Media and Communication with Foundation Year

Media and communication is the academic study of how media systems work, how messages are constructed and distributed, and how communication shapes culture, identity and public life. It examines the institutions, technologies, texts and audiences that constitute the modern media landscape, from broadcast television and newspapers through to social media platforms, streaming services and digital journalism. The discipline draws on sociology, cultural studies, linguistics, political economy and philosophy to build a rigorous understanding of communication processes and their social significance.

At the University of Portsmouth you will study media and communication over four years of full-time study, with a foundation year that builds academic and critical foundations before the degree content begins. You will explore the inner workings of media, examining its present and future, its pivotal role in how we communicate and perceive the world, and the networking industries and institutions that structure communication across different platforms and contexts. A sandwich year and the opportunity for a year abroad add professional and international experience, and work placement is integrated into the programme.

The typical tariff of 104 reflects a programme designed to be accessible to students who bring genuine curiosity about media and communication from a range of backgrounds.

Graduates work across media, journalism, public relations, communications, marketing, broadcasting, publishing, digital content production, social media management, policy research and the cultural and creative industries. The critical analytical skills developed through media and communication study are valuable in a wide range of contexts beyond the media sector itself, in any role that requires understanding how information circulates and how audiences are addressed. Many graduates go on to postgraduate study in journalism, media studies, public relations, marketing or communications, and the combination of critical analysis and practical awareness built into this programme gives graduates a solid foundation for a range of career directions.