Mass Communications

Mass communications is the study of how messages are created, distributed, and received across large audiences through media channels ranging from newspapers and broadcasting to digital platforms and social networks. It is a field that combines social scientific inquiry with practical media skills, asking both how communication systems work and how to operate effectively within them. Understanding mass communication matters because media institutions shape public knowledge, political discourse, and cultural norms in ways that touch every area of contemporary life.

Edinburgh Napier University's four-year full-time Mass Communications programme allows you to examine these questions from multiple angles. You will explore the theory and history of media, studying how journalism, broadcasting, and digital communication have evolved and how they intersect with power, representation, and democracy. Alongside this critical framework you will develop practical skills in writing, production, research, and digital content creation, learning to communicate across different formats and platforms.

The programme includes a year abroad, which is a significant opportunity to experience a different media culture, language environment, and academic tradition, strengthening your adaptability and international perspective. Study abroad also broadens your professional network and demonstrates to future employers that you can operate effectively in unfamiliar contexts.

You will study with a typical entry tariff of 152 points and develop skills in critical analysis, research design, media production, and audience engagement. You will learn to evaluate the claims media makes, understand the economic and institutional pressures that shape editorial decisions, and think carefully about the ethical responsibilities of communicators.

Graduates from mass communications programmes pursue careers in journalism, broadcasting, public relations, corporate communications, marketing, social media management, digital content strategy, and policy. Many work in the media industry directly, while others apply their communication expertise in charities, government, and the private sector. Postgraduate routes include journalism, media studies, and communications management.