BA (Hons) Media & Communications
By bringing together media practice and communications theory, this degree covers a broad spectrum of critical perspectives on the media, and introduces a range of contemporary media practices.
3 years full-time.
P300.
AAB or equivalent; see find out more about our general entrance requirements.
Please see undergraduate tuition fees.
Contact the Admissions Tutor, media-comms@gold.ac.uk.
Download a booklet [PDF, 571KB]
This programme offers a solid basis of practical experience in media production, and an understanding of how the media functions. We aim to provide an experience in which theory and practice elements influence and enrich each other in your production of original work. This degree is academically demanding and intensive, and we recognise the importance of supporting your learning with high quality teaching.
What you study
The degree consists of two elements: media theory and practice. In the first year, the theory element introduces you to the study of verbal and visual languages, and encourages you to assess changes in the media. You'll be acquainted with debates surrounding the term 'culture', and will look at how experiences of gender, age and race affect our understanding of the concept. You'll also examine various media texts, and take a course that will address theories of society and approaches to the modern state as they relate to media. In practice, you take an induction course that introduces you to some of the practice options offered by the Department – currently television (with the possibility of film fiction specialisation in years two and three), radio, journalism, animation, illustration, photography, and creative writing (script and short story). There is also a specialisation in interactive media in years two and three. You then choose two practice options.
In the second year you take theory courses covering a range of approaches to the study of communications and the media. You'll look at theories of postmodernity, identity and globalisation; be introduced to differing psychological perspectives on the analysis of culture and communications; consider cultural theory; and investigate concepts of audience. Practice courses introduce you to media production in a different area to the one you studied in year one; you'll apply production skills in the creation of small-scale projects, and develop critical skills through the analysis of examples and of work produced in each area. You then choose a practice area in which to specialise.
The third year involves the research, planning and production of a major project or a portfolio of work in the practice area in which you specialised in year two, and for theory you choose from a selection of options.
Assessment
Coursework, seen and unseen written papers, essays/logs, project work.
Register your interest
If you register your interest in this programme we will keep you informed about open days and send you relevant further information.
Courses and structure
Over the period of the degree you take courses to the value of 360 credits, 120 credits in each year.
Year 1
Media Theory
You take the following compulsory 15 credit core courses:
- Media History and Politics
- Culture and Cultural Studies
- Key Debates and Concepts in Media
- Representation and Textual Analysis
- Introduction to Media and Technologies
Media Practice
You take the following compulsory core courses:
- Induction to Media Practice (15 credits) [you choose five from seven media practice areas]
- Media Production Option 1 (30 credits) [options one and two are chosen from seven media practice areas]
Year 2
Media Theory
You take the following compulsory 15 credit courses:
- Intellectual Foundations of Social Theory
- Communications Psychology and Experience
- Culture Society and the Individual
- Media Economy and Society
Media Practice
You take:
- Media Production Option 2
- Media Production Specialisation (30 credits)
Year 3
Media Theory
You can choose any combination of options or dissertation to the value of 60 credits. Options offered recently are:
- Political Economy of the Mass Media
- Structure of Contemporary Political Communications
- Media Audiences and Media Geographies
- Media Ethnicity and Nation
- Music as Communication and Creative Practice
- Contemporary Cultural Practice
- Explorations in World Cinema
- Screen Cultures
- Embodiment and Experience
- Cinema and Society
Media Practice
You undertake the research, planning and production of a major project or a portfolio of work in the practice area in which you specialised in Year 2 (60 credits).
Assessment
Coursework, extended essays, reports, practical work, and seen and unseen written examinations.
Skills and careers
Skills
Some of the skills you'll develop during a Media and Communications degree include:
- critical and analytical skills
- proficiency in assessing evidence and in expressing ideas clearly
- ability to bring together insights from a range of subjects
- IT skills
- communications skills
- journalistic and creative writing skills
Careers
Alumni from the Department have gone on to careers in television, radio, the press, publishing, film-making, advertising, marketing and public relations, web design, teaching and research, advertising, arts and administration, business and industry, European Union private sector management and personnel work, and many more both in the media industries and elsewhere.
About the department
The Department of Media & Communications
The Department of Media and Communications at Goldsmiths is one of the UK’s leaders in the field of media theory and media practice.
This reputation teamed with a thriving research and postgraduate community makes Goldsmiths a lively and challenging place to study Media and Communications.
The Department offers a range of undergraduate and postgraduate degrees and has over 700 students.
Key facts
- An internationally recognised Department. The 2008 RAE exercise places Goldsmiths’ Department of Media and Communications among the top four in the country for this subject area. 80% of work submitted fell within the two highest bands in the new system – that is to say ‘World Leading’ and ‘Internationally Excellent’.
- Commitment to teaching of the highest standard resulting in a score of 22/24 in the Teaching Quality Assessment Exercise, with an emphasis on high quality lectures and small group work.
- Teaching is led by research active staff including some of the leading names in media, cultural and communications studies.
- We concentrate on high quality lectures, small group work and all our teaching takes place on one site.
- We attract students from a wide range of backgrounds – mature students, international students, students from south-east London and from all over Britain. We welcome every student’s contribution to the Department.
- Research strengths include: the political economy of the mass media, transnational media, political communications, popular music, new technologies, new media economies and cultures, news journalism, film, feminism, critical psychology, contemporary British art and the fashion industry.
Facilities
The Department has up-to-date facilities in all of its media areas, and aims to provide practice facilities that emulate current industry use.
These include:
- digital and analogue acquisition for time-based media and photography
- radio and TV Studios
- photography studios
- digital video and audio editing
- ENPS facility
- animation and image manipulation software and hardware
- traditional darkrooms
- computer rooms for student production
Rutherford Building
The audio-visual collection held on campus in the (RB) has an exceptionally good music section and thousands of videos and DVDs to supplement those shown on the programme. Long opening hours mean that you can be flexible in terms of when you choose to study.
New Academic Building
Opened in September 2010 and located at the top of the College Green, the New Academic Building is the new centre for the Department of Media and Communications. The new facilities maximise students’ ability to develop their skills through modern technological and purpose built accommodation and equipment. The new building houses a large lecture theatre, meeting spaces and a café with outside seating.
Equivalent GCE A-level qualifications
| BTEC National Diploma |
Access courses |
Scottish qualifications |
European Baccalaureate |
International Baccalaureate |
Other requirements |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DDD/DDM | 60 Credits including 45 at level 3 (with Merits in related modules)
|
ABBBB (Higher)
ABB (Advanced Higher) |
80% | Pass with at least 35 points, with 6, 6, 6 at HL | - |
Goldsmiths, University of London, New Cross, London, SE14 6NW, UK
Telephone: + 44 (0)20 7919 7171
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