Program Overview

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BA (Hons) Media, Culture, Communication with Foundation Year

Why study this course with LJMU?

• Foundation year degree - this is a four-year programme
• You will study media institutions such as the BBC and Netflix and the cultures of production and consumption that surround them
• You will develop professional writing skills, learn to communicate with a range of audiences, and critically reflect on what you produce
• WATCH: Hear from one of our graduates Rubi, an influential content creator
• We focus on theoretical and critical study as well as transferable skills development
• You will be taught by research-active staff and learn from media and cultural industry guest speakers
• Emphasis on employability and work-based learning from the start of your degree
• Our graduates go on to careers such as journalism, marketing, education, public relations and more

About your course

The media have a major impact on how we understand our world, ourselves and other people. The BA (Hons) in Media, Culture, Communication at Liverpool John Moores University enables you to analyse the social, cultural and political importance of the mass media, everyday culture, and the communications industries.

This BA (Hons) course offers a variety of modules covering aspects of the media, culture and communications industries with a focus on employability, career development and critical skills. The course will teach you how to write and research for a range of audiences, both academic and professional. Our students enjoy the broad range of the programme, which expands their choices after graduation, while allowing them to specialise in their own areas of interest as they progress. We examine industries like film, television and games, sectors like advertising, public relations, journalism and publishing, and aspects of everyday culture like consumerism, identity and social media.

The programme is designed with your future employability in mind. You'll develop transferable skills in research, communication, problem-solving, teamwork and independent working. Although we focus on theoretical and critical study, our students work on current case studies that are developed with employers, and work-related learning is designed into all levels of study. Many students undertake exciting and rewarding placements, internships and work experience during their programme.

Foundation Year

The Foundation Year is ideal if you have the interest and ability to study for a degree, but do not have the qualifications to enter directly onto the Media, Culture, Communication honours degree programme yet.

Once you pass the Foundation Year (level 3) you will progress directly onto the first year of the honours degree. If you are a full-time UK student, you will qualify for student financial support for the full duration of your course (subject to eligibility criteria).

Course modules

What you will study on this degree

Further guidance on modules

Modules are designated core or optional in accordance with professional body requirements, as applicable, and LJMU’s Academic Framework Regulations. Whilst you are required to study core modules, optional modules provide you with an element of choice. Their availability may vary and will be subject to meeting minimum student numbers.

Where changes to modules are necessary these will be communicated as appropriate.

Foundation Year

• Preparing for Academic Success (30 credits)
• Investigating Liverpool (30 credits)
• War: Conflict in the Humanities and Social Sciences (30 credits)
• Peace: the Pursuit of Harmony in Humanities and Social Science (30 credits)

Year 1

• Studying Culture (20 credits)
• Media Texts (20 credits)
• Media Institutions and Audiences (20 credits)
• Professional Writing (20 credits)
• Introduction to Media and Cultural Industries (20 credits)
• Communicating Politics and Protest (20 credits)

Year 2

• Public Communication (20 credits)
• Analysing Entertainment Media (20 credits)
• Research Methods (20 credits)
• Media and Cultural Theory (20 credits)
• Optional modules:
  • Public Relations (20 credits)
  • Popular Journalism: Research in Practice (20 credits)
  • Study Year Abroad - MCC (120 credits)
  • Study Semester Abroad - MCC (60 credits)
  • Mediating Popular Culture (20 credits)

Year 3

• Culture and Identity (20 credits)
• Media Policy and Regulation (20 credits)
• Optional modules:
  • Dissertation (40 credits)
  • Sport, Crime and Politics: Critical Sociological Analyses (20 credits)
  • Digital Writing (20 credits)
  • Mediating Diversity (20 credits)
  • Social and Digital Media (20 credits)
  • Screen Media (20 credits)
  • Britain, Brexit, Europe and the Media (20 credits)
  • Media and Cultural Industries (40 credits)
  • Crime, Horror and the Media (20 credits)
  • Popular Fiction and Publishing (20 credits)

Professional accreditation

We have worked with a range of organisations, including: The Liverpool Comedy Trust, Tate Liverpool, Sound City, The British Music Experience, BBC Radio Merseyside, Open Eye Galley, Merseyside Police, the NHS, ITV Studios, Everyman Theatre, the Museum of Liverpool and the Liverpool Against Racism Festival.

Your Learning Experience

Teaching Support Assessment

Excellent facilities and learning resources

We adopt an active blended learning approach, meaning you will experience a combination of face-to-face and online learning during your time at LJMU. This enables you to experience a rich and diverse learning experience and engage fully with your studies. Our approach ensures that you can easily access support from your personal tutor, either by meeting them on-campus or via a video call to suit your needs.

Teaching is via a combination of lectures, seminar-workshops, peer presentations, online activities and film screenings, and you are expected to spend a significant proportion of your time in private study, using our virtual learning environment, Canvas, as well as our archives and special collections. There will also be opportunities for online discussion with staff and your fellow students.

Work-related Learning

Work-based learning is a vital part of this degree and gives you a taste of what it’s really like to work in the media and cultural industries. You will not only get to practise skills you have learnt on the course, but you will also be able to add the experience to your CV, giving you a head start when you eventually enter the competitive job market.

In fact many of our graduates have been offered a full-time position by their placement employer on the strength of successful work experience. Past students have worked with Sky Sports, Liverpool Echo, Juice FM, Odeon Cinema, the Everyman Theatre, National Museums and Galleries on Merseyside and the BBC.

Dedicated personal tutor, plus study skills support

We believe that one-to-one support during your studies is vital, and for this reason you will be assigned a personal tutor from the minute you enrol at LJMU. They will arrange meetings with you to discuss course-related issues, monitor progress and help you formulate your future career plans. You will also receive support in finding and securing a work placement.

Assessment varies depending on the modules you choose, but will usually include a combination of exams and coursework.

We acknowledge that all students perform differently depending on how they are assessed, which is why we use a combination of innovative assessment methods. These include exams (seen/unseen), essays, log books and diaries, group and individual presentations, research projects, work-based learning reports and other forms of continuous assessment including response papers, blogs, organised debates and seminars.

Constructive feedback from your tutors is designed to help you identify your strengths as well as the areas that may need further attention, and is provided by email, in writing or verbally through seminars, tutorials and personal development planning sessions.

Career paths

The programme is co-developed with employers and so work-related learning, case studies and projects are geared towards ensuring graduate have the skills and confidence to enter the jobs market.

We are proud that the paths followed by our graduates are so varied. Our former students are to be found working in occupations including:

• advertising and marketing
• museums
• arts administration and publishing
• television production
• print and digital journalism
• teaching
• content creation
• media and marketing start-ups
• charity and third sector communication roles

Some decide to further their studies at postgraduate level, in either theoretical or critical areas or in vocational subjects such as journalism or marketing. This includes our own MA in Mass Communications programme.

Student Futures - Careers, Employability and Enterprise Service

A wide range of opportunities and support is available to you, within and beyond your course, to ensure our students experience a transformation in their career trajectory. Every undergraduate curriculum includes Future Focus during Level 4, an e-learning resource and workshop designed to help you to develop your talents, passion and purpose.

Every student has access to Careers Zone 24/7, LJMU's suite of online Apps, resources and jobs board via the LJMU Student Futures website.

Tuition fees and funding

Home

• Foundation first year: £5,760
• Second and subsequent years: £9,535

International

• Full-time per year: £17,750

Entry requirements

Please choose your qualifications below to view requirements

Grades/points required from qualifications: DDD (72)

Work out how many UCAS points your qualifications are worth by visiting the UCAS Tariff Calculator.

GCSEs and equivalents

Evidence of Grade 4 or grade C or above in English Language and Mathematics/Numeracy on their application form.

GCSE Equivalences accepted:
• Key Skills Level 2 in English/Maths
• NVQ Level 2 Functional skills in Maths and English Writing and or Reading
• Skills for Life Level 2 in Numeracy/English
• Higher Diploma in Maths/English
• Northern Ireland Essential Skills Level 2 in Communication or Application of Number
• Wales Essential Skills Level 2 in Communication or Application of Number

A levels

DDD. Maximum of 20 AS points accepted.

BTECs

Extended Diploma: MMP

Access awards

Acceptable on its own and combined with other qualifications

Pass overall with a minimum of 72 points

International Baccalaureate

24 IB Diploma points.

International Baccalaureate

Acceptable on its own and combined with other qualifications.

Irish awards

Irish Higher - Acceptable on its own and combined with other qualifications

T levels

Acceptable on its own and combined with other qualifications.

Other international requirements

International applications will be considered in line with UK qualifications. Any Applicant whose first language is not English will be required to have IELTS 6.0 (minimum 5.5 in each component).