BA (Hons) Digital Media and Communications Bachelor's degree at the University of Birmingham
BA (Hons) Digital Media and Communications at University of Birmingham. Delivered full-time over three years at the Edgbaston campus, the course (UCAS code P390) leads to a Bachelor's degree with honours and is taught in English.
About this course
Course details for prospective students on our BA Digital Media and Communications undergraduate degree programme at the University of Birmingham, UK. From the provider’s course page.
BA (Hons) Digital Media and Communications is a Bachelor's degree (BA (Hons)) at the University of Birmingham, based in Edgbaston campus. It runs 3 years, studied full-time.
For Media & Communications graduates from this provider, 95% were in work or further study 15 months after graduating, 50% in highly skilled roles. (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)
Published threshold met Sample size is not included in this snapshot. Cohort 2021-23. Graduate Outcomes work or further study 95% (2021-23; Discover Uni snapshot 2026-06-21)
Published threshold met Discover Uni suppresses continuation data below its publication threshold. Cohort 2022-23. Continuation 95% (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 7 modules
- Discovering Creative Practice ACore10 credits
- Discovering Creative Practice BCore10 credits
- Discover: Academic and Professional CommunicationCore20 credits
- Media History and TechnologiesCore20 credits
- Theories of CommunicationCore20 credits
- Researching Digital CulturesCore20 credits
- Researching Everyday CommunicationCore20 credits
Year 2 18 modules
- Global MediaCore20 credits
- Media in the WorkplaceCore20 credits
- Media, Culture and IdentityCore20 credits
- Writing for BusinessCore20 credits
- Aesthetics of TelevisionOptional20 credits
- Applied Creative PracticeOptional20 credits
- Data Skills for the Digital WorldOptional20 credits
- Discourse AnalysisOptional20 credits
- Film GenreOptional20 credits
- Film Theory and CriticismOptional20 credits
- Imagined Worlds: Genre Fiction and Popular CultureOptional20 credits
- Language Education and LiteracyOptional20 credits
- Literature 1950-PresentOptional20 credits
- Our Digital WorldOptional20 credits
- Screen Histories and FuturesOptional20 credits
- SociolinguisticsOptional20 credits
- StylisticsOptional20 credits
- The Social Life of LiteratureOptional20 credits
Year 3 11 modules
- Digital Media and Communications Creative ProjectOptional40 credits
- Digital Media and Communications DissertationOptional40 credits
- AI in Linguistics and Digital MediaOptional20 credits
- Adaptation: Theory and PracticeOptional20 credits
- Authorship AnalysisOptional20 credits
- Bringing Out the Bodies: Technology, Transhumans and SkinOptional20 credits
- Business Discourse and CommunicationOptional20 credits
- Decoding Pop CultureOptional20 credits
- Digital JournalismOptional20 credits
- Discourse and SocietyOptional20 credits
- English Language TeachingOptional20 credits
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 degree structure moves through a sequence of stages designed to build understanding progressively. Students begin with core theory, establishing the conceptual grounding needed to analyse digital media and communications critically. This is paired with research & methods, where students learn how to investigate media questions systematically rather than relying on assumption or anecdote. Applied practice follows, giving students the chance to put ideas into action through practical work. As the course progresses, students can move into specialist options, such as areas that allow them to focus on particular interests within the wider field. The degree culminates in an independent project, where students take ownership of a substantial piece of work from start to finish, and is supported throughout by professional skills development, helping students translate academic study into practical, workplace-relevant abilities.
Who it's for
This course suits someone who is curious about how digital media shapes communication, culture and public life, and who wants to examine that influence rather than just consume it. It will appeal to students who enjoy reading widely, questioning how messages are constructed, and thinking about the mechanics behind the media they encounter daily. A good fit is someone comfortable moving between theory and practice, willing to sit with abstract ideas in seminars one day and produce tangible media work the next. Independent thinking matters here: the course rewards students who can manage their own research questions and eventually shape an extended project around their own interests. Students who like collaborative discussion as well as solitary reading and writing tend to thrive, as do those keen to build professional skills alongside academic knowledge, with an eye towards future work in media-related fields. Most entrants arrive holding A-levels or equivalent qualifications, with a typical UCAS tariff of 128-143 points among those accepted, though this reflects what recent entrants held rather than a fixed requirement.
Careers & job market
Nationally, across Media & Communications courses, 90% of graduates were in work or further study 15 months after graduating, and 60% of working graduates were in highly skilled roles or further study, according to Graduate Outcomes data. These figures describe the national picture for the subject area rather than outcomes specific to this university. National earnings data (LEO) for Media & Communications graduates shows starting salaries, measured 15 months after graduation, of £22,000 to £28,000; after three years, earnings ranged from £18,275 to £25,800; and after five years, from £22,525 to £31,800. These are national figures across a range of graduates and employers, not guarantees tied to this particular course. Separately, 85% of students on these courses nationally continue past their first year, either still enrolled or having completed their studies, which offers a broader sense of how students engage with this field of study over time.
University & format
The University of Birmingham is a public university and a member of the Russell Group, founded in 1900 and based at its Edgbaston campus for this course. The BA (Hons) Digital Media and Communications is studied full-time over three years, taught entirely in English. The university holds a Silver award in the Office for Students' TEF 2023 for teaching quality and was. Additional bursaries and scholarships may be available, and applicants are advised to check the university's own funding pages for current details before applying.
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.
Provider-published requirement; check the linked course page before applying.
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 | 61% |
| Other | 21% |
| No / unknown prior qualifications | 14% |
| a previous degree | 2% |
| another higher-education qualification | 1% |
| a Baccalaureate | 1% |
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 (code P390). 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
Provider fee page (England 2026/27 cap where not stated).
Check fees at University of Birmingham →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.
were in work or further study
15 months after graduation
Source: Discover Uni, using Graduate Outcomes and continuation data. Cohorts: 2021-23. Published threshold met. Sample size is not included in this snapshot. Cohort 2021-23. Each tab is a separate published measure; categories can overlap and should not be added together.
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 · 15% of published destinations · ASHE median £33,824
- Media ProfessionalsSOC 2020 249 · 15% of published destinations · ASHE median £40,895
- Sales occupationsSOC 2020 71 · 10% of published destinations · ASHE median £15,975
- Customer service occupationsDiscover Uni category · 10% of published destinations
- Business and public service associate professionalsSOC 2020 35 · 10% 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: 15; response rate: 70%. 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
Published home tuition is £9,790/year for this course. 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
95% were in work or further study 15 months after graduating. 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 9.2 out of 10: NSS 87.1% · in work or study 95% · continued 95%.
Who studies here and in this subject?
Provider- and UK subject-level context.
The University of Birmingham
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 Edgbaston campus
1,313 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 Birmingham from outside the UK involves: fees, English, visa, funding and living costs.
Tuition fees
International tuition is set per course by University of Birmingham; 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 Birmingham’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 Birmingham and gov.uk before you apply.
Related courses
More at University of Birmingham
Common questions
How competitive is entry?
What are the entry requirements?
What do graduates go on to do?
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