Program Overview

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

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: 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.
• Support: Dedicated personal tutor, plus study skills support.
• Assessment: Varies depending on the modules you choose, but will usually include a combination of exams and coursework.

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.

Our graduates go on to careers such as:

• 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

Tuition fees and funding

• Home: £5,760 (Foundation first year), £9,535 (Second and subsequent years)
• International: £17,750 (Full-time per year)

Entry requirements

• GCSEs and equivalents: Evidence of Grade 4 or grade C or above in English Language and Mathematics/Numeracy on their application form.
• A levels: DDD-CDD. Maximum of 20 AS points accepted.
• BTECs: Extended Diploma: MMP
• Access awards: Acceptable on its own and combined with other qualifications
• International Baccalaureate: 24 IB Diploma points.
• Irish awards: Irish Higher - Acceptable on its own and combined with other qualifications

International requirements

• Any Applicant whose first language is not English will be required to have IELTS 6.0 (minimum 5.5 in each component).