A bilateral agreement between the University of Cape Town and the London School of Economics and Political Science will see a new cohort of students obtaining qualifications from both tertiary institutions. Successful applicants will spend a year in London and Cape Town, deepening their knowledge of contemporary global media industries and on completion, will earn two internationally recognized postgraduate degrees.

Concluded in 2016, the agreement between the Centre for Film and Media Studies (UCT) and the Department of Media Communication (LSE) is the first of its kind with the global south. Specifically, the programme aims to attract individuals who are interested in media and development studies. Students will study the impact of globalization on communication, society, culture, politics and media practices in two of the world’s media capitals: London and Cape Town. In addition, they will benefit from being part of an international network of media scholars, which in today’s globalized work context will constitute a significant professional advantage.

The LSE Department of Media and Communication Studies is a leading research and teaching centre in the field of global media studies. According to the director of the CFMS, Professor Herman Wasserman, the twinned degree will equip students with the knowledge required to play a powerful role in redefining the way the world communicates. "The twinned degree with the LSE adds an exciting new offering to our suite of postgraduate options. We now join the University of Southern California’s Annenberg School of Communication and Fudan University’s Journalism School to form part of a global network of destinations for students wanting to learn more about the evolving media landscape in an interdependent world," says Wasserman. 

After spending their first year of study at the LSE, students will move to the University of Cape Town to complete further coursework and a second dissertation or creative media production.  Upon successful completion of both components, students will graduate with an MSc in Global Media and Communications from the LSE and, an MA in Global Media from UCT.   In addition to academic study, students will complete an internship in the media and communication industries in Cape Town.  This practical aspect of the programme will help them gain on-the-job experience, build industry networks while deepening their academic knowledge of the media. Graduate outcomes include careers in journalism, new media industry, broadcasting and market research and advertising.

Applications for the twinned MA opened in October 2016 and the first intake of students will commence their studies at the LSE in September 2017.   The LSE has made two scholarships available for successful African applicants.  For more information on this programme, please email the course convenors: Dr Wallace Chuma, Dr Wendy Willems or the director of the Centre for Film and Media Studies at UCT, Prof Herman Wasserman.     Additional programme information is available on the CFMS and LSE websites. (Photos courtesy LSE Global Media website)