BA (Hons) Digital Media and Communication Bachelor's degree at the University of Reading
BA (Hons) Digital Media and Communication at University of Reading. You'll engage with core media and communication concepts, explore research methods, undertake practical projects, develop specialist expertise in areas that interest you, and complete an independent final-year project, all while building…
About this course
BA (Hons) Digital Media and Communication is a Bachelor's degree (BA (Hons)) at the University of Reading. 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)
Curriculum & modules
Real modules published for this course, grouped only where the source gives a year, stage or level.
Year 1 6 modules
- Introduction to Digital Communication and CreationCompulsory
Module details
Explore how digital tools and platforms are used to communicate in contemporary culture and acquire practical skills in using digital platforms such as digital exhibitions, interactive mapping, and multimedia storytelling.
- Digital Influence: Techniques and StrategiesCompulsory
Module details
Investigate communicative practices of digital influencers through the lens of media and communication studies as well as applied linguistics. You'll examine how influencers construct authenticity, engage in self-branding, and perform microcelebrity identities across various social media platforms.
- English Language and SocietyCompulsory
Module details
Understand how language operates in social groups, this will provide you with a basis for further in-depth study in digital communication.
- Globalisation and LanguageOptional
Module details
Learn how languages spread across the world and explore debates around linguistic imperialism, political dimensions of language use, and language policies. You'll consider the effects of technology and migration on the linguistics of regions worldwide.
- Approaches to FilmOptional
Module details
Critically interpret film texts and discover the conventions of fiction and non-fiction cinema. Explore cinema as a diverse, global and transcultural medium, focusing on historical and cultural contexts.
- Shelf lifeOptional
Module details
Become acquainted with English literature's material dimension and how writers, both past and present, have depicted the library as a symbol. As you study, you'll interpret poems, novels and plays, and investigate books and other archival documents as physical objects.
Year 2 9 modules
- Language and Digital MediaCompulsory
Module details
Examine how digital media and AI reshape language use in everyday life. You'll critically analyse real online communication using tools and theories from media studies and sociolinguistics, while gaining practical skills in digital content creation and collaborative communication.
- Communicating with AICompulsory
Module details
Learn the technical and linguistic principles behind generative AI and how to use it to produce effective communication products.
- Discourse AnalysisCompulsory
Module details
Discover key methodological frameworks and analytical approaches to describe language and apply your knowledge to a variety of communicative contexts.
- The Business of BooksOptional
Module details
You'll cover the history and development of modern trade publishing and have focused sessions on some of its key players, including publishers and literary agents. Through a combination of theoretical, methodological, and hands-on teaching sessions and workshops, you'll study the role and function of books in historical and institutional contexts including libraries, bookshops, publishing houses, and board rooms.
- Film, Forms and CulturesOptional
Module details
Discover the rich variety of film forms and explore critical and conceptual issues of form, including theoretical perspectives, questions of form, and form's meaning and politics.
- Language and GenderOptional
Module details
Address real-world problems such as gender-based discrimination and inequalities in different settings. You'll analyse sociolinguistic research on gendered language over the last 40 years.
- SociolinguisticsOptional
Module details
Understand how sociolinguistic theories can help to solve practical issues such as discrimination, inequality, and political polarization. This will equip you with analytical tools that you can apply to everyday situations.
- Creative Writing: Creative Non-FictionOptional
Module details
Study memoirs, essays, blog posts, long-form journalism, biography, and auto-fiction as you explore the exciting and ever-evolving contemporary genre. As you study these texts, you'll write your own piece of creative non-fiction and support others with creative feedback.
- Design DiscourseOptional
Module details
Engage with graphic design history, theory and thinking to explore the ideas that underpin contemporary design practice. Examine the history of graphic communication, discuss key theories, analyse contemporary debates, practice visual analysis and discover research in design. You'll build a deeper understanding of the social, cultural, ecological and political contexts that surround the discipline and learn core research methods.
Year 3 3 modules
- Language in Professional CommunicationCompulsory
Module details
Investigate the use of language and communication in professional contexts, which will provide you with increased awareness of the challenges and opportunities faced by graduates entering the global workforce.
- Professional Communication ProjectCompulsory
Module details
Apply your knowledge and skills of digital media and communication, enhance your employability and increase your confidence and collaboration skills by undertaking a professional placement. Opportunities could include designing promotional content, communication campaign or social media marketing.
- DissertationCompulsory
Module details
Selecting a topic within digital media and communication, you'll design and implement a study
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
You'll study how media shapes communication and representation across digital platforms and traditional outlets. A course like this typically begins with foundations in media theory, production skills and industry economics before moving toward specialist pathways such as journalism, PR and advertising, film and TV, social media, games and interactive media, or production portfolio work. In your final year, you'll usually undertake specialist options, an industry project or placement, and either a dissertation or substantial media production of your own.
Who it's for
You're drawn to how digital platforms, content and messages shape modern life, and you want to move beyond passive consumption to understand and create media critically. You have an analytical mind and curiosity about culture, technology and communication, and you're comfortable both with written argument and hands-on practical work. You'll thrive if you're willing to question assumptions, engage in research, and apply theory to real-world media scenarios. Expect to read widely, collaborate on projects, and develop your own point of view on media's social and economic significance.
Careers & job market
Across Media & Communications courses nationally, 90% of graduates are in work or further study 15 months after leaving. Graduates in highly skilled roles earn starting salaries ranging from £22,000 to £28,000; after five years this rises to £22,525–£31,800. Roughly 60% of working graduates progress into highly skilled work or further study. These figures are based on national labour market data; individual outcomes vary.
University & format
This is a full-time Bachelor's degree (BA Hons) studied in English at the University of Reading, a university founded in 1892. The course runs for 3 years and leads to a nationally recognised UK degree. The university holds a Silver award for teaching quality in the Office for Students' TEF 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.
Provider-published requirement; check the linked course page before applying.
The provider publishes contextual-offer information. Eligibility and any reduced offer are applicant-specific.
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 | 95% |
| 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 (code P304). 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 Reading →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.
- 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.
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 8.7 out of 10: NSS 87.3%.
Who studies here and in this subject?
Provider- and UK subject-level context.
The University of Reading
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 University of Reading
1,062 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 Reading from outside the UK involves: fees, English, visa, funding and living costs.
Tuition fees
International tuition is £26,850 / year for this course (from the provider’s fee page). 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 Reading’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 Reading and gov.uk before you apply.
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