BA Media and Communication with Foundation Year
About this course
BA (Hons) in Media and Communication with Foundation Year, a media studies degree encompassing audio storytelling, journalism, digital content creation, and cultural analysis. Core topics include Data Analysis, Statistics, Research Methods, Historical Research, Critical & Analytical Thinking, and Entrepreneurship. Students complete a compulsory foundation year before progressing to undergraduate study, with an optional placement year and an optional year abroad available during the course. The course begins with Year 0, featuring compulsory modules such as Literature, Creative Project, Academic Skills and Personal Development, and History, alongside optional choices like Children's Literature and Education, English, Mathematics, Politics and Policy, and Society and Culture. Year 1 introduces foundational practice through Media Industries, Photography in the Media, Newswriting, Analysing Media, The Moving Image, and Podcast Professional. Year 2 advances into critical and practical study with Curating Contemporary Television, Celebrity Media and Culture, and Media Research, while optional modules include Documentary & Factual Production, Feature Writing, Ideology, Discourse, and Power, Print Design and Production, Media Entrepreneurship: the business of creative communication, Future Trends in Journalism, Writing and Publishing: Gaming, and Writing for Impact. The final year comprises compulsory modules such as Media Dissertation, Technology, Surveillance and Screen Media, and Gendered Cyberspace, alongside options including Non-Linear Narratives, Audio Adventures, Start Up Journalism, and Data Science and Data Journalism. A placement module, Placement Learning and Professional Development, supports the optional placement year.
Written by AI from the university's course page and module list. It can get details wrong, so check the official course page before you rely on it.
Entry requirements
UCAS tariff: 72 A level: DDD T Level: Pass BTEC: MMP GCSE: GCSE Maths and English are preferred, however, if you don't have these qualifications you will be able to undertake Maths and English at Level 2 as part of your course of study Access to HE: N/A English language: IELTS: 6.0 (with at least 5.5 in each skills area)
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What students say
Based on about 22 final-year students who answered, across similar courses at this university (a small group: a rough guide only)
- Teaching on my course: 86%
- Learning opportunities: 87%
- Assessment and feedback: 87%
- Academic support: 85%
- Organisation and management: 64%
- Learning resources: 89%
- Student voice: 81%
Do students stay on the course?
Based on about 70 students who started, across similar courses at this university
- Continued on course: 87%
- Left higher education: 13%
What graduates do next
Based on about 8 graduates who answered, across similar courses at this university (a small group: a rough guide only)
- Working: 85%
- Working and studying: 10%
- Unemployed: 10%
Most common jobs
- Business and public service associate professionals: 25%
- Process, plant and machine operatives: 15%
- Media Professionals: 15%
- Science, engineering and technology associate professionals: 10%
- Artistic, literary and media occupations: 10%
- Find their work meaningful: 80%
- Feel on track for their future plans: 65%
- Use what they learnt on the course: 50%
Where graduates work (5 years on)
Based on about 90 graduates, across similar courses at this university
- North West: 3%
- Yorkshire and the Humber: 8%
- East Midlands: 45%
- West Midlands: 24%
- East of England: 7%
- London: 3%
- South East: 6%
- South West: 2%
- Wales: 1%
- Scotland: 1%
- Northern Ireland: 1%
Who gets in
Based on about 60 students who started, across similar courses at this university
- A levels: 95%
- Access course: 2%
- Other qualifications: 2%
- No formal qualifications: 2%
Accreditation & quality ratings
TEF 2023 (whole university): Gold overall, Gold for student experience, Silver for student outcomes.
Modules
- Placement Learning and Professional Development
- Literature
- Creative Project
- Academic Skills and Personal Development
- History
- Children's Literature and Education
- English
- Mathematics
- Politics and Policy
- Society and Culture
- Media Industries
- Photography in the Media
- Newswriting
- Analysing Media
- The Moving Image
- Podcast Professional
- Curating Contemporary Television
- Celebrity Media and Culture
- Media Research
- Documentary & Factual Production
- Feature Writing
- Ideology, Discourse, and Power
- Print Design and Production
- Media Entrepreneurship: the business of creative communication
- Future Trends in Journalism
- Writing and Publishing: Gaming
- Writing for Impact
- Media Dissertation
- Technology, Surveillance and Screen Media
- Gendered Cyberspace
- Non-Linear Narratives
- Audio Adventures
- Start Up Journalism
- Data Science and Data Journalism
Questions about this course
How much do graduates of BA Media and Communication with Foundation Year at University of Derby earn?
The median salary is £25,000 after 15 months, £20,000 after 3 years, £23,500 after 5 years. After five years the middle half of graduates earn between £20,500 and £30,000. The £23,500 median after five years is £2,500 less than the UK median for Media studies.
What do graduates of BA Media and Communication with Foundation Year at University of Derby do next?
90% were in work or further study 15 months after finishing (Graduate Outcomes 2023-24).
Are students happy with the teaching on BA Media and Communication with Foundation Year at University of Derby?
86% of final-year students were positive about the teaching in the National Student Survey 2025-26.
What grades do I need for BA Media and Communication with Foundation Year at University of Derby?
The typical offer is DDD at A level. The average entrant had 111 UCAS points.
Does BA Media and Communication with Foundation Year at University of Derby include a placement year or year abroad?
The course has an optional placement year and an optional year abroad.
How many students continue on BA Media and Communication with Foundation Year at University of Derby?
87% of students continued into their second year, and 13% left higher education.