Media and Communication Studies: Culture, Collaborative Media, and Creative Industries, Master's programme (Two-Year)

“I always tell my coworkers that I'm learning so much in this programme. It’s so useful for my work with social media.”

Sarah Patsalidou is a two-year master’s student living in Cyprus, with a background in music and musical theatre production. Currently, she is pursuing her master’s degree while working with social media at a ticketing company. The online form allows her to continue working and apply her learnings in her work.

What were you doing before you enrolled in Media and Communication at Malmö University?

I did my undergraduate studies in music in Southampton, and then a postgraduate degree in musical theatre production at Goldsmiths, University of London. I learned how to put on a show and to produce a performing arts festival from scratch. But during my studies, I didn't learn how to advertise or market my work, so that’s what I was missing. When I returned to Cyprus, my home country, I started working in social media for Sold Out Tickets – one of the biggest event ticketing companies in Cyprus. I loved what I was doing, but I was obviously lacking professional academic training in media and communication. That’s when I started looking for distance learning courses in Europe to deepen my knowledge and put it to use in my work.

Why did you choose this master’s programme?

I always say that I've never experienced a richer university programme. It focuses on creative industries and culture, which aligns with my background as a musician and producer. In today's competitive professional landscape, I believe a master's degree is an asset. Completing a master's enhances my expertise and opens opportunities in this highly competitive field. I saw the chance to reskill in a growing area, aligning with my interest in media and communication. The programme offers a diverse range of courses, covering social theories, key theories of media and communication, creative industries and research methods.

How do you like the distance learning form?

Choosing distance learning was a practical decision because it allows me to continue working in Cyprus while advancing my education. I work and study full-time and find that I can apply what I learn during my studies into my work in social media and event ticketing. For example, courses like ‘Understanding how the creative industries work’ and ‘Data and analytics’ have been very useful.

I really enjoy the distance learning form. The use of online tools, cameras and microphones during lectures ensures a good experience and an effective learning environment. We have interactive seminars, open discussions and regular one-on-one and group sessions, which have contributed to a close community. Both my teachers and peers are helpful and supportive. It’s cool how you meet other students online and become friends with them because you basically see them every day. I actually met a few people in person while I was travelling.

What would you want to do after your graduation?

In the future, I want to travel in Europe and work with musicals as a production manager or coordinator. My knowledge in media will strengthen my skills as a producer. That is why I chose this programme – to get a package of skills and background to contribute to as many aspects as possible in the role as a production manager and work at big theatres.

“The perfect recipe”

Deliana is a 23-year-old student on the two-year master’s programme. She has a bachelor’s in American studies (cultural studies) from the University of Bucharest, Romania. Her passion lies in artistic practises and her future ambition is to work within the creative industries.

The master’s programme was Deliana's first choice, for several reasons. 

“I had wanted to live in Malmö for a period of time and the title of the programme was very appealing to me. Media, collaboration and creativity were key terms that led me to imagine the programme being interdisciplinary and innovative- the perfect recipe,” she explains. 

“Media is an umbrella field that is consistently changing and I believed this could be an opportunity to combine the two subjects that I am the most interested in: the digital and the cultural landscape. I have been right so far,” she says. 

Appreciates Malmö’s eclectic vibe

“I love living in Malmö which has an eclectic vibe due to the multicultural citizens. My first impression of the city is that there are a lot of opportunities for young people to evolve in whatever direction they want to.” 

With a background in a more traditional academic environment, Deliana really enjoys how the university facilities, especially the new building, Niagara and the main library Orkanen, are designed in a way to encourage students to interact with each other. 

Advantages of attending courses both on campus and online

“I like to study on campus because then I can interact with my classmates and professors and feel more motivated. I need the campus atmosphere in order to keep the pace of my studies. But being able to study online is also great. For example, when I went back to Romania for three weeks, I attended the lectures online instead. When I got back to campus I had not missed a thing.”

Networking during the studies opens opportunities

Deliana does volunteer work at a non-profit organisation for refugees in Malmö. She is also working on a case study about an organisation within the creative industries. This she says, puts her in contact with people from the industry and opens the possibility for future collaborations. Deliana is convinced that her studies could open doors for her. 

“I believe it will open a lot of networking possibilities, and also give me the theoretical knowledge that I need for the field.” 

 “I think the way in which independent studying has been created in this programme goes in line with the idea of collaboration and entrepreneurship, encouraging us, the young professionals to take the situation in our hands and make the best out of it. The professors are open to questions, always helpful and the feedback is always constructive, never discouraging”.