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What makes Media & Culture at Worcester special?

Here at Worcester, we are passionate about exploring, investigating and questioning the role of media and culture in defining, shaping and changing our world. We know that both media and culture has an impact on everything from the tiniest detail of our identities and everyday life up to historic global events and movements.

We examine the processes that give media and culture its influence; we ask - where the power lies? who gets to be seen and how change is created?

As a media and culture student, you will draw on your own rich experience of media and culture as well as being introduced to the new. Using up to date academic approaches and methods you will learn to assess, analyse and critique media and culture allowing you to respond to what’s there as well as creating and participating yourself.

Modules and topics as diverse and significant as gender & sexualities; representation & diversity; identities & cultures; conflict and politics; social media & activism; green media & the environment; crime & deviance and music, film television and internet cultures.

Overview

Overview

Key features

  • Diverse and dynamic curriculum responsive to contemporary issues and developments
  • Interactive learning environments which always include discussion and debate. Students are actively encouraged to perceive themselves as researchers in the field which culminates in an independent research project in the third year
  • The lecturing team are all active in research so your learning is always informed by the latest expert innovations in the field
  • Students are actively encouraged to draw on their diverse cultural experiences and backgrounds to inform their own critical thinking and our teaching approaches
  • Consistent focus on transferrable skills for employability including opportunities for work-based learning placements and a study abroad semester in the second year
  • We have an extensive list of external professional contacts in the media & culture industries. This includes: digital marketing agencies; public relations agencies; local political party offices; award-winning content creators; galleries & museums and local & national charities
  • A rich course culture that includes trips, visits, guest speakers, events and socials

Register your interest

Enter your details below and we will keep you up to date with useful information about studying at the University of Worcester.


"I came from Romania to study Media & Culture. This was one of the best decisions; the course matched my interests entirely and has been truly inspiring!"

Teodora, University of Worcester Media & Cultural Studies Graduate

Entry requirements

What qualifications will you need?

104
UCAS tariff points

Entry requirements

104 UCAS tariff points (for example, BCC at A Level)

Other information

If your qualifications are not listed, please contact the Admissions Office for advice on 01905 855111 or email admissions@worc.ac.uk for advice.

Further information about the UCAS Tariff can be obtained from the UCAS website

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Course content

What will you study

Our courses are informed by research and current developments in the discipline and feedback from students, external examiners and employers. Modules do therefore change periodically in the interests of keeping the course relevant and reflecting best practice. The most up-to-date information will be available to you once you have accepted a place and registered for the course. If there are insufficient numbers of students interested in an optional module, this might not be offered, but we will advise you as soon as possible and help you choose an alternative. 

Year 1

Mandatory

  • Studying Media and Culture
  • Digital Cultures
  • World Cultures
  • Popular Music and Culture Change

Optional

Year 2

Mandatory

  • Researching Popular Cultures
  • Media and Social Change

Optional

Year 3

Mandatory

  • Independent Research Project

 

Optional

  • TV Times
  • Extension Module
  • War, Democracy and the Media
  • Green Media
  • Commercial Applications of Social Media
  • Immersive Media: Virtual Spaces, Experiences and Technologies
  • Pornography and Modern Culture

Sophie discusses Media & Culture at Worcester

2 female students and 1 male student working at table

Study Media & Culture as part of a joint honours degree

As well as a single honours degree, Media & Culture is also available as part of a number of joint honours combinations, allowing you to combine it with another subject to match your interests and career aspirations:

Creative Writing and Media & Culture BA (Hons)

English Language and Media & Culture BA (Hons)

English Literature and Media & Culture BA (Hons)

Film Studies and Media & Culture BA (Hons

Journalism and Media & Culture BA (Hons)

Media & Culture and Sociology BA (Hons)

Student Daniel Filip

Daniel Filip

I have learned about so many different exciting topics – ranging from social media coverage to popular culture in films and music, to media presence during War events…really, there is everything (and more) that you could think of covered within this course. The variety of different approaches to lectures was also a very welcome feature, as it kept the workflow exciting and non-repetitive. We had plenty of critical seminars – involving practical tasks within social media platforms, a very useful placement in an organisation of our choice, and helpful sessions with professionals from the field of Media and Culture. All these features combined have exceedingly prepared me for a career within the field of Media and Culture. I am currently working for a business where I am in charge of the social media presence of the company for several different platforms. In my spare time, I also work on different exciting activities, such as blogging and fundraising.

Student Emily Branigan

Emily Branigan

Since completing my Media and Culture Degree I have been accepted onto a Master’s course in English. My undergraduate course helped me develop my academic interests through stimulating lectures, guest speakers and engaging seminar discussions with fellow students. I also managed to complete my third-year modules and a first-class dissertation during the first peak of the COVID-19 pandemic, with consistent and helpful support from all lecturers. It was an amazing experience that encouraged me to continue my academic career.

Alex Moss

Alex Moss

"Our lecturers were great, moving to online teaching in such a short amount of time and changing assignments that were meant to be done in-person to fit with the circumstances and providing the support needed for that change did help" 

 “I have thought about the possibility of returning to Worcester to do a Master’s or possibly a PhD but for now I am hoping to continue working, gain some experience, and just see where it takes me."

Chloe Murphy Graduate Profile Image

Chloe Murphy

"Studying Media and Culture has been a very enjoyable experience and one which I am glad I have had. From the range of topics including social media to the potential future of technology and much more covered, to engaging lecture styles (both in-person and online) both have made studying so much more interesting. A great course to study in my opinion!"

Sophie Pontillo Graduate Profile Image

Sophie Pontillo

My experience of studying Media and Culture at Worcester has been positive, even during Covid. Due to the range of learning styles provided and the contemporary subject matter taught, I have been able to develop prior skills and explore new styles of learning, communicating, and engaging with subjects and people. Most importantly to me, I have been able to find like-minded people in both my fellow students and my lecturers. I feel so encouraged and supported to pursue ideas (and challenges) because of this. My university experience wouldn’t have been the same without the opportunities this course has given me.

Aimee Boden Graduate Profile Picture

Aimee Boden

"The Media and Culture course gives you excellent opportunities that help prepare you for the workplace. This includes interactive sessions with guest speakers from industries including marketing and PR, social and youth work and social media-based technology companies. As a result of these sessions, I was able to build up my professional network in person and on LinkedIn. From day one I felt supported in my learning. As the class numbers were smaller, I felt that I was able to have more support throughout lectures, seminars and tutorials."

Teaching and assessment

How will you be taught?

The University places emphasis on enabling students to develop the independent learning capabilities that will equip you for lifelong learning and future employment, as well as academic achievement. A mixture of independent study, teaching and academic support through the personal academic tutoring system (and supportive lecturers) enables you to reflect on progress and build up a profile of skills, achievements and experiences that will enable you to flourish and be successful. In addition, meetings with personal academic tutors are scheduled on at least 4 occasions in the first year and three occasions in each of the other years of a course.

Teaching

You are taught through a combination of interactive lectures, seminars and workshops. As part of this course, you will develop your learning and understanding by taking part in class trips which will immerse you in new technology and /or cultures.  

Seminars enable the discussion and development of understanding of topics covered in lectures. Some modules will have workshops with practical skills whilst others include discussion, debate and critical analysis of media and/or culture. All modules will address at least one of the following:-

  • Texts and Representations (e.g. the actual films, social media, news, television, magazines with regards to underlying ideologies etc.)
  • Audiences and Consumption (e.g. our responses to news, film, social media, advertising, consumption, ideologies etc.)
  • Production and Institutions (e.g. Hollywood dominating the film industry, media organisational structures etc.). 

In a 'media society', where an understanding of how to communicate is all important, you will analyse Media and Culture in-depth, to understand the power of the media from a wide range of perspectives, exploring how the media operates, its impact on culture, society and ourselves.

You will develop skills of information search, comprehension, critical analysis and problem solving that will incorporate conceptual issues central to the field of media and cultural studies, and to synthesis and evaluate material.

You will have the opportunity to study a range of media from digital media such as YouTube to advertising, music along with more traditional media. 

In the second year, there is the opportunity to engage with work projects to enhance your employability skills. Here, you can get the opportunity to work alongside some of our external contracts in the following areas:

  • Digital marketing agencies
  • Public relations agencies
  • Local political party offices
  • Award-winning web-based magazines
  • Award-winning content creators
  • Galleries and museums
  • Local and national charities.

In addition to gaining working experience, we also organise regular networking events and professional talks with these external contacts. You can develop your practical skills in one of the optional modules in each of the three years.

 

Contact time

In a typical week you will have around 12 contact hours of teaching. The precise contact hours will depend on the optional modules selected and in the final year you will normally have slightly less contact time in order to do more independent study. You can also have contact time with staff outside of formal teaching as arranged with staff members.

Typically, class contact time will be structured around:-

  • An interactive lecture that will outline the topic under discussion (this could be a topic such as gender, race, class, disability, emotion, memory, fake news, sport, theories etc.).
  • A seminar activity that might involve table discussions, group tasks, debates, analysis of media/cultural outputs, questions, readings etc.
  • Seminar tasks are usually structured around small groups.

Independent self-study

In addition to the contact time, you are expected to undertake around 36 hours of personal self-study per week (9 hours per module). Typically, this will involve reading journal articles and books, working on individual or group projects, undertaking research in the library and online, watching/listening to specific media output for analysis and preparing coursework assignments and presentations.

Independent learning is supported by a range of excellent learning facilities, including the Hive and library resources, virtual learning environments, and extensive electronic learning resources.

Teaching staff

You will be taught by a teaching team whose expertise and knowledge are closely matched to the content of the modules on the course. Teaching is informed by research and all your lecturers have a PhD and/or a higher education teaching qualification.

 

Assessment

The course provides opportunities to test understanding and learning informally through the completion of practice or 'formative' assignments. Each module has one or more formal or 'summative' assessments which are graded and count towards the overall module grade.

Assessment methods include essays, oral presentations, portfolios, textual analysis, literature reviews, reports, commentaries, reflections, diaries, journals, project reports, research projects, critical bibliographies and blog contributions.

On this course, there are no exams for assessment. 

Feedback

You will receive feedback on practice assessments and on formal assessments undertaken by coursework. Feedback is intended to support learning and you are encouraged to discuss it with personal academic tutors and module tutors as appropriate. As well as formal feedback, you may also receive informal feedback.

We aim to provide you with feedback on formal course work assessments within 20 working days of hand-in.

Programme specification

For comprehensive details on the aims and intended learning outcomes of the course, and the means by which these are achieved through learning, teaching and assessment, please download the latest programme specification document.

Meet The Team

You will be taught by a teaching team whose expertise and knowledge are closely matched to the content of the modules on the course:

The team includes:

Holly Barnes-Bennetts: (Lecturer in Media & Culture, Admissions Tutor, HEA Fellow) Specialisms include Sexualities, Representation and Activism.

Katy Wareham Morris: (Lecturer in Media and Culture, Course leader, HEA Fellow): Specialisms include Digital Technologies and Internet Studies and, Queer Theories and Approaches. 

Dr Barbara Mitra: (UW Teaching Fellow and HEA Fellow): Specialisms include Gender and the Media, Eating Disorders, Social Media, Advertising. 

Dr Simon Hardy: (Senior Lecturer and HEA Fellow): Specialisms include Contemporary and Historical Analysis of Pornography/Erotica as a Cultural Genre.

Holly Barnes-Bennetts

Holly Barnes-Bennetts

Holly completed a her BA Hons Media with Cultural Studies at Southampton Solent University in 2006.  After finishing her degree she gained employment ranging from running music and arts festivals, working in PR and charity fundraising. She then returned to teaching, securing a Diploma to Teach in the Lifelong Learning Sector (University of Warwick) and completing a Masters by Research from Bournemouth University. Currently, Holly is working towards her PhD at the University of Worcester titled: A Digital Interactionist, Praxis Study of Perception and Communication of Positive Sexual Consent.

Katy Wareham Morris smiling at camera

Katy Wareham Morris

Katy leads the BA Hons in Media & Culture, a dynamic course which responds to innovations in media forms and applications as well as contemporary cultural issues. Katy is particularly interested in how digital technologies have changed media industries and the way audiences respond to them; and, media futures including immersive media. Katy interrogates media representations created by and representing identities and cultures which have been historically marginalised and challenge the white, middle class, patriarchal tradition. Katy is a proud working class, disabled, female academic and, a published poet.

Barbara Mitra

Dr Barbara Mitra

Dr Barbara Mitra is the Course Leader for Media & Culture, as well as being joint Head of Department (English, Media and Culture). She has varied teaching and research interests and has published on issues relating to television, gender, advertising and children, and has become interested in social media, body image and eating disorders. 

Barbara's teaching includes specialist modules on gender and commercial issues of social media and she is also interested in the use of technology in relation to learning and teaching. She has spoken on local radio and schools on issues related to gender and body image, Facebook and television advertising and children. She has also made a number of films on various academic topics.

Barbara welcomes PhD and MRes topics in relation to the broad areas of gender, social media, body images and digital cultures. 

 

Dr Simon Hardy

Dr Simon Hardy

Simon has lectured at Worcester in Sociology and Media & Cultural Studies since 1995, with specialisms in the history of sexuality, the sociology of pornography and contemporary media coverage of warfare.

Barbara Mitra on Media and Culture at Worcester

Careers

Where could it take you?

Graduates of media and cultural studies courses work in a wide range of careers to which communication skills are central, including marketing and public relations, publishing, media and journalism, business and industry, charities and public administration.

The course also provides a sound basis for postgraduate study.

Media & Cultural Studies is a good foundation for working in the media and media-related industries. Worcester graduates have found employment in the following areas:

  • Radio presenting, both local and national
  • Media research
  • Journalism
  • Events management
  • Media strategising
  • Television
  • Social media
  • Marketing and communications
  • Public Relations
  • Copywriting
  • Teaching
  • Creative industries
  • Charity / political campaigning
  • Arts and heritage sectors
Woman walking down the steps of Worcester cathedral, wearing a leather jacket and black top

Teodora Axente

I came to Worcester from Galati in Romania to study joint honours in Media & Culture and Sociology. This was undoubtedly one of the best decisions I could have ever taken; the course matched my interests entirely and has been truly inspiring, as I have expanded my knowledge of some really challenging topics. It was also extremely helpful that some of my lecturers happened to teach across both subjects.

Since graduating I continue to have a particular interest in the concept of ‘moral panics’ and have been given the opportunity to collaborate with Health courses and to deliver a session on moral panics and dementia, which is a great honour for me. At the moment I am also working within Communication and Participation Department as an Administrator and I am helping on events such as Open Days and Corporate Events. I am very grateful for the opportunity to work in such an active and productive climate, where I can effectively use skills learnt during my academic study.

Anthony Ball

Anthony Ball graduated with a 2:1 degree in Joint Honours Media & Culture and History. He is now ‘a project manager/analyst’ at an app development company, working with a whole range of different clients, largest being Cisco and Amadeus Travel. Anthony is off to Dubai with Cisco in October.

Roseanne Spaughton

Roseanne Spaughton

I found the course really interesting and inspiring and all the lecturers were really supportive in helping me get a job. I also  really enjoyed all the classes and what we learned on the Media and Cultural Studies Degree Course. I now work for Sunshine Radio.

Reeta Haverinen

Reeta Haverinen

Studying Media & Cultural Studies has been the most eye opening experience for me. I never actually realised the power that the media exert on the lives of people on a regular basis.  During my studies, I developed a much deeper understanding of the media and their meanings and I also learnt to evaluate different media forms as sources of information. I developed a critical understanding of different theoretical perspectives on media phenomena. 

What I appreciated most was the way in which Media & Cultural Studies was planned and organised at the University of Worcester, with different modules emphasising different aspects of media and culture. Modules include some that concentrate on gender representations in the media; others enable students to gain a deeper understanding of the way in which we view things - for example, how television in our everyday lives impacts on our decision making and values. I can honestly say that my world view has changed as a result of my learning on the course.

Aliss Hadley

Aliss Hadley

After studying Media and Cultural Studies at the University of Worcester, I was lucky enough to find graduate employment within weeks of handing in my dissertation. I joined MediaCom in June 2011 as a trainee and have been working on well-known brands, such as MG and Bentley, for over a year. The company enrolled me onto the IPA foundation course, which I passed in 2012. As the media industry is all about networking, I often get to go on amazing trips - to concerts, live comedy, even the Olympics!  

Ashley Boyd

Studying Media & Cultural Studies provided me with many study options, ranging from theoretical to practical topics. The University environment encourages individual growth and you don’t just feel like another student. The lecturers are engaging and are always available to help you. I would recommend the course to anyone with an interest in the media and the desire to explore them in greater depth.

Laurie-Anne Heath

Studying Media & Cultural Studies has been extremely interesting. It has taught me much about the mediated culture in which we live. The media and gender classes have been very enjoyable as they prompted wide-ranging discussion, and I always went away wanting to understand more about the topic.

Being able to look at a wide variety of media kept me interested and made the media classes the most enjoyable of those that I undertook during my three years studying at the University.

Jodie-Marie Preddy

After graduating from Worcester, I have been studying for my Masters in Gender, Sexuality and Culture. It was during my time at Worcester, that I began to explore issues of gender and sexuality; I am now hoping to take these interests further and to develop them as the basis of a future career. I really enjoyed my time on the Media & Cultural Studies course. I now work for MEC Global, working on the development of the Nintendo brand.

Two students are walking next to each other and smiling

Careers and Employability

Our Graduates pursue exciting and diverse careers in a wide variety of employment sectors.

Find out how we can support you to achieve your potential.
Costs

How much will it cost?

Full-time tuition fees

UK and EU students

The standard fee for full-time home and EU undergraduate students enrolling on BA/BSc/LLB degrees and FdA/FdSc degrees in the 2023/24 academic year is £9,250 per year.

For more details, please visit our course fees page.

International students

The standard tuition fee for full-time international students enrolling on BA/BSc/LLB degrees and FdA/FdSc degrees in the 2023/24 academic year is £14,700 per year.

For more details, please visit our course fees page.

Part-time tuition fees

UK and EU students

The standard tuition fees for part-time UK and EU students registering on this course in the academic year 2023/24 are £1,156 per 15-credit module, £1,542 per 20-credit module, £2,312 per 30-credit module, £3,083 per 40-credit module, £3,469 per 45-credit module and £4,625 per 60 credit module.

For more details, please visit our course fees page.

Additional costs

Every course has day-to-day costs for basic books, stationery, printing and photocopying. The amounts vary between courses.

If your course offers a placement opportunity, you may need to pay for an Enhanced Disclosure & Barring Service (DBS) check.

Accommodation

Finding the right accommodation is paramount to your university experience. Our halls of residence are home to friendly student communities, making them great places to live and study.

We have over 1,000 rooms across our range of student halls. With rooms to suit every budget and need, from our 'Traditional Hall' at £122 per week to 'En-suite Premium' at £207 per week (2023/24 prices).

For full details visit our accommodation page.

How to apply

How do you apply?

Part-time applications

If you would like to apply to study this course part time, please complete our online application form.

Applying through UCAS

Single Honours:

  • Media & Culture BA - P392

Joint Honours:

UCAS is the central organisation through which applications are processed for entry onto full-time undergraduate courses in Higher Education in the UK.

Read our How to apply pages for more information on applying and to find out what happens to your application.

UCAS Code

P392

Get in touch

If you have any questions, please get in touch. We're here to help you every step of the way.

Holly Barnes-Bennetts

Admissions tutor

Katy Wareham Morris

Course leader