Program Overview

Program Overview

The University of Strathclyde offers a BA Hons Education & Journalism, Media and Communication program. This program is designed to provide students with a broad understanding of education and journalism, media, and communication.

Key Facts

• UCAS Code: X3P5
• Study mode and duration: Full-time, part-time study available
• Work placement: Valuable experience in an educational setting - media opportunities may also be available
• Rankings: 1st in the UK for Communication & Media Studies (Times/Sunday Times Good University Guide 2024), 4th for Communication & Media Studies (Complete University Guide 2025)

Why This Course?

Pursuing the BA in Journalism, Media and Communication will engage students in useful learning in a broad professional context, which includes a critical understanding of the media industry, while acquiring technical and professional skills in journalism, communication, information design, and management, and using them in the dynamic media market of Glasgow and beyond.

What You’ll Study

Education

• Year 1: Education issues explored include the impact of poverty and social class on children and society, the role of culture and community in education, how people learn, and the place of policy and politics in education. Students will undertake a placement with children between the ages of 0 to 14.
• Year 2: Students will look more closely at what education means and how people learn. They will study how children learn from before they are born to learning in later life.
• Year 3: This year, students will explore adult education with an opportunity to apply classroom knowledge within a community placement. They will also engage more deeply in educational research, which will set them up for engaging in a research project in their final year.
• Year 4: As a fourth-year student, students will have considerable choice in their study modules. For example, they can look at policy and politics in education in relation to broader social issues such as gender, race, disability, and poverty, or educational representations in film and literature.

Journalism, Media & Communication

• Year 1: All students take one core required class per semester in year 1, which introduces them to the larger field of journalism, media, and communication.
• Year 2: In the second year of the course, students must take two required classes and one option, which will enhance their conceptual understanding of the field and strengthen their practical skills, plus introduce them to digital media.
• Year 3: In third year, students can choose from various option classes, which build on their practical skills and introduce more advanced conceptual topics, which are based on staff’s research specialisms.
• Year 4 (Honours): In the Honours year, students again can choose from a variety of specialized practical and conceptual option classes as well as a work-based ‘placement’ option. They can also choose between an academic dissertation in journalism, media, or communication, or a practice-based final project.

Learning & Teaching

• Journalism, Media & Communication: As a student, the learning and teaching aims to help develop knowledge and understanding of the professional practices, skills, and social contexts of the journalism, creative writing, and communication industries.
• Education: Students will take part in workshops for practical aspects of the course and have access to lab space and specialist teaching space for science and the expressive arts, including physical education.

Assessment

• Journalism, Media & Communication: Assessment methods include essays, portfolios, presentations, group work, reports, exams, and reflective diaries.
• Education: In first year, students are supported in learning about academic reading, writing, and referencing - skills that will help them become a successful undergraduate.

Entry Requirements

• Highers: Standard entry requirements: AAAA (including English plus at least one other social science subject from those listed under preferred subjects below; plus National 5 Maths or Application of Maths at B to C.)
• A Levels: ABB-BBB
• International Baccalaureate: 32-30
• Irish Leaving Certificate: Two H2 passes and three H3 passes including English
• HNC: Year 1 entry: Social Sciences: A in Graded Unit; Maths National 5 B, or equivalent
• International students: View the entry requirements for your country.

Fees & Funding

• Scotland: £1,820
• England, Wales & Northern Ireland: £9,535
• Republic of Ireland: If you are an Irish citizen and have been ordinary resident in the Republic of Ireland for the three years prior to the relevant date, and will be coming to Scotland for Educational purposes only, you will meet the criteria of England, Wales & Northern Ireland fee status.
• International: £21,550
• University preparation programme fees: International students can find out more about the costs and payments of studying a university preparation programme at the University of Strathclyde International Study Centre.

Placements

Every one of the flexible BA options gives students the chance to gain valuable industry experience as part of a credit-bearing work placement class in their third or fourth year.