Our BSc Media and Communication degree covers three key elements:

  1. Historical and contemporary developments across a broad range of media and communication sectors: digital and social media, television, film, advertising, news and journalism.
  2. Key theories that enable you to understand how media and communication contribute to the construction of meaning, how they influence our understanding of who we are, and how they shape modern societies.
  3. Hands-on training in social scientific analytical skills relevant to a variety of jobs in media and cultural industries, such as social media analysis, interviewing, focus groups, content analysis, surveys, and industry and audience data analysis.

Semester 1 & 2

Compulsory

Introduction to Communication and Media Studies: Contemporary Trends and Issues

This module explores the role and influence of the media and interpersonal communication in the contemporary world. Students will be introduced to an interdisciplinary approach to communication and media studies, addressing key theories, methods and findings, and exploring applications to several areas of social, cultural, and political life (including, politics, economy, healthcare, and more).

Social Research

The module introduces selected quantitative and qualitative research methods and analytical techniques used in social science research.

Semester 1

Compulsory

Language in Society

The module introduces students to theoretical approaches to the way that language is used in society, and to empirical research that illuminates language practices and their consequences.

Foundations in Media and Communication Studies

This module introduces the core academic skills required for Media and Communication students and familiarises them with key resources, study practices and forms of academic support.

Optional

Languages

One 10-credit module from a list supplied by the Language Centre, levels dependent on candidates’ previous qualifications.  Languages offered are:  French, German, Mandarin Chinese, Spanish.

Semester 2

Compulsory

Media Landscapes

The module develops research, critical evaluation, presentation and media technology skills through engagement with contemporary topics in communication and media studies.

Optional

Self and Identity

This module introduces psychological approaches to the study of the self and identity, examining how identities are formed, maintained and challenged.

Gaming Cultures

The module introduces the interdisciplinary study of digital games and gaming cultures, examining technologies, industries, design, inequalities, moral debates and the wider cultural significance of gaming.

Introduction to Film

This module provides an opportunity to explore key concepts, approaches, and areas of interest in film studies through offering a critical introduction to the discipline. As well as considering key aspects of film form and style (setting, props, costume, lighting, actor performance, cinematography, editing, and sound and music), you will explore such topics as narrative, genre, the role of the director, star studies, and geographies of film consumption, through detailed study of a number of American films.

University-wide Language Programme

One 10-credit module from a list supplied by the Language Centre, levels dependent on candidates’ previous qualifications.  Languages offered are:  French, German, Mandarin Chinese, Spanish.

Semester 1 & 2

Compulsory

Advanced Research Methods

The module introduces advanced qualitative and quantitative data analysis techniques and prepares students for dissertation research.

Semester 1

Compulsory

Media, Identity and Inequality

The module examines key concepts and theories for understanding how media and communication contribute to the construction of identity, difference and exclusion.

Optional

Promotional Culture

The module examines advertising, public relations and related industries, critically assessing their economic, social, political and cultural power.

Political Psychology

The module explores the relationship between psychology, politics and society, examining how political attitudes, behaviours and identities are shaped.



Social Psychology and Communication

This module provides a critical understanding of psychological approaches to communication and core concepts in social psychology.

Media, Culture and Crime

This module explores contemporary issues at the intersection of media, culture and crime, including crime reporting, moral panics and true crime genres.

Your Future Career: Preparing for the World of Work

What do you know? What are skills? Where are they going to take you? This module will help you to answer those questions by building on transferrable skills and encouraging you to reflect on your learning. In addition, you’ll learn about the UK job market, and how to negotiate a range of recruitment tasks including decoding job specifications, writing an application, interviews, psychometric tests and the use of AI. Combine these with your degree and graduate with confidence.

Communication and Sport

This module analyses sport media within contemporary culture, focusing on identity, inequality, power and global processes.

Languages

One 10-credit module from a list supplied by the Language Centre, levels dependent on candidates’ previous qualifications.  Languages offered are:  French, German, Mandarin Chinese, Spanish.

Semester 2

Compulsory

Media and Social Change

The module evaluates key theories in media and communication and analyses the relationship between media and socio-historical change.

Optional

Screen Cultures

This module introduces influential and acclaimed films from the 20th and 21st-century and explores how they earned their reputation by analysing their interface with, and impact on, wider social, political and historical developments in histories of media.

The Media in Global Context

This module introduces students to the different theoretical perspectives underpinning the study of the media and global communication in the international environment.

Social Interaction

This module introduces students to the study of social interaction in everyday and institutional settings including conversation analysis and discursive psychology.

University-wide Language Programme

One 10-credit module from a list supplied by the Language Centre, levels dependent on candidates’ previous qualifications.  Languages offered are:  French, German, Mandarin Chinese, Spanish.

Semesters 1 & 2

Compulsory

Communication & Media Studies Project Dissertation

Students undertake an independent, supervised research project on a media or communication topic of their choice, applying relevant theories and methods and demonstrating analytical rigour.

Semester 1

Compulsory

Digital Media and Society

The module examines the impact of digital media and the internet on social, political, cultural and economic life.

Optional

Television and Society

This module examines key television genres and canonical works, focusing on their social, cultural and political significance and historical development.

Producing The News

Students develop a critical understanding of journalism and news production in relation to digital platforms through analytical and practice-based work.

Languages

Two 10-credit modules from a list supplied by the Language Centre, levels dependent on candidates’ previous qualifications.  Languages offered are:  French, German, Mandarin Chinese, Spanish and must carry on from a language taken in the second year.

Semester 2

Compulsory

Contemporary Media Debates

This module develops students’ ability to critically engage with contemporary media sectors by synthesising academic research with industry data and emerging debates.

Optional

Documenting the World

The module analyses film and television documentaries, situating them historically and examining their social, political and cultural significance.

Influencer Culture

This module critically examines influencer culture, focusing on platforms, creators, audiences, regulation, misinformation and social inequalities.

University-wide Language Programme

One 10-credit module from a list supplied by the Language Centre, levels dependent on candidates’ previous qualifications.  Languages offered are:  French, German, Mandarin Chinese, Spanish.

The information above is intended as an example only, featuring module details for the current year of study. Modules are reviewed on an annual basis and may be subject to future changes – revised details will be published through Programme Specifications ahead of each academic year. Please also see Terms and Conditions of Study for more information.