Please note there are no vacancies on this course for September 2024
This course will run as advertised for the full three years. A new version of the course will be launched for 2025 – replacing the 2024 version.
Please note we are unable to offer deferred places for this academic year.
Page last updated 23 September 2024
This course equips you with a deep understanding of media culture so you can communicate effectively between media makers, organisations, their clients and end users.
Graduates with strong digital media production and research skills are highly sought after in the cultural and media communications sectors.
Gaining insight into the development of our contemporary, globally-connected media landscape, you'll learn to develop your own media content, and become highly adept at communicating to diverse audiences.
BA(Hons) Media Communications is for students looking to build their creative media skills, by understanding and researching audiences, and communicating ideas effectively to them.
You'll design your own projects and work with our external partners in Bristol's unique cultural and media industries to create a portfolio of work oriented to your chosen career.
You'll study a mix of theory, production and research-based modules, and carry out coursework, developing your confidence through writing, research, production, project design and coordination.
Develop enterprise skills and strong self-reliance, and gain the confidence and flexibility to adopt digital media innovations just over the horizon.
The course is immersed in diverse industry collaborations that link students to the city's key creative media makers and cultural organisations, including Watershed, the Pervasive Media Studio, Bristol Festival of Ideas, the Arnolfini and M-Shed museums.
Showcase your work to talent scouts and potential employers at the final year Degree Show and develop your own individual research and practice to reflect your interests and career plans.
The pattern of work placements and graduate destinations our students pursue represent a wide range of careers both within and outside the media sector.
Graduates go on to work as media campaign producers and coordinators for charities, or in social media marketing for enterprises. Others take up project management in areas such as broadcast and online media production, museums and education.
Graduates can also progress to postgraduate study on courses like our MA Curating.
You'll register onto our BA(Hons) Media Communications. As you progress through the course, you'll have the opportunity to specialise in different areas via module choices and to graduate with the BA(Hons) Media Communications award.
The optional modules listed are those that are most likely to be available, but they may be subject to change.
You'll study:
You'll study:
Plus, one optional modules from:
If you study on the four year (sandwich) course, you'll spend a year away from the University on a work placement after year two.
During this time students must complete the Professional Development on Placement module.
See the Placements and Fees sections for more information.
You'll study:
*This module is not available to study if you complete the (sandwich) work placement year.
Plus, one optional module from:
This structure is for full-time and sandwich students only. Part-time students study the same modules but the delivery pattern will be different.
The University continually enhances our offer by responding to feedback from our students and other stakeholders, ensuring the curriculum is kept up to date and our graduates are equipped with the knowledge and skills they need for the real world. This may result in changes to the course. If changes to your course are approved, we'll inform you.
Focusing on Bristol as a centre of arts and culture, you'll test concepts, theories and ideas using the city as a living brief.
You'll build diverse skills in production (digital photo and video, sound design, interactive and online media production and software), campaigning, project management, writing and presenting.
In the final year, you'll produce a major practical project or dissertation, to showcase your writing and making skills.
Learn through a mix of lectures, seminars, workshops, field trips, projects, placements, student-led research and live briefs.
Work with experienced media practitioners, many of whom work closely with Bristol's media organisations, and are actively involved in research through UWE Bristol's Digital Cultures Research Centre.
Take part in research events and conferences, and student-led and public-facing projects, to gain insight into this fast-paced sector.
Gaining experience across different aspects of media communication in year one, you'll then have the option to shape your degree, based on your module choices.
See our full glossary of learning and teaching terms.
Approximate percentage of time you'll spend in different learning activities*:
| Year | Scheduled learning and teaching study | Independent study | Placement study |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 28% | 72% | 0% |
| 2 | 22% | 78% | 0% |
| 3 | 24% | 76% | 0% |
*calculated from compulsory and option module choices (where applicable) each year.
On average, you'll attend class activities for 10-12 hours a week over 24 weeks, with additional time allocated for production workshops and working on group projects.
Outside class time, we expect you to prepare course readings and complete writing and research exercises, essays, production exercises and projects.
You'll also complete a library workbook in the first semester of year one.
There's a balanced mix of group and individual work. You'll be assessed through exams and a variety of assignments including written work, presentations, research essays, extended projects, and digital media projects and portfolios.
Projects might include photo books, interactive documentaries, film, video and digital design work.
See our full glossary of assessment terms.
Approximate percentage of marks awarded by each assessment method*:
| Year | Written exam assessment | Coursework assessment | Practical exam assessment |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 13% | 87% | 0% |
| 2 | 0% | 88% | 12% |
| 3 | 16% | 74% | 10% |
*Calculated from compulsory and optional modules (where applicable) each year.
In the summer break of year two, you can take a work placement for up to 20 days or equivalent (this is a requirement for applying to study the Work Experience module in the final year).
Students will also have the opportunity of working with external partners in their final year as part of the Communication Live Brief module.
If you choose the four-year (sandwich) course, you'll spend a year away from the University on a work placement after year two. Your placement will be at least 26 weeks long and relevant to your course.
Students who get work experience tend to graduate with better degrees. Experience also hones your skills, industry knowledge and professional network, making you a sought after graduate.
Bristol's approach to media culture and production is unique. Discover a vibrant mix of media arts, innovation and activism and engage with the local creative and cultural industries throughout the course.
Get help to find placements and support throughout from department staff and our award-winning careers service.
You'll explore the region, conducting research that draws on Bristol's cultural and media scene, at no extra cost to you.
You can also attend optional research trips to cultural events, exhibitions or festivals to supplement your coursework-based field research.
You'll be based at Frenchay Campus and also work at City Campus at Watershed and Arnolfini, learning from creative industry producers and doing research for project-based assignments.
Learn in excellent facilities with bespoke computing suites, creative media software, and areas for moving and still image production and editing.
Use our HD video cameras, digital SLRs and industry-standard software for photographic, video and web-based production on both Apple Mac and PC platforms.
Our experienced technical staff will provide you with support and instruction to build your technical production skills.
Learn more about UWE Bristol's facilities and resources.
Take a Virtual Tour of the Journalism and Media facilities and see what's on offer here for you.
An excellent range of options for all of the Bristol campuses and the city centre.
A stunning city for student living with all the qualities to make you want to stay.
There is more to your experience here than study. Choose to make the most of it and try new things.
We provide support in the way you need it.
Discover our campuses and the wealth of facilities provided for our students.
Graduate with the skills, research and content development experience to work in a range of media-related organisations.
Your skills will be relevant across a broad variety of professional media production contexts, including marketing and promotions, community media, the small to medium enterprise sector, the heritage and museum sector and charity sector.
You could also go on to do a postgraduate qualification, such as our popular MA Curating.
Our award-winning careers service will develop your employment potential through career coaching and find you graduate jobs, placements and global opportunities.
We can also help find local volunteering and community opportunities, provide support for entrepreneurial activity and get you access to employer events.
Visit our employability pages to learn more about careers, employers and what our students are doing six months after graduating.
Your overall entitlement to funding is based on how long the course is that you're registered on.
Standard funding is allocated based on the standard number of years that your course lasts, plus one additional year.
You'll apply for funding each year that you study and Student Finance will take into account how long the course is in each year that you apply. So if you register for the four year course and then transfer to the three year course, the number of years you can apply for funding will change. Student Finance will reassess your funding based on how many years you have been in study, not just those years for which you received student finance.
Always seek advice before taking any action that may have implications for your funding.
This refers to items you could need during your studies that aren't covered by the standard tuition fee.
These could be materials, textbooks, travel, clothing, software or printing.
International and EU applicants are required to have a minimum overall IELTS (Academic) score of 6.0 with 5.5 in each component (or approved equivalent*).
*The university accepts a large number of UK and International Qualifications in place of IELTS. You can find details of acceptable tests and the required grades you will need in English Language requirements section.
For information on required Guided Learning Hours please see our minimum entry requirements page.
For country specific entry requirements please find your country on the Country Information pages. If you are an international student and do not meet the academic requirements to study this course, you can qualify by completing preparatory study at our International College.
If you are applying to study at UWE Bristol and require additional support to meet our English language requirements, you may be able to attend one of our pre-sessional English courses. Read more about our Pre-Sessional English Programme.
Read more about undergraduate applications.
Read more about international applications and key international deadline dates.