance to exit with the following awards:
Full-time
- Postgraduate Certificate: two modules over four months
- Postgraduate Diploma: four modules over eight months
- MSc: four modules plus a dissertation over one year
Part-time
- Postgraduate Certificate: two modules over nine months
- Postgraduate Diploma: four modules over two years
- MSc: four modules plus a dissertation over three years
Follow the Media Psychology team at:
Twitter: @UKMediaPsych
Want to hear about the course from a graduate?
Semester one
In this module, you will develop the critical skills to analyse audiences and their media behaviours, gain a systematic understanding of research on the effects of media consumption, understand the use of psychology within media industries and explore issues of ethics and responsibility.
Media Psychology Research Methods
In this module, you are going to develop a toolbox for research in media psychology. In particular, you will learn different methods that can help find answers to questions concerning peoples’ experience when interacting with media.
Semester two
Psychology of Media Communications
You will learn to apply psychology to understand media communication, persuasion and behaviour change, And to develop effective communication strategies.
The Psychology of Digital Experiences
You will gain a comprehensive understanding of the psychological factors involved in usable, accessible and inclusive designs in technology and work on a design brief to develop skills in human-centred design and user research.
Semester three
Dissertation
The dissertation module is your opportunity to further investigate an aspect of this course through systematic literature review or research project.
Please note that it may not be possible to deliver the full list of options every year as this will depend on factors such as how many students choose a particular option. Exact modules may also vary in order to keep content current. When accepting your offer of a place to study on this programme, you should be aware that not all optional modules will be running each year. Your tutor will be able to advise you as to the available options on or before the start of the programme. Whilst the University tries to ensure that you are able to undertake your preferred options, it cannot guarantee this.
The School of Health and Society
The School of Health and Society is focused on enhancing the health and wellbeing of patients, service users and athletes and our commitment to public involvement help us retain our strong focus on real-world issues. The school is home to a dedicated Psychology Laboratory.
The Media Psychology course is delivered at MediaCity so you will be right at the heart of the Northern creative industry. Based at Salford Quays, you will have access to some of the best facilities in the world for digital and media research.
Teacher profile
Dr Adam Galpin, Senior Lecturer
Dr. Galpin is a highly experienced lecturer and researcher, and regularly provides consultancy to the media industries regarding the psychology of audience needs. His research interests include media use in children and families and applying Psychology to the design of interactive technologies.
Publications include:
Galpin, A., Bidgood, A., & Taylor, G. (2023). The multiple roles of media use within the family system during lockdown: A thematic analysis of parental reports from the UK. Children & Society, 37, 1233–1251.
Sacristan, R., Royle, S., & Galpin, A. (2023). Texting and the brain: The time-course of social brain activation in face-to-face versus text-based computer-mediated-communication. Cyberpsychology: Journal of Psychosocial Research on Cyberspace, 17(4).
Ure, C., Cooper-Ryan, A. M., Condie, J., & Galpin, A. (2020). Exploring strategies for using social media to self-manage health care when living with and beyond breast cancer: An in-depth qualitative study. Journal of Medical Internet Research, 22(5) e16902.
Galpin, A., Meredith, J., Ure, C. & Robinson, L. (2017). "“Thanks for Letting Us All Share Your Mammogram Experience Virtually”: Developing an Online Hub for Cancer Screening": JMIR: Cancer, 3(2), e17
Dr Sharon Coen, Reader/Associate Professor in Media Psychology and Programme Leader
Dr Coen has research and teaching experience in the areas of social and media psychology. Her main interests concern the ways the media portrays and responds to, social and political issues, and how this informs public perception.
Publications include:
Curran, J.; Coen, S.; Aalberg, T. and Iyengar, S. (2012) ‘News Content, Media Use, and Current Affairs Knowledge’. In James Curran and Toril Aalberg (Eds.) ‘How Media Inform Democracy. A comparative Approach’. London: Routledge ISBN: 978-0-415-88908-7.
Curran, J., Coen, S. Soroka, S. Hichy, Z. et al. (2014). Reconsidering ‘virtuous circle’ and ‘media malaise’ theories of the media: an 11-nation study. Journalism, 15 (7), pp. 815-833.
Manzi, C., Coen, Regalia, C. & Vignoles, V. (2018) Being in the Social: A cross-cultural and cross generational study on identity processes related to Facebook use. Computers in Human Behavior, 80, 81-87.
Woods, R., Coen, S., & Fernandez, A. (2018). Moral (dis) engagement with anthropogenic climate change in online comments on newspaper articles. Journal of Community and Applied Social Psychology (28). 244-257.
A full academic profile is available here
What about after uni?
This master's has been designed to meet the growing need for graduates with an advanced knowledge and skill set to understand the relationship between psychology and the media.
With this qualification, you could pursue a career in psychological consulting within media industries, social media management, user experience research and design, advertising, public relations, marketing, media analysis, media research and development, and academia.
Career Links
This course will involve a number of guest speakers from media industries and you will benefit from the close proximity to major media organisations at MediaCity.
What you need to know
The course is multi-disciplinary, combining psychological theory with social sciences, media and communication studies. We welcome students from these disciplines who have an interest in understanding the application of psychology to media provision and consumption. We also invite applications from those who have experience in psychology and research methods through work or study who will be considered in line with our Accreditation of Prior Learning procedure.
English language requirements
If you are an international student and not from a majority English speaking country, you will need IELTS 6.5 with no element below 5.5. We also accept a range of other English language qualifications. If you do not have the English language requirements, you could take our Pre-Sessional English course.
Standard entry requirements
Undergraduate degree
Normally an upper-second-class honours degree in psychology, media studies or social sciences.
International Students
We accept qualifications from all around the world. Find your country to see a full list of entry requirements.
Alternative entry requirements
Accreditation of Prior Learning (APL)
We welcome applications from students who may not have formal/traditional entry criteria but who have relevant experience or the ability to pursue the course successfully.
The Accreditation of Prior Learning (APL) process could help you to make your work and life experience count. The APL process can be used for entry onto courses or to give you exemptions from parts of your course.
Two forms of APL may be used for entry: the Accreditation of Prior Certificated Learning (APCL) or the Accreditation of Prior Experiential Learning (APEL).
How much?
| Type of study | Year | Fees |
|---|---|---|
| Full-time home | 2024/25 | £8,820.00per year |
| Full-time international | 2024/25 | £16,380.00per year |
Additional costs
You should also consider further costs which may include books, stationery, printing, binding and general subsistence on trips and visits.
Scholarships for international students
If you are a high-achieving international student, you may be eligible for one of our scholarships.
Explore our International Scholarships.