Close
Gain unique insight into cultural theory, mass communication, films, TV genres, and more. Get skilled in critical analysis and build your independent judgement. Build a foundation to launch your career in the media.
This course explores and explains the diverse patterns of media and offers a comprehensive understanding of media power, media use, and the increasing significance of media in contemporary culture and society.
Engage with a mix of critical approaches including cultural studies, communication studies, film studies, and media studies. You'll also study a wide range of related topics including everyday life, popular culture, digital media cultures, cultural representation, and gender and ethnic identities and sexualities.
Throughout your studies, you’ll be guided and supported by our experts. You’ll work with academics at the Centre for Research in Media and Cultural Studies and study alongside scriptwriters, filmmakers, radio producers, and independent film producers. Many of the key books you'll learn from have been written by lecturers.
Gain a range of transferable skills including presentation skills, critical analysis, independent thinking, written and research skills, and the ability to work in groups and on your own. In your final year, you'll put your skills and knowledge into practice in a major independent research project.
Please note, we are only accepting applications for direct entry to Year 3.
Teaching methods include lectures, seminars, group work, and e-learning. We encourage you to develop independent study skills.
As well as assessments that count towards your degree, there are ongoing assessments for feedback and consolidating your learning.
Assessment methods include essays, reports, written coursework, projects, and presentations.
If you study this course on a part-time basis, you'll typically complete 40-80 credits in a year, rather than the 120 credits of full-time students. All modules are taught during the day and you'll be studying alongside full-time students.
Our typical offer is:
| Qualification | Minimum grade |
|---|---|
| High School Diploma along with one of the following at the required grade: SAT I and SAT II, ACT or Advanced Placement | GPA 3.0 or above and: Sat score of 1100/1600 from SATs AP (Grades 3+ in at least 2 subjects) ACT (score of 26+) |
If you don't meet our standard entry requirements, you can take one of the foundation pathways at our partners ONCAMPUS Sunderland. Find out more information and whether your course is eligible on our ONCAMPUS page.
If your qualification is not listed above, please contact the Student Administration team at studentadmin@sunderland.ac.uk for further advice.
Our admissions policy uses a range of flexible options to support you in studying with us. This may include a reduced offer of up to 16 UCAS tariff points, (or equivalent). Find out if you are eligible.
If English isn't your first language, please see our English language requirements.
If you're studying an HND or Foundation Degree, you may be able to enter the final year of our degree course. For more information, please contact studentadmin@sunderland.ac.uk.
The annual, full-time fee for this course is:
*Undergraduate fees are set according to rules from Government in line with forecast inflation. The fee for your first year of study for 2025/26 will be £9,535. You will pay tuition fees for every year of study. Fees may increase every year based on the Retail Price Index.
Tuition fees for part-time students are £7,145 per 120 credits. Please note that part-time courses are not available to international students who require a Student visa to study in the UK.
Read more about EU fees and funding in our Help and Advice article.
Take a look at the scholarships and bursaries that may be available to you.
This information was correct at the time of publication.
This degree provides an excellent foundation for a wide range of careers in the media. Possible sectors include TV, radio, new media, journalism, marketing, PR, organisational communications, and advertising.
Our students have gained placements or graduate roles with employers such as BBC Radio 1, Capital FM, Channel 4, Heart FM, Metro Radio, Sky TV, BBC Sport, MTV, ITV Studios (Coronation Street), Talk Sport, The Guardian, Jamie Oliver Productions, Lime Pictures, Absolute Radio, BBC Radio 6 Music, I Daniel Blake, BBC World Service, regional newspapers, and PR companies.
You could choose to continue your studies on one of our master's degrees such as MA Radio, Audio and Podcasting or MA Public Relations.
We actively encourage students to gain relevant work experience while at university. In every year of your course, you'll be guided and encouraged to gain meaningful experience that'll fit around your studies.
In Year 2, there's a work placement opportunity with a media organisation such as the BBC, Tyne Tees Television or one of the region’s production companies. You can also choose to undertake a number of practice modules that involve practical projects.
All students studying on-campus undergraduate media courses can take up a CV-enhancing work placement, a University-led industry initiative, or a professional and business development boot camp. By the term placement, we mean we're offering you a taste of the industry which might last anything from two days to four weeks on a part-time basis.
Many students get involved in Spark Sunderland, a community radio station based at the University. Students are responsible for all news-gathering, programme production, and advertising. Spark has won many awards including four golds at the Student Radio Awards 2012, and holds the Nations and Regions Award for Best Radio Station in the North East.
Work alongside BBC Newcastle Journalists in our mediaHUB, home to student-run websites covering sport, news, entertainment, fashion, and Spark online magazine.
Sunderland's daily newspaper, The Sunderland Echo, has a weekly page called 'On Campus' that is written entirely by students at the University. It’s an opportunity to find and research your own stories, take photographs, meet deadlines, and see your name in print.
Throughout the course, we invite guest speakers to run workshops and masterclasses that allow you to relate your learning to real-life opportunities.