Overview
The MSc Media Management at the University of Stirling prepares you to be a leader in the rapidly-changing global media landscape. The UK is forecast to become the largest entertainment and media market in Europe (PWC 2024). The Creative Industries are a priority growth area in the UK's Modern Industrial Strategy 2025, aimed at boosting business investment and driving national innovation. Scotland, with its thriving creative scene and highly skilled talent pool, will continue to play a central role as a dynamic regional and global hub.
Our Media Management Masters blends theory with real-world practice. You’ll work alongside experienced academics and industry insiders to develop the skills, strategic insight, and professional portfolio to thrive in a global arena. You’ll learn to manage innovation, navigate media regulation ad policy, and ultimately be equipped to help media organisations adapt and grow, and build your own entrepreneurial media career.
Gain in-demand media skills
On our Masters in Media Management you’ll gain practical work experience on group projects for real clients from the media, creative and cultural industries. Previous clients include established media and communication companies and startups alike based in Europe and North America. They include:
- EdgyTV (multicultural broadcasting)
- Olive Blue (change leadership and change management training)
- Rogue Media (marketing and advertising)
- Be Your Change (podcast amplifying the voices of women changemakers)
- We Write Stories (transformational book publishing)
You'll develop creative strategy reports and other real-world deliverables, which may include a podcast, short-form video, advertising campaign pitch, digital product designs, and digital interactive media products, such as a video game. You'll graduate with a professional portfolio that you can showcase to employers.
Get closer to the media industry
Our media industry connections bring your learning to life. Explore Scotland's dynamic creative hub through fieldtrips to leading national and local organisations.
Past trips have included behind-the-scenes tours of the broadcast studios at BBC Pacific Quay in Glasgow and the V&A Dundee. There has also been visits to tech incubators CodeBase Stirling and Creative Stirling. Students meet with media professionals, hearing first-hand about their professional experience and innovations, while getting to ask questions about building successful media careers.
Get inspired by industry professionals
On this Media Management Masters degree you’ll hear from guest speakers across media and creative industries who offer insider perspectives, leadership insight, and valuable professional networking opportunities. Recent speakers include:
- Editor of The Sunday National
- Former Editor of The Scotsman
- Head of Business Multiplatform Productions at BBC Scotland
- Director and Independent Creative Producer behind LeithLate
- Director of Crowdfunding at Paved with Gold
- Policymakers at organisations like the British Council, Ofcom, and PACT
Comprehensive employability and skills programme
Our employability and skills programme helps you to develop the attributes that employers look for. In the Faculty of Arts and Humanities we have a dedicated Employability and Skills Officer. The University of Stirling’s Careers Service works in partnership with academic staff to ensure you are ready for the employment market.
During our Media Management postgraduate degree, you’ll also develop required practical skills.
Written and oral communication
Media management involves communication with various stakeholders both internally and externally. Our course develops your abilities to communicate through various essays, reports, presentations and online activities.
Teamwork
Group work is an essential part of your Media Management degree. Group projects simulate real-life scenarios in business and marketing communications.
Research and analysis
You’ll develop your research skills by carrying out both small-scale and larger research projects, including your dissertation.
Time management
You’ll learn how to manage your time more effectively through active involvement in group projects. You’ll also become adept at managing your weekly workload to meet deadlines for coursework.
Top reasons to study with us
Flexible learning
If you’re interested in studying a module from this course, the Postgraduate Certificate or the Postgraduate Diploma then please email Graduate Admissions to discuss your course of study.
Research overview
Communications, Media and Culture at the University of Stirling was ranked 2nd in Scotland overall in the most recent Research Excellence Framework (REF 2021), with 100% of our research environment and 88% of our overall research classed as world-leading or internationally excellent.
Entry requirements
Academic requirements
A minimum of a second class Honours degree (2:1 preferred) or equivalent. Applicants without these formal qualifications but with significant appropriate work experience are encouraged to apply.
Media Managers come from a wide range of backgrounds, and the profession is keen to encourage applicants from the arts, humanities, business, sciences, and the social sciences. Applications are welcomed from applicants from the broadest range of disciplines.
Other routes of entry
If you don't currently meet our academic requirements, University of Stirling International Study Centre offers a variety of preparation programmes that can earn you the qualifications and skills you need to progress onto some of our courses. Explore University of Stirling International Study Centre to see the pathway and pre-masters routes available.
International entry requirements
English language requirements
If English is not your first language you must have one of the following qualifications as evidence of your English language skills:
- IELTS Academic or UKVI 6.0 with a minimum of 5.5 in each sub-skill.
- Pearson Test of English (Academic) 60 overall with a minimum of 59 in each sub-skill.
- IBT TOEFL 78 overall with a minimum of 17 in listening, 18 in reading, 20 in speaking and 17 in writing.
See our information on English language requirements for more details on the language tests we accept and options to waive these requirements.
Pre-sessional English language courses
If you need to improve your English language skills before you enter this course, University of Stirling International Study Centre offers a range of English language courses. These intensive and flexible courses are designed to improve your English ability for entry to this degree.
Find out more about our pre-sessional English language courses.
Course details
The MSc Media Management consists of a taught course taking place over two 15-week semesters, followed by a dissertation. The taught course involves postgraduate modules offered by, or in collaboration with, the Faculty of Arts and Humanities and the Stirling Management School. You’ll take two core modules and one elective module each semester, making for a total of six taught modules across the year.
Modules
Teaching
You'll be taught through a combination of lectures, seminars, workshops and tutorials. We also have guest speakers who are experienced practitioners from the media industry able to provide a strategic or practical insight into current management issues.
Teaching is carried out through a mix of lectures, tutorials, case studies, fieldwork exercises, site visits, guest speakers and consultancy projects with real-world clients.
You'll also have the opportunity to hear from industry professionals. Recently we have had speakers from all parts of the media industries and creative sector including Editor of the Sunday National, Former editor of The Scotsman, Head of Business Multiplatform Productions, BBC Scotland, Director and Independent Creative Producer for LeithLate, Director of Crowdfunding at Communications specialists Paved with Gold. Guest lectures have also been delivered from policymakers from the British Council; Ofcom and PACT. On core modules, students also had the opportunity to deliver consultancy projects for real-world media sector clients including a film festival, book publisher, a podcasting company and a web app developer.
Fieldwork
Fieldtrips delivered as part of the core modules include a visit to the state-of-the-art broadcast facilities at BBC Pacific Quay, the recently opened V&A Dundee and tech incubator CodeBase Stirling.
Assessment
Modules are assessed by a combination of coursework including:
- essays
- practical reports and strategic plans
- case studies
- presentations
- research design and project proposals
- You will also complete a 12,000 word dissertation
Some of these outputs will be delivered to live clients from the media sector and can be presented to potential future media industry employers as part of a portfolio of your work.
Course director
Dr Errol Salamon, Course Director
Key staff
The course has been strengthened with the appointment of new, dedicated staff and the development of new modules. It continually evolves to keep up with the changing media world.
Dr Errol Salamon - Course Director, Tutor for Global Media Industries, Digital Cultures for Media Managers and the Dissertation
Dr Victoria Esteves – Tutor for Media Policy and Regulation
Professor Steven Buchanan – Tutor for Research Methods and Human Information Behaviour
Professor Iain MacRury – Tutor for Advertising
Dr Melissa Avdeeff – Tutor for Research Methods
Fees and funding
Fees and costs
University of Stirling alumni will automatically be awarded a fee waiver for the first year of Masters studies through our Stirling Alumni Scholarship.
Applicants from the UK or Republic of Ireland who hold a first-class honours degree or equivalent will automatically be awarded a £2,000 scholarship through our Postgraduate Merit Scholarship.
If you need to extend your period of study, you may be liable for additional fees.
If you are studying part time, the total course fee will be split over the years that you study. The total fee will remain the same and will be held at the rate set in your year of entry.
For more information on courses invoiced on an annual fee basis, please read our tuition fee policy.
Eligible students could receive a scholarship worth between £4,000-£7,000. See our range of generous scholarships for international postgraduate students.
If you need to extend your period of study, you may be liable for additional fees.
If you are studying part time, the total course fee will be split over the years that you study. The total fee will remain the same and will be held at the rate set in your year of entry.
For more information on courses invoiced on an annual fee basis, please read our tuition fee policy.
Postgraduate tuition fee loans
This course is eligible for a postgraduate tuition fee loan from one of the UK’s governments. See the Scholarships and funding section, below, for more details.
Additional costs
There are some instances where additional fees may apply. Depending on your chosen course, you may need to pay additional costs, for example for field trips. Learn more about additional fees.
Scholarships and funding
Funding
If you have the talent, ability and drive to study with us, we want to make sure you make the most of the opportunity – regardless of your financial circumstances.
Learn more about available funding opportunities or use our scholarship finder to explore our range of scholarships.
Postgraduate tuition fee loans
Scottish students may be eligible to apply to the Students Award Agency for Scotland (SAAS) for loans of up to £11,500 to cover tuition fees and associated living costs.
English students can apply for a loan of up to £12,167 each year as part of the Postgraduate Masters Loan Scheme.
Welsh students can apply for financial support of up to £18,770 as a combination of grant and loan from Student Finance Wales.
Northern Irish students can apply for a postgraduate tuition fee loan of up to £6,500 from Student Finance NI.
International students may be able to gain additional funding from loan providers.
Cost of living
If you’re domiciled in the UK, you can typically apply to your relevant funding body for help with living costs. This usually takes the form of student loans, grants or bursaries, and the amount awarded depends upon your personal circumstances and household income.
International (including EU) students won’t normally be able to claim living support through SAAS or other UK public funding bodies. You should contact the relevant authority in your country to find out if you’re eligible to receive support.
Payment options
We aim to be as flexible as possible, and offer a wide range of payment methods - including the option to pay fees by instalments. Learn more about how to pay
After you graduate
Various careers in the media, marketing, and communications fields are open to you as a graduate of the MSc Media Management. The types of roles include:
- Media Manager
- Marketing Manager
- Media Industry Consultant
- Digital Strategist
- Media Project Planner
- Social Media Manager
- Digital Marketing Manager
- Editor
- Social Media Analyst
- Content Strategist
- Creative Team Leader
This Masters in Media Management also prepares you for roles in media entrepreneurship, film/TV production, publishing, and streaming platform strategy.
The estimated total pay for a Media Manager is £42,120 per year, with an average salary of £38,569 per year (Glassdoor Jun 2025).
Examples of roles that Stirling graduates have gone onto:
- Director, Strategic Commercial Partnerships
- Senior Events Officer
- Broadcast Journalist
- Senior Brand Manager
- Digital Marketing Senior Project Manager
- Content Producer
- Content Editor
Companies and organisations that Media Management graduates work for include:
- Sony Pictures Entertainment
- BBC Scotland
- Renfrewshire Council
- Belcor Media
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