Master of Science in Media and Communications

at Brunel University London United Kingdom

Perhaps history has always been an interest for you or it’s something you’ve developed an interest in by studying it at school or college. Either way, everyone on the Modern History BA at Brunel starts off on the same level playing field, without the need for a history qualification.

History is about understanding what it means to be human. Studying and analysing it will take you back into the societies of the past to help you understand contemporary issues all the more. It’s also a subject that will help to demonstrate your intellectual acumen and understanding of world affairs, which will be an asset in so many fields of work.

Your studies at Brunel will focus on the history of Britain, Europe and the wider world in the modern period, looking closely at life as it was lived then, observing differences, similarities, patterns and connections with the present day.

Along the way, you will build a toolkit of transferable skills gained through evidence gathering, analysis, problem-solving, drafting and communications, which can be applied to a wide range of industries within the public and private sector.

Opt for a placement year and you’ll be adding a year’s experience in a job role and industry sector that will help to show future employers where you might be a good fit for their organisation. Your placement doesn’t have to be related to history and you’ll get plenty of support from staff and resources in the University’s Professional Development Centre to help steer you in the right direction.

The course has established links to world-renowned archives and libraries based in and close to London,including the Caird Library (National Maritime Museum),The National Archives and the Imperial War Museum,among others. Additionally, the original WWII operations bunker used by Sir Winston Churchill on the former RAF Uxbridge site is a walk away from campus where Brunel students regularly volunteer.

Our Water Engineering MSc degree is a specialist course that has been developed to equip you with advanced knowledge of the water industry and environmental issues.

You will study a wide range of water engineering subjects including fluid mechanics and hydrology, water and wastewater treatment, water infrastructure, and water processing and distribution systems.

There are generic modules on finance and sustainable project management and you’ll also be introduced to issues relating to risk and health and safety.

You’ll have access to our custom-designed technical facilities that include hydraulic benches and flumes to work on your laboratory experiments. The latest industry standard engineering software packages are available for you to use in the purpose-built computer laboratories.

Through the Visiting Professors Scheme your learning is enhanced via a series of specialist lectures on industry practice. In addition, guest speakers from leading industrial partners provide a valuable insight into water engineering and you will also benefit from site visits to water treatment plants.

Our MSc water engineering course is accredited by the Joint Board of Moderators (JBM). The JBM comprises the Institution of Civil Engineers, the Institution of Structural Engineers, the Chartered Institution of Highways and Transportation, and the Institute of Highway Engineers. These four professional bodies ensure that your engineering degree meets the academic requirement to qualify as a professional engineer. This accredited MSc degree in water engineering fully meets the educational requirement for progression to Chartered Engineer (CEng) status. Brunel’s water engineering MSc is also accredited by the Chartered Institution of Water and Environmental Management (CIWEM). It is studied full-time over one year.

Do you want to work in an industry which creates moments of temporary escapism on stage or on screen for captivated audiences? If so, the Film Production and Theatre BA at Brunel is the course for you. You will be able to combine your love for the theatre with your passion for films and turn your creativity into a fantastic fulfilling career.

Your degree will give you a thorough understanding of film by combining the production with the theory of visual digital media. Delve into practical film and video-making, scriptwriting, filming and editing, whilst honing your critical analysis and research skills to develop a comprehensive understanding of how the film and TV industries work.

As well as learning film production skills you will also have the opportunity study a wide variety of theatre-related specialisms ranging from acting, applied drama, digital performance, directing, musical theatre, physical theatre and playwriting. This course will prepare you to pursue a wide range of careers in the theatre and entertainment industries and beyond.

The course will allow you to bring your ideas, thoughts and inspirations to the screen. By using the fantastic editing suites with up-to-date production software including Avid with accredited training facilities for Final Cut Pro 10 you will be able to bring your creations to life.

During your degree, you will be able to immerse yourself in one of the cultural capitals of the world. Being so close to London will give you easy access to the city’s rich and diverse culture and theatre events. You will have the opportunity to go on theatre visits and take part in workshops with cutting edge theatre companies as part of your course. Past theatre trips have included productions in the West End, The Barbican, The National Theatre, Royal Court, Sadler’s Wells and many others.

As well as enhancing your learning by attending screenings at the British Film Institute, the Institute of Contemporary Arts and other cinemas across the capital, you will also be eligible to enter our annual Brunel University Film Festival (BUFF) with categories including Best Fiction, Best Non-Fiction and Best Overall Film. This will allow you put what you have learnt into practice.

Learn with confidence knowing that you are taught by cutting edge academics and industry specialists who are some of the best in the UK. You’ll benefit from their in-depth knowledge and passion for what they teach as well as their first-hand experience of what it takes to break into the film and theatre industries. Many have published work in the field, so some of the books on your reading list may be written by those teaching you.

Gain an insight into life after your studies by putting your learning into practice by opting for a one-year work placement. You will graduate with valuable work experience to enhance your employment prospects and will be able to develop an understanding the working world within the film or theatre industry. We have excellent links with a wide range of notable external organisations, so you will have the opportunity to apply for high quality placements across London.

Previous students have undertaken placement at many prestigious venues including The Pinewood Group, Fremantle Media, Objective Productions, Mousetrap Theatre Company, Finsborough Theatre, Grieg City Academy and the Unicorn Theatre.

You will graduate with the confidence to be a creative and imaginative cultural producer with solid knowledge of film and theatre processes and practical experience which will put you in good stead for your future career.

If you have a passion for theatre and would like to learn how to bring your ideas to life on stage, Brunel’s Theatre course will equip you with specialist skills in a range of performance genres while you grow your knowledge of theatre history and theory.

Blended learning is a feature of the course which includes a mix of theatre making practical classes together with theoretically focussed content to help inform your artistic choices.

Alongside developing your analytical and study skills, you’ll discover ways of expressing yourself and building your confidence along the way.

The course has compulsory modules and numerous optional modules that you can choose from within the Theatre degree. You can opt for a wide selection of modules on the main degree or focus your studies through a specialised degree pathway in Acting, Musical Theatre or Physical Theatre.

Please click below for more information on modules offered throughout the course for each pathway.

Theatre BA pathway module table
You will be supported by a personal tutor who is also your academic seminar tutor and you will be taught by staff who are cutting edge academics and industry specialists. You’ll learn in our Antonin Artaud Performance Centre which includes a main theatre and two studio theatres, in addition to a suite of rehearsal and recording studios.

As we’re close to central London, we regularly organise trips to see productions at places such as the Barbican, the National Theatre, the Royal Court, and Sadler’s Wells and participate in workshops with ground-breaking theatre companies all as part of your course.

Communication has always been integral to politics and politics to communication but the interplay between them is changing dramatically in the social media age and as new forms of politics emerge in spaces as far afield as Trump’s America, Brexit Britain or Modi’s India. Such developments challenge at a global and national level the taken-for-granted assumptions about what is political and how we communicate it. The Political Communication MSc aims to tap into growing interest nationally and internationally in how to make sense of these developments and what they may mean for political communication professionals working in areas as diverse as election campaigns, PR and crisis communication, political satire, or journalism. 

The new interdisciplinary degree is unique in offering a strong practical strand of modules that aim to upskill you within a theoretically robust degree. The academic component of the degree aims to critically examine current developments but also locates them historically and within an internationalised curriculum. You will have the opportunity to take practical modules or theory-practical offering the potential to upskill in different types of writing, technical competencies and presentational elements on practical modules. 

The academic component is grounded in a flagship module in political communication which locates current developments historically, theoretically and critically as well as nationally and internationally. You will not only study conventional political communication topics on elections, but also learn about digital cultures, political satire and fake news. Crucially, in an age where facial recognition, AI, deep fakes and micro-behavioural targeting are creating new possibilities and challenges, you will also study international media ethics.

Building services engineers are involved with virtually every aspect of a building’s interior environment. They design, install and maintain electrical and mechanical services - heating, cooling, lighting, water, lifts, and telecoms - and advise on issues of health and safety, security, sustainability and energy efficiency.

In short, they help buildings work, whether for residential, educational, commercial, industrial or cultural purposes.

Brunel's Building Services Engineering MSc gives graduates with engineering or technology backgrounds the technical, design and management skills they need to excel in this lucrative and multi-faceted profession.

You'll get a solid grounding in core subjects of heat transfer, energy conversion, acoustics, electrical services and lighting design as well as in the practicalities of building management, fire and smoke control, waste disposal and lifts and escalators.

Additionally, as there is a growing demand for a new generation of environmentally responsible buildings, you’ll also examine energy efficiency and sustainable design.

You can choose to study 1 year full-time at Brunel or the distance learning programme over 3 years.

This course is accredited by the Institution of Mechanical Engineers (IMechE), the Chartered Institution of Building Services Engineers (CIBSE) and the Energy Institute (EI), which means your degree will put you on course to gain Chartered Engineer (CEng) status in the UK.  

Throughout your studies you’ll have use of our state-of-the-art laboratory facilities and 24-hour access to industry standard specialist software for engineering design at dedicated computer clusters on campus, so you’ll have the opportunity and equipment to explore ideas and tackle problems.

With the growing complexity of engineering services in modern buildings and the significance of energy conservation and emissions control, the role of the building services engineer is becoming increasingly important. Your Brunel engineering master’s will give you the technical, creative and managerial expertise that lead to excellent career opportunities.

The Brunel Finance and Accounting BSc provides students with the knowledge, skills, and insights needed to successfully pursue careers in accountancy and other roles across the financial sector. 

This ACCA, CIMA and ICAEW accredited degree will give you a solid grounding in the theories and practices of finance and accounting and a clear understanding of the regulatory and social frameworks in which these disciplines operate.

In the first two years you’ll explore core subjects such as financial markets, financial accounting and reporting, management accounting and corporate finance and investment.

You’ll also study econometrics and develop sought-after skills in data modelling and get training in analytical packages widely used by business and financial institutions such as SAS, EViews, Bloomberg, Reuters and STATA.

In your final year, you can tailor your course to specialist area including auditing, taxation, financial engineering and behavioural finance.

We offer two study options. You can choose three years full-time or four years full-time with a one-year professional placement between years two and three that will give you hands-on experience in a real-life working environment.

As this finance and accounting degree is accredited by the ACCA, CIMA and ICAEW, you will receive exemptions in some professional papers depending on your module choices.

In the ever-changing, increasingly complex world of business and finance, employers are looking for job candidates with the analytical and technical skills required to keep up with new realities. Your Brunel BSc will give you that expertise and improve your career prospects whether in the accountancy profession, financial services, or a financial role in industry or government.

The Brunel Sport, Health and Exercise Sciences (Physical Education, Coaching and Social Issues) BSc is for students who are interested in working in physical education or youth sport, developing sport in communities, helping individuals fulfil their potential in sport and health, as well as those seeking to gain a strong understanding and application of sports coaching principles and practices.

You'll explore the sociological, political, pedagogical and psychological factors that influence participation in physical education and sport, and how these relate to sports performance, physical activity, health and wellbeing. You'll learn how to plan, deliver, manage and evaluate high-quality activities and events aimed at encouraging and enabling people to get involved in sport and physical activity, from grassroots to elite level.

You’ll also explore social issues in physical education such as gender, race and religion and inclusive practice. In addition, you'll learn historical and philosophical aspects related to PE.

Your studies will be supported by some of the best teaching and sports facilities in the UK that include our:

• State-of-the-art physiology, biomechanics and psychology laboratories
• World-class indoor athletics centre
• International-standard 400m six-lane athletics track with full field event facilities
• Large indoor netball hall
• Multi-use sports centre equipped with squash, basketball and netball courts, as well as a superb climbing wall.
• Members-only fitness suite featuring treadmills, cycles and rowing machines
• A weight-training area with free and fixed weights
• Grass and third-generation (3G) all-weather pitches
• Outdoor tennis courts

You'll also have the opportunity to carry out a placement as part of your degree. This will give you the type of experience that will enable you to create a standout CV. Our Sport, Health and Exercise Sciences (Physical Education, Coaching and Social Issues) BSc offers two placement options: you can choose to carry out two placements during the summer vacations within the three year degree, or a one year placement between years two and three, as part of a four year degree.

The Human Genome Project is having a huge impact on the field of science and genetics. How will it provide new insights and therapies for the treatment of genetic diseases? If you’re interested in the field of genetics and the treatment of genetic diseases then this specialist course is perfect for you.

At Brunel, we understand that your specialist knowledge should be built on a sound grounding of all the areas of biomedical sciences. This means that your first year will cover areas such as the human body, biochemistry and research skills. As you continue through your degree you will study specialist areas that will teach you how the role of various genetic mutations alter cellular processes and biomechanical pathways in normal metabolism, and also how these pathways may be altered during specific human disease.

And if you change your mind about your specialist area, don’t worry. The flexibility of our course at Brunel means that you can switch to another specialist pathway in the second year or even take the general Biomedical Sciences BSc.

The Royal Society of Biology has awarded its accreditation to all of Brunel’s undergraduate Biomedical Sciences courses. This means you can be confident that your degree will prepare you for the working world – and your prospective employers will know this too. You'll receive a one year’s membership as an Associate Member once you graduate, integrating you into the sector with access to key contacts and up-to-date knowledge.

In your final year you’ll have the opportunity to contribute to our research programmes in cellular and biochemical pathways, the regulation of gene expression, DNA repair and immunological responses to microbial infection. This will give you first-hand experience of real-world laboratory research and prepare you for your future career.

Graduate with the confidence and experience you need to make a great start in your career by choosing to do a biomedical sciences placement.

• A placement lets you gain valuable experience that will put you ahead of the rest when you’re looking for employment. Like some of our former students, you can potentially spend a year working at some top companies such as Mars, Parexel and Astra Zeneca.
• If you’re looking for the experience of working further afield in biomedical sciences, there are also opportunities to work abroad where you can flourish in an exciting new culture. Recent opportunities our students have benefited from have included laboratory work in Sicily, a cytogenetics company close to Milan or working for Bayer in Berlin.
• The opportunities are endless and the experience you’ll get will be enlightening as well as rewarding.

Are you an experienced manager who wants to take your career to the next level with professional development? Then the Brunel MBA is for you.

Whether you want to advance your existing career, move to a new field, or start your own business, the Brunel MBA can give you the tools you need. Every aspect of the course is practical, fulfilling, integrated and, thanks to our world class teaching and research facilities, always relevant to today’s ever-changing business environment.

The Brunel MBA is a one year full-time or two year part-time course with three pathway options: The Brunel MBA, The Brunel MBA (Aviation Management), and The Brunel MBA (Healthcare Management).

The General Management MBA specialisation can help you become a more accomplished manager all-round. From finance to international strategy, harnessing technologies and marketing, this course will help you with senior management decision-making and solving business issues. We support you in identifying your strengths and weaknesses and working with them to help you progress.

The Aviation Management MBA is designed for professionals working for airlines, airport authorities, and supply and support services within the aviation sector such as engineering, logistics, catering, cargo, energy, safety, security, IT, and travel and tourism. It’s supported by our proximity to the world’s busiest passenger hub at Heathrow, Brunel’s growing reputation in aerospace and environmental research, and our close links with the aviation industry.

The Healthcare Management MBA focuses on application of knowledge in the healthcare industry and enables students to develop managerial skills to handle real-life business situations in the sector. The MBA (Healthcare Management) course is designed for professionals in strategic health authorities, primary care trusts and hospital administration, and for those working within private healthcare, outside suppliers and consultancies.

The Brunel MBA part-time course is designed to maximise your career impact in the global market over a two-year study period, without having to take a break from work. Study time for the part-time MBA is 12 hours per week over a maximum of three days, with some classes on Saturdays, making the programme an ideal option for full-time working professionals in and around London.

The Career Development Programme is an integral part of your professional development while you are studying your MBA. Landing a top job after completing your MBA is, of course, a key objective, and the Career Development Programme is designed to provide the tools to help you achieve your ambitions. The programme will help you define your career goals and create a personalised career action plan.

You’ll have access to one-to-one careers coaching to help you understand what makes you stand, out whether it’s your particular management experience and skills or specialist knowledge. We’ll also help you with your CV, LinkedIn profile, and a professional portfolio as well as providing support in building a career plan, job-hunting, writing applications that get noticed, and brushing up on interview techniques.

As part of your MBA course, Brunel provides an innovative series of Leadership Masterclasses. Sessions will help you with effective ways to present your ideas, the best methods for managing change, negotiating better and resolving conflict, as well as giving you deeper insight into cross cultural issues and corporate responsibility.

The Brunel Business School has links to many leading organisations such as Barclays, British Airways, Goldman Sachs, HSBC, IBM, Iraq Energy Institute, Jaguar, Johnson and Johnson, Microsoft, and Xerox. MBA students undertake regular visits to company head offices and representatives from these companies often visit campus as part of the MBA Guest Speaker Series, Let’s Talk Business.

The Graduate Entrepreneur programme allows selected graduates to stay on in the UK and work towards setting up their own business, under a special branch of the Tier 1 Route. Find out more about becoming a Graduate Entrepreneur.

The Brunel MBA is one of a distinguished group of MBA programmes worldwide to have achieved accreditation by both the Association of Masters of Business Administration (AMBA) and the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB).