Media and Communication

Full entry requirements

Media and Communication at Leicester

Our staff are experts in many different areas of communications and the media, who are dedicated to excellence in teaching and research.

Our courses are among the most renowned in the country and we work hard to make our students feel welcomed. We are proud of our relationship with our students and are on hand should you need advice or assistance in any way during your time with us. The positive atmosphere that is created is demonstrated by students’ loyalty and satisfaction with their choice of degree and institution.

Why Media and Communication at Leicester?

Places: 28
Applications: 440
National Student Survey: 96% of students satisfied overall with their course.
Position in 2013 Subject League Tables: Independent 7th.
Example Jobs: Account Executive; Business Recruitment Consultant; Care Worker; Marketing Assistant; Marketing Executive; Media Sales Adviser; Operations Analyst; Lecturer; Social Media Associate.
Example Employers: BSkyB; London Cambridge News; City Index; Dunelm Mill; Leicester College; Sky Media; Web Liquid Group.
Example Postgraduate Courses: MA Marketing; MA New Media and Society; MSc Media and Communication Research.
Example jobs and employers information comes from the University’s ‘Where Did They Go?’ survey, and shows destinations of 2010/11 graduates six months after graduation.

The Department of Media and Communication has played a leading role in media and communications research nationally and internationally since its launch in 1966. It was the first academic department dedicated to the study of media and communications in the UK and has maintained an impressive reputation for scholarship and teaching in this field.

As a student in the Department you will find yourself working in a progressive academic environment which draws on the enthusiasm and inter-disciplinary knowledge of its staff. Our teaching is informed by the research that goes on within the Department. The Department incorporates four research groups and our work is supported by major government and international organisations such as the BBC, UNESCO, EPSRC, ESRC, Nuffield Foundation and the Department for Education and Skills.

We draw from different academic disciplines including cultural studies, psychology, sociology and film studies. Our research interests include the study of advertising, political economy, journalism, public relations, new media and popular culture. 

The Department has dedicated teaching areas at its new headquarters, Bankfield House and you will also have access to the David Wilson Library, an award winning, state-of-the-art building.

A new optional module, Media and Communications in Practice, will enable you to carry out a work placement as part of your degree. We are actively engaged in developing links with local media and media-related companies and support our students in applying for work experience and placements. We also provide extensive careers related advice throughout the course via our personal tutor system and specially organised careers briefings and events.

Teaching, Learning and Assessment

Students take six modules per academic year worth 20 credits each with a dissertation in the Final Year worth 40 credits. For most modules there are 30 hours contact time and 120 hours of private study.

Our modules are taught via a combination of teaching methods such as lectures, seminar discussions and screenings and one-to-one supervision for dissertations in Year 3.

Students are also provided with additional workshops in Year 1, where they will learn about study skills, essay writing and preparing for exams.

For most modules there are three elements of assessment: essay, exam and presentation. The essays count for 40%–50% of the total module mark, the presentation for 10%–20%, and the exams for 40–50%, depending upon the year within the degree.

Course Opportunities

There are opportunities for students on both the BSc Communications, Media and Society and BA Media and Sociology to study at a university overseas in the Second Year of their degree. Our partner Universities include:

• Utah State University (USA)
• Illinois State University (USA)
• University of Miami (USA)
• University of Windsor (Canada)
• Deakin University (Australia)
• Swinburne University (Australia)

Skills Gained

The inter-disciplinary nature of our degrees means that you will develop a broad and rich understanding of the media in today’s increasingly globalised and networked world, as well as acquiring knowledge of the historical development of different media industries.

Our courses are theoretical in focus, with practical components. During your studies you will also acquire valuable personal and transferable skills including:

• Communication oral and written
• Problem-solving and research
• Presentation
• Numeracy
• IT
• Project management
• Team working

The lifelong learning skills provided by our degrees will enable you to critically and objectively address complex problems or issues, to work independently, and manage your time effectively. These are attributes that employers value.

The Television Production, Music as Communication and Research Methods modules will also enable you to develop practical skills, such as using cameras and editing suites, creating sound performances, or handling research data. All of these modules also have a strong emphasis on team-based skills, with their orientation towards group work and responsibility.

Graduate Opportunities

We actively support our students in applying for work experience and placements. We also provide extensive careers related advice throughout the course via our personal tutor system and specially organised careers briefings and events.

The module Employability in the Media enables you to get crucial work experience and develop professional skills in local media and media-related companies.

Our graduates tend to find employment in the communication field in the widest sense, which is in all areas from public relations and advertising through to media production itself. Many students also develop interests in teaching and areas of social work. The knowledge and skills students acquire on our programmes can also equip them for jobs in government, regulatory bodies, public policy think tanks, market research and business analysis companies.

There are also great opportunities for further postgraduate study in this field, including here at Leicester. More information about the careers of our graduates can be found on our website.

Full entry requirements

Opportunities to Visit and Further Information

Choosing where and what to study at university is an important decision for you. We believe it is important to give you the opportunity to talk to our admissions team, so you can find out whether our programme is the right choice for you.

For further information, please contact:
Admissions Secretary, Anne Jacques, Chandni Naker
0116 252 3863
Fax: 0116 252 5276
mediacom@le.ac.uk
www.le.ac.uk/mediacom/

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