BA Media and Cultural Studies
About this course
BA Hons in Media and Cultural Studies, a cultural studies and media studies degree examining the relationship between media, society, identity, and power structures across traditional and digital platforms. Core topics include Research Methods, Critical & Analytical Thinking, Artificial Intelligence & Machine Learning, and Global & Comparative Perspective. The course culminates in a media independent project where students can undertake an in-depth study of their own choice. The first year introduces foundational concepts through core modules such as Understanding Media and Culture, Transformations in Digital Media, Media, Power and Identity, and Screens and Selves, with optional choices spanning sociology and the arts. The second year builds critical and analytical abilities through Key Perspectives in Global Media and Culture, Media in Question, and Designing Media Research. In the final year, students focus on their independent project while selecting from optional modules covering topics such as media industries, participatory cultures, documentary production, and AI futures.
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Entry requirements
A level: ABB IB: 32 points overall with 16 points from the best 3 HL subjects
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Admissions (2022 entry, home applicants)
Offer rate 85%: 46 offers from 54 applications, from the university's Freedom of Information return.
What students say
Based on about 20 final-year students who answered (a small group: a rough guide only)
- Teaching on my course: 91%
- Learning opportunities: 88%
- Assessment and feedback: 80%
- Academic support: 96%
- Organisation and management: 89%
- Learning resources: 96%
- Student voice: 86%
Do students stay on the course?
Based on about 55 students who started
- Continued on course: 96%
- Left higher education: 4%
What graduates do next
Based on about 13 graduates who answered, across similar courses at this university (a small group: a rough guide only)
- Working: 70%
- Working and studying: 10%
- Further study: 10%
- Unemployed: 5%
Most common jobs
- Administrative occupations: 20%
- Business and public service associate professionals: 15%
- Welfare and housing associate professionals: 10%
- Protective service occupations: 10%
- Elementary occupations: 5%
- Find their work meaningful: 50%
- Feel on track for their future plans: 50%
- Use what they learnt on the course: 35%
Where graduates work (5 years on)
Based on about 25 graduates, across similar courses at this university (a small group: a rough guide only)
- North East: 5%
- North West: 45%
- Yorkshire and the Humber: 10%
- East Midlands: 5%
- West Midlands: 20%
- London: 5%
- South East: 5%
- Wales: 5%
Who gets in
Based on about 65 students who started
- A levels: 22%
- Other HE qualification: 78%
Accreditation & quality ratings
TEF 2023 (whole university): Gold overall, Silver for student experience, Gold for student outcomes.
Modules
- Understanding Media and Culture
- Transformations in Digital Media
- Media, Power and Identity
- Screens and Selves
- Thinking Sociologically
- The Arts and Identity (Discovery module)
- British Cinema
- Public Sociology: Understanding and Creating Social Change
- Consumers and Communications
- Language in Mind and Society
- Key Perspectives in Global Media and Culture
- Media in Question
- Designing Media Research
- Gender and Sexuality in Popular Culture
- Literary Adaptation
- Race, Racism and Inequality
- Visual Cultures
- Digital Cultures
- Short Film Production
- Transnational Debates on Gender and Society
- Welfare States: Poverty, Policy and Politics
- Language and Creativity in Advertising
- Employability, Purpose and Social Impact (Discovery module)
- Media Independent Project
- Media Industries
- Audiences, Fans and Participatory Cultures
- Mediating the Body
- Documentary Production
- Health, Bodies and Social Reproduction
- Artistic Fusions (Discovery module)
- People Power and Collective Action (Discovery module)
- Confronting the Climate Crisis (Discovery module)
- Queer Futures (Discovery module)
- The Making of Media and AI Futures
- Contemporary Issues in Marketing
- Festival of the Future
- Environment and Society: Crisis, Justice and Change
- Migration, Inequalities and Societies
Questions about this course
How much do graduates of BA Media and Cultural Studies at Lancaster University earn?
The median salary is £26,000 after 15 months, £19,500 after 3 years, £23,500 after 5 years. After five years the middle half of graduates earn between £19,500 and £33,000.
What do graduates of BA Media and Cultural Studies at Lancaster University do next?
95% were in work or further study 15 months after finishing (Graduate Outcomes 2023-24).
Are students happy with the teaching on BA Media and Cultural Studies at Lancaster University?
91% 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 Cultural Studies at Lancaster University?
The typical offer is ABB at A level, or 32 points in the IB. The average entrant had 130 UCAS points.
What is the offer rate for BA Media and Cultural Studies at Lancaster University?
85% of home applicants received an offer for 2022 entry: 46 offers from 54 applications, according to the university's Freedom of Information return.
How many students continue on BA Media and Cultural Studies at Lancaster University?
96% of students continued into their second year, and 4% left higher education.