Media, Culture and Identity (extended degree) BA (single honours)

Our Media, Culture and Identity BA will give you the option of kick-starting your career in the creative industries by undertaking a work placement at a leading UK company or organisation. Recent students have worked at the BBC, MTV, Absolute Radio and Vogue.

On this programme you will explore current debates about culture and the ways in which the media brings about social, cultural and political change.

The extended degree programmes include a foundation year, which will provide you with a sound introduction to key elements needed for studying Media, Culture and Identity at degree level. Our extended degree programme will provide you with a thorough and supportive academic preparation for study. The foundation year is carefully designed to build confidence in your abilities, develop essential academic and study skills, and provide you with the subject specific knowledge essential for success.

You will gain an understanding of notions of 'identity' within the context of cultural life and how people engage with media forms such as television, radio, print, digital communication, advertising and social media. The course will equip you with the knowledge and skills you'll need to engage critically and creatively with media and identity, both significant areas of contemporary culture.

During the programme you will consider the relationship between mass media and society and, drawing on other disciplines such as sociology, political science and cultural studies, will be introduced to some of the key approaches to analysing the media-society relationship. Plus, you'll study key developments in the media, how media texts are produced, distributed, regulated and consumed, and the ways in which the media can influence society.

You will also debate the ways the media functions as an important part of any modern democracy, as well as the current debates around freedom of the press and how media appointed critics play a role in helping to shape public opinion.

Being located in London means you can immerse yourself in the creative culture of the capital at festivals, studios, galleries and pop-up cinemas. The course offers work placement module opportunities which could see you work within many areas of the creative industries from TV, film, on-line and print media, arts and campaign organisations, museums, art galleries, theatres and community projects.