Digital Media and Communication BA Honours

Program Overview

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Digital Media and Communication BA Honours

Overview

Our Digital Media and Communication BA is ideal for those who are interested in internet cultures, data and society, and media and communication research. The course has been designed to prepare you for the fast-changing media and communication industries and digital media roles of the future. You’ll become a highly skilled media professional who can create and share messages professionally across any digital platform, to truly connect with an audience. You’ll also be prepared for further postgraduate study.

Course Structure

During your first year, you’ll study alongside students on the other Digital Media BA pathways.

At the end of your first year, you’ll have the choice to continue with Digital Media and Communication or change your specialism to one of our other Digital Media pathways in Media Production, Journalism, or PR and Advertising. Each pathway will give you a distinctive preparation in one of the most important fields of digital media.

These pathways, along with a variety of optional modules, provide you with the opportunity to customise your degree and expertise according to your interests and career objectives.

Your final degree award will reflect this specialism, eg Digital Media and Communication BA (Hons).

Year 1

• Creating Digital Content
• Creative Industries and Professional Life
• Digital Media and Society
• Media and Communication Research 1
• Storytelling across Platforms

Credit Level 4

Year 2

In Year 2, you’ll take two shared core modules, two pathway modules, and two option modules.

Core modules:

• Theories of Media and Communication
• Working in Digital Media 1

Pathway modules:

• Internet Cultures
• Media and Communication Research 2

Option modules:

• 3D Interactive Media Development
• Celebrity Culture and the Media
• Commercial Music Radio Production
• Consumer Culture and Society
• Content and Communities: Launching a Digital Publication
• Design Thinking applied to Media and Communication practice
• Human Computer Interaction and User Experience
• Mobile First: Video and Social Media Content
• Podcast and Audio Production
• Politics, Journalism, and the Media
• Specialist News and Features
• Web Design

Credit Level 5

Placement Year

Digital Media Placement Year: if you choose to take the opportunity of one-year work placement after Year 2, you’ll complete the Digital Media Extended Work Placement module.

International Experience Year: if you choose to take the opportunity to spend one academic year after Year 2 studying overseas at one of our Exchange Partner Institutions, you’ll complete the Digital Media Study Abroad module.

Year 3

In Year 3, you’ll take two shared core modules, one pathway module, and two option modules.

Core modules:

• Digital Media Project
• Dissertation or Individual Practice Project

Pathway modules:

• Data and Society

Option modules:

• Creative Advertising
• Creative/Specialist Long Form Journalism
• Diversity and the Media
• Final Project (Documentary and Factual Production)
• Media Law, Regulation, and Ethics
• Specialist Public Relations
• Technology, Culture, and Society
• Transforming Audiences
• User Experience (UX) and App Design
• Working in Digital Media 2

Credit Level 6

Programme Recognition

This course is delivered through a partnership with BAFTA albert Education, which provides staff and graduates with the tools and techniques needed to learn about environmentally responsible working practices and their professional relevance. The partnership will help students develop knowledge about sustainability, carbon footprinting, and planet placement in programmes.

Programme Training Opportunities

This course is committed to health and safety training, and has partnered with the Mark Milsome Foundation to offer an optional online course for students wishing to develop their skills in this area. The Mark Milsome Foundation Skillset Production Safety Passport course ensures that students are equipped with essential safety knowledge, as they venture into careers in the film and TV industry. Created in memory of Mark Milsome, the course provides a Level II Production Safety Passport valid for 5 years from ScreenSkills. This additional course is available free of charge to University of Westminster students studying this Undergraduate course.

Entry Requirements

• UK:
  • A levels – BCC (104 UCAS Tariff points)
  • T levels – 104 UCAS Tariff points
  • International Baccalaureate – 104 UCAS Tariff points from all components of the Diploma Programme. International Baccalaureate Career-related Programme will be considered on a case-by-case basis
  • BTEC Extended Diploma – DMM
  • BTEC Diploma – D*D
  • Access – 104 UCAS Tariff points from the Access course

In addition to one of the above, you should have:

• GCSE English Language grade 4/C – IB grade 4 Higher level, GCSE Maths Pass – IB Pass

If your first language is not English, you will need an IELTS of 6.5 overall, with 5.5 in each component.

• International:
  • International Baccalaureate – 104 UCAS Tariff points from all components of the Diploma Programme. International Baccalaureate Career-related Programme will be considered on a case-by-case basis. You can refer to the UCAS calculator to determine your point score
  • We accept a wide range of international high school level qualifications. Please see information on Country-specific entry requirements
  • We work in partnership with Kaplan International College London who provide International Foundation Certificate courses for students who don’t meet our entry requirements. Upon successful completion, you can progress to your chosen degree at the University of Westminster. Find out about a range of university preparation courses that are accepted for entry.

English Language Requirements

• If your first language is not English, you should have an IELTS score of 6.5 overall, with a score of 5.5 in each component. Please note we accept a wide range of English language qualifications and assessments. Find out more at English language requirements.
• If you don't meet the English language requirements yet, then we offer online and on-campus pre-sessional English programmes to help develop your English language skills to the required level before you start your course. Find out more about our pre-sessional English programmes.

Fees and Funding

• UK tuition fee: £9,535 (Price per academic year)
• International tuition fee: £17,000 (Price per academic year)

Careers

Digital skills are among the most sought after in graduates. As a result, our students are ideally placed to build successful careers across both the private and public sector.

• Job roles:
  • Content Researcher
  • Data journalist
  • Media planner
  • Policy maker/special advisor (parliamentary)
  • Research analyst
  • Research Assistant
  • SEO (Search Engine Optimisation) analyst
  • Social media influencer
  • User/Audience researcher

International Opportunities

Many of our courses offer international study and work experiences, and the University provides other global opportunities that all students can apply for – so whatever you're studying, you'll have the chance to go abroad.

Course Leaders

• Jim Grice
• Dr Efthimia Bilissi

Course Team

• Dr Alexander Sergeant
• John Brissenden
• Dr Efthimia Bilissi
• Jim Grice

Teaching and Assessment

• Teaching methods across all our undergraduate courses focus on active student learning through lectures, seminars, workshops, problem-based and blended learning, and where appropriate practical application.
• Assessments typically fall into three broad categories:
  • Practical: examples include presentations, videos, podcasts, lab work, creating artefacts
  • Written exams: end of semester exams
  • Coursework: examples include essays, reports, in-class tests, portfolios, dissertation

Supporting You

Our Student Hub is where you’ll find out about the services and support we offer, helping you get the best out of your time with us.

• Study support – workshops, 1-2-1 support and online resources to help improve your academic and research skills
• Personal tutors – support you in fulfilling your academic and personal potential
• Student advice team – provide specialist advice on a range of issues including funding, benefits, and visas
• Extra-curricular activities – volunteering opportunities, sports and fitness activities, student events, and more

Course Location

Harrow is our creative and cultural hub, home to most of our arts, media, and digital courses. It houses state-of-the-art facilities for every discipline, including project and gallery spaces, film studios, creative labs, collaborative learning spaces, and the Westminster Enterprise Network.

Harrow Campus is based in north-west London, just 20 minutes from the city centre by train.