Program Overview

Journalism with a Foundation Year - BA (Hons)

Overview

This course will prepare you for a career in journalism by providing you with the knowledge and cutting-edge skills required to be a professional journalist. You will become an agile, independent reporter working across multiple platforms with the ability to understand the democratic role of journalism in society, ensuring a diversity of stories are told.

About foundation courses

This four-year programme has been specifically designed to allow students who do not initially meet the entry requirements for a three-year degree, to undertake additional level 3 study designed to ensure they are successful on their chosen degree programme.

What's covered in this course?

You will learn through research-and practice-informed teaching and have the chance to undertake placement opportunities. You will develop creative storytelling skills that allow you to offer insight into important issues and shed light on a diverse range of news stories, all underpinned by traditional skills and knowledge needed to excel in journalism.

Why Choose Us?

• Industry-standard facilities including six radio studios, four TV studios, the largest free-standing green screen in Europe, edit suites, music production studios, a newsroom media hub, and photography studios.
• You will learn cutting edge skills across multiple platforms and experience the thrill of live reporting from day one, publishing work on our Birmingham Eastside platform.
• Teaching by active journalists who are industry-leading specialists in their field, including data journalist and author Paul Bradshaw and hyperlocal reporting award-winner Ross Hawkes.
• The course’s experimentation ethos means you’ll learn to push the creative boundaries to tell stories to a range of real audiences in a new and innovative ways.
• The chance to see your work published on the award-winning Birmingham Eastside platform.

Entry Requirements

Essential requirements

• 80 UCAS Tariff points. Learn more about UCAS Tariff points.
• GCSE and other level 2 requirements: This course does not require evidence of GCSE qualifications.
• A Level, BTEC and other level 3 requirements:
  • A Level / AS Level: A Level: 80 UCAS Tariff points / CDD (or equivalent)
  • AS Level: Must be in a different subject to A Levels
  • A maximum of four subjects will be considered
  • Pearson BTEC (Diploma / Extended Diploma/ Extended Certificate): 80 UCAS Tariff points
  • Diploma accepted with one A Level or equivalent level 3 qualifications
  • Extended Certificate accepted with two A Levels or equivalent level 3 qualifications
  • T Level: Pass overall (C or above on the core) All subjects accepted but Digital Production, Design and Development; Media, Broadcast and Production preferred
  • Access to HE Diploma: Pass with 60 credits, 45 credits at level 3 Accepted subjects: Arts, Media and Publishing subjects preferred but other subjects also considered
  • OCR Cambridge Technical qualifications: 80 UCAS Tariff points
  • NCFE CACHE Level 3 qualifications: 80 UCAS Tariff points
  • WJEC Level 3 qualifications: 80 UCAS Tariff points
  • Considered with two A Levels or equivalent level 3 qualification(s)
  • Irish Leaving Certificate (Highers): Minimum of 80 UCAS Tariff points, achieved in five Higher level subjects
  • Scottish Higher / Advanced Higher: 80 UCAS Tariff points from three Advanced Highers (DDD) or two Advanced Highers (DD) plus two Highers (DD)
  • Welsh Baccalaureate: 80 UCAS Tariff points. Considered with three A Levels or equivalent level 3 qualifications
  • UAL Level 3 Extended Diploma: Pass overall
  • Foundation Studies (Art and Design, and Art, Design and Media): Pass overall

Fees & How to Apply

UK students

• Annual and modular tuition fees shown are applicable to the first year of study. The University reserves the right to increase fees for subsequent years of study in line with increases in inflation (capped at 5%) or to reflect changes in Government funding policies or changes agreed by Parliament.
• Award: BA (Hons)
• Starting: Sep 2025
• Mode: Full Time
• Duration: 4 years
• Fees: £9,535 in 2025/26
• Apply via UCAS

International students

• Annual and modular tuition fees shown are applicable to the first year of study. The University reserves the right to increase fees for subsequent years of study in line with increases in inflation (capped at 5%) or to reflect changes in Government funding policies or changes agreed by Parliament.
• Award: BA (Hons)
• Starting: Sep 2025
• Mode: Full Time
• Duration: 4 years
• Fees: £17,690 in 2025/26
• Apply Online

Course in Depth

Foundation Year

• In order to complete this course you must successfully complete all the following CORE modules (totalling 120 credits):
  • Media Audiences 20 credits
  • Professional and Academic Skills 20 credits
  • Media Production Practice 20 credits
  • Collaborative Media Production 20 credits
  • Media Concepts and Investigation 20 credits
  • Media Project 20 credits

First Year

• In order to complete this course you must successfully complete all the following CORE modules (totalling 120 credits):
  • Understanding Media Texts, Industries and Audiences 20 credits
  • Investigating Media Texts, Industries and Audiences 20 credits
  • Telling Stories with Journalism 20 credits
  • Digital Reporting 20 credits
  • Journalism Techniques 20 credits
  • Community and Industry Collaboration 20 credits

Second Year

• In order to complete this course, you must successfully complete all the following CORE modules (totalling 60 credits):
  • Journalism in Context 20 credits
  • Media Law in Practice 20 credits
  • Practical Reporting 20 credits
• In order to complete this course, you must successfully complete at 20 credits from the following indicative list of CORE Faculty modules.
  • Work Placement 20 credits
  • Live Project 20 credits
  • Collaborative Practice 20 credits
• In order to complete this course, you must successfully complete at least 40 credits from the following indicative list of OPTIONAL modules.
  • Bi-Media Drama 20 credits
  • Comedy in the Media and Popular Culture 20 credits
  • Fandoms and Subcultures 20 credits
  • Photojournalism 20 credits
  • Television Studio 20 credits
  • Creating Compelling Content 20 credits
  • Digital Storytelling 20 credits
  • Radio Documentary and Podcast Production 20 credits
  • Commercial Photography 20 credits
  • Emotion, Media and Culture 20 credits
  • Media and Environment 20 credits
  • Television From Small Screens to Smart Screens 20 credits
  • Graphic Design 20 credits
  • PR Campaign Planning 20 credits
  • Disruptive Publishing 20 credits
  • Exploring PR, social media and influencers 20 credits
  • Live Music and Media 20 credits
  • Live Radio Production 20 credits

Final Year

• In order to complete this course, you must successfully complete all the following CORE modules (totalling 40 credits):
  • Advanced Reporting 20 credits
  • Major Project Preparation 20 credits
• In order to complete this course, you must successfully complete one module from the following list of CORE-OPTIONAL modules (worth 40 credits)
  • Major Project - Dissertation 40 credits
  • Major Project - Hybrid 40 credits
  • Major Project - Production 40 credits
• In order to complete this course, you must successfully complete at least 40 credits from the following indicative list of OPTIONAL modules.
  • Media Activism 20 credits
  • Understanding Social Media: Practices, Cultures and Debates 20 credits
  • Digital Futures 20 credits
  • Creative Camera 20 credits
  • Radio Station 20 credits
  • Audio Drama and Podcast Writing 20 credits
  • Audience and User Experience 20 credits
  • Gender, Sexuality and the Body 20 credits
  • Race, Media and Culture 20 credits
  • Popular Music Narratives 20 credits
  • Media Production Company 20 credits
  • Communication in Action 20 credits
  • Feature Writing for News Media 20 credits

Employability

• The course will equip you with first-hand practical expertise and provide you with the rigorous academic knowledge you’ll need to fulfil a career in your chosen communications and journalism field.
• Our track record for graduate employment is excellent, with the majority of graduates going into a media-related role.
• The course opens up specific employability avenues related to the production route chosen.
• A number of journalism graduates from Birmingham City University have gone into roles such as social media editor, reporter, and trending video editor.

Facilities & Staff

Our Facilities

• When you join Birmingham City University, the first thing you will notice is the high standard of our campuses.
• With an investment of over £400 million across our buildings and facilities, we are committed to giving you the very best learning environment to help shape your experience.
• You will learn in our state-of-the-art facilities - including the £62m fully-digital Media Centre - located on the City Centre Campus.
• You will enjoy access to extensive studio and workshop space including four TV studios, six radio studios and broadcast-standard edit suites, as well as cutting-edge equipment and software.

Our staff

• Ellie Tomsett - Senior Lecturer
• Dr Ross Hawkes - College Academic Lead for Media and Journalism
• Robin Kay - Lecturer
• Dave Harte - Head of the College of English and Media (interim)
• Hilary Weston Jones - Lecturer in Professional and Academic Development