Mass Communication (Top-Up) BA (Hons)
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Option for Study Abroad
International
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From digital advertising and the internet to TV, popular film and news, the mass media is a significant force in modern culture, touching many aspects of our lives and influencing the ways in which we interact with the world around us.
Mass Communication is an innovative media-based top up course that provides an insight into the ways in which the mass media industries influence our perceptions on a global level.
Studying areas such as convergence culture, advertising and demographics, morality and the media and cinema and society as well as the study of organisations, you will gain an awareness of the concepts, theories, practices and methods as well as the technological developments that typify contemporary media, communication and cultural studies.
Building on your previous educational experience, the top up award will give you the knowledge, transferable skills and qualifications needed to follow a career in the creative industries.
UCAS Code
P900
Level of Study
Undergraduate
Mode of Study
1 year Full Time
Department
Northumbria School of Design, Arts and Creative Industries, Arts
Location
City Campus, Northumbria University
City
Newcastle
Start
September 2025 or September 2026
Fees
Fee Information
From creating fine art to conserving it; from animation to film, theatre and television, through to arts management and teaching, our Arts department is a dynamic and stimulating environment to study in.
This one year course has been developed to top-up your knowledge in mass communications and enables you to gain full undergraduate degree status. Core modules delivered through a series of lectures, seminars and subject-specific small group sessions will enhance your interest in media and cultural studies as well as developing the skills you need to become an independent learner.
You will gain specialist knowledge of the issues and themes that characterise the study of Mass Communications, developing analytical and interpretative skills and build the confidence to both form and communicate your own opinions on the subject. Assessments take a variety of forms including essays, presentations, projects, and reports. This approach encourages you to think flexibly and dynamically, as you explore complex ideas and find the best ways to present your findings.
Find out what makes studying at Northumbria so great.
You will benefit from the extensive experience and expertise – both professional and academic – of the teaching staff, many of whom have international reputations in teaching and research and have published extensively in the areas of media, cultural studies and mass communications. The academic team includes specialists in diverse areas including digital technology, philosophy, contemporary cinema, popular culture, and audience research. Their work is underpinned by successful collaborative partnerships with external organisations such as the BBC and a number of international film festivals. You will be designated a personal guidance tutor to provide support and to promote your learning and personal development as you progress through the course. We also offer extensive pastoral support to ensure that you always have access to the appropriate level of assistance.
The course draws upon Newcastle’s status as a vibrant cultural city, the department’s partnerships with local cultural hubs including the Baltic gallery and the Tyneside cinema, as well as a close working relationship with the Sage, and St James’ Park.
You will have access to a range of contemporary facilities such as the University library, which has been recognised as one of the best in the UK. The City Campus library provides 24/7 access to learning resources and additional study space.
The University makes extensive use of technology to support learning, teaching and the student experience. Using your student e-learning portal you will be able to download PowerPoints of weekly lectures and seminars, access electronic reading lists and consult module guides.
Our campus has been fitted out with state-of-the-art facilities and the latest in art and design technology.
At the heart of each Northumbria campus, our libraries provide a range of study space and technology to suit every learning style.
Research-rich learning is embedded into all modules which means from day one you will develop research skills that will prepare you for life beyond the University. All members of the academic team are highly research-active with areas of expertise including media, cultural studies, mass communications, and business. Throughout the course you will benefit from their extensive subject knowledge, drawing on research activity undertaken at both national and international levels. You will also undertake a 4,000 word case-study project, which will test your academic maturity, research skills and scholarly independence.
The course has been developed with employability in mind. We focus on developing articulate and self-motivated graduates who can communicate effectively to a diverse range of audiences using a range of formats and media. Learning and teaching strategies promote cooperative working, critical reflection and the development of practical skills to solve complex problems. We have developed the Mass Communication case study specifically to develop your conceptual thinking skills by analysing mass communication employment environments and trends, and you will be able to apply this new knowledge to the workplace. You will be able to effectively demonstrate skills that are valued by employers and meet the challenges of employment in a society in which the cultural and communication industries play an increasingly central role.
As a graduate of Mass Communications, you will be in a strong position to gain employment in the mass communication, cultural, promotional, creative, and heritage industries, and will be ideally placed to work in roles such as journalism, marketing, public relations, management or business administration. A number of graduates also opt to undertake further postgraduate study with us.
You can boost your CV and develop your experience whilst studying at Northumbria.
From first year through to final year and beyond graduation, we are here to help.
We have a fantastic service for students' to use to gain advice and tips on furthering careers and enhancing their employability.
Careers and Employment Services
Visit an Open Day to get an insight into what it's like to study Mass Communication. Speak to staff and students from the course and get a tour of the facilities.
BTEC HND/Foundation degree with an overall Pass (or equivalent) in a related subject
International Qualifications:
We welcome applicants with a range of qualifications which may not match those shown above.
If you have qualifications from outside the UK, find out what you need by visiting www.northumbria.ac.uk/yourcountry
English Language Requirements:
International applicants should have a minimum overall IELTS (Academic) score of 6.0 with 5.5 in each component (or an approved equivalent*).
*The university accepts a large number of UK and International Qualifications in place of IELTS. You can find details of acceptable tests and the required grades in our English Language section: www.northumbria.ac.uk/englishqualifications
BTEC HND/Foundation degree with an overall Pass (or equivalent) in a related subject
International Qualifications:
We welcome applicants with a range of qualifications which may not match those shown above.
If you have qualifications from outside the UK, find out what you need by visiting www.northumbria.ac.uk/yourcountry
English Language Requirements:
International applicants should have a minimum overall IELTS (Academic) score of 6.0 with 5.5 in each component (or an approved equivalent*).
*The university accepts a large number of UK and International Qualifications in place of IELTS. You can find details of acceptable tests and the required grades in our English Language section: www.northumbria.ac.uk/englishqualifications
UK Fee in Year 1: £9,535
* This is the tuition fee for your first year of study. You should expect to pay tuition fees for every year of study. The University may increase fees in the second and subsequent years of your course at our discretion in line with any inflationary or other uplift, as decided by the UK Government, up to the maximum amount for fees permitted by UK law or regulation for that academic year. To give students an indication of the likely scale of any future increase, the UK government has recently suggested that increases may be linked to RPIX ( Retail Price Index excluding mortgage interest payments)
International Fee in Year 1:
ADDITIONAL COSTS
There are no Additional Costs
UK Fee in Year 1*: TBC
* Government has yet to announce 26/27 tuition fee levels.
International Fee in Year 1:
TBC
ADDITIONAL COSTS
TBC
* At Northumbria we are strongly committed to protecting the privacy of personal data. To view the University’s Privacy Notice please click here
else
To start your application, simply select the month you would like to start your course.
Home or EU applicants please apply through UCAS
International applicants please apply using the links below
Our Applicant Services team will be happy to help. They can be contacted on 0191 406 0901 or by using our Contact Form.
Full time Courses are primarily delivered via on-campus face to face learning but could include elements of online learning. Most courses run as planned and as promoted on our website and via our marketing materials, but if there are any substantial changes (as determined by the Competition and Markets Authority) to a course or there is the potential that course may be withdrawn, we will notify all affected applicants as soon as possible with advice and guidance regarding their options. It is also important to be aware that optional modules listed on course pages may be subject to change depending on uptake numbers each year.
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If you’d like to receive the latest updates from Northumbria about our courses, events, finance & funding then enter your details below.
* At Northumbria we are strongly committed to protecting the privacy of personal data. To view the University’s Privacy Notice please click here
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