International Media and Communications Studies

International media and communications studies examines the systems through which information, culture and influence flow across the world. It asks how media institutions are organised, how they are regulated, and how they shape the societies they operate within. It considers how news travels from one country to another, how entertainment and popular culture cross cultural boundaries, and how digital platforms have transformed the relationship between media producers and audiences.

It is a degree that develops your ability to think analytically about one of the most powerful and contested domains in contemporary life.

At the University of Nottingham, the three-year full-time programme includes a foundation year, which provides a thorough preparation for degree-level study in media and communications. You will engage with media theory, journalism studies, political communication, global media industries, digital media and cross-cultural communication. The degree encourages you to look beyond the UK and to understand how media systems differ in different national and regional contexts, how authoritarian and democratic media environments compare, and how international institutions and agreements shape the global media landscape.

You will develop research skills, critical reading, analytical writing and the ability to construct and defend arguments about complex contemporary issues.

Nottingham's strong international profile and research base in humanities and social sciences provide a stimulating environment for these questions. The university's global connections also support the international dimension of the degree.

Graduates of international media and communications programmes work in journalism, broadcasting, digital content, public relations, international organisations, government communications, NGOs, research and academia. The ability to analyse media critically and understand communication across cultural boundaries is increasingly valued in a wide range of professional contexts. Postgraduate study in media studies, communications, journalism, international relations or cultural studies is a natural continuation for those who want to develop specialist expertise.