The BA (Hons) Media Communications course is designed to prepare you for a fast-paced and ever-evolving media landscape. You'll develop essential skills as a professional communicator, supported by expert academics and real-world experiences.

This course combines theory with hands-on practice, allowing you to explore digital technologies, media applications, and their impact on society. You'll work with media professionals, undertake placements, and engage in projects tailored to your interests and career goals.

By the end, you'll be equipped to excel in various media roles, from content creation to social media management, and be ready for a successful career in the global media industry.

Build a portfolio that opens doors

Develop an impressive professional portfolio of work, ranging from short films to brand design.

A popular choice

NTU is in the Top 10 for UK accepts in Media Studies (UCAS End of Cycle Data 2025).

Exceptional facilities

Learn in our newly refurbished media labs, located in the Centre for Broadcasting and Journalism, featuring industry-standard equipment available for student hire.

Study at a leading media university

NTU is 6th in the UK for the number of UG students in Media, journalism and communications (HESA 2023/24).

Enabling creative thinking is central to how you’ll be taught. Classes consist of lectures, seminars, workshops, screenings and tutorials designed to develop your skills in creative thinking, problem-solving, critical analysis, research methods, time management, presentation and group work.

Proud to be part of the BAFTA Albert education partnership

Module information

A standard full-time BA (Hons) course is made up of 120 credits studied each year. Some courses may vary, however, and you can find information on the total number of credits achieved per module below.

Here’s a breakdown of what you’ll be studying throughout the

Year OneYear TwoOptional placement yearFinal year

Core modulesExpand all +

Content Creation

This module teaches essential skills for producing high-quality audio, video, and digital content. You'll gain hands-on experience with industry-standard tools, create social media content, and explore VR and AR technologies. Contextual lectures cover media production concepts and ethics. By the end, you'll have a solid foundation in content creation, ready for future media communications careers.

20 credits

Analysing Media Texts

Be introduced to classic and contemporary methods of critical textual analysis. You'll explore a range of different media texts, from film to TV, advertising, video games, music, and news media, and will encounter some key concepts needed to make sense of them. You'll also examine how identities relating to race, class, sexuality, and gender are constructed across the field of popular culture.

Understanding Media Industries

Learn the essential theoretical and conceptual vocabulary needed to make sense of current trends in the media industries landscape, both nationally and internationally. You will explore questions relating to media ownership, organisation, power and control. Guest speakers will bring a new dimension to your learning by introducing real industry contexts, and by identifying the skills and competencies employers are looking for.

Launch: Advertising, PR and the New Creativity

Explore how modern creativity is transforming today's economy. You'll study advertising, PR, and media technology's intersection with psychology and sociology. Learn core writing and image skills, set up your own agency, and develop your team's unique voice. Practical training and critical analysis prepare you for the creative economy's diverse demands.

Psychology of Communication

This module is designed to demonstrate the centrality of communications, not just to the functioning of society, but also for the very constitution of who we are as individuals. Based within, but by no means contained by, the field of Social Psychology, it looks at how people communicate with one another both verbally and non-verbally. It also considers the role of both conscious and sub-conscious processes. Other key topic areas include the arts of conversation and persuasion, the psychology of leadership, group dynamics and intergroup relations.

Professional Communications 1: Skills and Concepts

Kickstart your journey in professional communications with this module. You'll master essential skills for strategic and corporate communications, from writing press releases and advertising copy to mastering storytelling. Develop presentation and interpersonal skills, work on real-life scenarios, and gain hands-on experience.

Pathway 1: An international exchange

Travel the world, meet new friends, and have experiences you will remember for the rest of your life.

Our flexible curriculum has been designed to allow some amazing opportunities for you. Your second year of study is divided into two semesters, giving you the opportunity to take part in an international exchange. You could study with one of international exchange partners in Australia, Europe, USA, Canada, Thailand and many, many more.

Our dedicated team will support you in finding and arranging a suitable exchange. And don't worry about the cost, they will help you apply for any grants or loans you may need, as no one should miss out on the chance to broaden their horizons.

Pathway 2: Taught pathway choosing two optional modules from the ones listed below

Please note that optional modules will vary from year to year and this list is indicative only

Media, Theory and Society

Develop your knowledge of theoretical approaches to understanding the media and culture. This module will help you to understand some of the key theoretical approaches that are used in the study of media, communication and culture. You'll develop a familiarity of important theoretical approaches used in contemporary media and for the use of cultural analysis.

Pitch: Media Communications in Action

Build on your skills from Year One by developing an international marketing project. Collaborate with global peers through Collaborative Online International Learning (COIL), refining your expertise in market research, brand management, and digital marketing. Gain cross-cultural communication and teamwork skills. Create comprehensive, culturally sensitive marketing strategies, preparing you for success in the diverse, interconnected marketing world.

Professional Communications 2: Working in the Creative Industries

In this second Professional Communications module, you'll apply your skills in a real-world setting, focusing on the fast-growing creative industries like media, film, TV, and games. With input from professionals and NTU's Employability team, you'll enhance your resilience and innovation. You'll also complete a work placement and develop a career plan, preparing for your future in this dynamic sector.

Talking Media: Arguing, Debating, Speaking, Performing

This module looks at argument, speech and debate within media forms (e.g. TED talks, panel shows, radio phone-ins, blogs and vlogs). Using examples from different forms, it examines both the format of media debates (e.g. issues of 'balance' and notions of a 'centre'; questions of expertise; managing hostile, angry and heckling voices) and successful techniques for making an argument and 'pitching' ideas.

Optional modulesExpand all +

Short Film Production and Exhibition

Enhance your production skills through the creation of a short film. You will use a range of equipment and practical craft techniques to your idea from creation, through professional planning, filming, and editing to promotion and festival entry. You will be supported in a variety of roles in your team with professional advice from practice-based academic tutors and our technical team.

Researching Media and Communications

This module introduces the key methods and analytical approaches of media and cultural studies. It enables you to design and produce original research projects, and to gain deeper understanding of the research methods you might use in your final year dissertation. It outlines a range of methods (including textual analysis, ethnography, and critical discourse analysis), and shows how these can be implemented to particular case studies from the media and other cultural practices.

Analysing Popular Music

Analysing Popular Music has two major concerns: firstly, to develop a social understanding of transatlantic popular music; and secondly, to develop a cultural-historical perspective on its development over the past hundred years and more. This module introduces you to theoretical approaches to the study of popular music, allowing you to engage in independent critical analysis of popular music and popular musical cultures.

Language, Inequality and Social Justice

Social justice is an important research topic that is inextricably linked to language use. Whether it's racial abuse on social media, prejudice against regional accents in schools, or sexist advertising campaigns, discrimination is a social issue that affects us all in one way or another. This module examines how language can be used to both promote social justice and tackle prejudice and discrimination in a range of institutional and everyday contexts. This module is especially appealing if you wish to pursue a career in advocacy, human resources or journalism.

Intercultural Communication at Work

On this globally-focused module, you will gain the knowledge, skills and strategies to build your intercultural communication competence. Analyse and reflect on the impact of culture(s) on your values, assumptions, perceptions, expectations, and behaviours. Build successful verbal and non-verbal communication strategies in different intercultural settings.

You may choose to take an optional year-long placement in Year Three, either in the UK or overseas.

Please note that optional modules will vary from year to year and this list is indicative only.

Media Communications Major Project

Your Major Project let you create a major piece of work on a topic you're passionate about in media, communications, or culture. Through a 10,000 word research dissertation, this capstone helps build your research and communication skills and prepares you for your future career or studies.

40 credits

Professional Communications 3: Corporations, Organisations, Influencers

This final module in Professional Communications prepares you for diverse careers in media and creative industries. You'll develop entrepreneurial skills, work on real projects with external organizations, and explore roles like freelancing or social media influencing. By the end, you'll be ready to succeed in your chosen career path.

The Body and Popular Culture

Explore representations of the body across a diverse and contemporary range of cultural forms. By applying theoretical perspectives on different bodies in popular cultural to a wide selection of case studies, you will investigate the way that bodies are used and located within the media, addressing themes of gender, race, identity, celebrity bodies, ageing bodies, cyborgs, sexualised bodies, and more.

Global Journalism

Go beyond borders, exploring journalism's worldwide impact, drawing from diverse perspectives. You'll tackle theories from politics, economics, sociology, and more, evaluating how global forces shape journalism. Get ready to research and write a compelling essay on the theory and practice of global journalism.

Client-led Media Production

During this module you'll be able to focus on the development of skills in media production by completing a media project that will be set to a 'real brief'. This is an opportunity for you to enhance your employability options by participating in live projects with a real purpose. This module will encourage you to make connections between theory and practice.

Podcasting

Learn the practical skills needed to compile and produce successful podcasts, while developing an understanding of the role of podcasting in the contemporary media landscape. Guest speakers who are experts in the field will explain the logistics and monetisation of podcasting to provide a better understanding of the economic framework within which podcasting sits.

DJ Cultures: History, Theory and Technique

From obscure roots, the art of DJing has in recent decades exploded into the limelight as a major form of popular culture. No prior experience of DJing is required to take this module, which combines a basic 'taster' introduction to DJ technology and the practical techniques of DJ performance with a theoretical consideration of various styles of DJing, their histories, their related musical experiences and their wider cultural significance and influence.

Lifestyle and Consumer Culture

This Media module develops your knowledge of interdisciplinary approaches to consumption. We will investigate how lifestyles and consumer culture contribute to changing cultural identities and social hierarchies. We will interrogate key concepts such as 'taste', 'choice' and 'authenticity' in a world that encourages individuals to become their own self-brands. Key issues include the 'experience economy', commodity activism and cultures of neoliberal enterprise and austerity. Through assessment you will make sense of your own experiences in consumer society and produce a detailed piece of cultural analysis.

Natural Futures? Global Environmental Catastrophes and the Fate of Life on Earth

Explore the environmental crisis by studying its history, understanding its current impact, and imagining better futures for Earth. You'll learn about different theories, politics, and activism related to the environment and be inspired to become an agent of change for a sustainable world.

Persuasion, Promotion, Propaganda

This module explores how politics shapes our world, focusing on how political leaders and individuals communicate during war and peace. While primarily examining British and American politics, it also looks at political systems in other countries, helping you understand global political dynamics.

New Media and Digital Cultures

This module explores the latest trends and challenges in media communications, focusing on emerging technologies like AI, VR, and blockchain. You'll work on practical projects, such as AI-enhanced content creation and multimedia production, while learning about ethics, data analytics, and the future of digital media.

We regularly review our course content based on student and employer feedback to ensure they remain current and relevant. This may result in changes to module content or availability in future years. Optional modules will only run where there is sufficient demand. This will be determined on a case-by-case basis to protect the academic and student experience.

Student experience

Lola Currin

Media Communications student

“The courses modules were more exciting than other universities I looked at and I felt like I’d enjoy it a lot more.”

Read Lola's profile

Video Gallery

How you're taught

Work experience

You’ll take part in a range of work-related learning and experience opportunities that enhance your professional development. Employability exercises during seminars will help you produce career-based material such as your CV, LinkedIn profile and start to explore potential career areas.

More student opportunities

International exchange

You’ll experience other cultures, travel the globe and open your eyes to a world of opportunities. Our exchange partnership with a number of international universities enables you to live and study in another country in your second year.

Learn a new language

Alongside your study you also have the opportunity to learn a new language. The University Language Programme (ULP) is available to all students and gives you the option of learning a totally new language or improving the skills you already have.

Learning a new language can enhance your communication skills, enrich your experience when travelling abroad and boost your career prospects. Find out more about the University Language Programme.

Creative industries in Nottingham

Nottingham has a thriving creative arts scene which feeds the local creative industries. Many successful TV production, digital design agencies have chosen to base themselves in Nottingham.

The creative industries in Nottingham include organisations like Nottingham Contemporary, Broadway Cinema and Media Centre, Antenna Media Centre and LeftLion.

How you're assessed

We use a varied and diverse range of coursework assessments to develop your skills and support your progress. These include digital projects, reviews, case-studies, essays, presentations and reports.

Our innovative approach to assessment means that in Year One you will develop and enhance a complementary set of key skills for success in second and third year, and throughout the degree the varied assessment pattern will enable you to engage with the past and prepare for your future through an exciting array of projects

Contact hours

For each 20-credit module, you’ll spend about 200 hours learning overall. Around 40 of those hours will be taught in lectures or seminars. The rest of the time is for independent study, reading, research, or working on assignments.

If you’re struggling with a topic or require additional support or guidance, you can arrange to see your tutors in small groups or one-to-one, to discuss essay plans or to seek some specific academic guidance.

Who will teach you?

Valentina Anania

Lecturer

Valentina Anania is an hourly-paid lecturer in the School of Social Sciences.

Visit Valentina Anania's staff profile

Andreas Wittel

Senior Lecturer

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Jodie Heginbotham

Jodie Heginbotham is a Senior Lecturer and Course Leader for NTU's BA (Hons) Media Communications.

Visit Jodie Heginbotham's staff profile

Simon Cross

Visit Simon Cross's staff profile

Nigel Edley

Visit Nigel Edley's staff profile

Cüneyt Çakırlar

Associate Professor

Dr Cüneyt Çakırlar is Associate Professor of Film and Visual Culture. He teaches on a variety of modules in film and media studies.

Visit Cüneyt Çakırlar's staff profile

Colin Alexander (Dr)

Dr Colin Alexander is Senior Lecturer in Political Communications within the School of Social Sciences. He is the Course Leader for the MA Global Media and Communications

Visit Colin Alexander (Dr)'s staff profile

Steven Jones

Principal Lecturer

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Entry requirements

UK students

Standard offer: 112 UCAS Tariff points from up to four qualifications

Contextual offer: 104 UCAS Tariff points from up to four qualifications.

To find out what qualifications have tariff points, please use our tariff calculator.

Additional requirements

Additional requirements for UK students

There are no additional requirements for this course.

Contextual offers

We consider every application in the context of your individual circumstances and educational background. This may include information about where you live, the school or college you attended, or experiences that may have shaped your educational journey. This is known as a contextual offer, and we use information provided through UCAS to help inform our decisions. By considering achievement in context, we can better recognise academic potential and ensure applicants are assessed as fairly and fully as possible.

Meeting our entry requirements

Hundreds of qualifications in the UK have UCAS Tariff points attached to specific grades, including A-levels, BTECs, T Levels and many more. You can use your grades and points from up to four different qualifications to meet our criteria. Enter your predicted or achieved grades into our Tariff calculator to find out how many points your qualifications are worth.

Other qualifications and experience

NTU welcomes applications from students with non-standard qualifications and learning backgrounds, either for year one entry or for advanced standing beyond the start of a course into year 2 or beyond.

We consider study and/or credit achieved from a similar course at another institution (otherwise known as credit transfer), vocational and professional qualifications, and broader work or life experience.

Our Recognition of Prior Learning and Credit Transfer Policy outlines the process and options available for this route. If you wish to apply via Recognition of Prior Learning, please contact the central Admissions and Enquiries Team who will be able to support you through the process.

Getting in touch

If you need more help or information, get in touch through our enquiry form.

International students

Academic entry requirements: 112 UCAS Tariff points from up to four A levels. We accept equivalent qualifications from all over the world. Please check your international entry requirements by country.

English language requirements: See our English language requirements page for requirements for your subject and information on alternative tests and Pre-sessional English.

Additional international requirements

Additional requirements for international students

If you need help achieving the academic entry requirements, we offer a Foundation preparation course for this degree. The course is offered through our partner Nottingham Trent International College (NTIC) based on our City Campus.

English language requirements

View our English language requirements for all courses, including alternative English language tests and country qualifications accepted by the University.

If you need help achieving the language requirements, we offer a Pre-Sessional English for Academic Purposes course on our City campus which is an intensive preparation course for academic study at NTU.

If you have the right level of qualifications, you may be able to start your Bachelors degree at NTU in year 2 or year 3. This is called ‘advanced standing’ entry and is decided on a case-by case basis after our assessment of your qualifications and experience.

You can view our Recognition of Prior Learning and Credit Transfer Policy which outlines the process and options available, such as recognising experiential learning and credit transfer.

Sign up for emails

Sign up to receive regular emails from the International Office. You'll hear about our news, scholarships and any upcoming events in your country with our expert regional teams.

If you need advice about studying at NTU as an international student or how to apply, our international webpages are a great place to start. If you have any questions about your study options, your international qualifications, experience, grades or other results, please get in touch through our enquiry form. Our international teams are highly experienced in answering queries from students all over the world.

Policies

We strive to make our admissions procedures as fair and clear as possible. To find out more about how we make offers, visit our admissions policies page.

Fees and funding

UK students - see the fees for this course, as well as information about funding and support.

£10,050 per year

Find out about the extra support we may be able to provide to help pay for uni, including NTU bursaries and scholarships.

You will need to pay tuition fees for each year that you are at university. The tuition fees, including the placement year and study abroad options are subject to government policy and may change in future years of study.

Preparing for the financial side of student life is important, but we don’t want you to feel anxious or confused about it. Visit our fees and funding pages if you have any concerns.

International students - see the fees for this course, as well as payment advice and scholarships.

£18,400 per year

You will need to pay tuition fees for each year that you are at university. The tuition fees might increase from the second year of your undergraduate course, in line with inflation and as specified by the UK government.

Scholarships

We offer international scholarships of up to 50% of your tuition fee. You can apply for a scholarship when you have an offer to study at NTU.

Living costs

See our advice on managing your money and the cost of living as an international student in Nottingham.

Paying fees

As an international student, you'll need to make an advance payment as part of your offer conditions. You'll then need to pay your tuition fees in full, or have an agreement to pay in two further instalments, in order to enrol on the course.

Find out how and when to pay your fees, including information about your advance payment, instalment dates and how to make payments securely to the University.

Enquiries

If you have any queries relating to advance payments or arrangements to pay, please contact our friendly and experienced international enquiries team.

Additional costs

Your course fees cover the cost of studies and include loads of great benefits, such as the use of our library, support from our expert Employability team and free use of the IT equipment across our campuses. There are just a few additional things you may need to budget for:

IT resources and specialist software

All current students have access to Adobe products on campus via NTU computers such as in the Libraries and specialist computers in the school.

Current students at the university can purchase a single Adobe Creative Cloud licence directly from our online store at a discounted rate.

Textbooks and library books

Your modules will point you to key textbooks and recommended reading. Many are available online, and in our libraries, but some students choose to buy their own copies. You’ll receive resource lists showing where to access eBooks, digital resources and physical copies. Our friendly Library team is always on hand to help you find what you need.

Printing and photocopying costs

The University allocates an annual printing and copying allowance of £20 depending on the course you are studying. For more details about costs for additional print and copying required over and above the annual allowance please see the printing and photocopying information on the Library website.

Field trips

All essential field trip costs will be included in your course fees. There may be the opportunity to take part in optional field trips, which do incur additional costs.

Placements

If you're undertaking a placement year, you'll need to budget for accommodation and any travel costs you may incur whilst on placement. Many of our placement students do earn a salary whilst on placement which can help to cover these living costs.

Fees and funding advice

For more advice and guidance, phone the Student Money Team on +44 (0)115 848 2494.

Cost of living information and support

Managing your money can help you make the most of life at NTU. Here's how we can support you, and now you can make your funding go further.

Cost of living in Nottingham

Our student benefits and free services

Money advice for international students

Careers and employability

Your career development

You’ll possess many of the attributes needed to develop a career in the field of communications and media. These include research; organisation; content production; team-working and time-management skills. Graduates have gone on to work in journalism, events management, marketing, advertising and public relations. This includes roles as a social media consultant; account manager; PR and marketing manager and digital content assistant.

Employability Promise

Personalised support, one-on-one coaching and industry-specific advice – it’s all part of our Employability Promise. And it doesn’t end when you leave NTU – you’ll have access to all our careers services for three years after you graduate (conditions apply).

Graduate employers

Graduates from this course have successful careers in organisations such as:

Capital One

Procter and Gamble

Nottingham Forest Football Club

Royal Air Force

Nottingham Trent University

Our graduates are…

Graduates from this course now work in a wide range of roles such as:

Marketing Executives

Social Media Managers

Influencer Assistants

Events and Engagement Officers

Market Researchers

Teachers

Assessed work-like experience

We’ve embedded at least eight weeks of assessed work-like experience into all of our courses. This gives you the opportunity to apply your learning in real-world scenarios, build your confidence, and develop the experience employers are looking for.

NTU Enterprise

If you’re a budding entrepreneur, NTU Student Enterprise can help you to develop your ideas and innovations and turn them into a reality. We also offer training, mentoring, workshops, financial advice and more to develop your business skills.

Campus and facilities

Media laboratories and equipment

We have specialist media laboratories in our Chaucer building, where you will develop multimedia production skills. Equipment includes:

HDV camcorders

lighting kit

voice recorders

finalCut software

turntables

sound equipment.

This equipment is supported by technical staff and is available as free hire for student project work.

Your campus

NTU’s City Campus has everything you’ll need to stay busy between lectures. As well as the Boots Library and its beautiful roof garden, there’s our stylish Students’ Union building and two-storey, 100-station gym; a whole host of cafés, bars, restaurants and food outlets for every taste; our much-loved Global Lounge; performance and rehearsal spaces for musicians; and much, much more!

Take a few steps off campus and you’ll find yourself in the heart of Nottingham — England’s original ‘rebel city’. It’s one of the UK’s top 10 student destinations, and one of Europe’s top 25. Enjoy a booming indie arts scene, pop-up galleries, the nationally renowned Nottingham Contemporary, two A-list theatres, the iconic Broadway (voted one of the world’s top 100 independent cinemas by Total Film), and a constant rotation of events and exhibitions.

Here are some of the free services, student discount and benefits you'll get studying at NTU

We've carefully considered what benefits and services you need for your studies, so when you join NTU you'll get free printing and materials credits, access to our free WiFi, a copy of Microsoft Office, and even borrow a laptop if yours is out of commission.

For life outside your lectures, you'll enjoy access to over 60 sports clubs and 130 student societies, discounted travel and bike hire, free language learning, award-winning student support and an entertainment programme which is second to none.

See all the benefits and free services you will enjoy as an NTU student.

Societies

Current students run societies in a range of Humanities and Arts subjects including History, Medieval, Film, Filmmaking, Philosophy, Politics and International Relations, and the Book society.

There are also a number of media channels which our students get involved in such as the NTU radio station FlyLive, our student magazine Platform, and TV station TrentTV.

Find out more about student societies at the Student Union website.

Media Study Hub and Kitchen in 360°

Explore City Campus in 360°

Media Laboratories

For more information visit the Media Laboratories page.

Newton and Arkwright

For more information visit the Newton and Arkwright page.

Boots Library

For more information visit the Boots Library page.

Take a virtual tour

Applying

Ready to join us? Then apply as soon as you can. Just click the Apply button and follow the instructions for applying. Make sure you check the entry requirements above carefully before you do.

Keeping up-to-date

After you've applied, we’ll be sending you important emails throughout the application process so check your emails regularly, including your junk mail folder.

You can get more information and advice about applying to NTU on our Your Application page. Good luck with your application!

Apply through UCAS

You can apply directly to the University for an undergraduate course if you’re not applying to any other UK university in the same year. If you are applying to more than one UK university you must apply through UCAS.

Please read our application guidance before you start your application.

We advise you to prepare and apply as early as you can as Student visa processing time can vary.

We'll send you important emails throughout the application process. Please check your emails regularly, including your junk/spam mail folder.

Apply through NTU portal

Personal statement guidance

You’ll submit a personal statement with your UCAS application – here are our tips on what to include and how to structure your personal statement.

Application support

If you have any questions about applying, get in touch through our online form or call us on 44 (0)115 848 4200.

Related courses

English and Media

BA (Hons)

Media Production

Media and Film & TV

Media and Philosophy

More from this subject

View more courses on the Media, Communications, Film and Television subject page

Further study

View Media, Communications, Film and Television postgraduate courses

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