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
- post-production
- film and TV directing
- scriptwriting
- marketing
- advertising
- journalism
- 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
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)
- 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)
- Film Production Practices (20 credits)
- Finding Form - Fiction (20 credits)
- Media Networks: Exploring Digital Culture (20 credits)
- 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)
- Professional Industry Skills (20 credits)
- 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)
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
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:
- P30F
- Institution code:
- P80
- Campus name:
- Main Site
- Campus code:
- -
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.
This course may be available at alternative locations, please check if other course options are available
Entry requirements
Qualification requirements
UCAS Tariff - 48 - 56 points
A level - DEE - EEE
Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diploma (first teaching from September 2016) - MPP - PPP
Access to HE Diploma
Scottish Higher
Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Diploma (first teaching from September 2016) - MM - MP
Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Certificate (first teaching from September 2016) - D* - D
Scottish Advanced Higher
International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme
Welsh Baccalaureate - Advanced Skills Challenge Certificate (last awarded Summer 2024)
Leaving Certificate - Higher Level (Ireland) (first awarded in 2017)
Cambridge International Pre-U Certificate - Principal
GCSE/National 4/National 5
T Level - P - M
Other qualifications such as Vocational A levels (AVCE), BTECs and Access courses will also be considered.
English language requirements
Test | Grade | Additional details |
---|---|---|
IELTS (Academic) | 6 | English language proficiency at a minimum of IELTS band 6.0 with no component score below 5.5. |
PTE Academic | 54 | An overall score of 54 with a minimum of 51 in each skill. |
TOEFL (iBT) | 79 | 79 with a minimum of 18 in Reading, 17 in Listening, 20 in Speaking and 17 in Writing. |
Cambridge English Advanced | Cambridge English: Advanced (CAE) taken after January 2015. An overall score of 169 with no component score less than 162. | |
Cambridge English Proficiency | Cambridge English: Proficiency (CPE) taken after January 2015. An overall score of 169 with no component score less than 162. | |
Trinity ISE | Pass | Trinity College Integrated Skills in English (ISE) Level III with a Pass in all 4 components |
Student Outcomes
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
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
Provider information
University of Portsmouth
University House
Winston Churchill Avenue
Portsmouth
PO1 2UP