Bachelor of Arts (Hons) - Contemporary Media Cultures
- 3 years
- Duration
- 30,890 GBP/year
- Price
- September
- Start
- June
- Deadline
- Bachelor
- Degree
- Campus
- Format
- London / United Kingdom
- Location
Program description
The BA (Hons) Contemporary Media Cultures course is delivered at London College of Communication and equips you to become an effective communicator and changemaker within the media and creative industries. Focusing on social justice, equality, and sustainability, the course explores how media drives social transformation and how to intervene for positive change.
You will investigate media cultures through the critical analysis and creation of audio, visual, and digital texts, developing a deep understanding of media theory and advocacy. The curriculum encourages collaboration with peers, communities, and professionals, preparing you to navigate dynamic cultural landscapes as an advocate, activist, or creative professional with a portfolio of critical and creative work.
Program structure
Year 1
- Introduction to Contemporary Media Cultures (20 credits)
- Content for Creative Communication (20 credits)
- Representation, Diversity and Equality (20 credits)
- Media, Communications and Culture (20 credits)
- Platforms and Social Media (20 credits)
- Community, Media and Change (20 credits)
Year 2
- Professional Industry Practice (20 credits)
- Global Media Businesses, Practices and Cultures (20 credits)
- Media and the Environment (20 credits)
- Interventions: Contemporary Media Activisms (20 credits)
- Communication Research Methods (20 credits)
- Level 5 Option Unit (20 credits)
This unit will enable you to choose an option that supports the further development of your creative production skills. Recent units offered have included:
- Content Creation: Digital and Web
- Content Creation: Film and Video
- Content Creation: Podcasting and Audio
- Professional Skills: Building Brands
- Professional Skills: Data and Social Media Analysis
- Professional Skills: Influencer Marketing Communications
Year 3
- Research Project (40 credits)
- Creative Futures (20 credits)
- Final Major Project (40 credits)
- Level 6 Option Unit (20 credits)
You’ll have the opportunity to choose from a range of research-based options and specialist topics to develop your interests across media and communications.
The following units will be offered each year:
- Critical Sound Cultures
- Futures Thinking
- Information Warfares: Misinformation, Conspiracy and Extremism
- Love in a Digital Age
- Special Topics*
*Your selection of special topics may potentially include:
- Comedy and Satire in Media and Communications
- Community Management
- Digital Humanitarianism
- Food Cultures
- Global and Indigenous Media
- Rhetoric, Media and Political Communication
Optional Diploma between Years 2 and 3
Price
Tuition fee:
- 30,890 GBP per year*
*Tuition fees for international students may increase by up to 5% in each future year of your course.
During your studies, you may need to cover extra costs which are not included in your tuition fees. You might need to budget for materials and equipment specific to your course. You may also need a laptop or other digital tech/software.
Requirements for applicants
The standard entry requirements for this course are as follows:
104 UCAS tariff points, which can be made up of one or a combination of the following accepted full level 3 qualifications:
- A Levels at grade C or above (preferred subjects include: English; History; Media; Business; Art and Design, or other subjects within Social Sciences).
- Distinction at Foundation Diploma in Art & Design (Level 3 or 4).
- Distinction, Merit, Merit at BTEC Extended Diploma (preferred subjects: Art and Design, Business/ Business Studies, Media).
- Merit at UAL Extended Diploma.
- Access to Higher Education Diploma (preferred subject: Digital and Creative Media, Marketing, Humanities and Social Sciences, Film and Production).
- OR equivalent EU/International qualifications, such as International Baccalaureate Diploma at 24 points minimum
- And 3 GCSE passes at grade 4 or above (grade A-C).
Applicants who do not meet these course entry requirements may still be considered in exceptional cases.
The course team will consider each application that demonstrates additional strengths and alternative evidence. This might, for example, be demonstrated by:
- Related academic or work experience
- The quality of the personal statement
- A strong academic or other professional reference
- A combination of these factors.
Each application will be considered on its own merit but we cannot guarantee an offer in each case.
English language requirements
- IELTS level 6.0 or above, with at least 5.5 in reading, writing, listening and speaking.
About the university
The University of the Arts London (UAL) produces and encourages the creativity essential for a better future. Its colleges have been at the forefront of innovative education since 1842, creating work with a lasting impact on people and the planet, driven by curiosity, imagination, and purpose.
London is fundamental to UAL's identity, providing a vital context where the university connects and exchanges ideas with individuals from all walks of life. Globally, its creative network influences education, culture, business, and society.
Through innovative research and creative instruction, UAL's faculty and staff bring fresh perspectives to education. The university enables students to build the careers they desire by working with them at every level - from pre-degree to postgraduate, and from short courses to online learning.
UAL's colleges
Ranked second in the world for art and design, UAL comprises six distinct colleges:
- Camberwell College of Arts
- Central Saint Martins
- Chelsea College of Arts
- London College of Communication
- London College of Fashion
- Wimbledon College of Arts
Together, they form a community of creatives, innovators, trailblazers, and storytellers, united in their mission to reimagine the future.
Courses in the visual arts, animation, screen, communication, fashion, media, and performance are available at the undergraduate and graduate levels.
