Master in Media Practices
Masters
Media professions are changing. Journalists, communicators, animators, producers and documentarists are becoming closer connected professionally. As the only institution in Norway, Volda University College is offering a practical-theoretical Media master's degree, where students from the various media professions meet. This master is centered on non-fiction media productions.
The regular application deadlines are:
- March 1st: Applicants with citizenship and education from visa-required countries.
- Weekly admission until full, or until May 15th at the latest. Extended from April 15th: Applicants residing in Norway with a Norwegian ID number and citizens of EU/EEA countries.
Follow the link to find out more about admission to the master's program at Volda University College.
Tuition fees for non-EU/EEA students: read more here.
Need more information?
- Full-time
- Duration 4 semester (2 år)
- 120 credits
- Start autumnApplication period 01.03.2024 - 15.05.2024
Løpande opptak til studiet er fullteikna.
- Admission requirements
Admission requirements for this program is a completed unversity degree equivalent to a Norwegian Bachelor’s degree (180 ECTS), which normally means an undergraduate degree of 3-4 years duration. From this degree, a minimum of 90 ECTS credits (or 1 1/2 year of full-time studies) of course work must be from the field of media or journalism studies, and applicants must have a minimum of 40 ECTS credits from practical courses. Relevant work experience may be used to compensate for this requirement if subjects are within practical fields.
A good grade point average (GPA) from the Bachelor’s degree is required. For Norwegian applicants this amounts to an average grade of C or better. For international applicants, no set grade point average is required, but the admission committee will review the applicant’s grades in light of the grading system of the university/country in question.
Applicants must upload links (URL) for your portfolio/show reel. For example to youtube, news articles, dropbox/drive locations, drawings, etc. This must be uploaded with the rest of the supporting documents in your online application. We do not want you to upload your portfolio/show reel due to the possible size of such files and also the danger of file alterations resulting in inferior quality.
Applicants need to document a high degree of English language proficiency, either through standardized English test such as TOEFL (minimum 80 points overall on the iBT test) or the IELTS (minimum overall score of 6.0 on the Academic test). Applicants who have passed the course in English from Norwegian secondary school and applicants who have completed secondary school in Australia, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand, UK and the USA are exempt from documenting their English language skills. Read more about the English language requirement and other possible exemptions on our website.
Note: Admission for the Master in Media Practice is based on an overall review of the applicant based on the submitted transcripts/diplomas and examples of prior work (portfolio/show reel).
All documentation must be in Norwegian or English.
- Study plan
Insights from students
Study content
The program provides advanced knowledge of the media profession and its narrative forms; and specialized insight into non-fiction media production in each of the areas of the fields of journalism, communication, animation, production, or design. The master's degree creates a common learning environment for media students, where different fields meet through topics that are relevant to all types of professional performers in the media industry.
Students can choose between different types of master’s level productions:
- Practical non-fiction media production combined with a written assignment (MMP313)
- Animation production combined with a written assignment (MMP313)
- Ordinary written master thesis without production (MMP314)
Volda University College has the largest media education environment in Norway and has educated professionals since 1971. The college also has a close relationship with the various media industries in Norway and abroad. The program allows for 8-10 weeks of practice in a cutting-edge media company or institution relevant for the candidate and their field, whether this is journalism, communication, animation, production, or design.
Read more about the master's degree in the Program description (Study plan).
Internationalization
In the second semester students have the opportunity to study at another institution in Norway or abroad.
Teaching methods and assessment schemes
Teaching is organized in lectures / seminars and workshops. There is an emphasis on individual work with topics related to both own projects and joint teaching assignments.
Language
The language of instruction is English. Students can choose to write assignments in Norwegian.
Professional prospects and further studies
With a master's degree in practical media studies, you get a thorough and specialized education, well adapted to tomorrow’s media landscape. Both courses of study qualify for doctoral programmmes.
Study plan
Media Practices - master
Media professions are in flux. We see ever closer links and occupational slippage between jobs in the media industry (e.g. journalists, communicators, animators, filmmakers, producers, and designers). This disruptive digitalization and convergence create new challenges for candidates who might fill media professions. However, the convergence does not remove the need for professional specialization. The program, therefore, does not educate “one-size-fits-all” media practitioners, but rather emphasizes both what unites occupations/professions (like social missions, societal roles, rhetoric, narrative technique, and communication) and what differentiates them (different positions in society, various work tools, different professional traditions).
In accordance with the national qualifications framework students shall acquire the following learning outcomes after completion of the course:
The candidate will
- have advanced knowledge in the field of media and specialized insight in a specific area of the field, for instance, journalism, documentary film, communication, animation, or design
- have a thorough knowledge of the social significance of media and the ethical demands directed at those working in the profession
- have a thorough knowledge of rhetoric, narration, and the forms of communication used in media
The candidate will be able to
- analyse media topics on the basis of the field’s history, tradition, individuality and place in society
- produce a media product of professional standard in his/her chosen field
- locate, analyse and manage different sources of information from a critical perspective, and employ these in order to structure, formulate and complete media products of a high professional standard in his or her area of expertise
- plan, develop and complete an individual academic project on media in accordance with relevant norms in research ethics
The candidate will be able to
- employ his or her knowledge and skills in new areas to complete advanced tasks and projects
- present an extensive individual body of work and discuss academic issues, analysis and conclusions in the field of media, particularly within his or her area of expertise, with both specialists and the public
- work independently in practical and theoretical problem solving and contribute to new thinking and innovation processes
The programe consists of lectures and seminars, individual and group work. The first week we have a mandatory overnight excursion. Most courses are mandatory, or partly mandatory. Final assesment varies from written exams, portfolio and home exams. The master thesis are finalised with and oral exam.
Media professions are in flux. We see ever closer links and occupational slippage between jobs in the media industry (e.g. journalists, communicators, animators, documentary filmmakers, producers). This disruptive digitalization and convergence creates new challenges for candidates who might fill media professions. However, the convergence does not remove the need for professional specialization. The program therefore does not educate “one-size-fits-all” media practitioners, but rather emphasizes both what unites occupations/professions (like social missions, societal role, rhetoric, narrative technique and communication) and what differentiates them (different positions in society, various work tools, different professional traditions).
| Course | 2024 Autumn | 2025 Spring | 2025 Autumn | 2026 Spring |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 15 | ||||
| 15 | ||||
Elective subjects (There may be restrictions on some combinations. Changes may occur) | 30 | |||
| 15 | ||||
| 15 | ||||
| 15 | ||||
| 15 | ||||
| 15 | ||||
| 15 | ||||
Elective subjects from other master's programs. Application to the IPA subjects is to be done by email to Studentsorvis@hivolda.no before November 20th. International students need to document a high degree of Norwegian language proficiency. | ||||
| 15 | ||||
| 15 | ||||
| 15 | ||||
Master Thesis, select either MMP313 Project Based Master Thesis or MMP314 Written Master Thesis | 15 | 30 | ||
| 15 | 30 | |||
| 15 | 30 | |||
| Sum (120 total) | 30 | 30 | 30 | 30 |
The first Spring semester
- Full-time
- Duration 4 semester (2 år)
- 120 credits
- Start autumnApplication deadline 01.03.2024 / 15.05.2024
Løpande opptak til studiet er fullteikna.
- Admission requirements
Admission requirements for this program is a completed unversity degree equivalent to a Norwegian Bachelor’s degree (180 ECTS), which normally means an undergraduate degree of 3-4 years duration. From this degree, a minimum of 90 ECTS credits (or 1 1/2 year of full-time studies) of course work must be from the field of media or journalism studies, and applicants must have a minimum of 40 ECTS credits from practical courses. Relevant work experience may be used to compensate for this requirement if subjects are within practical fields.
A good grade point average (GPA) from the Bachelor’s degree is required. For Norwegian applicants this amounts to an average grade of C or better. For international applicants, no set grade point average is required, but the admission committee will review the applicant’s grades in light of the grading system of the university/country in question.
Applicants must upload links (URL) for your portfolio/show reel. For example to youtube, news articles, dropbox/drive locations, drawings, etc. This must be uploaded with the rest of the supporting documents in your online application. We do not want you to upload your portfolio/show reel due to the possible size of such files and also the danger of file alterations resulting in inferior quality.
Applicants need to document a high degree of English language proficiency, either through standardized English test such as TOEFL (minimum 80 points overall on the iBT test) or the IELTS (minimum overall score of 6.0 on the Academic test). Applicants who have passed the course in English from Norwegian secondary school and applicants who have completed secondary school in Australia, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand, UK and the USA are exempt from documenting their English language skills. Read more about the English language requirement and other possible exemptions on our website.
Note: Admission for the Master in Media Practice is based on an overall review of the applicant based on the submitted transcripts/diplomas and examples of prior work (portfolio/show reel).
All documentation must be in Norwegian or English.
- Study plan
Application code(s) : 4391
Questions? Contact us
For questions about admission
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