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Audio Storytelling for Radio and Podcast MA

London, Stratford (UCL East)

The sound industry is crying out for scientifically-informed, creative audio designers. This MSc will develop both your artistic capacities and technical abilities, enabling you to produce ambitious, immersive audio experiences benefitting from in-depth contact with leading practitioners throughout. You’ll learn how humans make sense of the world through sound, and apply that knowledge to create compelling, convincing audio experiences for diverse audiences and contexts, culminating in a graduate project mentored by industry professionals.

UK students International students
Study mode
UK tuition fees (2025/26)
£16,000
£8,000
Overseas tuition fees (2025/26)
£36,500
£18,250
Duration
1 academic year
2 academic years
Programme starts
September 2025
Applications accepted
Applicants who require a visa: 14 Oct 2024 – 27 Jun 2025
Applications close at 5pm UK time

Applications open

Applicants who do not require a visa: 14 Oct 2024 – 29 Aug 2025
Applications close at 5pm UK time

Applications open

Apply for this course

Entry requirements

We seek students who can show evidence of active engagement with visual or audio storytelling in previous work or study experience. We require a portfolio of work to support all applications. This should consist of one piece of creative work including (but not limited to) audio production/ filmmaking / installation of no more than 20 minutes duration, writing, painting, photography, music composition, or theatre. For those with a performing arts background, evidence of productions such as photos or reviews can be submitted in place of portfolio works.

We normally require an upper second-class Bachelor's degree from a UK university or an overseas qualification of an equivalent standard. Applicants with lower second class degrees (i.e. UK 2:2 or the overseas equivalent) may be considered if their application is supported strongly by relevant experience. In exceptional circumstances, we will also consider applicants without higher education qualifications provided they demonstrate a significant track record in this or a related field.

The English language level for this programme is: Level 2

UCL Pre-Master's and Pre-sessional English courses are for international students who are aiming to study for a postgraduate degree at UCL. The courses will develop your academic English and academic skills required to succeed at postgraduate level.

Further information can be found on our English language requirements page.

Equivalent qualifications

Country-specific information, including details of when UCL representatives are visiting your part of the world, can be obtained from the International Students website.

International applicants can find out the equivalent qualification for their country by selecting from the list below. Please note that the equivalency will correspond to the broad UK degree classification stated on this page (e.g. upper second-class). Where a specific overall percentage is required in the UK qualification, the international equivalency will be higher than that stated below. Please contact Graduate Admissions should you require further advice.

About this degree

Designed to meet the demands of a new and growing market for audio, the Audio Storytelling for Radio and Podcast MA will train you in the craft and techniques of audio storytelling, drawing inspiration from the global audio industry and equipping you to join and shape it. 

You will study in a warm and welcoming department that is also one of the largest and broadest anthropology departments in the UK, which researches and teaches across five sub-sections, and which continually works to expand and reshape the discipline. This programme offers many benefits and opportunities:

  • You will learn to produce short and feature-length creative audio works for radio, podcast and other audio platforms, and graduate trained to produce your ideas to a professional standard, with the latest knowledge and insights in the field.
  • You will experiment and take risks to develop your own creative voice, drawing on foundational audio storytelling techniques to deliver compelling stories in this evolving and thriving landscape.
  • You will be supported by industry-leading mentors with a proven track record in developing award-winning audio storytellers, with two Audio Storytelling for Radio and Podcast MA students awarded the prestigious Charles Parker Prize 2024, and a further student's documentary commissioned by BBC Radio 4.
  • You will study at the top university in London, and 4th in the world, for Anthropology (QS World University Rankings by Subject 2024) and The Times and Sunday Times University of the Year 2024.

From documentary filmmaking to experimental cinema, you will specialise in the elements of public anthropology that interest you most, choosing from a range of optional modules to enrich your appreciation and understanding of factual storytelling in different contexts.

Who this course is for

The Audio Storytelling for Radio and Podcast MA is best suited to students looking to start or expand their audio storytelling practice in a professional framework, guided by leading industry figures and informed by innovative approaches to audio storytelling.

Read about what it takes to study for a Master's at UCL

What this course will give you

You will receive advanced training in the core aspects of audio production and delivery, including independent research design and implementation, ethics, pitching, production, editing and delivery and entry-level distribution.

You will also develop demonstrable competencies transferable to a range of professions, including complex problem solving through creative initiative, effective and succinct oral and written communication, including the ability to interpret and present complex data to diverse audiences, strong independent and team working, leadership and time and project management skills.

Read about what you'll get out of a graduate programme

The foundation of your career

You will graduate with significant practical audio production and delivery experience, fully equipped to pursue a successful career in radio, audio or podcasting. The rigours of rapid turn-around audio production and delivery also provides a general training for any profession requiring strong project management, problem-solving and communication skills.

Graduates of the Audio Storytelling for Radio and Podcast MA will be equipped to pursue a range of careers, including broadcasting, journalism, podcasting, sound design, communications and marketing and advertising.

Employability

The programme is designed to enhance career prospects by giving students transferable skills attractive to employers in a wide range of businesses and sectors, such as:

  • Theoretical and critical analysis
  • Excellent oral and written communication
  • Practical audio production skills

You will also learn to solve problems and issues and to build positive working relationships. 

Networking

You will become part of the department's Public Anthropology section, learning from and networking with leading internal and external industry practitioners and a series of masterclasses.

Students are also encouraged to attend the following events:

  • Departmental seminars given by active researchers in anthropology and digital culture throughout your studies
  • Reading and Research Group (RRG), which are open spaces to exchange ideas on themes of mutual interest and welcome staff and student participation from across UCL and our neighbouring institutions
  • Events hosted by the broader audio and factual storytelling communities at UCL, our neighbouring institutions and across London more widely, including attending and participating in seminars, conferences, exhibitions and research partnership opportunities to help you establish industry connections and extend your professional networks
  • The department’s active careers support activities and initiatives, which include regular career development seminars and networking events

You will be supported by an industry mentor while planning and producing your final project, who will also help you gain an understanding of professional media organisations. The department's London location also presents a range of opportunities to work, volunteer and carry out fieldwork in major organisations.

You will benefit from cultural and educational connections with our East Bank partners, including the V&A and BBC.

We also house London's global non-fiction festival, Open City Documentary Festival, which all students are invited to volunteer to support to network with industry leading professionals.

Teaching and learning

You will learn through lectures, interactive seminars involving critical discussion, fast-turnaround practical exercises, personal listening and independent directed and self-directed reading.

Across the programme, you will spend a minimum of six hours every week completing recording and editing exercises, building up a portfolio of work.

While planning and producing your final project, you will benefit from one-to-one academic supervision and mentorship from an industry professional.

You will be assessed through a series of summative exercises for which you will receive feedback. These include audio works of varying lengths and styles, critical evaluation, pre-production folders and your final project. You will also need to submit a number of formative exercises (for which you will receive feedback, but do not count toward the degree).

Contact time takes various forms:

  • Lectures
  • Seminars
  • Project supervision.
  • Assessment feedback sessions.

In terms one and two, full-time students can typically expect between 10 and 12 contact hours per teaching week through a mixture of lectures, seminars, workshops, crits and tutorials. In term three and over the summer period, students will be completing their graduation project which will be overseen by their graduation project mentors.

On average, across the programme, in a typical week, your time is spent as follows:

  • Approx. 40% in lectures
  • Approx. 40% in seminars
  • 20% dedicated to administrative, research and self-directed learning.

The first 12 weeks of the programme are conducted full-time as they set the stage for the rest of the year. Part-time students will also need to be available on a full-time basis during this period to fulfil these requirements. The specific days vary throughout the year depending on the modules, and the teaching and training needs.

Modules

The programme comprises three compulsory modules and three optional modules chosen from a list of options offered in the department.

The compulsory Introduction to the Practice of Audio Storytelling module will give you the comprehensive technical and creative skillset to produce high-level professional short-form creative audio works. Through lectures, seminars, practical exercises and critical analysis, you will develop a solid foundation in audio storytelling.

The compulsory International Audio Criticism and Analysis module will give you an understanding of different historical and cultural audio production styles from around the world.

For the compulsory Advanced Audio Storytelling Practice module, you will create a feature-length audio work guided by a leading industry mentor. Designed to equip you for entry into high level audio work, alongside advanced work in pitching, project planning, music, editing, copyright and ethics, you will attend a series of lectures and masterclasses focussed on bridging the path into professional work.

As a part-time student, you will take the compulsory Introduction to the Practice of Audio Storytelling and International Audio Criticism and Analysis modules, as well as one or two optional modules, in the first year. In the second year, you will take the Advanced Audio Storytelling module and the remainder of your optional modules.

Compulsory modules





Optional modules













Please note that the list of modules given here is indicative. This information is published a long time in advance of enrolment and module content and availability are subject to change. Modules that are in use for the current academic year are linked for further information. Where no link is present, further information is not yet available.

Students undertake modules to the value of 180 credits. Upon successful completion of 180 credits, you will be awarded an MA in Audio Storytelling for Radio and Podcast.

Fieldwork

You will spend the summer term researching and producing your final project, a single documentary episode or podcast series between 45-60 minutes in duration, with many students choosing to undertake self-funded fieldwork-based projects in the UK or abroad.

The scope and nature of fieldwork is formulated in discussion with your appointed supervisor, and subject to departmental approval.

Placement

There is no formal placement programme in place, though many students choose to undertake freelance or part-time audio work in addition to their studies.

Accessibility

Details of the accessibility of UCL buildings can be obtained from AccessAble. Further information can also be obtained from the UCL Student Support and Wellbeing Services team.

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Join us at our Bloomsbury campus to discover where a postgraduate degree with UCL Social & Historical Sciences will take you. At this in-person event, you'll have the opportunity to learn more about our departments and our wide breadth of degree programmes. You'll have the chance to hear from academic staff and current students, and ask any questions you might have about the department, your chosen course and studying at a world-leading university.

Fees and funding

Fees for this course

UK students International students
Fee description Full-time Part-time
Tuition fees (2025/26) £16,000 £8,000
Tuition fees (2025/26) £36,500 £18,250

Additional costs

For Full-time and Part-time offer holders a fee deposit will be charged at 10% of the first year fee.

Further information can be found in the Tuition fee deposits section on this page: Tuition fees.

There are no additional costs for audio editing as all computers on campus are equipped with the required software and students are expected to complete their coursework there. User licenses will allow students to work from home but we can’t support students to upgrade or purchase personal devices.

All students will require a hard drive capable of securely storing their work available from £50.

As this programme is based at the UCL East campus in Stratford, students choosing to take an optional module only available at the Bloomsbury campus will need to fund their own travel between campuses. Tickets from zone 2 to zone 1 costs £8.50 for students or a travel card zone 1-4 for £15.90.

UCL’s main teaching locations are in zones 1 (Bloomsbury) and zones 2/3 (UCL East). The cost of a monthly 18+ Oyster travel card for zones 1-2 is £114.50. This price was published by TfL in 2024. For more information on additional costs for prospective students and the cost of living in London, please view our estimated cost of essential expenditure at UCL's cost of living guide.

Funding your studies

UCL East Scholarship

The scholarship works to support the ambitions of east Londoners by funding the fees and living costs of eligible Master's programmes including this MA at UCL. For further details, please visit: https://www.ucl.ac.uk/scholarships/ucl-east-london-scholarship.

For a comprehensive list of the funding opportunities available at UCL, including funding relevant to your nationality, please visit the Scholarships and Funding website.

See all the ways you can fund your studies

Next steps

There is an application processing fee for this programme of £90 for online applications. Further information can be found at Application fees.

When we assess your application, we would like to learn:

• why you want to study audio storytelling at graduate level
• why you want to study audio storytelling at UCL
• how your personal, academic and professional skills and experience inform your interest in, and will enable you to succeed on, this MA programme
• where you would like to go professionally with your degree

Please also include a portfolio of work evidencing active engagement with visual or audio storytelling. This should consist of one piece of creative work including (but not limited to) audio production, film or installation (up to 20 minutes), writing, painting, photography, music composition or theatre. For those with a performing arts background, evidence of productions e.g. photos and reviews can be submitted in place of a portfolio of work.

Please submit your portfolio by including a link to an external site of your choice at the end of your personal statement, or your photos and reviews by attaching a PDF to your application.

Please note that you may submit applications for a maximum of two graduate programmes (or one application for the Law LLM) in any application cycle.

Choose your programme

Please read the Application Guidance before proceeding with your application.

Year of entry: 2025-2026

Apply for this course

Got questions? Get in touch

Anthropology
Anthropology

public.anthro@ucl.ac.uk

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