BA Media and Cultural Studies (Placement Year)
About this course
BA Hons in Media and Cultural Studies (Placement Year) is an undergraduate cultural studies degree examining how contemporary media shapes social realities, identities, and power structures. Core topics include Research Methods, Critical & Analytical Thinking, Artificial Intelligence & Machine Learning, and Global & Comparative Perspective. The course includes a compulsory professional placement year and culminates in an independent final project. The first year covers core foundations through Media, Power and Identity, Screens and Selves, Transformations in Digital Media, and Understanding Media and Culture. The second year progresses to advanced analysis through Designing Media Research, Key Perspectives in Global Media and Culture, and Media in Question. The third year consists of a dedicated work-based placement in a professional graduate role. The final year centres on the Media Independent Project, allowing students to undertake self-directed study on a chosen topic. Optional modules across the degree enable specialisation in areas such as digital cultures, gender and sexuality, short film production, visual cultures, audiences and fan cultures, and media industries.
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
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%: 29 offers from 34 applications, from the university's Freedom of Information return.
What students say
Based on about 51 final-year students who answered, across similar courses at this university
- Teaching on my course: 92%
- Learning opportunities: 87%
- Assessment and feedback: 80%
- Academic support: 95%
- Organisation and management: 82%
- Learning resources: 92%
- Student voice: 80%
Do students stay on the course?
Based on about 10 students who started (a small group: a rough guide only)
- Continued on course: 90%
- Left higher education: 10%
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 95 students who started, across similar courses at this university
- A levels: 72%
- Baccalaureate: 2%
- Other HE qualification: 26%
Accreditation & quality ratings
TEF 2023 (whole university): Gold overall, Silver for student experience, Gold for student outcomes.
Modules
- Media, Power and Identity
- Screens and Selves
- Transformations in Digital Media
- Understanding Media and Culture
- The Arts and Identity (Discovery module)
- British Cinema
- Consumers and Communications
- Public Sociology: Understanding and Creating Social Change
- Designing Media Research
- Key Perspectives in Global Media and Culture
- Media in Question
- Digital Cultures
- Gender and Sexuality in Popular Culture
- Short Film Production
- Visual Cultures
- Employability, Purpose and Social Impact (Discovery module)
- Global Challenges and Collaborative Solutions (Discovery module)
- Taking an Idea and Making it Happen (Discovery module)
- Work Based Learning Year
- Media Independent Project
- Audiences, Fans and Participatory Cultures
- Contemporary Issues in Marketing
- Festival of the Future
- Media Industries
- Mediating the Body
- The Making of Media and AI Futures
- Queer Futures (Discovery module)
- People Power and Collective Action (Discovery module)
- Confronting the Climate Crisis (Discovery module)
- Artistic Fusions (Discovery module)
Questions about this course
How much do graduates of BA Media and Cultural Studies (Placement Year) 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 (Placement Year) 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 (Placement Year) at Lancaster University?
92% 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 (Placement Year) at Lancaster University?
The typical offer is ABB at A level, or 32 points in the IB. The average entrant had 138 UCAS points.
What is the offer rate for BA Media and Cultural Studies (Placement Year) at Lancaster University?
85% of home applicants received an offer for 2022 entry: 29 offers from 34 applications, according to the university's Freedom of Information return.
Does BA Media and Cultural Studies (Placement Year) at Lancaster University include a placement year or year abroad?
The course has a compulsory placement year.
How many students continue on BA Media and Cultural Studies (Placement Year) at Lancaster University?
90% of students continued into their second year, and 10% left higher education.