Mass Communication with Public Relations BA Hons

at Northumbria University

As a pathway degree, the BA (Hons) Mass Communication framework provides greater opportunities to tailor your degree to your future career aspirations than most other courses usually offer.

The course’s core and option modules provide you with a detailed knowledge of mass communications, encompassing media and cultural theory, media organisations, technological innovations, creative industries, and consumers.

The first two years of the course will follow a core programme of study, whether you have chosen to study Mass Communication as a single subject or combined with advertising, business or public relations.

In your third year, you will specialise by undertaking specific Public Relations modules, and by completing a dissertation that is applicable to Mass Communications with Public Relations.

You will be assessed via a wide variety of methods including essays, presentations, exams and blogs. The variety of assessment mechanisms will develop your ability to present your ideas in a variety of forms, thereby encouraging you to become a flexible and dynamic thinker.

Modules

Module information is indicative and is reviewed annually therefore may be subject to change. Applicants will be informed if there are any changes.

Year one

• MI4019 -Personal and Professional Practice (Core,20 Credits)
• MP4015 -Approaches to Media and Culture (Core,40 Credits)
• MP4016 -Writing for Digital (Core,20 Credits)
• MP4017 -Key Debates in Media History (Core,20 Credits)
• MP4018 -Media and Morality (Core,20 Credits)
• YA5001 -Academic Language Skills for Arts (Core – for International and EU students only,0 Credits)

Year two

• MP5017 -Media Cultures (Core,20 Credits)
• MP5019 -Researching Audiences (Core,20 Credits)
• MP5021 -Media Methodologies (Core,20 Credits)
• MP5022 -Cultural Identities on Screen (Core,20 Credits)
• MP5023 -Media Industries (Core,20 Credits)
• MP5024 -Media Events (Core,20 Credits)
• YA5001 -Academic Language Skills for Arts (Core – for International and EU students only,0 Credits)

Year three

• AD5001 -Arts Work Placement Year (Optional,120 Credits)
• AD5002 -Arts Study Abroad Year (Optional,120 Credits)
• AT5004 -Year in International Business (This is made up of modules studied in Newcastle (Semester 1) & Amsterdam (Semester 2) (Optional,120 Credits)
• AT5007 -Year in International Multidisciplinary Innovation (4 modules studied in Amsterdam (Semester 1) & Newcastle (Semester 2) (Optional,120 Credits)

Year four

• MP6006 -Media Dissertation (Core,40 Credits)
• MP6021 -Mass Communication Case Study (Optional,20 Credits)
• MP6029 -Cinema and Society (Optional,20 Credits)
• MP6031 -Promotional Writing (Core,20 Credits)
• MP6033 -Public Relations in Context (Core,20 Credits)
• MP6034 -Current Affairs in Public Relations (Core,20 Credits)
• YA5001 -Academic Language Skills for Arts (Core – for International and EU students only,0 Credits)

Entry Requirements 2022/23

Standard Entry

120 UCAS Tariff points

From a combination of acceptable Level 3 qualifications which may include: A-level, T Level, BTEC Diplomas/Extended Diplomas, Scottish and Irish Highers, Access to HE Diplomas, or the International Baccalaureate.

Subject Requirements:

There are no specific subject requirements for this course.

GCSE Requirements:

Applicants will need Maths and English Language at minimum grade 4/C, or an equivalent.

Additional Requirements:

There are no additional requirements for this course.

International Qualifications:

We welcome applicants with a range of qualifications which may not match those shown above.

English Language Requirements: 

International applicants should have a minimum overall IELTS (Academic) score of 6.0 with 5.5 in each component (or an approved equivalent*).

Fees and Funding 2022/23 Entry

UK Fee in Year 1: £9,250

* The maximum tuition fee that we are permitted to charge for UK students is set by government. Tuition fees may increase in each subsequent academic year of your course, these are subject to government regulations and in line with inflation.

EU Fee in Year 1: £16,500

International Fee in Year 1: £16,500

On graduating you will have the knowledge and skills required for employment in a wide range of media-related professions, including careers in the creative and cultural industries, marketing, journalism, management, public relations and press offices.

This course is designed to instil key transferable skills that you will draw upon in your future career, including communication skills, literacy skills, and the ability to work in teams.

Graduates from this course are currently employed by high profile companies such as BBC Digital, Wolff Olins, Framestore and Nexus.