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Media and Communication with Foundation Year at University of Portsmouth - UCAS

Course options

There are other course options available which may have a different vacancy status or entry requirements – view the full list of options

Course summary

This is a Connected Degree Portsmouth is the only University in the UK with the flexibility to choose when to do an optional paid placement or self-employed year. Either take a placement in your third year, or finish your studies first and complete a placement in your fourth year. You can decide if and when to take a placement after you've started your course. Overview With our BA (Hons) Media and Communication with Foundation Year degree course, you'll dive deep into the inner workings of media: its present and future, its pivotal role in how we communicate and perceive the world, and the networking industries and institutions that structure communication. Experience the many facets of media communication, from its underpinning theories and marketing functions to hands-on media production. The course has award-winning expert researchers and film producers teaching it, strong industry links in TV, film and journalism, and chances to intern in fascinating areas of the media industries, so you’re always learning the current and best practices in academia and professional practice. You'll gain a flexible range of specialist skills that will allow you to pursue careers in film and TV production, camera departments, sound recording and post production. You can also sidestep into journalism, scriptwriting, advertising, marketing, or public relations. Foundation year If you're new to studying media or don’t meet the required grades for the full degree course, our Foundation Year will bridge that gap. You'll expand your knowledge of media and communication and develop the preparatory skills you'll need for entry into Year 1. If you have the required grades, you can skip the Foundation Year and start at Year 1. Course highlights

  • Shape your course from second year, choosing optional modules that meet your speciality and career ambitions
  • Build your industry experience by taking a one-year placement – either with a company or self-employed
  • Familiarise yourself with professional equipment and facilities used widely in media production – including multi-camera television studios, industry-level film and cinematic cameras, and innovative colour correction hardware
  • Expand your professional network and knowledge by attending guest lectures by visiting professionals
  • Enhance your collaboration and team-working skills by working with students from other courses and schools in the Faculty of Creative and Cultural Industries
  • Demonstrate your technical proficiency to potential employers by achieving industry-recognised Adobe Certified Associate (ACA) qualifications
Careers and opportunities Media communication is a staple of every industry. When you graduate with a Media and Communication degree, you'll become a vital, versatile asset for any employer and any field. Graduate areas You'll be able to work in areas such as:
  • post-production
  • film and TV directing
  • scriptwriting
  • marketing
  • advertising
  • journalism
You can also go into freelancing. Graduate roles Job roles you'll be suitable for include:
  • PR and communications officer
  • social media assistant
  • assistant editor
  • visual media co-ordinator
  • TV researcher
  • camera assistant
  • first or second assistant director
  • sound and vision engineer
  • film/video producer
  • stills photographer
  • production manager
When you finish the course, our Careers and Employability service can help you find a job that puts your skills to work in the industry. After you leave the University, you can get help, advice and support for up to 5 years as you advance in your career.

Modules

Foundation Year Core modules in this year include:

  • Academic Skills (20 credits)
  • Introduction to Filmmaking (20 credits)
  • Introduction to Production Skills (20 credits)
  • Media in Context (20 credits)
  • Writing for the Media: Creative Writing (20 credits)
  • Writing for the Media: Journalism (20 credits)
There are no optional modules in this year. Year 1 Core modules in this year include:
  • Future Production (20 credits)
  • Global Screens (20 credits)
  • Introduction to Media Studies (20 credits)
  • Post Production - Editing (20 credits)
  • Understanding Film Production (20 credits)
  • Writing for the Film and Tv Industries (20 credits)
There are no optional modules in this year. Year 2 Core modules in this year include:
  • Film Production Practices (20 credits)
  • Finding Form - Fiction (20 credits)
  • Media Networks: Exploring Digital Culture (20 credits)
Optional modules in this year include:
  • Broadcast Radio and Podcasting (20 credits)
  • Comic Book Industries (20 credits)
  • Engaged Citizenship Through Interdisciplinary Practice (20 credits)
  • Factual Media Production (20 credits)
  • Film and Ethics (20 credits)
  • Film Curation (20 credits)
  • Film Sound Production (20 credits)
  • Production: Camera and Editing (20 credits)
  • Production: Short Film-Making (20 credits)
  • Professional Experience (20 credits)
  • Screen Media (20 credits)
  • Student Enterprise (20 credits)
  • Transmedia Narratives and Strategies (20 credits)
Year 3 Core modules in this year include:
  • Professional Industry Skills (20 credits)
Optional modules in this year include:
  • Digital Media and Democracy (20 credits)
  • Documentary Film-Making (20 credits)
  • Film and Media Dissertation (40 credits)
  • Finding Form - Fact and Fiction (20 credits)
  • Global Journalism and Human Rights (20 credits)
  • Independent Creative Project (40 credits)
  • Magazines: Print Media in a Digital World (20 credits)
  • Marketing Movies (20 credits)
  • Media Fan Cultures (20 credits)
  • Practical Video Project (40 credits)
  • Self Promotion (20 credits)
Placement year (optional) On this course, you can do an optional work placement year after your 2nd or 3rd year to get valuable experience working in industry. We’ll help you secure a work placement that fits your situation and ambitions. You’ll get mentoring and support throughout the year. We use the best and most current research and professional practice alongside feedback from our students to make sure course content is relevant to your future career or further studies. Therefore, some course content may change over time to reflect changes in the discipline or industry and some optional modules may not run every year. If a module doesn’t run, we’ll let you know as soon as possible and help you choose an alternative module.

Assessment method

You'll be supported practically and academically throughout each module that you take. Your practical work will be based on, and assessed, using a concept, research, development and resolution approach. Film and TV practice is reinforced by a project report and peer assessment sheets. This work will support your development in all areas of pre-production, production and post-production. You’ll be able to test your skills and knowledge informally before you do assessments that count towards your final mark. You can get feedback on all practice and formal assessments so you can improve in the future.


How to apply

Application codes

Please select a course option – you will then see the application code you need to use to apply for the course.

Points of entry

The following entry points are available for this course:

  • Foundation
  • Year 1
  • Year 2
  • Year 3

Entry requirements for advanced entry (i.e. into Year 2 and beyond)

We welcome applications for advanced entry. If you’d like to apply for advanced entry, you need to select the required year when you complete your UCAS application.

Entry requirements

Qualification requirements

Other qualifications such as Vocational A levels (AVCE), BTECs and Access courses will also be considered.


English language requirements

TestGradeAdditional details
IELTS (Academic)6English language proficiency at a minimum of IELTS band 6.0 with no component score below 5.5.
Cambridge English AdvancedCambridge English: Advanced (CAE) (taken after January 2015). An overall score of 169 with no component score less than 162.
Cambridge English ProficiencyCambridge English: Proficiency (CPE) (taken after January 2015). An overall score of 169 with no component score less than 162.
PTE Academic62An overall score of 62 with a minimum of 59 in each skill.
TOEFL (iBT)7979 with a minimum of 18 in Reading, 17 in Listening, 20 in Speaking and 17 in Writing.
Trinity ISEPassTrinity College Integrated Skills in English (ISE) Level III with a Pass in all 4 components.

Student Outcomes

Operated by the Office for Students

There is no data available for this course. For further information visit the Discover Uni website.

Fees and funding

Tuition fees

EU £9535 Year 1
England £9535 Year 1
Northern Ireland £9535 Year 1
Scotland £9535 Year 1
Wales £9535 Year 1
Channel Islands £9535 Year 1
Republic of Ireland £9535 Year 1
International £17900 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 who are resident in EU countries: please note that the net fee is inclusive of the Transition Scholarship Placement Year and Year abroad (at the time of publishing for 2024/25): UK/Channel Islands and Isle of Man students – £1,385 EU – £1,385 (including Transition Scholarship) International (Non-EU) – £2,875. Fees are accurate at the time of publishing and are subject to change at any time without notice. All fees are subject to annual increase. For more information about fees, go to port.ac.uk/study/undergraduate/undergraduate-fees-and-student-finance/tuition-fees-living-costs-and-other-study-costs
Media and Communication with Foundation Year at University of Portsmouth - UCAS