BA (Hons) Communications Bachelor's degree at UCL
BA (Hons) Communications at UCL. Communications at UCL sits within an institution founded in 1826 and shaped by a long research tradition as a Russell Group member, which means the degree is taught in an environment where enquiry and evidence-based thinking are central to…
About this course
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BA (Hons) Communications is a Bachelor's degree (BA (Hons)) at UCL, based in London. It runs 3 years, studied full-time.
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)
Published threshold met Discover Uni suppresses continuation data below its publication threshold. Cohort 2022-23. Continuation 98% (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 1 10 modules
- Foundations of communicationCompulsory
- Media ProductionCompulsory
- Social Media, Communicative Practice, and Social ChangeCompulsory
- Communication for the common goodCompulsory
- Understanding PublicsCompulsory
- Visual CommunicationOptional
- Writing for public communicationOptional
- Literacy, Language and CommunicationOptional
- How People LearnOptional
- Sociology of MediaOptional
Year 2 15 modules
- Understanding Public DiscoursesCompulsory
Module details
This module uses analytical tools from linguistic and discourse analysis to explore how language works and how it is put to work in various forms of public communications. It introduces key frameworks of analysis to demonstrate how these can shed light on what is going on in different communicative situations and the potential effects specific linguistic choices might have. The frameworks are applied to a range of public discourse types (e.g. media reports, public information campaigns, advertis
- Researching Communication: Methodology & MethodsCompulsory
Module details
The module will also introduce the issues of research philosophy, research paradigm, epistemology and ethics. It will include the investigation of the advantages and disadvantages of, and similarities between quantitative methods (survey for example) and qualitative methods (interview, focus groups, ethnography, discourse analysis, for example). The module will explore key processes in research design, including sampling, data collection, including questionnaires, interviewing and focus groups,
- Multimodality and Fan CulturesOptional
- Researching the Media IIOptional
- Inclusive CommunicationOptional
- Intercultural CommunicationOptional
- Working in CommunicationOptional
- Young people and determinants of healthOptional
- Youth and ConsumerismOptional
- An Introduction to Applied Quantitative Analysis in the Social SciencesOptional
- Uncertainty in contemporary societies: A psychosocial approach to wellbeingOptional
- Public Health in ContextOptional
- Sociology of GenderOptional
- Population StudiesOptional
- Social Inequality and MobilityOptional
Year 3 8 modules
- Dissertation in CommunicationCompulsory
Module details
The final year dissertation is an opportunity to undertake an in-depth investigation of a topic of students' own choice. It allows students to develop and apply research skills acquired during the BA Communications. Individual supervisory support will help students to develop their confidence in articulating their ideas and structuring their arguments.
- AI and Human CommunicationOptional
- Communicating CreativelyOptional
- Designing communicationOptional
- Oral communicationOptional
- Game Theory for the Social SciencesOptional
- Literacies Across the LifecourseOptional
- Food and SocietyOptional
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
The course is structured to build understanding progressively rather than front-loading everything at once. Early study concentrates on core theory, giving students the conceptual vocabulary needed to analyse communication systems, media institutions and audiences critically. Alongside this sits training in research & methods, equipping students to design and carry out their own enquiries rather than only reading about other people's findings. Applied practice runs through the course as a counterweight to theory, giving students opportunities to work with real communication problems and outputs rather than treating the subject purely as an academic exercise. As students progress, they choose from specialist options such as areas that let them follow particular interests within media and communications, shaping the degree towards their own priorities. Professional skills are built in throughout, covering the kinds of practical competencies that communications work typically demands. The degree culminates in an independent project, a sustained piece of work in which students set their own research question, apply the methods they've learned, and produce something that reflects their individual thinking rather than a set brief.
Who it's for
This course suits someone who is curious about how information, persuasion and meaning circulate through society, and who wants to understand these processes rather than simply absorb them as a media consumer. It will appeal to students who enjoy reading critically, questioning assumptions, and building arguments from evidence, since the degree leans on research and analysis as much as on creative output. Someone drawn to this course is likely comfortable with independent thinking and is willing to design and carry out their own enquiries, particularly given the emphasis on an independent project later in the degree. It also suits people who want to test ideas against the real world: London's media and communications landscape sits right outside the lecture hall, and students who take the initiative to engage with it, through ExtendED Learning sessions or their own exploration, will get more out of the experience. The typical entrant profile shows most accepted students arriving with A-levels or equivalent, commonly within the 144–159 UCAS tariff range, though this reflects who has enrolled in recent years rather than a fixed requirement. Beyond grades, what matters most is a genuine interest in dissecting how communication works, a willingness to write and argue rigorously, and enough self-motivation to shape a specialism and a final project around your own questions rather than waiting to be told what to think.
Careers & job market
Nationally, across Media & Communications courses, 90% of graduates are in work or further study 15 months after graduating, and 60% of those in work are in roles classed as highly skilled or continuing into further study. These figures relate to the field of study nationally rather than to this specific course or university, but they give a general sense of typical outcomes for the discipline. National earnings data (Graduate Outcomes/LEO) for the field show starting salaries 15 months after graduation ranging from £22,000 to £28,000, though these figures fluctuate over time and by individual circumstance, so they should be read as an indicative national range rather than a promise. Looking further out, national data shows earnings of £18,275–£25,800 after three years and £22,525–£31,800 after five years, again reflecting the wider graduate population in this field rather than any individual guarantee. The specialist options, applied practice and independent project within the course are intended to give students concrete material, whether analytical, research-based or creative, to draw on when entering roles across media, communications and related sectors. Nationally, 85% of students on comparable courses continue past their first year, either still enrolled or having completed their studies, which offers a general indication of course engagement across the field.
University & format
UCL is a Russell Group higher education college based in London, founded in 1826, with a total student population of 23,250. The BA (Hons) Communications is studied full-time over three years, delivered in English, and leads to a Bachelor's degree with BA (Hons) after your name. The course holds UCAS code P305 and sits within UCL's wider Media & Communications provision. Teaching quality across the university has been assessed as Silver in the Office for Students' TEF 2023, and as a recognised UK degree-awarding body, the qualification carries national recognition. Bursaries and scholarships may also be available and are worth checking directly on the university's funding pages, since eligibility and amounts vary and aren't detailed here.
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.
The provider publishes contextual-offer information. Eligibility and any reduced offer are applicant-specific.
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 | 77% |
| a Baccalaureate | 12% |
| a previous degree | 5% |
| another higher-education qualification | 4% |
| Other | 1% |
Entry & your chances
An honest read from the official entry data, plus your personal match.
Accepted students typically held strong UCAS tariffs. Check how your predicted grades compare and whether a contextual offer applies.
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 (code P305). 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 UCL →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 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.
continued or completed
continued into the next year or completed their qualification
Source: Discover Uni, using Graduate Outcomes and continuation data. Cohorts: 2022-23. Published threshold met. Sample size is not included in this snapshot. Each tab is a separate published measure; categories can overlap and should not be added together.
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.
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 9.2 out of 10: NSS 87.1% · continued 98%.
Who studies here and in this subject?
Provider- and UK subject-level context.
University College London
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 London
12,829 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 UCL from outside the UK involves: fees, English, visa, funding and living costs.
Tuition fees
International tuition is set per course by UCL; 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 UCL’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 UCL and gov.uk before you apply.
Related courses
More at UCL
Common questions
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What are the entry requirements?
What do graduates earn?
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