BA (Hons) Media and Performance Bachelor's degree at the University of Salford
BA (Hons) Media and Performance at University of Salford. You'll work with industry-standard tools and techniques, developing the hands-on expertise needed to work professionally in media.
About this course
TV. Radio. Film. From the camera to the microphone, gain all the tools you need to establish yourself as a media professional. Learn more and apply today. From the provider’s course page.
BA (Hons) Media and Performance is a Bachelor's degree (BA (Hons)) at the University of Salford. It runs 3 years, studied full-time.
For Media studies graduates from this provider, 97% were in work or further study 15 months after graduating, 62% in highly skilled roles, typical earnings around £24,500. (HESA Graduate Outcomes / LEO, via Discover Uni.)
For the typical curriculum, specialisations, career paths and graduate earnings for Media & Communications, see the sections below.
Course evidence score
The arithmetic mean of the official measures available for this course: NSS satisfaction, graduate activity and continuation.
Published threshold met NSS publication requires sufficient responses; small differences are not a rank. NSS mean of 7 published themes (Discover Uni snapshot 2026-06-21)
Limited evidence Published sample: 15; treat comparisons cautiously. Cohort 2021-23. Graduate Outcomes work or further study 97% (2021-23; Discover Uni snapshot 2026-06-21)
Published threshold met Discover Uni suppresses continuation data below its publication threshold. Cohort 2022-23. Continuation 90% (2022-23; Discover Uni snapshot 2026-06-21)
Curriculum & modules
Real modules published for this course, grouped only where the source gives a year, stage or level.
Year one 6 modules
- Critical and Textual Studies
Module details
Delivered through seminars, micro-lectures and screenings of primary media and performance texts. Introduces analytical approaches through close reading of play texts, screen texts (film), and live performance. Covers form, mise en scène, semiotics, theatricality, liveness, comedic principles and cinematography.
- Acting for Recorded Media
Module details
Acquaints you with the range and scope of television and radio drama and involves exploration of techniques for performing on camera or for the microphone, providing knowledge of fundamental procedures and skills of studio operation.
- Acting Methods 1
Module details
Primarily practical module which focuses on creative approaches central to characterisation within naturalistic drama. Applies Stanislavski-based approaches to performing published texts and introduces textual analysis.
- Production Skills
Module details
Combines both technical and creative aspects of media production as you develop a broad awareness of skills required for video production, including camera, lighting, editing and sound.
- Production Workshop
Module details
Building on Production Skills module, offers deeper exploration of moving image production from idea development through pre-production, production, and post-production. Introduces director and producer roles. Students write and produce a five-minute film.
- Analysing Screen Fiction
Module details
Provides comprehensive introduction to theories that underpin creation, interpretation, and impact of film and television. Involves critical analysis of iconic films and television series from different genres and time periods, examining visual and narrative techniques, themes, and subtextual meanings. Covers diversity, inclusion, media ethics, and streaming platforms.
Year two 16 modules
- Performance Studies
Module details
Through lectures, screenings and seminars, further develops approaches to textual critical analysis and academic writing skills. Examines artistic movements of 20th and 21st centuries, specifically focusing on impact of Postmodernism across performing arts.
- Radio Performance and ProductionOptional
Module details
Enables you to work on exercises designed to develop characterisation, vocal expression and tonal variety in performing audio drama. Introduces studio equipment for recording and editing and contributes to studio management.
Assessment: Assessed on performance and production of recorded radio drama script.
- Directing and ProducingOptional
Module details
Highlights central role of story and explores aesthetic dimensions of directing and producing for screen, alongside decision-making and problem-solving in camera, lighting, sound recording, video editing, artistic resources, and time management. Students view and discuss media texts, analysing directorial, editing, and sound design techniques.
- Integrated Production SkillsOptional
Module details
Gives skills to fulfil core crew roles on video production and learn how production techniques elevate creative ideas. Emphasises decision-making and technical problem-solving in camera, lighting, sound recording and video editing within context of creating an advert.
- PresentingOptional
Module details
Delivered by seminars and practical classes in MediaCity studios. Explores exercises such as performing pieces to camera, engaging with audience, working with green screen, autocue and studio talkback, shopping TV, vlogging, and performing with energy, clarity and correct intonation. Create presenting showreel.
- Comedy Writing and PerformanceOptional
Module details
Explores writing and devising of comedy. Watch, listen to and discuss examples of online, radio and TV comedy before creating original comedy sketch ideas and developing scripts and characters. Open to writers, performers, comedians, and anyone investigating how to devise, write and produce effective comedy material.
- Acting for the CameraOptional
Module details
Develops practical skills with technical exercises such as hitting marks, cheating eye-lines and body angles, regulating movement in relation to camera, avoiding dialogue overlaps. Further develops awareness and interpretative skills in translating textual and sub-textual elements into effective performance to camera.
- Page to Stage: Drama Texts in TranslationOptional
Module details
Two-pronged approach: raises issues about how to approach dramatic texts in translation; focuses on relationship between actor, director, and dramaturg as central means of moving theatre text from page to stage.
- Introduction to ScreenwritingOptional
Module details
Develop original idea for short screenplay from one-line pitch into treatment, scene-by-scene breakdown and script. Covers character, story, structure and dialogue. Learn industry-standard formatting, participate in script development workshops.
- PlaywritingOptional
Module details
Experiment with variety of theatre writing styles and forms. Read and explore cutting-edge 21st century plays. Covers craft of playwriting: character, dialogue, narrative, form, and stagecraft. Write short play. Explores business of playwriting and professional opportunities.
- Shakespeare In PerformanceOptional
Module details
Examines developments in staging Shakespeare from Elizabethan times to 21st century. Covers 20th/21st century approaches to and presentation of Shakespeare texts in both live and recorded performance. Explore approaches such as political, feminist, intercultural through work of RSC, Peter Brook, Robert Lepage and Kenneth Branagh.
Assessment: Collaborate to perform own interpretation of Shakespeare scene or give presentation of critically informed view of Shakespeare play.
- Programme Production TechniquesOptional
Module details
Explore practical and creative challenges in planning and producing a studio-based TV show. Based in professional quality TV studio on MediaCityUK campus.
- Theatre and CommunitiesOptional
Module details
Provides practical knowledge and theoretical understanding of Applied Theatre and its uses as tool for social engagement outside conventional theatre environments. Work-based learning project with Learning and Engagement teams at partner arts organisations such as The Lowry, HOME, Z Arts and DIY. Shadow applied theatre practitioner and co-facilitate workshops.
- Introduction to Theatre DirectingOptional
Module details
Series of workshop/seminars introduces role of director using range of contemporary and historical play texts. Explore and apply appropriate theatrical vocabularies to develop directorial approach. Opportunity to lead small group work exploring and experimenting with range of directorial approaches.
- Introduction to Multimedia PerformanceOptional
Module details
Designed to develop skills in and approaches to making of multimedia performance. Through practical workshops underpinned by reference to key theories and practitioners, develop skills through practical experimentation and collaborative creative work.
- Theatre ActingOptional
Module details
Through practical workshops and guided and independent textual analysis, learn to apply interpretative skills to rehearsal and performance.
Source: provider course page. Modules can change; required/optional status, credits, descriptions and assessment are shown only when explicitly published.
Course in depth
What this course covers, who it suits and where it leads.
What you'll study
This course equips you with practical skills across television, radio and film production, alongside media theory and industry knowledge. You'll usually start by learning foundational production techniques, camera, audio, editing and writing for different platforms, alongside how media industries operate commercially and how audiences engage with media. In Year 2, you'll typically explore digital cultures, social media platforms and audience research methods, whilst beginning to specialise through pathways such as journalism, PR and advertising, film and TV, social media, games and interactive, or production portfolio work. Your final year usually combines specialist options with an industry project or placement and a substantial dissertation or media production, allowing you to develop a professional body of work.
Who it's for
You're drawn to media in its many forms, broadcasting, film, audio production, and want to understand how it works from the inside. You're someone who learns by doing: you'll thrive working with cameras, microphones and editing suites, solving practical problems and creating finished work. This course suits you if you're curious about storytelling, production processes and the craft of media-making, and you're ready to develop both the technical competence and critical thinking that professional roles demand. You should be comfortable with independent work, particularly during your final-year project.
Careers & job market
Across Media & Communications degrees nationally, 90% of graduates are in work or further study within 15 months. Of those working, 60% are in highly skilled roles or pursuing further qualifications. National graduate earnings data shows starting salaries (15 months) typically range from £22,000 to £28,000; after five years, £22,525 to £31,800. Careers vary widely, from broadcast and production roles to journalism, digital media and communications positions. The university holds Silver for teaching quality from the Office for Students' TEF 2023.
University & format
The University of Salford is a public university based in Salford. The BA (Hons) Media and Performance is a full-time degree taught in English, delivered over 3 years. The university is a recognised UK degree-awarding body; its teaching was rated Silver for quality in the Office for Students' Teaching Excellence Framework 2023.
Student satisfaction
How students on this course answered the National Student Survey, by theme.
Share of students responding positively.
Published threshold met NSS publication requires sufficient responses; small differences are not a rank. NSS mean of 7 published themes (Discover Uni snapshot 2026-06-21)
Applicant information
The next application dates for this course, followed by facts the provider publishes.
- 2027 entryCompleted applications can be submitted
Your application needs a reference before you can send it.
- 2026 entryFinal date for 2026 applications
Applications must reach UCAS by 18:00 UK time.
- 2026 entryLast day to add a Clearing choice
Check that this course still has a vacancy before adding it.
- 2027 entryEqual-consideration deadline
18:00 UK time for most undergraduate courses.
Show 5 later dates
- 2027 entryUCAS Extra opens
Applicants who used all five choices and hold no offer may be able to add another choice.
- 2027 entryLast day applications go directly to providers
Applications received after 18:00 UK time are entered into Clearing.
- 2027 entryClearing opens
Eligible applicants can see vacancies and release themselves into Clearing.
- 2027 entryFinal date for 2027 applications
Applications must reach UCAS by 18:00 UK time.
- 2027 entryLast day to add a Clearing choice
Check that this course still has a vacancy before adding it.
Work placement. Availability, selection and pay can vary.
See and book current events. Dates can fill or change.
Entry & how to get in
Who gets in
What recently admitted students actually held, official admissions data, not a stated requirement.
UCAS tariff of entrants
Grades are the A-level equivalent of each points band. Tap a band to check your own chances below.
Qualifications held on entry
| Qualification | Share |
|---|---|
| A-levels or equivalent | 90% |
| another higher-education qualification | 5% |
Entry & your chances
An honest read from the official entry data, plus your personal match.
Entry is set by the university and based on your offer. Use your predicted grades to see how you compare, then check the university's stated requirements.
Will you get in? Plot your grades
Pick your predicted A-levels and watch your UCAS points land on the real spread of students admitted to this course.
Each bar is the share of admitted students in that UCAS-points band (lower → higher). Grades show the A-level equivalent.
Based on the official admitted-student tariff distribution. Many universities make contextual (reduced-grade) offers, so a result below the range doesn’t rule you out.
How to apply
Undergraduate applications go through UCAS. Here’s what matters for this course, the right deadline, the grades to aim for, and the steps in order.
- 1Register on UCAS Hub
Create your UCAS application and add this course. One application covers up to five choices.
- 2Write your personal statement
A single statement covers all your choices, so keep it broad enough for similar courses while showing genuine interest in this subject.
- 3Submit by 13 January 2027, 18:00 UK time
UCAS equal-consideration deadline for most undergraduate courses. Source: UCAS 2027 dates.
- 4Reply to your offers
When decisions are in, pick a firm (first) choice and an insurance (back-up) choice with slightly lower grades.
- 5Results day & confirmation
On results day (mid-August) your place is confirmed if you meet the offer. Just missed? Talk to the university, or find a place through Clearing.
Fees & funding
What this course costs and how UK student finance covers it.
Tuition per year
Standard capped home fee at English providers (2026/27); Scotland, Wales & NI differ.
Check fees at University of Salford →For students who normally live in England
2026/27 Student Finance England figures. Maintenance support is means-tested and this two-point view is not an entitlement calculator. The course total uses its published length and home fee where both are available; a missing full-time fee uses the clearly labelled England-cap scenario, while part-time fees and unknown lengths are never guessed. Use the official calculator. Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland use separate systems: SAAS, Student Finance Wales, and Student Finance NI.
Starting on or after 1 January 2027?
The Lifelong Learning Entitlement is a separate system. A new learner’s tuition entitlement is currently stated as £39,160 (about 480 credits at 2026/27 fee levels), subject to prior study and eligibility. Check the official LLE guide.
Paying for it
- Tuition Fee Loan: can cover eligible tuition up to the applicable limit and is paid straight to the provider.
- Maintenance Loan: up to £10,830/yr away from home outside London (England, 2026/27), means-tested on household income.
- Repayment: 9% of income above £25,000, nothing below it; written off after 40 years.
- Earn alongside: most students work part-time in term, part-time roles on the StudySmarter job board.
England figures shown; Scotland, Wales & NI run their own schemes, check gov.uk.
Scholarships & bursaries you could qualify for
That does not mean no funding exists. Check the university directory for current amounts, eligibility and application dates.
We only display a named award when its provider source identifies the award and who it is for.
Still deciding what to study?
StudyKit brings course choice, applications and funding together in one place, with a personal AI assistant. Find what really fits you and start your UCAS application step by step.
Careers & earnings
What Media & Communications graduates actually earn, from real outcome data, 15 months, 3 years and 5 years after graduating.
Graduate earnings: this course
| When | Median | Typical range | Graduates |
|---|---|---|---|
| 15 months after | £24,500 | £20,000 – £26,000 | 15 |
| 3 years after | £20,000 | £15,000 – £24,500 | 265 |
| 5 years after | £26,500 | £21,000 – £33,000 | 265 |
Nominal earnings for graduates of this course/subject at this provider. Limited evidence. Published sample: 15; treat comparisons cautiously. Cohort 2021-23.
Graduate outcomes, 15 months on: this course
- 1Graduate roleFirst role after the degree · 0–2 yrs
- 2Specialist / PractitionerWorking in media & communications · 2–5 yrs
- 3Senior / LeadLeading work and people · 5–10 yrs
- 4Head of / ExpertSenior leadership or deep expertise · 10+ yrs
How pay grows: this course vs Media & Communications nationally
National figures for Media & Communications graduates, HESA Graduate Outcomes (15 months) and the Longitudinal Education Outcomes (LEO) dataset (3 & 5 years). These are national, not university-specific; actual pay varies by employer, region, role and experience. Different cohorts, so the bars are not one group over time.
Work out your pay
Headline figures hide a lot. Calculate realistic take-home pay for this field by role, region and experience, then check your CV before you apply.
What happened to 100 students?
Choose an outcome to translate the published percentage into a simple 100-person view. Each dot represents one percentage point, not an individual tracked student.
were in work or further study
15 months after graduation
Source: Discover Uni, using Graduate Outcomes and continuation data. Cohorts: 2021-23. Limited evidence. Published sample: 15; treat comparisons cautiously. Cohort 2021-23. Each tab is a separate published measure; categories can overlap and should not be added together.
Value compared with similar courses
How this course’s 5-year median earnings compare with Media & Communications courses at the same study level.
Compared with 541 courses with compatible official earnings data. This is a course-value comparison, not a quality ranking.
UK occupations graduates enter
Published graduate destinations, joined conservatively to UK SOC 2020, ONS pay and Skills England demand.
- Artistic, literary and media occupationsSOC 2020 341 · 26% of published destinations · ASHE median £33,824
- Business and public service associate professionalsSOC 2020 35 · 15% of published destinations · ASHE median £38,760
Discover Uni JOBLIST/JOBTYPE; ONS ASHE 2025 provisional, all employee jobs; Skills England Occupations in Demand 2025. SOC is shown only for an exact normalised label match; demand is shown only at exact four-digit SOC. Published sample: 105; response rate: 55%. Pay describes the occupation across workers, not a guaranteed graduate salary.
Job market & outlook
How Media & Communications graduates fare in the labour market, and how AI is reshaping the work.
How AI is changing the work
AI doesn't replace the profession, it shifts it: routine tasks get automated, while judgement, working with people and using AI well become more valuable.
What AI takes off your plate
- Routine information gathering
- First-draft writing and summaries
- Standard analysis and admin
- Repetitive processing tasks
More human than ever
- Judgement and original thinking
- Working with and leading people
- Owning and sense-checking AI output
- Ethics and accountability
The strongest graduates pair subject depth with the ability to use AI tools critically.
Roles & employers
Where Media & Communications graduates typically go, indicative destinations from graduate career data. Each role links to live openings on the StudySmarter job board.
Roles graduates go into
Where they work
- Media companies
- Agencies
- In-house comms teams
- Broadcasters & charities
Jobs after this course
Current roles from the StudySmarter job board that suit Media & Communications graduates.
Media Operations, VP (Parental Leave Cover)WPP MediaMedia Relations ManagerCommonwealth War Graves CommissionMedia ManagerUS Tech SolutionsMedia Planning and Buying CoordinatorBurberryMedia Sales ExecutiveService ServiceMedia Planner/BuyerDifferent Technologies Pty Ltd.Is this course right for you?
The essentials UK applicants ask about: finance, outcomes, entry and quality.
Student finance
For comparison, the standard full-time England tuition cap is up to £9,790 per year in 2026/27; the actual fee varies by course and provider. If you normally live in England, eligible students can apply for a Tuition Fee Loan, plus a Maintenance Loan for living costs. Under Plan 5 you repay 9% of income above £25,000, nothing below that, and the balance is written off after 40 years.
Where graduates go
97% were in work or further study 15 months after graduating, with a median salary of £24,500. See the full breakdown in Careers & earnings above.
Your entry chances
Use the UCAS points calculator above to see how your predicted grades compare with admitted students, and whether a contextual offer could apply.
Official-data snapshot
Averaging the official measures published for it, this course scores 9.1 out of 10: NSS 85.4% · in work or study 97% · continued 90%.
Who studies here and in this subject?
Provider- and UK subject-level context.
The University of Salford
Media, journalism and communications across the UK
HESA student record 2024/25. Counts are rounded.
Local crime-data context
A neutral snapshot around the published teaching location.
Around Salford University
10 street-level reports returned within roughly one mile across 2026-04 to 2026-06.
Police.uk street-level API. Approximate locations, not confined to campus. England, Wales and Northern Ireland; not Scotland.
Is Media & Communications right for you?
Tick what applies to you and see how good a fit it is.
International students
What applying to University of Salford from outside the UK involves: fees, English, visa, funding and living costs.
Tuition fees
International tuition is set per course by University of Salford; international fees are typically £12,000–£30,000/year for classroom subjects and higher for lab/clinical ones. You’re not eligible for UK Tuition Fee or Maintenance Loans, so plan for fees plus living costs upfront.
English language
Most UK undergraduate courses ask for around IELTS 6.0–6.5 (no band below 5.5–6.0), or an accepted equivalent. If you’re just short, most universities run a pre-sessional English course that counts towards the requirement.
Student visa
You’ll usually need a Student visa (Student Route). After you accept an offer the university issues a CAS; you then show funds for fees plus about £1,023–£1,334/month living costs and pay the Immigration Health Surcharge for NHS access.
Scholarships & funding
Many universities offer international/global scholarships (often £2,000–£6,000/yr), check University of Salford’s funding pages.
Living costs
Budget roughly £1,100–£1,400/month outside London and £1,400–£1,800/month in London for rent, food and travel; the figure also matters for your visa.
Working while you study
A Student visa usually allows up to 20 hours/week in term time and full-time in holidays, useful alongside study, though not something to rely on for fees.
Visa rules and fees change. Always confirm the current requirements with University of Salford and gov.uk before you apply.
Related courses
More at University of Salford
Common questions
How competitive is entry?
What are the entry requirements?
What do graduates go on to do?
What will it cost me?
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