Journalism

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https://www.bcu.ac.uk/courses/journalism-ba-hons-2027-28

Journalism - BA (Hons) - 2027/28 Entry | Birmingham City University

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Journalism - BA (Hons)

Currently viewing course to start in 2027/28 Entry.

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....

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Undergraduate

Study mode

Full Time

BA (Hons)

Start date

September 2027

View course fees

Media and Journalism

Location

City Centre

This course is:

Available with Professional Placement year

Open to International Students

Open Day Book now

Overview

The Student Experience | Media Production and Communication

View video transcript

[00:00:07] Speaker 1 It's a really exciting time to study Media in Birmingham. Firstly, the BBC is coming to Birmingham in 2026 and here we have a multi-million pound campus right in the heart of this city. As a media student, you'll have access to all of these amazing facilities and your tutors will be able to teach you how to use them in line with industry best practices.

[00:00:31] Speaker 2 My favourite facility personally is Hires and Loans because I can just hire equipment, whatever camera I need, whatever lights I need. Literally everything that relates to media is there.

[00:00:43] Speaker 3 We have four professional studios campus. Spaces like these normally cost thousands of pounds a day to rent. So it's perfect that we have them right on our doorstep.

[00:00:52] Speaker 1 The campus is located right in the heart of Birmingham's Creative Quarter, which means that there are lots of opportunities for students to take up work in creative sectors after graduation.

[00:01:04] Speaker 3 You should definitely study Media because it offers you so much new opportunities to learn new skills. It's been perfect to have lecturers with industry experience as they give us the confidence and the knowledge we need to go into our careers. BCU gave me so much confidence, which I didn't have before.

[00:01:22] Speaker 2 I was a presenter. I also worked as a camera operator just to feel how it feels to be in that specific role. And what kind of responsibilities do you have on you.

[00:01:34] Speaker 1 Studying media at BCU is a really exciting prospect because you will be joining a really diverse and creative community with a support network of staff who are totally committed to ensuring that your learning needs are met at university.

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. The course will enable you to become an adaptable journalist capable of working in innovative, engaging and entrepreneurial ways.

This course has been designed in close collaboration with leading industry experts and researchers in journalism. Through a range of complementary modules, you will learn a diverse set of journalistic skills for all news platforms and understand the wider issues that face the journalism industry. The course will prepare you for everything from live reporting to interviewing key figures, enabling you to ask the difficult questions required to cover the key contemporary issues that make up an ever-changing and increasingly diverse news agenda.

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. As well as technical skills, you will also develop the ability to analyse, innovate and explore theoretical concepts to enable you to make your mark in the industry or progress to further study.

Through activities such as workshops and live reporting sessions, you will work on real stories giving you a clear insight of the impact they can have at a local, national and international level. On completion, you will be equipped with the ability to be adaptable to take advantage of the diverse range of opportunities on offer.

Our BA (Hons) Journalism course is delivered by industry experts from broadcast, print and digital, providing a strong foundation for a professional career. Our strong links with key journalism organisations means students will also get the chance to work on live briefs as well as producing content for our award-winning Birmingham Eastside website. Our newsroom media hub also allows for collaborative work as part of the wider Birmingham City University journalism community. Our graduates have gone on to work for Sky, BBC, Reach Plc, ITV News, South West News Service, MKFM, Birmingham world and the Express & Star. Others have scooped prestigious awards while still studying with us.

Professional Placement year

This course offers an optional professional placement year. This allows you to spend a whole year with an employer, following successful completion of your second year, and is a great way to find out more about your chosen career. Some students even return to the same employers after completing their studies.

If you choose to pursue a placement year, you will need to find a suitable placement to complement your chosen area of study. You will be able to draw on the University’s extensive network of local, regional, and national employers, and the support of our Careers teams. If you are able to secure a placement, you can request to be transferred to the placement version of the course.

Please note that fees are payable during your placement year, equivalent to 20% of the total full-time course fee for that year.

I learnt skills and developed contacts at Birmingham City University which helped me to forge a career in the media. I never imagined I'd ever manage to get a job writing for the national press never mind straight out of uni!

Graduate Amy Reast, Senior Digital Reporter at South West News Service (SWNS)

Why Choose Us?

Innovative storytelling with real-world impact: Experience live reporting and publishing your work on our Birmingham Eastside platform. Our unique experimentation ethos encourages you to push creative boundaries across multiple platforms, developing cutting-edge skills to engage diverse audiences in novel ways.

Learn from award-winning, active journalists: Benefit from the expertise of industry-leading specialists, including renowned data journalist and author Paul Bradshaw and hyperlocal reporting award-winner Ross Hawkes.

Partnerships with local news organisations offering insider access: Benefit from tutorials and masterclasses led by industry professionals, plus placement opportunities and newsroom visits.

Excellent facilities rivalling professional newsrooms: Gain hands-on experience in six radio studios, four TV studios, one of the largest free-standing green screens in the UK, advanced edit suites, music production studios, a dynamic newsroom media hub, and professional-grade photography studios.

Proven career success: Ranked in the Top 15 for Communication and Media Studies graduate prospects (Complete University Guide 2024), setting you up for a competitive edge in the job market.

Personalised career guidance: Access tailored internship placements, industry networking events, and one-on-one career coaching to jumpstart your journalism career.

Similar Courses

Journalism with a Foundation Year - BA (Hons)

Sports Journalism - BA (Hons)

English and Journalism - BA (Hons)

Open Day

Join us for our next Open Day where you'll be able to learn about this course in detail, chat to students,

explore our campus and tour accommodation.

Next Open Day: 21 November

an Open Day

Course in Depth

First Year

Second Year

Professional Placement Year (optional)

Final 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

This Level 4 module is designed to introduce you to key concepts and approaches to understanding media texts, industries and audiences. Production, distribution and reception/consumption is at the core of the creative, media and interrelated industries. Through a combination of lectures and workshops you will learn about the relationship between texts, the industries that create and distribute them, and the audiences and consumers that interact with them. You will also consider how these relationships are linked to changes in wider creative and cultural contexts, whilst exploring what implications these relationships have on your own engagement as a consumer, producer and aspiring professional.

Investigating Media Texts, Industries and Audiences 20 credits

Building on the Semester 1 module Understanding Media Texts, Industries and Audiences, this module will introduce you to key approaches and methods to researching and analysing media texts, industries and audiences. Through a combination of lectures and workshops you will develop the knowledge and methods required to investigate an aspect of media texts, industries or audiences of your choosing. You will learn how to analyse research data through a combination of analytical approaches and draw conclusions from your evidence which you will express in an appropriate format.

Telling Stories with Journalism 20 credits

This module will introduce you to a key aspect of doing journalism – that is, telling stories about people and places. Through this, the module will help you transition into studying at the University, introducing you to how you will learn, making effective use of the university’s resources, managing your own time, and collaborating with others.

Digital Reporting 20 credits

In this module you will learn about the role digital platforms play in journalistic reporting. You will develop skills to allow you to work as a reporter in the online landscape by exploring how different media elements such as text, images, video and audio can work together to tell compelling stories. You will be introduced to publishing platforms and explore the ways in which online journalists can produce content using digital tools. The skills learned will form the foundation for you to develop an understanding of how journalism has evolved to embrace online platforms. You will then work to develop stories suitable for publication on outlets such as Birmingham Eastside and develop knowledge of how journalists connect with audiences in such spaces.

Journalism Techniques 20 credits

In this module you will be introduced to the core production skills of journalism. You will learn about news values and why stories are considered newsworthy before examining how stories are constructed and the different elements of an original news article. You will also explore ways to angle your story and identify the hook that draws in an audience. Learners will also develop an understanding of core newsgathering and productions skills such as finding leads, carrying out interviews and using quotes.

Community and Industry Collaboration 20 credits

In this module you will work collaboratively with other students on a real-world project that is related to your production area and that is connected to a specific community. The module will explore a range of methods for group working, supporting you and your team to collaborate effectively to produce a media artefact (or series of artefacts) and to present the results to a general audience. You will identify a community who would benefit from your project – this benefit might be felt as audiences for your artefact, or as contributors or co-creators. Participation, with your fellow students and with an identified community, are at the heart of the module. The module will enhance your employability through ensuring you respond to the challenge of collaboration in a professional manner, respecting both your peers and those external to the University that you may be working with.

In order to complete this course, you must successfully complete all the following CORE modules (totalling 60 credits):

Journalism in Context 20 credits

In this module you will learn about the contexts in which journalism is produced by examining theoretical concepts and focusing on the current state and changing nature of journalism in the 21st century. The module involves looking at the circuits of journalism production, distribution, and reception/consumption and asking questions about how these are changing and what the significance of those changes is for society and for individuals. It explores the political, ideological, technological, and cultural contexts in which journalists work and considers the role of journalism in society and culture.

Media Law in Practice 20 credits

This module is designed to help you to develop an understanding of the concept of freedom of expression, and how it is balanced by the legal, regulatory and ethical constraints on news reporting and the media in general. The module is key in developing your awareness, knowledge and skills concerning media law, enabling you to protect yourself, your employers, and subjects of your work. The module approaches law and ethics from a practicing journalist’s perspective rather than that of a legal professional.

Practical Reporting 20 credits

Practical reporting will explore the ways in which you will be able to take a story from concept through to publication and output. This module is unique as it offers a simulated newsroom approach, where you will work to regular deadlines. The module will introduce you to the challenges faced by journalists in newsrooms up and down the country each day. You will work to live briefs and on specific reporting tasks designed to allow you to enhance a variety of skills such as sourcing news, identifying interviewees and researching background material to support your content.

In order to complete this course, you must successfully complete at least 20 credits from the following indicative list of CORE Faculty modules.

Work Placement 20 credits

The purpose of this module is to enable you to develop professional attributes and subject skills through experience in the work place, and to critically reflect upon your learning in that context. You will normally be expected to arrange your own placement, with support from academic staff and ADM Careers+.

Live Project 20 credits

This module provides an opportunity for you to apply your knowledge and skills to an external, professional brief. The brief will be set by or in discussion with an external client/agency/community and could be a ‘real life’ problem to be solved, or a simulation. It is an opportunity for you to engage in a responsive, imaginative and professional manner with an aspect of your subject area, which contributes to the development of employability skills within the supportive infrastructure of the University.

Collaborative Practice 20 credits

The module is an opportunity to learn and critically reflect on the skills of collaboration by enabling you to create an interdisciplinary project with students from complementary disciplines, or with academic staff. Collaboration is a vital employability skill within the Creative Industries and this module allows you to develop these skills, making use of University facilities and with the support of academic staff. Within this module framework, several kinds of collaborative opportunities are available. For example, with the approval of your supervisor, you can determine a project based on your own interests; your supervisor may set you a predetermined project to enable you to work with other students in a way that is appropriate to your subject area; or there may be opportunities for you to collaborate with staff on research projects. In all cases, you must apply your subject skills to an interdisciplinary project which will be agreed in advance with your supervisor.

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

Studying the Bi-Media Drama module will enable you to develop specialist, and integrated skills in radio and television drama production. You will undertake a series of practical workshops, including developing ideas for drama, structuring dramas, directing fiction for radio and television, producing actors, foley work, audio mixing, camera movement.

Comedy in the Media and Popular Culture 20 credits

You will build on your previous studies by developing skills in connecting research and practice. Through set readings, class discussions, e-learning and directed study tasks, we will identify and explore key debates, theoretical perspectives and concepts in humour and comedy studies so that you can develop your familiarity with these theoretical fields. You will then test theoretical perspectives and key concepts through your own innovative comedy production. In this work, you will offer research- based, critical reflection on your own practice and on political, moral and ethical issues that emerge from the relationships between humour, comedy and power, on both a national and an international scale.

Fandoms and Subcultures 20 credits

This module offers an introduction to some of the ongoing academic debates on media fandoms and subcultures. Through readings, lectures, seminars and independent research, you will engage with key theoretical perspectives, methodological approaches and case studies in these academic fields. This module is intended to develop the knowledge and skills that you established in your first year, to develop your critical thinking and research skills and to enable you to gather, organise and use secondary and primary sources to express arguments coherently and effectively.

Photojournalism 20 credits

This module is for students wishing to further their photographic abilities, exploring the professional working practices and the visual language specific to photojournalism with due consideration to the context in which photojournalists and documentary photographers, music photographers and sports photographers operate within the media industries. You will continue to develop camera, lighting and post-processing techniques to a more advanced and appropriate professional level as a complementary skillset to your media interests.

Television Studio 20 credits

Studying the Television Studio module will enable you to develop technical, editorial and integrated skills in television studio production. You will undertake a series of practical workshops, including developing ideas for studio-based TV show formats (e.g. magazine, chat, news, game show), the commissioning process, production team structures and roles, research and editorial skills, scriptwriting, and the technical framework and processes for studio production. You will be encouraged to experiment, developing original ideas for studio productions, and take creative risks within a recognised professional context. You will identify your target audience and broadcast platform/s for your chosen programme genre.

Creating Compelling Content 20 credits

The ability to create compelling content is an essential communication skill and the key to employability in a range of media careers, not least in Public Relations. As well as being engaging and accessible, effective communication almost always involves the ability to produce professional content across a range of platforms and channels. This module concentrates on developing the writing and crafting skills that are highly valued by media employers.

Digital Storytelling 20 credits

Digital Storytelling techniques have evolved to include everything from film techniques, still images, immersive-audio, environmental storytelling, and more. In this module we will consider the different ways in which these techniques can be effectively utilised to allow creative citizens to share their stories and to create engaging and meaningful stories through digital platforms.

Radio Documentary and Podcast Production 20 credits

This module will encourage you to develop original ideas for innovative radio documentaries and podcasts, within a recognised professional industry context. You will identify a clear target audience for your work. You will produce an individual, self-contained radio documentary or a pilot episode of an original podcast with an accompanying reflective written report. A live presentation will showcase your documentary / podcast concept and its audience / station in a mock ‘commissioning’ style pitch.

Commercial Photography 20 credits

This module is for students wishing to further their photographic abilities, you will continue to develop camera, lighting and post-processing techniques to a more advanced and appropriate level whilst working towards distinct areas of photographic practice within defined professional contexts. The module encourages you to explore and evaluate a range of styles, approaches and working practices of commercial photographers enabling you to engage in creative photographic production utilizing appropriate techniques relevant to contemporary professional photography practice.

Emotion, Media and Culture 20 credits

It’s easy to be dismissive of emotion, and often phrases such as “you’re being over-emotional” are used pejoratively. However, cultural theorists and sociologists are increasingly discovering that emotion underpins what it means to be human and that even decisions and positions we take that we assume to be based on rational thought are informed by emotion. These emotions can be constructed by the people, law-making and media texts that we encounter. This module invites you to explore the links between emotion, media and culture. You will examine how media texts are constructed to provoke emotional responses, how audiences respond and the cultural discourses which frame production and reception.

Climate Change, Media Work, and You 20 credits

This module explores how climate change and environmental issues are communicated through media, and why that matters for public debate, policy, everyday life, and your future career. It is designed for students who want practical, employable skills for working with complex topics across journalism and digital content work, including marketing and PR, as well as documentary and cultural production. Using contemporary case studies from news, documentary, popular culture, and digital platforms, students will learn how environmental stories are framed, whose perspectives carry authority, and how these choices shape what audiences come to accept as normal or possible. The module pays close attention to inequality and power, including how the climate emergency is experienced differently across race, class, gender, sexuality, and between the global North and global South.

Television From Small Screens to Smart Screens 20 credits

This module will explore the historical, cultural, social, and political context of both television and emerging screen practices. The approach to screen media in this module will enhance students’ knowledge of production, consumption, and industry context, and will build on the critical and analytical skills learnt in year one.

Graphic Design 20 credits

Graphic design is an important element in media communication that is used across all mediums in a variety of formats, from print to screen. How designers and communicators use imagery and form to transmit messages evolves as new technology and practices emerge. Whether this is in advertisements, promotional material, entertainment, or raising awareness of societal and environmental issues, design can draw attention and change the perceptions of the intended audience and casual viewers alike.

PR Campaign Planning 20 credits

PR Campaign Planning explores the many and varied creative solutions the PR industry employs to attract the attention of the public and the media to a particular cause, subject or activity. The module considers how PR campaigns can be developed to serve different purposes, including brand building, commercial gain and social change. It draws on a range of examples from across sectors and around the world to inform your understanding and inspire your own creative communications solutions.

Digital Creators Lab: Media and Journalism 20 credits

In this module you’ll explore alternative media formats and examine the way they are challenging the traditional platforms. You will get the chance to engage with tools which are increasingly being used in everyday media practice, such as social media and email newsletters. This will help you understand how traditional media is being influenced and reshaped by digital platforms, whilst preparing you for the workplace, where adaptability to new technologies and platforms is increasingly expected.

Exploring PR, social media and influencers 20 credits

Public Relations is all around us. Brands, businesses, celebrities, charities, politicians, and everyone in between use PR as a means to spread messages, inform understanding and influence the way we behave. In practice, PR involves a range of different communications techniques and activities, including media relations, social media, and influencer engagement.

Live Music and Media 20 credits

As revenue streams for recorded music are put under increasing pressure, live music remains one of the important financial strands of a professional musician's career. This Level 5 module introduces you to the various elements and roles of the live music sector. The organisation, planning and delivery of live music events speaks to its interconnectedness across the wider music business and creative industries, including media production, PR and promotional strategising, communication, journalism, photography, marketing and social media management.

Live Radio Production 20 credits

On this module you will develop specialist practical skills in live radio production. You will learn about the critical role of the Producer in generating ideas for programme content and in directing members of a production team. You’ll apply editorial judgement in selecting items suitable for the target audience, producing short features, programme trails and handling studio and remote guests. You will develop a critical understanding of social media marketing in radio and consider how it can be used to enhance audience engagement.

Core modules are guaranteed to run. Optional modules will vary from year to year and the published list is indicative only.

In order to qualify for the Professional Placement Year, you must successfully complete the following Level 5 module:

Professional Placement 120 credits

This module is designed to provide you with the opportunity to undertake a credit bearing, 40- week Professional Placement as an integral part of your Undergraduate Degree. The purpose of the Professional Placement is to improve your employability skills which will, through the placement experience, allow you to evidence your professional skills, attitudes and behaviours at the point of entry to the postgraduate job market. Furthermore, by completing the Professional Placement, you will be able to develop and enhance your understanding of the professional work environment, relevant to your chosen field of study, and reflect critically on your own professional skills development within the workplace.

In order to complete this course, you must successfully complete all the following CORE modules (totalling 40 credits):

Advanced Reporting 20 credits

Knowledge of advanced reporting techniques has become increasingly important for both journalists and publishers as the journalism industry changes in response to widespread access to information and a more competitive publishing environment. This module will equip you with the advanced techniques to find exclusive stories and to ethically and accurately report those for an identified audience within professional contexts.

Major Project Preparation 20 credits

In order to complete this course, you must successfully complete one module from the following list of CORE-OPTION modules (worth 40 credits)

Major Project - Dissertation 40 credits

The Major Project - Dissertation module is where you will put into practice the creative thinking, initial research, proposal, and plan developed in the Major Project Preparation module and wherein you will undertake a sustained, in-depth and theoretically informed research project exploring an area that is related to an aspect of media and culture and is of personal interest to you. Completion of the Major Project represents the culmination of your studies.

Major Project - Hybrid 40 credits

The Major Project - Hybrid module is where you will put into practice the creative thinking, initial research, proposal, and plan developed in the Major Project Preparation module and wherein you will undertake a sustained, in-depth and theoretically informed research and production project exploring an area that is related to an aspect of media and culture and is of personal interest to you. Completion of the Major Project represents the culmination of your studies.

Major Project - Production 40 credits

The Major Project - Production module is where you will put into practice the creative thinking, initial research, proposal, and plan developed in the Major Project Preparation module and wherein you will undertake a sustained, in-depth production media project exploring an area that is related to an area of personal interest to you and wider audiences. Completion of the Major Project represents the culmination of your studies. You can produce a single media product or portfolio of products either individually or as part of a group.

Media Activism 20 credits

Media Activism is a practice-based research module for students who wish to study media activism, and engage in media activist work in practice within social justice, community media and voluntary sectors. This module will examine the role of media in political campaigns and social movements, with a focus on the role of digital communications. It will draw on a range of interdisciplinary literature from media studies, social movement studies and political theory, and examine case studies of political campaigns and social movements in the UK and globally.

Understanding Social Media: Practices, Cultures and Debates 20 credits

This module is intended to give an overview of the current state of scholarly research into the use of social media platforms as a communication tool. The module provides a systematic understanding of the approaches to studying social media and its social and cultural role. The module looks in detail at the ways in which social media is utilised by citizens and media producers. This will give students a greater understanding of practices of interaction and communication afforded by social media and how these can shape contemporary social relationships and communication/media practices through different power dynamics. We will also consider the different ways of meaning making in social media use, particularly across different linguistic and communicative strategies including, for example, hashtags, emojis, memes, affective language, and remix culture. There is a focus on how students can put social media to use as a tool for furthering their professional ambitions or to help create advocacy networks.

Digital Futures 20 credits

This module will enable you to look towards the future innovations occurring within the fields of digital media. Starting with a history of digital emergence, considering concepts such as remediation, convergence culture, and the post-digital, we will then begin to unearth some of the more experimental and emerging practices, and consider their viability for a digital future. We will ask why some mediums prevail and others pass us by and to question what is really “new” about new media, and how we might escape certain structures and practices that constrict our developments. This module will also engage critically with ideas of utopian and dystopian predictions of the future and engage with concepts such as posthumanism and transhumanism to ask what the long-term impact of digital media usage might mean, from AI to cyborgs and beyond.

Creative Camera 20 credits

This module is for students wishing to further their creativity and provides the opportunity to develop a unique visual style as a photographer in line with appropriate professional practice. You will engage with a variety of creative photographic approaches and explore innovative practice, informing your own photographic style and enabling you to work professionally within specific fields of photography.

Radio Station 20 credits

On this immersive module you will develop the skills and knowledge to design and format a new radio station brand. You’ll work with peers to plan, launch and run an online radio station and will pitch for and undertake a range of production and station management roles. The module will build on the practical and theoretical skills developed earlier in the course. It will offer you the opportunity to apply these in the conception, marketing, launch and operation of a publicly available radio service and in the production of other associated social media, podcasting and visual content.

Audio Drama and Podcast Writing 20 credits

The United Kingdom commissions, produces and broadcasts more audio drama – online, on digital and on radio – than any other country in the world. In this diverse and dynamic medium, writers can tell human stories set anywhere in time and space, at a fraction of the cost of television and film production. What’s more – as an old industry saying goes – ‘you see it better on radio’. In this module you will learn how to write and produce compelling audio drama scripts and episodes of a podcast drama series by engaging practically and theoretically with the key principles and techniques involved. You will also be introduced to editorial collaboration, the pitching of projects, and appropriate methods of presentation, including recorded voice essays that can incorporate sound effects. You will learn how to communicate ideas clearly, accurately and effectively both orally and in writing.

Audience and User Experience 20 credits

Audience and user experience design is the reference point for meeting audience and user needs for most media products. User experience is the understanding of who your audience is, what motivates them, what frustrates them, and how to add value to their lives. User experience enables the designer of experiences and media products to meet their audience’s needs on an emotional level through a creative process called "design thinking" and encourages repeated use. In an increasingly user-focused world, user experience design is an area that transcends its home of digital media design and can be applied to any field that requires an audience and consumer interaction, with many employment and further education opportunities to consider.

Gender, Sexuality and the Body 20 credits

This module applies and develops critical and theoretical study of gender and sexuality across a wide range of media. The module will draw from cultural theory and a range of qualitative and ethnographic research to explore historic and contemporary discussions, issues and debates around gender identity, sexuality and sexual practices, and attitudes towards ‘the body’. The module will develop key modes of analysis and research related to the study of gender and sexuality, and how these are informed by and through culture. You will explore how associated socio-cultural, political and ideological contexts ‘produce’ issues, but also how certain identities and ‘practices’ offer ways to challenge ideological views concerning gender, sexuality and what we ‘do’ with/to our bodies.

Race, Media and Culture 20 credits

This module examines key issues, concepts and debates relating to race, culture and the media, and how the diversity of lived experience is represented in the media. The module takes an intersectional perspective, considering race in relation to gender, sexuality, citizenship, etc. It engages with literature from Media and Cultural Studies, and also draws on Postcolonial Studies, Critical Race Theory and other aspects of Humanities scholarship. A range of media examples will be considered, ranging from film and television to digital media platforms. Students will have the opportunity to explore their own personal and research interests in relation to the module themes, and explore methodological approaches for doing so. Students are encouraged to consider their own positionality and identity as media workers/scholars in relation to the module themes and their own work.

Popular Music Narratives 20 credits

This module examines both the historical and contemporary fields of popular music and their relationship to music business and the wider media, creative and cultural industries. You will have the opportunity to reflect on issues of production, distribution, and reception, through the lenses of theoretical concepts and approaches such as genre, ethnicity, gender, and many others. You will undertake research that explores the changing ideological, political, technological, and cultural contexts related to popular music and will consider the role of popular music in relation to societal and cultural contexts.

Media Production Company 20 credits

In this module you will set up an innovative media production company that explores the opportunities available for new enterprises in contemporary audio or video production. In doing so you will start to establish yourself as a professional media worker, exploring the possibilities for change and innovation. You may work independently or as a team member.

Communication in Action 20 credits

Communication in Action takes a critical look at how organisations operating across a wide variety of sectors use communications techniques to achieve operational goals. It examines the PR strategies and practices they use to enhance their credibility and reputation with a range of stakeholders through effective messaging.

Feature Writing for News Media 20 credits

In this module you will explore alternative storytelling methods to create engaging feature articles for different publications. From profiles through to in-depth interview articles, you will analyse and apply the structures and techniques used by feature writers in the professional journalism industry.

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How you will learn

Your learning will be through a mixture of lectures, practical workshops and seminars. Your course also provides an opportunity to undertake work-based learning through a placement. We embed flexible opportunities for you to access your curriculum including recorded lectures, blended learning, on-campus delivery and intensive delivery of some modules. We recognise that students progress to higher education from a variety of educational experiences and that university is a completely new educational environment for most of you. For that reason, you will find that in your first year with us there is a focus on supporting your transition which places an emphasis on developing both the confidence and the competencies required for being successful at your university assignments. Where appropriate, we will bring in external speakers or arrange visits relevant to your specialism. These may be from industry or be focused on a particular specialist academic interest. We have excellent links with industry, community and scholarly partners which we draw on to enhance your learning experience.

How you will be assessed

All our assessments are designed to ensure that you meet the learning outcomes of your modules and thus of the course overall. Assessment types may include written research reports, essays, case studies, practical work, portfolios and presentations. There are no formal examinations on your course, but short classroom tests may be included within an element of assessment. You will be assessed as an individual but there may be times when you will be asked to work within teams and submit assessments as groups. All modules offer chances for formative assessment, that is, informal assessments that are used to assess your understanding before the final submission of your work. Formative assessments also help inform the teaching strategy within a module, identifying areas where we can offer extra help and guidance. We will offer tutorials and a chance for you to discuss your draft assessments before you submit them. Once marked, we will give formal feedback and ‘feed forward’ on all work submitted, aimed at helping you improve future submissions.

Our Classes

We pride ourselves on giving students real journalism experience through practical activities. These have included reporting live on breaking news stories, as well as, planning and implementing coverage of major sporting, cultural and political events alongside professional outlets.

You will also get the chance to see your work published on the award-winning Birmingham Eastside website which is run by students on our journalism modules.

Examples of activities

Mobile reporting

The mobile reporting kits allow students to explore journalism in real time, with some sessions delivered on location. This gives students a chance to experience as well as understand the opportunities for covering stories in alternative ways.

Collaborative working

All modules encourage students to collaborate with their peers, lecturers and external organisations. Live briefs from the journalism industry allow students to explore real-world challenges.

Virtual newsroom

The virtual newsroom lives alongside our physical space and allows students to access a wealth of support, advice and materials to ensure that learning continues beyond the class sessions.

Masterclasses and extra-curricular activities

Through collaboration with students, guest speakers and topics are identified to create additional talks and sessions.

Our Students

A partnership with other local news organisations has seen students create and run live blogs on issues such as local and general elections.

Students are using virtual reality and 360 degrees technology to tell stories in innovative ways – work which has led to coverage on a leading industry website.

Multiplatform reporting is allowing our students to create unique and powerful ways of telling real stories using a range of skills and different types of media.

Media and Journalism blog

Take a look at our blog to see the latest news and events around Media and Journalism and get an insight into life as a student at BCU.

Read the latest post

Entry Requirements

These entry requirements apply for entry in 2027/28.

All required qualifications/grades must have been achieved and evidenced at the earliest opportunity after accepting an offer to help confirm admission and allow for on-time enrolment. This can also include other requirements, like a fee status form and relevant documents. Applicants can track their application and outstanding information requests through their BCU mySRS account.

Essential requirements

112-72 UCAS Tariff points

The offer we make you takes into account your individual circumstances, predicted grades, achieved qualifications and potential to succeed at university.

GCSE and other level 2 requirements

This course does not require evidence of GCSE qualifications. Please see A Level, BTEC and other level 3 requirements below.

A Level, BTEC and other level 3 requirements

Qualification

Entry requirements

A Level / AS Level

A Level: 112-72 UCAS Tariff points / BBC-CDE (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)

Diploma accepted with one A Level or equivalent level 3 qualifications

Extended Certificate accepted with two A Levels or equivalent level 3 qualifications

Typical offers vary according to individual circumstances and may be equivalent to a Merit or Pass overall grade

All subjects accepted but Digital Production, Design and Development and 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

NCFE CACHE Level 3 qualifications

WJEC Level 3 qualifications

Considered with two A Levels or equivalent level 3 qualification(s)

Irish Leaving Certificate (Highers)

112-72 UCAS Tariff points, achieved in five Higher level subjects

Scottish Higher / Advanced Higher

112-72 UCAS Tariff points, achieved from three Advanced Highers or two Advanced Highers plus two Highers

Welsh Baccalaureate

112-72 UCAS Tariff points. Considered with three A Levels or equivalent level 3 qualifications

UAL Level 3 Extended Diploma

Typical offers vary according to individual circumstances and may be equivalent to a Merit or Pass overall

Foundation Studies (Art and Design, and Art, Design and Media)

Typical offers vary according to individual circumstances

If you're applying with an International Baccalaureate Diploma or international qualifications, please see further information below.

Mature students

Applications from mature students (21+) with alternative qualifications and/or considerable work experience will be considered on their merits.

International qualifications

International Baccalaureate Diploma

Obtain 28-24 points overall

EU / International students

Please see your country page for further details on the equivalent qualifications we accept. In addition to the academic entry requirements listed above, international and EU students will also require IELTS 6.0 overall with 6.0 in writing and no less than 5.5 in the remaining three skills.

If you do not meet the required IELTS score, you may be eligible for one of our pre-sessional English courses. Please note that you must have a Secure English Language Test (SELT) to study on the pre-sessional English course. More information on pre-sessional English courses.

If you have a qualification that is not listed, please contact us.

Fees & How to Apply

Please select your student status to view fees and apply

UK Student

International Student

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. View fees for continuing students.

Award: BA (Hons)

Starting: Sep 2027

Duration

£10,050 in 2027/28

Apply via UCAS

International students

£19,220 in 2027/28

Apply Online

Included in your course fees

Access to computer equipment

You will require use of a laptop, and most students do prefer to have their own. However, you can borrow a laptop from the university or use one of our shared computer rooms.

Printing

You will receive £5 print credit in each year of your course, available after enrolment.

Field trips

All essential field trips and associated travel costs will be included in your course fees.

Access to Microsoft Office 365

Every student at the University can download a free copy of Microsoft Office 365 to use whilst at university and for 18 months after graduation.

Key software

You will be able to download SPSS and Nvivo to your home computer to support with your studies and research.

Key subscriptions

Subscriptions to key journals and websites are available through our library.

Specialist equipment

This course requires specialist equipment. Audio recorder and accessories, video camera and accessories and DSLRs will be provided.

Not included in your course fees

Media consumable items (mandatory)

This course requires the use of consumables, such as an SD card, a USB stick (minimum 16GB) and external hard drive (minimum 40gb), as well as over the ear headphones, at a cost of between £50-100.

Excess printing (optional)

Once you have spent your £5 credit, additional printing on campus costs from 5p per sheet.

Personal stationery and study materials (optional)

Based on the past experience of our students, you might find it helpful to set aside about £30 for each year of your studies for your personal stationery and study materials.

Placement expenses (optional)

If you choose to undertake a placement, you'll need to budget for accommodation and any travel costs you may incur whilst living or working away from home.

Field trips (optional)

This course includes the option of additional trips that may enhance your experience, at extra cost.

Books (optional)

All module key texts will be in the University library, but in limited numbers. You may choose to purchase a copy. We suggest budgeting approximately £28.

Personal equipment (optional)

Whilst not essential, it is advised you own a computer or laptop, prices can vary dependant on your budget.

Memberships (optional)

There are several professional organisations and associations that offer student memberships for aspiring journalists. Some common organisations and their student membership approximate costs:

National Union of Journalists (NUJ): Student membership: £30 per year

Chartered Institute of Journalists (CIoJ): Student membership: £50 per year

British Association of Journalists (BAJ): Student membership: £30 per year

Sports Journalists' Association (SJA): Student membership: £10 per year

Women in Journalism (WIJ): Student membership: £30 per year

Society of Editors (SoE): Student membership: Free for students enrolled in journalism courses.

Accommodation and living costs (optional)

The cost of accommodation and other living costs are not included within your course fees. More information on the cost of accommodation can be found in our accommodation pages.

Guidance for UK students

UK students applying for most undergraduate degree courses in the UK will need to apply through UCAS.

The Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS) is a UK organisation responsible for managing applications to university and college.

Applying through UCAS

Register with UCAS

Login to UCAS and complete your details

Select your course and write a personal statement

Get a reference

Pay your application fee and submit your application

Guidance for International students

There are three ways to apply:

1) Direct to the University

You will need to complete our International Application Form and Equal Opportunities Form, and submit them together with scan copies of your original academic transcripts and certificates.

2) Through a country representative

Our in-country representatives can help you make your application and apply for a visa. They can also offer advice on travel, living in the UK and studying abroad.

3) Through UCAS

If you are applying for an undergraduate degree or a Higher National Diploma (HND), you can apply through the UK’s Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS).

You can request a printed form from your school or nearest British Council office. You will be charged for applying through UCAS.

Birmingham City University’s UCAS code is B25 BCITY.

Personal statement

The personal statement gives you a crucial opportunity to say why you’re applying and why the institution should accept you.

Here are the three areas you’ll need to address:

Why do you want to study this course or subject?

Here’s where you explain what makes this course exciting to you. Think about your motivations for studying the course and your future plans. If you’re planning to take a year out, don't forget to give your reasons.

How have your qualifications and studies helped you to prepare for this course or subject?

This is your chance to show what you’ve learned at school or college. You should include the skills and knowledge you’ve gained from education or training and how this will help you succeed in your chosen course.

What else have you done to prepare outside of education, and why are these experiences useful?

Not everything you’ve learned comes from the classroom. Life experience counts too! You might want to talk about work experience, employment, or volunteering and how they’ve helped you develop the skills needed for your chosen course or future career.

Worried about Personal Statements?

If you've got no idea where to start or just want to check you're on the right track, we’ve got expert advice and real examples from our students to help you nail your personal statement. You can even download our ultimate personal statement guide for free.

Get personal statement advice

Financial Support

We offer further information on possible undergraduate financial support. This includes the type of loans, grants and scholarships available both from the government and from Birmingham City University.

View fees for continuing students

Employability

Enhancing employability skills

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.

Links to industry

Regular guest speakers and visiting lecturers from newspapers, broadcast, magazines and online publications will provide you with an insight into the modern journalism industry. By working with specialists in their field you will be able to learn how to bring stories to life.

You’ll also get the chance to engage directly with industry through activities such as hack days and projects with the likes of the BBC, The Times and Trinity Mirror. We have excellent links with a number of national, regional and local outlets, with students regularly taking up placements with the likes of Sky and the BBC.

Graduate job successes

Students from our media and journalism courses have been making headlines after landing journalism jobs before they’ve even graduated.

Thomas Lynch and Lillian Keen have become trending video reporters with Trinity Mirror, while Elis Sandford is now a news reporter with the company. They join 2016 graduate Charlotte Smith who began working with the national newspaper group earlier this year.

Thomas said: “I handed in my production project on the first Friday of May and the following Monday, I was a trending video producer. If you work hard enough and take advantage of what your university offers you, there is success to be found. Who said it was difficult to find a graduate job?"

There has also been success for another soon-to-be graduate after Thomas Chapman began working as a news reporter with the Eastern Daily Press.

Placements

We strongly believe in the practical application of learning and is fortunate to have very strong links with employers and the media industry. Students on placements have worked with a wide range of organisations including the BBC, Maverick Television and Trinity Mirror.

More about our placement opportunities

Facilities & Staff

Media and Journalism facilities

Take a look around some of the facilities, studios and workshops that you’ll have access to.

See our Media and Journalism facilities

Our staff

Dr Rachel-Ann Charles

Associate Professor in Media and Communications

Rachel-Ann brings a range of experience from her work in news media across the Caribbean and Europe. Her teaching expertise spans all undergraduate media courses, ensuring students receive a comprehensive and well-rounded education in journalism.

As a member of the Birmingham Centre for Media and Cultural Research (BCMCR), Dr Charles is keen on...

More about Rachel-Ann

Dr Ross Hawkes

Course Director for MA Journalism

Ross is the founder and editor of an award-winning hyperlocal news website, Lichfield Live, and also leads the Community Interest Company producing The Lichfield and Burntwood Independent newspaper. His PhD explored the work of semi-professional journalists operating in the hyperlocal and independent space across the UK. He is a member of the...

More about Ross

Professor Diane Kemp

Professor of Broadcast Journalism

Diane Kemp is Director of the Sir Lenny Henry Centre for Media Diversity, which launched in March 2020, and Professor of Broadcast Journalism in CoEM.

Before joining the university, Diane worked in commercial and BBC radio before moving into BBC television news and current affairs.

She was also Deputy Chair of the Broadcast Journalism Training...

More about Diane

Dr Trust Matsilele

Senior Lecturer in Journalism

Trust Matsilele’s broad research area covers the changing journalism ecologies, technology and society, social media and protest cultures in Africa. He has edited and authored four books and over 50 academic articles combining journal papers and book chapters. Matsilele’s current research strands two thematic areas; Digital Politics in Africa and...

More about Trust

Dr Olufunmilayo Jinadu

Lecturer in Broadcast Journalism

Dr Olufunmilayo 'Funmi' Jinadu is a journalist and researcher with over a decade of experience working as a radio presenter, news editor and producer in the UK and Nigeria. She was also a multimedia journalist working across visual and audio online platforms.

More about Olufunmilayo

Paul Bradshaw

Associate Professor

Paul Bradshaw teaches on our MA Journalism at Birmingham City University, and works as a consultant data journalist in the BBC England data unit.

He is also the founder of the investigative journalism crowdsourcing site, Help Me Investigate, which was shortlisted in 2010 for Multimedia Publisher of the Year and won the Talk About Local...

More about Paul

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UK prospective students

Contact the enquiries team

T: +44 (0)121 331 6295

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E: International enquiry form

T: +44 (0)121 331 5389

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