Media Communications

Program Overview

Media Communications

BA (Hons)

Undergraduate degree - single or combined honours

What does it involve?

Gain the skills you need to thrive in the ever-growing communications industries while reimagining media for a more inclusive and ethical future.

You'll develop creative skills in research, marketing, social media management, creative campaign strategy, and journalism. You'll investigate key topics of media studies, work on cross-platform campaigns, delve into political media-making, and engage in investigative journalism, all while creating professional social media content and PR packs.

Taught by a team of researchers and creative media strategists and creators, you’ll learn how to rethink media communications for social change. You’ll explore the role of online influencers, diverse screen representation, and the ethics of platforms like TikTok. Learn about emerging marketing practices for immersive experiences, feminist activism, AI communications, and more.

Throughout this media communications degree, you’ll develop your ability to rethink media with a deep-rooted knowledge of the communications sectors, working on everything from short-form Instagram content to large-scale media campaigns with our industry partners.

In your final year, you’ll join The Studio, the University’s city-centre innovation hub for creative media technology. By collaborating with local media and communications experts on cross-platform campaigns, feature articles, and activist media projects, you’ll gain invaluable on-the-ground industry experience.

Ways to study Media Communications

You can study Media Communications as a single honours degree or alongside another subject as part of a combined course in the following combinations:

• Media Communications and Publishing
• Media Communications and Sociology
• English Literature and Media Communications
• Film and Screen Studies and Media Communications
• Business and Management and Media Communications

Open Days

Get a taste of life at BSU – come to an Open Day.

Immediate: Student Publication

We publish Immediate, a digital publication that showcases our students' journalistic work, including feature articles and think pieces about the media.

• Read Issue One
• Read Issue Three

Creative technology innovation hub

In their final year, Media Communications students collaborate with The Studio in Bath, the University’s city-centre innovation hub for creative media technology.

The Studio provides free and paid-for space for micro-businesses, Bath Spa students and graduates, where they can work on projects and ideas that focus on creativity and technology.

Our staff

• Christina Williams
• Sara Penrhyn Jones
• Chris Gerrard
• Ewa Monika Fabian
• Benjamin Thapa
• Bethany Rose Lamont
• Conrad Moriarty-Cole
• Rebecca Feasey

What our staff do...

• (In)Fertility and Media
• TIMELINE
• Shextreme

What you'll learn

Overview

You’ll develop practical skills in marketing, creative strategy, journalism, and social media management through the lens of ethically engaged media activism, balancing creative and design work with research into online influencers and media ethics.

Throughout the degree, you’ll examine the role of immersive media, feminist activism, AI communications, exhibitions and public audiences and much more in shaping the future of media communications.

You’ll bring together your ability to rethink the media with your deep-rooted knowledge of the communications sectors, working on everything from short-form Instagram content to large-scale media campaigns with our industry partners.

Course structure

Year one: audiences, activism and access

Open your eyes to being a media activist. You’ll be introduced to analytical tools to critique contemporary media, such as gender and inequality. You’ll learn new graphic design and project development skills, as well as how to research media audiences.

Year two: industries, inclusivity and influencers

Understand the communications industry. You’ll learn marketing, influencer and branding practices, identifying opportunities to revolutionise how media creators communicate to audiences. You’ll learn web design skills, explore grassroots community media, practice cross-platform communication strategies, and increase your awareness of media ethics.

Year 3: emerging voices, technologies and opportunities

Become a communications professional and realise your vision for a more inclusive media landscape. You’ll work beyond the borders of the university, joining The Studio, our innovation hub for creative media technology, while collaborating with arts and cultural organisations. You’ll learn how immersive media, feminist activism, AI communications and public exhibitions can all shape the future of media.

How will I be assessed?

You’ll produce the kind of media content that defines our ‘communications for change’ ethos, working on creative media campaigns, marketing strategies, investigative journalism features, political media making, social media content and PR packs.

How will I be taught?

You’ll be taught by a team of world-leading researchers and creative media practitioners.

Lectures set out key practices and emerging trends in media communications, such as gender on social media, racial inequality in journalism, or how global media companies define their audiences. You’ll also learn via workshops devoted to skills including web design and media branding, and in project labs you’ll work with staff and students to co-design larger campaigns.

To find out more about how we teach and how you'll learn, please read our Learning and Teaching Delivery Statement.

Course modules

This course offers or includes the following modules. The modules you take will depend on your pathway or course combination (if applicable) as well as any optional or open modules chosen. Please check the programme document for more information.

Year one (Level 4) modules

• Rethinking Media
• Communications for Change
• Your World Your Media
• Audiences and Fans
• Ephemeral Media
• Writing for the Media

Year two (Level 5) modules

• Global Communication Strategies
• Promotional Media
• Media Ethics
• Participatory Media
• Influencers and Contemporary Celebrity
• Everyday Media Making
• Digital Storytelling
• International Journalism
• Professional Placement Year

Year three (Level 6) modules

• Media Communications Final Project
• Immersive Media
• Feminist Activism
• Exhibitions and Public Audiences
• AI and Society
• Lifestyle and Entertainment Journalism

Opportunities

Work placements, industry links and internships

All final-year students will join The Studio, Bath Spa University’s city-centre hub for creative media technology.

Our final-year modules are delivered in collaboration with industry partners, providing students with insight into - and hands-on experience with - some of the most innovative and culturally significant arts, media and communications organisations in the region.

Recently our students have produced articles, campaigns, strategy reports and social media content for the likes of:

• Bathscape
• Voices
• Stroud Film Festival
• Great State
• Victoria Art Gallery in Bath
• Mary Shelley’s House of Frankenstein in Bath.

Careers

Our Media Communications course is designed for those looking to succeed within and across the ever-growing communications industry, developing much sought-after skills in digital marketing, creative strategy, PR, journalism and social media management.

Our graduates are equipped to succeed as advertising, branding, and marketing leaders, social media creators, campaign designers, web and graphic designers, creative strategists, events coordinators, and media researchers.

They’ve gone on to work at companies like Marvel Studios, ITV, Newbury Racecourse, Save the Children UK, Q Magazine, Komedia, and more.

Study abroad

As part of your degree, you could study abroad on a placement at one of Bath Spa’s partner universities.

Global Citizenship

If you’re a full-time undergraduate student starting your first year at Bath Spa University, you can apply for the Certificate in Global Citizenship, which you’ll study alongside your degree.

You’ll gain global awareness and add an international dimension to your student experience, and funding is available. On successful completion of the programme, you’ll be awarded a Certificate in Global Citizenship. This is in addition to your degree; it doesn’t change your degree title or results.

Fees

2025 entry

• UK full time: £9,535
• UK part time: £4,768
• International full time: £17,670

Professional Placement Year

During the placement year, the fee is reduced to 20% of the full time fee.

• UK: £1,905
• International: £3,534

Additional course costs

You may need to pay additional course costs over and above your tuition fees, for example, for specialist equipment or trips and visits. Please check the course Programme Document (linked under the main image on this page) for details of any additional costs. You can also read our Additional Course Costs Policy for further information.

Funding opportunities

Please visit our Funding pages for an overview of the funding options that may be available, including scholarships and bursaries.

Entry requirements

We accept a wide range of qualifications for entry to our undergraduate programmes. The main ones are listed below:

• A Level – grades BBB-BCC preferred.
• BTEC – Extended Diploma grades from Distinction Distinction Merit (DDM) to Distinction Merit Merit (DMM) accepted in any subject.
• T Levels – grade Merit preferred.
• International Baccalaureate – a minimum of 32 points are required.
• Access to HE courses – typical offers for applicants with Access to HE will be the Access to HE Diploma or Access to HE Certificate (60 credits, 45 of which must be Level 3, at Merit or higher).

If you don’t meet the entry requirements above, we may be able to accept your prior learning or experience from outside of formal education. See our Accreditation of Prior Learning (APL) page to learn more.

English Language Requirements for International and EU Applicants

IELTS 6.0 - for visa nationals, with a minimum score of IELTS 5.5 in each element.

Facilities and resources

Where the subject is taught

As a BA Media Communications student you’ll benefit from access to comprehensive digital workshops and specialist art and design facilities, including:

• Our student service point at Locksbrook where you can purchase subsidised art and design materials, hire out equipment for free and collect Library resources
• Access to our well-stocked Library at Newton Park
• Access to specialist technical workshops across all of art and design
• Access to studio space where you can work on projects and refine your practice
• The Studio in Bath
• Virtual Learning Environment

Resources

Media Communications students can make full use of Bath Spa University’s purpose-built media production and post-production facilities at Newton Park.

Media Communications students can hire out equipment using SISO, Bath Spa University’s free equipment loan service. We provide a huge variety of equipment and resources from multi-camera TV studios through to digital cameras and field recorders.

You'll also have access to a wide range of University resources:

• Library collections directly relevant to the Media Communications course include more than 450 journal subscriptions, 18,000 books and 3,000 e-books. The Library’s extensive digital collections include Film and Television Literature Index, Rock's Backpages, and Box of Broadcasts, an archive of over two million off-air television broadcasts. Library resources for the course are underpinned by our Subject Librarian, who provides subject-specific support and a defined point of contact for research enquiries.
• The Careers team have very close links with the media and creative industries in Bath and Bristol, and organise bespoke opportunities for you to engage with media employers, including networking sessions and bus tours visiting organisations.
• (ASk) Academic Skills provides continuous support for your academic work, providing feedback on written drafts and running sessions on academic writing.

Professional placement year

Overview

The Professional Placement Year (PPY) provides you with the opportunity to identify, apply for, and secure professional experience, normally comprising one to three placements over a minimum of nine months. Successful completion of this module will demonstrate your ability to secure and sustain graduate-level employment.

By completing the module, you'll be entitled to the addition of 'with Professional Placement Year' to your degree title.

Preparation

Before your PPY, you'll work to identify roles of interest and secure a placement. The Placements Team will support through timetabled sessions and 1:1 appointments.

How will I be assessed?

As well as completing a minimum of 900 placement hours, you will complete two assessments demonstrating your skill development, growth in professional behaviours and how the PPY has impacted your future career aspirations.

Related courses

• Media Communications and Publishing
• Film and Screen and Studies Media Communications
• English Literature and Media Communications
• Business and Management and Media Communications

Key facts

• Award: BA (Hons) Media Communications
• School/s: Bath School of Art, Film and Media
• Campus or location: Newton Park and Locksbrook Campus
• Course length: Three years full time, or four years full time with professional placement year. Part time available.
• UCAS codes: Institution Code: B20, Course Code: P390 or S176, Campus Code: A,BSU
• Entry requirements: We accept a wide range of qualifications for entry to our undergraduate programmes. The main ones are listed under 'Typical offers' in the main column below. For combined courses, please check both subjects. If your qualification is not listed, please email admissions@bathspa.ac.uk with your specific details.

Program Outline

Media Communications BA (Hons) - Bath Spa University

Degree Overview:

This program aims to revolutionize how media creators communicate with audiences, equipping students with the skills to succeed in the ever-growing communications industries. The program emphasizes ethical and progressive communication practices, encouraging students to reimagine how media can be used for social change. The program focuses on developing practical skills in marketing, social media management, journalism, and creative strategy, while also exploring the role of immersive media, feminist activism, AI communications, exhibitions, and public audiences in shaping the future of media communications. Students will gain experience working on cross-platform campaigns and communication strategies, activist political media making, and investigative journalism. They will learn to produce professional social media content and PR packs, and will have the opportunity to collaborate with industry partners on real-world projects.

Outline:

Year One (Level 4):

• Rethinking Media: Introduces students to analytical tools for critiquing contemporary media, focusing on topics like gender and inequality.
• Your World Your Media: Develops students' understanding of their own media consumption and production habits.
• Audiences and Fans: Examines the relationship between media creators and their audiences.
• Ephemeral Media: Explores the rise of short-form media platforms like TikTok and Instagram.
• Writing for the Media: Develops students' writing skills for various media platforms.

Year Two (Level 5):

• Global Communication Strategies: Explores the complexities of communication across different cultures and contexts.
• Promotional Media: Focuses on the creation and implementation of marketing and promotional campaigns.
• Media Ethics: Examines ethical considerations in media production and consumption.
• Participatory Media: Explores the role of audience participation in media creation.
• Influencers and Contemporary Celebrity: Analyzes the rise of influencers and their impact on contemporary culture.
• Everyday Media Making: Encourages students to experiment with different media formats and technologies.
• Digital Storytelling: Develops students' skills in creating engaging digital narratives.
• International Journalism: Explores the challenges and opportunities of journalism in a globalized world.
• Professional Placement Year: (Optional) Provides students with the opportunity to gain practical experience in the communications industry.

Year Three (Level 6):

• Media Communications Final Project: Students undertake a major project that allows them to apply their skills and knowledge to a specific area of interest.
• Immersive Media: Explores the potential of immersive technologies like virtual reality and augmented reality.
• Feminist Activism: Examines the role of media in feminist movements and activism.
• Exhibitions and Public Audiences: Explores the relationship between media and public engagement.
• AI and Society: Examines the impact of artificial intelligence on media and society.
• Lifestyle and Entertainment Journalism: Focuses on the specific skills and practices of lifestyle and entertainment journalism.
• The Magazine Business: Explores the history, development, and future of magazine publishing.

Assessment:

Students will be assessed through a variety of methods, including:

• Creative media campaigns: Students will design and implement campaigns for real-world clients.
• Marketing strategies: Students will develop and present marketing plans for various products and services.
• Investigative journalism features: Students will conduct research and write in-depth articles on current events.
• Political media making: Students will create media content that engages with political issues.
• Social media content: Students will create and manage social media accounts for various organizations.
• PR packs: Students will develop and present public relations materials for different events and campaigns.

Teaching:

Students will be taught by a team of world-leading researchers and creative media practitioners.

• Lectures: Provide students with a theoretical foundation in media communications, covering topics like gender on social media, racial inequality in journalism, and audience segmentation.
• Workshops: Focus on developing practical skills, such as web design, media branding, and social media marketing.
• Project labs: Provide students with the opportunity to work collaboratively on larger projects, with guidance from staff and peers.

Careers:

The program prepares students for a wide range of careers in the communications industry, including:

• Advertising, branding, and marketing leaders
• Campaign designers and researchers
• Social media creators and managers
• Web and graphic designers
• Creative strategists
• Media policy makers
• Curation and events coordinators
• Industry partnerships: The program has strong links with industry partners, providing students with opportunities to work on real-world projects and gain valuable experience.
• Adobe Creative Campus: Bath Spa University is one of only three Adobe Creative Campuses in the UK, providing students with access to the full Adobe Creative Suite.
• Global Citizenship: Students can apply for the Certificate in Global Citizenship, which provides them with global awareness and an international dimension to their student experience.
• Immediate: Students publish their journalistic work in Immediate, a digital publication that showcases their writing and reporting skills.

Annual tuition fee for UK full time is £9,250. UK part time is £4,625. International full time is £16,905. During the placement year, the fee is reduced to 20% of the full time fee. This applies to UK and EU/International students. UK: £1,850 International: £3,381