Course summary
Advertising and marketing have become increasingly central to social life on a global scale. As ‘persuasion industries’ they generate powerful images of the good life, acting upon individual and collective desires and aspirations. The MA critically explores the commercial and sociological aspects of the advertising and marketing industries, probing the way they link cultural values to creative and commercial innovation. Taught within our top rated Department of Sociology, this course investigates key theoretical and substantive debates in the critical study of advertising, marketing and media, and analyse the advertising industries in Britain, North America and newly emerging economies like India. You explore topics including:
- Recent developments from actor network theory on market devices
- Concepts of advertising, marketing and consumption
- Contemporary marketing and management
- Media and communications
- Developing brand cultures
- You are introduced to primary research materials, like market research data, examining debates about the historical rise of marketing-orientated businesses and the growth of the advertising agency.
Modules
You can tailor your learning experience with a choice of optional modules. More information and these can be found on the University of Essex website.
Entry requirements
Entry requirements for this course can be found on the course finder on the University of Essex website – www.essex.ac.uk
Fees and funding
Tuition fees
| England | £10500 | Year 1 |
| Northern Ireland | £10500 | Year 1 |
| Scotland | £10500 | Year 1 |
| Wales | £10500 | Year 1 |
| Channel Islands | £10500 | Year 1 |
| Republic of Ireland | £10500 | Year 1 |
| EU | £22750 | Year 1 |
| International | £22750 | Year 1 |
Tuition fee status depends on a number of criteria and varies according to where in the UK you will study. For further guidance on the criteria for home or overseas tuition fees, please refer to the UKCISA website .
Additional fee information
Fees displayed are for 2025-26 entry. Fees for part-time courses are calculated pro-rata to the relevant full-time fee.
Tuition fees may be subject to annual increases in each year of study in line with inflation.
Provider information
University of Essex
Wivenhoe Park
Colchester
CO4 3SQ