Media, Journalism and Culture (BA)
- Subject area: Journalism, media and culture
- UCAS code: R5V2
- Next intake: September 2024
- Duration: 3 years
- Mode: Full time
Why study this course
Leading the way
Put yourself at the forefront of Journalism and Communications in an internationally recognised and high-ranking school.
Capital connections
Cardiff is thriving; take advantage of growing media and creative industries plus links to BBC Wales and Media Wales, situated next door.
State of the art facilities
Including a specialised onsite library, bright study spaces and six newsrooms.
Multimedia and multisector insight
Beyond media industries and journalism, delve into areas like film, television, social/digital platforms and marketing and PR.
Placement opportunities
Develop the skills, confidence and connections to accelerate your career.
The overall aim of our Media, Journalism and Culture course is to equip you to become a well-informed citizen in a media-saturated society.
Our courses study the many facets of journalism, media, culture and communications, and consider in an era of globalisation and dynamic social change their impact on society, politics and popular culture. They provide you with job-specific skills such as research methods and optionally, journalistic practice as well as much broader transferable skills valuable to a range of sectors.
This degree begins from the assumption that in order to understand modern society, we need to understand the central role that media and the cultural industries play in that society.
While you will be able to take a limited number of more practical modules, the emphasis of the degree is academic and analytical.
You will join a stimulating intellectual environment committed to maximising your potential through personal development and careers events. Many of our experienced lecturers are internationally recognised in their subject areas.
While this course is both challenging and academic in nature, it does NOT provide vocational journalism training.
Subject area: Journalism, media and culture
Entry requirements
We accept a combination of A-levels and other qualifications, as well as equivalent international qualifications subject to entry requirements. Typical offers are as follows:
A level
ABB-BBB
Extended/International Project Qualification: Applicants with grade A in the EPQ/IPQ will typically receive an offer one grade lower than the standard offer. Please note that any subject specific requirements must still be met.
Our grade range covers our standard offer and contextual offer. We carefully consider the circumstances in which you've been studying (your contextual data) upon application.
- Eligible students will be given an offer at the lower end of the advertised grade range.
- Where there is no grade range advertised and/or where there are selection processes in place (like an interview) you may receive additional points in the selection process or be guaranteed interview/consideration.
Learn about eligible courses and how contextual data is applied.
International Baccalaureate
32-31 overall or 665 in 3 HL subjects.
Baccalaureate Wales
From September 2023, there will be a new qualification called the Advanced Skills Baccalaureate Wales (level 3). This qualification will replace the Advanced Skills Challenge Certificate (Welsh Baccalaureate). The qualification will continue to be accepted in lieu of one A-Level (at the grades listed above), excluding any specified subjects.
Other essential requirements
.You must have or be working towards:
- English language or Welsh language at GCSE grade B/6 or an equivalent (such as A-levels). If you require a Student visa, you must ensure your language qualification complies with UKVI requirements.
We do not accept Critical Thinking, General Studies, Citizenship Studies, or other similar equivalent subjects.
We will accept a combination of BTEC subjects, A-levels, and other qualifications, subject to the course specific grade and subject requirements.
English language requirements
GCSE
Grade B or grade 6 in GCSE English Language.
IELTS (academic)
At least 7.0 overall with a minimum of 6.0 in each subskill.
TOEFL iBT
At least 100 overall with a minimum of 20 in each subskill.
PTE Academic
At least 76 overall with a minimum of 62 in all communicative skills.
Trinity ISE II/III
II: Not accepted.
III: at least a Merit in all components.
Other accepted qualifications
Please visit our English Language requirements page for more information on our other accepted language qualifications.
Criminal convictions
You are not required to complete a DBS (Disclosure Barring Service) check or provide a Certificate of Good Conduct to study this course.
If you are currently subject to any licence condition or monitoring restriction that could affect your ability to successfully complete your studies, you will be required to disclose your criminal record. Conditions include, but are not limited to:
- access to computers or devices that can store images
- use of internet and communication tools/devices
- curfews
- freedom of movement
- contact with people related to Cardiff University.
Other qualifications from inside the UK
BTEC
DDM in a BTEC Extended Diploma in Arts, Humanities and Social Science subjects.
T level
D in one of the following T Level subjects:
- Digital production, design and development
- Digital support and services
- Digital business services
- Media, broadcast and production
Please see our admissions policies for more information about the application process.
Interview or selection process
No interview process, offer holders will be invited to Applicant Visit days in Feb/March each year.
Tuition fees for 2024 entry
Your tuition fees and how you pay them will depend on your fee status. Your fee status could be home, island or overseas.
Learn how we decide your fee status
Fees for home status
| Year | Tuition fee | Deposit |
|---|---|---|
| Year one | £9,000 | None |
| Year two | £9,000 | None |
| Year three | £9,000 | None |
The University reserves the right to increase tuition fees in the second and subsequent years of a course as permitted by law or Welsh Government policy. Where applicable we will notify you of any change in tuition fee by the end of June in the academic year before the one in which the fee will increase.
Students from the EU, EEA and Switzerland
If you are an EU, EEA or Swiss national, your tuition fees for 2024/25 be in line with the overseas fees for international students, unless you qualify for home fee status. UKCISA have provided information about Brexit and tuition fees.
Fees for island status
Learn more about the undergraduate fees for students from the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man.
Fees for overseas status
| Year | Tuition fee | Deposit |
|---|---|---|
| Year one | £22,700 | None |
| Year two | £22,700 | None |
| Year three | £22,700 | None |
Learn more about our tuition fees
Financial support
Financial support may be available to individuals who meet certain criteria. For more information visit our funding section. Please note that these sources of financial support are limited and therefore not everyone who meets the criteria are guaranteed to receive the support.
Additional costs
Course specific equipment
You will not need any specific equipment.
Accommodation
We have a range of residences to suit your needs and budget. Find out more on our accommodation pages.
Living costs
We're based in one of the UK's most affordable cities. Find out more about living costs in Cardiff.
Course structure
The BA in Media, Journalism and Culture is a three-year, full time, modular course. Most modules include 12 weeks of teaching and the rest of the semester is devoted to exams and other kinds of assessment, along with the processes of marking and exam boards.
The modules shown are an example of the typical curriculum and will be reviewed prior to the 2024/2025 academic year. The final modules will be published by September 2024.
Year one
All of our single honours degree programmes share a common first year. This is designed to give you a sound foundation in all of the contemporary and historical contexts of journalism, media and culture. It also introduces you to the practicalities of high-quality academic writing, analysis and research.
Five core 20-credit modules are taught mainly using a lecture/seminar format. During your lectures you will be introduced to new ideas and approaches and carry out more applied and team-based work in your seminars.
| Module title | Module code | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| History of Mass Communication and Culture | MC1110 | 20 credits |
| Media Scholarship | MC1115 | 20 credits |
| An Introduction to Media Audiences | MC1118 | 20 credits |
| Advertising and the Consumer Society | MC1119 | 20 credits |
| Understanding Journalism Studies | MC1578 | 20 credits |
| Module title | Module code | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Representations | MC1114 | 20 credits |
| Cymru: Y Senedd, Y Straeon a'r Spin | MC1117 | 20 credits |
Year two
Two core and four optional modules are taught mainly using a lecture/seminar format, although the tasks developed in seminars will be more ambitious.
You will be expected to develop research protocols, both on your own and in groups, and will begin to experiment with and design methodological procedures (such as survey methods, ethnography, and content and discourse analysis).
By the end of year two, you will have the skills necessary to write a dissertation in year three.
| Module title | Module code | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Media, Power and Society | MC2116 | 20 credits |
| Doing Media Research: Approaches and Methods | MC3551 | 20 credits |
Year three
The final year consists of an optional dissertation and a choice of elective modules allowing you to specialise in your areas of interest. While a number of these will be based on a lecture/workshop format, the range of teaching methods will be more diverse and involve assignments of greater complexity and challenge.
You will conduct independent research and apply theoretical ideas and approaches to practical and/or analytical work.
The University is committed to providing a wide range of module options where possible, but please be aware that whilst every effort is made to offer choice this may be limited in certain circumstances. This is due to the fact that some modules have limited numbers of places available, which are allocated on a first-come, first-served basis, while others have minimum student numbers required before they will run, to ensure that an appropriate quality of education can be delivered; some modules require students to have already taken particular subjects, and others are core or required on the programme you are taking. Modules may also be limited due to timetable clashes, and although the University works to minimise disruption to choice, we advise you to seek advice from the relevant School on the module choices available.
Learning and assessment
Our teaching is often led and informed by our research. You will be taught in a supportive environment and assigned a personal tutor who is a member of academic staff and able to advise on a wide range of issues.
There will be multi-media and new media learning and production practices should you opt for some of the more practical journalism and media modules.
How will I be supported?
You will have regular meetings with your personal tutor.
You will have access through the Learning Central website to relevant multimedia material, presentations, lecture handouts, bibliographies, links, electronic exercises and discussion circles.
The University offers a range of services including the Careers Service, the Counselling Service, the Disability and Dyslexia Service, the Student Support Service, and excellent libraries and resource centres.
How will I be assessed?
A number of modules involve formative methods of assessment. These usually involve the production of proposals for research based essays (including the dissertation), allowing module tutors the opportunity to provide feedback before you embark on more substantial pieces of written work or other projects. In some cases, formative assignments will have a summative element, and form part of the overall assessment.
The School of Journalism, Media and Cultural Studies guarantees that for assessed work:
- the marking criteria will be clearly displayed
- you will receive detailed typed written comments on your text
- you will receive prompt feedback and all assessed work will be returned to you within four weeks
- the feedback will be explanatory and worded to help you improve
- where necessary we will meet you individually to ensure you understand the feedback
NOTE: The University welcomes applications from disabled students and we may be able to offer alternative assessment methods. However, this may not always be possible, for example where performance is a mode of assessment in a performance module. Such competence standards may limit the availability of adjustments or alternative assessments, but you should refer to the module descriptions for details.
What skills will I practise and develop?
You will acquire and develop a range of valuable skills, both discipline specific and more generic ‘employability skills’, which will allow you to:
- read, analyse and synthesise complex academic texts
- analyse different media texts, including word, image and sound
- communicate clearly, concisely and persuasively in writing and speech
- learn from constructive criticism and incorporate its insights
- work both independently and as part of a team, developing a collaborative approach to problem-solving
- carry out various forms of independent research for essays, projects, creative productions or dissertations
- work to deadlines and priorities, managing a range of tasks at the same time
- use IT programmes and digital media, where appropriate
- take responsibility for your own learning programme and professional development
Other information
Global Opportunities
Studying, working or volunteering abroad as part of your university experience is a great way to broaden your academic knowledge, immerse yourself in another culture and gain skills that will be highly valued by employers. You are able to apply for placements across Europe and internationally through a number of recognised schemes as part of your degree programme.
European destinations include Erasmus University Rotterdam (Netherlands) and Stockholm University (Sweden). International destinations include University of Sydney (Australia), University of Ottawa (Canada), Auckland University of Technology (New Zealand) and University of Pennsylvania (USA).
Careers
Career prospects
Our students have an excellent reputation for finding employment after they graduate and find their skills to be helpful in a range of communications and public relations roles.
They benefit from an ability to write copy quickly, effectively and for a specific audience. Our graduates often succeed in business due to their ability to structure a coherent written and verbal argument when pitching their business ideas.
Some of our graduates utilise their newfound knowledge of current affairs and world politics to pursue a career in journalism.
Because our undergraduate degrees do not provide journalism training or a journalistic accreditation, many chose to progress on to our Masters courses, such as broadcast, magazine, news or computational journalism, to gain their practical training. Find out more about careers and employability.
In fact, you will gain skills applicable to a range of modern media driven jobs, recent career pathways and roles have included:
- TV Production – Producer and researcher
- Advertising – Copy writer and campaign manager
- Public Relations – Account manager and writer
- Teaching – Various disciplines
- Journalism – Local reporter and blogger
- Movie Production – Writer and producer
- Publishing – Writer and copy editor
- Communications – Press/communications officer
Studying in Welsh
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How to apply
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HESA Data: Copyright Higher Education Statistics Agency Limited 2021. The Higher Education Statistics Agency Limited cannot accept responsibility for any inferences or conclusions derived by third parties from its data. Data is from the latest Graduate Outcomes Survey 2019/20, published by HESA in June 2022.
