MSc Science Communication

This course is for those who want to train as professional science communicators, but are unsure which employment sector might suit them best. Academic and practical components provide a broad overview of the professional science communication landscape. A work placement or internship forms part of the course, as does an academic dissertation (guide length of report 10,000 words). Career opportunities after the course include print journalism, new media work, broadcast television or radio production and presentation, public affairs and public relations, museums/galleries and festivals, science policy work, academic research and development, and teaching.

The course can be taken full-time over one academic year or part-time over two academic years.  Part-time students attend half the full complement of modules in each year.

All formal class sessions for the first two terms (about six to eight hours per week) are organised on two days per week—currently Monday and Tuesday. During the summer term when all students are undertaking practical work, arrangements are more fluid. Over the summer period of July, August and September, students are largely engaged with their dissertations or work placements, and informal contact with supervisors can therefore occur at any time. Part-time students normally attend College one day a week, although particular combinations of optional modules may require attendance on two days a week and some flexibility is needed in student availability in order to complete group work. All students are expected to commit considerable time to private study during the course. In the case of full-time students this should take up at least three days a week in addition to the two days of classes.

Students are encouraged to audit any academic modules they are not undertaking for credit from across the whole academic programme, subject to timetable constraints and their own available time. Students auditing modules must participate fully in workshop sessions but do not undertake assignments or sit exam questions.

A Postgraduate Certificate and Postgraduate Diploma are not available on this programme.