What is Mass Communication and Media about?
Mass Communication is a very interesting industry to work in and it is becoming one of the fastest-growing industries globally. Mass Communication and Media cover anything to do with the delivery of information to different groups of large audience through a platform or medium.
It differs from other forms of communication, such as interpersonal communication or organizational communication, because the focus of information transmission is to numerous receivers rather than one. In mass communication, it concerns how the content delivered affects its audiences.
Mass Communication and Media can be categorised into traditional media and the internet. Some examples of mass media include newspapers, magazines, radio, television, and internet such as blogs and social media sites like Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.
As social media has become a very important platform where we communicate and interact with each other and the usage of social media is ballooning, this industry has a promising career prospect.
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What are the important skills do I need in this field?
To be able to succeed in the field of mass communication and media, you will need various types of skills to equip yourself. Most skills that are needed in this field are transferable and can be applied in other fields too.
1. Communication Skills
Language is one of the most fundamental skills in conveying a message or information. It is no doubt that communication skills, whether it’s oral or written, are equally important to convey information in clear, concise and logical terms. Without good oral and written communication skills, you will not be able to deliver information to the audiences precisely and effectively.
2. Creative Thinking
Creative thinking is very important when it comes to creating original content. Whether it’s producing a video for an advertisement or designing a publicity poster for an event, creativity is something you can’t lack of. Creative thinking is not only needed for visual media. When it comes to article writing, creativity is also important so that the readers are more engaged through creative writing.
3. Critical Thinking
Critical thinking is important in all fields of study, including Mass Communication and Media. No matter which field you are in, critical thinking skills are important to help you analyze situations and make informed decisions.
In the field of Mass Communication and Media, you will need to be able to understand problems, think critically and devise solutions to problems related if you are in the Public Relations field.
What are the entry requirements and qualifications?
There are many institutions in China offering programmes for Mass Communication and Media. To study Mass Communication and Media in China, you will need to fulfil these requirements:
| Qualification | Requirements |
| Bachelor's Degree |
|
| Master's Degree, PhD |
|
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How long will I be studying this programme?
A Mass Communication and Media programme is available for a different level of studies including Bachelor’s Degree, Master’s Degree and PhD and the duration of study for these levels are different. The duration of study for a programme of the same level offered by different institutions could be different too.
| Study Levels | Duration |
| Bachelor's Degree | 3 - 4 years |
| Master's Degree | 1 - 2 years |
| PhD | 3 - 4 years |
How much does it cost to study Mass Communication and Media?
The cost of studying Mass Communication and Media depends on your level of study level and institution. Here are the estimated fees of studying Mass Communication and Media in China according to study levels:
| Programme | Estimated Fees |
| Bachelor's Degree | RM27,000 - RM53,000 |
| Master's Degree | RM25,000 - RM90,000 |
| PhD | RM26,000 - RM30,000 |
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What are the job opportunities?
Mass Communication and Media provides a good job prospect as it widens up the horizon of career options for a person in the fields of different types of media. Some job that you can work after studying Mass Communication and Media are:
- Public Relations Officer
- TV Correspondent
- Producer
- Film Director
- Anchor
- Announcer
- Journalist
- Editor
- Event Manager
- Screenwriter
- Art Director
- Illustrator
- Critic
- Photographer
- DJ
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Which recognised universities offer Mass Communication and Media in China?
Mass Communication and Media is a popular field and many institutions in China offer Mass Communication and Media programmes in different study levels. You can check out these top universities to study a Mass Communication and Media programme in China:
1. Peking University
Peking University is one of the top universities in China and around the world, ranking #31 globally. The university has become a centre for teaching and research, embracing diverse branches of learning such as mass communication and media, social sciences and humanities, basic and applied sciences, management, and education.
The campus is situated at Haidian District in the western suburb of Beijing and stands near to the Yuanmingyuan Garden and the Summer Palace.
2. Tsinghua University
Tsinghua University is a well-known university located in Beijing, China, having 20 schools and 58 departments with faculties in science, engineering, humanities, mass communication and media, medicine, history, philosophy, economics, management, education and art, and is attended by more than 33 000 students, including international students.
As one of China’s most prestigious universities, Tsinghua is committed to cultivating global citizens who will thrive in today’s world in all fields of studies.
3. Shanghai Jiao Tong University
Shanghai Jiao Tong University is one of the most renowned universities in China and was founded in 1896. The university is one of the top 10 best universities in Mainland China, ranking 6th among other universities in China and obtained a ranking of 60 in QS World University Ranking.
Despite Mandarin being the main language of instruction in the university, Shanghai Jiao Tong University offers a few undergraduate and postgraduate courses that are taught in English.
4. Nanjing University
Being a renowned university with more than one hundred years of history, Nanjing University enjoys high prestige and is currently situated in the old capital city of Nanjing. At present, the university has three campuses: Xianlin Campus, Gulou Campus and Pukou Campus.
Since the founding of the university in the early 20th century, Nanjing University has been among the most active universities in building a close relationship with many first-class universities around the world.
5. Zhejiang University
Zhejiang University is one of China’s top higher education institutions, as well as one of it's oldest. The university comprises of 7 faculties and 37 schools, with more than 3000 full-time faculty members and is currently located in Hangzhou, one of China’s most picturesque cities.
It ranks among the top three universities in the Chinese Mainland and within the top 100 in the Times Higher Education World Reputation Rankings and QS World University Rankings.
6. Beijing Normal University
Beijing Normal University is a renowned institution of higher education known for teacher education, education science and basic learning in both arts and sciences. Beijing Normal University promotes broad international cooperation and exchange by signing cooperative agreements with nearly three hundred universities and research institutes from more than thirty nations and regions. It also has student exchange programmes with over fifty universities.
7. Shandong University
Shandong University was founded in 1864 and is a member university of China’s two national key construction projects to support the development of high-quality universities. The university comprises of 31 schools with a massive library collection with about 4,500,000 volumes.
As one of the first universities finding its name on the list of the two national projects mentioned above, the university has been developing by leaps and bounds in recent years and the educational quality and competitiveness of the university have been remarkably improved.
8. Fudan University
Founded in 1905, Fudan University is one of the first National Key Universities in China. It was also one of the first universities to accept foreign exchange students since the Communist Revolution. Fudan University pays high attention to the quality of international student programs and is committed to raising the percentages of international degree program students. The university has always been actively recruiting international students by offering different types of international student programs
9. Xiamen University
Xiamen University, established in 1921, is the first university founded by an overseas Chinese leader and its campus in Malaysia is the first overseas branch campus established by a prestigious Chinese university.
Nestled between green hills and the blue sea, Xiamen University is renowned as China’s most beautiful university for its excellent education facilities and beautiful environment. XMU is increasingly becoming an internationally acclaimed world-class university and has forged partnerships with 236 universities from countries around the world.
10. University of Science and Technology China (USTC)
The University of Science and Technology China is a prominent university in China and enjoys an excellent reputation worldwide. The School of Mass Communication and Media in USTC was founded in 2000, with a goal to cultivate well-rounded students. The School has 14 units and departments, including the Department of Scientific History and Archaeometry, and the Department of Foreign Languages.
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