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Journalism and Digital Media with Foundation Year at Birkbeck, University of London - UCAS

Course options

2025 - 2026
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Birkbeck, University of London has participated in the Teaching Excellence Framework. These ratings were awarded in 2023, for four years.

Course summary

Our BA Journalism and Digital Media course combines cutting-edge thinking with the latest innovations in professional practice to immerse you fully in all aspects of digital media. On the practical side you’ll learn how to design, research and communicate digitally, while academic modules allow you to explore what it means to engage with digital media as well as to live in today’s thoroughly digitalised world. Vocationally oriented modules are delivered by seasoned professionals, who will not only teach you how to use specialist software and technologies, but also how to achieve high standards of:

  • aesthetics
  • functionality
  • user experience.
At the same time, you will be pushed to think critically about digital media in ethical, philosophical and political terms. Drawing on the best of Birkbeck's journalism and digital provision, the BA Journalism and Digital Media presents a unique opportunity to gain an independent, university-level qualification focused on practical, professional skills. That means graduating with enhanced capacities for critical thinking, research and analysis, as well as the technical and industrial savvy needed to build a career in today’s media and cultural industries. If you opt for the Foundation Year route, this will fully prepare you for undergraduate study. It is ideal if you are returning to study after a gap, or if you have not previously studied the relevant subjects, or if you didn't achieve the grades you need for a place on your chosen undergraduate degree. This course has an evening timetable with lectures, seminars and classes taking place in the evening. Highlights
  • Acquire up-to-date skills and knowledge from experienced practitioners at the heart of London's global media industry and leading academic researchers in the field, such as Professor Tim Markham, Joel McKim, Scott Rodgers and Justin Schlosberg.
  • Attend our dynamic programme of seminars, events and guest lecturers organised by affiliated research centres and networks.
  • In film, media and cultural studies, Birkbeck fosters an especially research-intensive environment. We offer an extensive portfolio of internationally respected courses that span a variety of academic disciplines and engage with the latest ideas and techniques in journalism, media and cultural theory, arts policy and management, film and television studies, creative marketing, digital culture and East Asian cultural studies.
  • We also affiliate with a number of research centres and networks, including Birkbeck Interdisciplinary Research in Media and Culture (BIRMAC), Birkbeck Institute for the Moving Image (BIMI), Vasari Research Centre for Art and Technology and the Centre for French, Francophone and Comparative Studies (CFFCS).
  • Birkbeck was ranked as one of the top four universities in the UK for its Art and Design research in the 2021 Research Excellence Framework.
Careers and employability Graduates can pursue career paths in:
  • journalism (newspapers and magazines, print, online and digital)
  • public relations
  • creative industries.
This degree can also provide transferable skills and knowledge to work across a broad range of professional communications roles and settings. We offer a comprehensive careers service - Careers and Enterprise - your career partner during your time at Birkbeck and beyond. At every stage of your career journey, we empower you to take ownership of your future, helping you to make the connection between your experience, education and future ambitions.

Modules

For information about course structure and the modules you will be studying, please visit Birkbeck’s online prospectus.

Assessment method

Essays, journalistic writing, blogging, layout, video, podcasting.

How to apply

29Jan

This is the deadline for applications to be completed and sent for this course. If the university or college still has places available you can apply after this date, but your application is not guaranteed to be considered.

Application codes

Course code:
PP57
Institution code:
B24
Campus name:
Main Site
Campus code:
-

Points of entry

The following entry points are available for this course:

  • Foundation

International applicants

If English is not your first language or you have not previously studied in English, our usual requirement is the equivalent of an International English Language Testing System (IELTS Academic Test) score of 6.5, with not less than 6.0 in each of the sub-tests. We also accept other English language tests.

Entry requirements

Qualification requirements

We welcome applicants without traditional entry qualifications as we base decisions on our own assessment of qualifications, knowledge and previous work experience. We may waive formal entry requirements based on judgement of academic potential.

Student Outcomes

Operated by the Office for Students
60%
Employment after 15 months (Most common jobs)
65%
Go onto work and study

The number of student respondents and response rates can be important in interpreting the data – it is important to note your experience may be different from theirs. This data will be based on the subject area rather than the specific course. Read more about this data on the Discover Uni website.

Fees and funding

Tuition fees

England £9535 Year 1
Northern Ireland £9535 Year 1
Scotland £9535 Year 1
Wales £9535 Year 1
International £18060 Year 1

Tuition fee status depends on a number of criteria and varies according to where in the UK you will study. For further guidance on the criteria for home or overseas tuition fees, please refer to the UKCISA website .

Additional fee information

Students are charged a tuition fee in each year of their course. Tuition fees for students continuing on their course in following years may be subject to annual inflationary increases.
Journalism and Digital Media with Foundation Year at Birkbeck, University of London - UCAS