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Journalism and 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

Are you a budding journalist keen to acquire practical journalistic skills? Do you want to gain a sophisticated understanding of the rapidly changing fields of journalism and media? If so, our BA Journalism and Media is ideal with its combination of academic analysis and practical teaching from experienced industry professionals. Why choose this course?

  • This BA Journalism and Media gives you the opportunity to gain an independent, university-level qualification focused on strategic and advanced skills. Not only will you gain practical knowledge of the journalism field, but you will also gain the skills needed to build, manage and navigate a career within today's media landscape.
  • The course offers you insights afforded by a degree that investigates the political, social and cultural dimensions of news and media as well as allowing you to master the full range of vocational skills required to work across different genres, mediums and platforms of journalism and media production.
What you will learn Our BA Journalism and Media offers a unique multidisciplinary approach, challenging you to develop an understanding of the political, historical, cultural and social contexts in which journalists operate, take advantage of new opportunities and develop your own specialism and voice. This is complemented by practical modules, in which you will learn how to write, create, design, research and curate across a range of journalistic specialisations, genres and platforms. How you will learn This BA Journalism and Media offers you a combination of lectures, seminars and workshops with an emphasis on interaction and engagement. Academic modules draw on theoretical traditions that harness the history of ideas to understanding the myriad issues we face today. You’ll engage with authors from a wide range of disciplines including politics, cultural studies and sociology. Our practical modules are taught by established media professionals who will equip you with all the skills you need to write, research and communicate as a journalist, as well as how to design and produce print publications, audio and video. You’ll be encouraged to develop your own passions into professional specialisations, and learn how to navigate the media industries. The course is offered full- or part-time. It has an evening timetable with lectures, seminars and classes taking place in the evening. Foundation Year 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. 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.
  • Attend our dynamic programme of seminars, events and guest lecturers organised by affiliated research centres and networks.
  • In film, media and cultural studies, Birkbeck offers an extensive portfolio of internationally respected courses that span journalism, media and cultural theory, arts policy and management, film and television studies, creative marketing, digital culture and East Asian cultural studies.
  • 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 On successfully graduating from this BA Journalism and Media, you'll have gained an array of transferable skills, including:
  • an advanced critical ability in the use of theoretical perspectives
  • research, analysis and project management skills
  • fluency with academic concepts and theories.
Graduates can pursue career paths in:
  • journalism
  • media
  • public relations
  • creative industries.

Modules

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

Assessment method

Academic essays, journalistic writing, audio/visual productions, blogging, mind maps, conceptual representations and digital media projects.

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:
PP5H
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 Media with Foundation Year at Birkbeck, University of London - UCAS