Program Overview

Digital Media and Communications BA

The Digital Media and Communications BA program at the University of Birmingham is a unique theory-focused course that combines academic study with practical, hands-on creative learning in state-of-the-art facilities. This program is designed to help students develop critical thinking skills and build a thriving career in media, communications, and the creative industries.

Course Overview

The course overview provides an introduction to the program, highlighting its focus on digital media and communications. Students will have the opportunity to develop their skills through a blend of academic study and practical learning.

Course Highlights

• 1st for Communications & Media Studies in the UK
• Learn from experts with unique specialisms in digital studies, media, and communication from an elite Russell Group institution
• Our wide-ranging networks and employer-based projects will prepare you for future employment as an adaptable, resilient, and innovative leader in the fields of digital media and communications
• Personalise your degree with optional modules from year two of your degree

Enjoy Dedicated Creative Facilities

Balance classroom-based study with hands-on creative learning in our state-of-the-art facilities. You'll find yourself working in a range of settings, including iMac studio spaces, podcasting editing suites, and computer clusters. It's ideal preparation for roles in sectors as varied as advocacy, the creative arts, journalism, media, marketing, and publishing.

Talk to Our Students

Hear more about studying at Birmingham. Chat to one of our friendly students to find out more about your favourite course, our beautiful campus, and life in our vibrant and cultural city.

Course Delivery

Study at the University of Birmingham and learn from world-class experts—authors of key works and leaders with global teaching and research experience.

• Lectures: These give you an insightful, expert introduction to key topics; they also provide guidance to support your reading and assessments.
• Seminars: These are small group discussions where you share and test ideas with your academic tutor and your peers. Seminars help you understand topics better and build confidence in sharing your thoughts.

Support During Your Studies

At Birmingham, you’ll have plenty of support to help you adjust to university life:

• Personal Academic Tutors: You'll have a tutor assigned to you who will guide and support you throughout your studies.
• Wellbeing Officers: The Wellbeing team help with extensions, disabilities, extenuating circumstances, or any personal challenges. They’ll also connect you with further support on campus or elsewhere.
• Academic Writing Advisory Service: Tutorials, workshops, and support in structuring an argument and developing your own academic voice.
• Student Experience Team: They offer research opportunities, and cultural, intellectual, and social activities to enhance your university experience.

Contact Hours

Your degree is designed to help you achieve 120 credits per year, which equals about 40 hours of learning each week. This includes lectures, seminars, workshops, independent study, revision, and assessments.

Assessment Methods

You’ll be assessed in different ways to suit each module. At the start of a module, you’ll be told how and when you’ll be assessed. Methods will vary but may include coursework (e.g., essays), group or individual presentations and projects, exams, reports, or computer-based assignments.

Feedback: You will receive timely feedback on each assessment, so you can learn from it and improve your performance in future assessments.

Module Information

The modules listed for this programme are regularly reviewed to ensure they are up-to-date and informed by the latest research and teaching methods.

• Year 1
  • Discovering Creative Practice A | 10 credits
  • Discovering Creative Practice B | 10 credits
  • Media History and Technologies | 20 credits
  • Professional Communication | 10 credits
  • Researching Digital Cultures | 20 credits
  • Researching Everyday Communication | 20 credits
  • Theories of Communication | 20 credits
  • Thinking, reading, and writing at University | 10 credits

You can apply to study abroad for a year in an approved university around the world. If you achieve a grade of 2.1 or above in your first year, you will be eligible to apply for a Year Abroad in your second year. If your application is successful, you will go abroad in your third year and return to us for your final year.

Entry Requirements

To secure a place at Birmingham, you'll need to meet our general entry requirements as well as those specific to your course.

• A Level: AAB
• IB: 6,6,5 including 32 points overall
• BTEC: BTEC Extended Diploma: DDM, plus a B at A level in the required subject/s

A Levels

We prefer applications from students offering at least one A level in an essay-based subject from our list of preferred subjects:

• Ancient History
• Anthropology
• Archaeology
• Art & Design (all pathways)
• Business Studies
• Classical Civilisation
• Classics
• Drama
• Economics
• English Language
• English Language and Literature
• English Literature
• Environmental Science
• Environmental Studies
• Film
• Geography
• Government and Politics
• Health and Social Care
• History
• History of Art
• Law
• Media Studies
• Music
• Performance
• Philosophy
• Politics
• Psychology
• Religious Studies
• Social Care
• Social Policy
• Sociology
• Theatre Studies

General Studies is not accepted.

IB Diploma

6,6,5 in Higher level subjects plus 32 points overall.

BTEC Qualifications

• BTEC Extended Diploma: DDM, plus a B at A level in the required subject/s
• BTEC Diploma: DD, plus a B at A level in the required subject/s
• BTEC Subsidiary Diploma: D, plus AB at A level, including the required subject/s

Extended Project Qualification (EPQ)

Applicants who take the EPQ and meet our offer criteria will be made the typical offer for their programme of choice, plus an alternative offer which will be one grade lower plus a grade A in the EPQ.

Core Maths Qualification

Applicants who take the Core Maths qualification and meet our offer criteria will be made the typical offer for their programme of choice, plus an alternative offer which will be one grade lower plus a grade A in Core Maths.

English Language Requirements

If you are an international student, you will need to demonstrate you have a suitable level of English proficiency, usually through the form of an IELTS or equivalent qualification or a Presessional English course.

• TOEFL: 88 overall with no less than 21 in Reading, 20 in Listening, 22 in Speaking, and 21 in Writing
• IELTS: 6.5 overall with no less than 6.0 in any band
• Pearson Test of English (PTE): PTE 67 with no less than 64 in all four skills
• Cambridge English (exams taken from 2015): Cambridge English: Advanced Minimum overall score of 176, with no less than 169 in any component
• Language Cert ESOL SELT (UKVI): B2 ‘Communicator’ with no less than 33 in each skill
• Trinity ISE II: Not applicable
• Trinity ISE III: Pass in each Skill

Fees and Scholarships

The University tuition fee covers the cost of your tuition, examination, and graduation, and includes membership of the Guild of Students.

• Fees for UK Students: £9,535 per year for domestic (UK) students for 2026/27
• Undergraduate Loans: To help with the cost of studies, undergraduate students from the UK can apply for student finance through the Student Loans Company. The support available is made up of a tuition fee loan and a maintenance loan which helps to cover living costs.

Scholarships, Grants, and Bursaries

At Birmingham, we believe that financial worries should not be a barrier to accessing higher education. That’s why we offer a range of additional financial support for students through scholarships, bursaries, and other awards.

Application Process

Whatever your journey to university looks like, we’re here to support you every step of the way. For all undergraduate courses at Birmingham, you apply online through UCAS.

• Application Deadline: 14 January 2026 for September 2026 entry. Applications close at 18:00 GMT.

Career Opportunities

Studying a degree in the department of Linguistics and Communications at Birmingham is an unparalleled opportunity to engage with a diverse cultural, textual, and linguistic discipline, whilst also developing skills in intellectual analysis, critical thinking, and articulate expression.

Our Linguistics and Communications students have gone on to secure roles such as 'Content Writer', 'Director', 'Artist', and 'Social Media Manager' working for organisations such as:

• The British Museum
• Oxford University Press
• Penguin Random House
• Deloitte

Careers Network

Our aim is to make sure that success in your studies leads you on to a fulfilling career. Whatever you plan to do after your degree, the Careers Network offers support to help you identify your options, develop your skills, and gain access to opportunities that propel you towards your career goal.

Related Courses

• Digital Media and Creative Industries: BA
• English Literature and Creative Writing: BA
• Liberal Arts: BA

Student Experience

Your experience studying at Birmingham will give you the opportunity to discover new experiences, develop different skills, and make friends for life.

• Accommodation: Coming to Birmingham to study might be your first time living away from home. In our student accommodation, you can enjoy your independence in safe, welcoming, and sociable surroundings.
• Living in Birmingham: Our cosmopolitan city has a unique history and so much to see and do. With an ever-changing food and drink scene, a vibrant nightlife, and plenty of culture, our city is more than somewhere to study.
• Student Support: Whoever you are and wherever you come from, we are committed to providing the best possible support to our students, both before you start and throughout your time on campus.
• Campus Life: Our beautiful campus is the place where our diverse community comes together to learn and socialise. Like a town of its own, it’s just minutes from the hustle and bustle of the UK’s second city.

Flexible Programmes to Suit You

• Not sure what you want to study?: Explore your options for combining subjects and shape your degree around your interests, whilst developing key skills for the world of work.

Take a Virtual Tour

Explore our beautiful campus from wherever you are. Get a feel for the wide range of historic and modern spaces and state-of-the-art facilities.

Student Stories

• University life: How to Make Friends at University
• University life: My Experience with University Music
• University life: Why Offer-Holder Visit Days Are Worth It: My Experience and Insights
• Birmingham and city life: Neighbourhoods Around Birmingham: A Guide to the City’s Best Areas
• Birmingham and city life: Why I Love Living in Birmingham
• University life: How to Make Your University Accommodation Feel Like Home

Student and Alumni Profiles

• Dee Lindsay: Student, Digital Media and Communications
• Tori Harriman: Student, Digital Media and Communications
• Zhou Churong: Student, Digital Media and Communications