Media and Communication

Media and communication is a discipline that examines how messages are produced, distributed, and consumed in a world saturated with information and images. It draws on sociology, cultural studies, journalism, film and television studies, and digital media to understand how media industries operate, how media texts are constructed, and how audiences engage with the content they encounter. It is simultaneously a critical discipline, concerned with the social and political implications of media, and a practical one, developing the production skills needed to work effectively in digital and broadcast environments.

At the University of Derby this part-time programme includes a foundation year, making it accessible to students from a broader range of backgrounds, as well as a sandwich placement year, a year abroad, and a work placement component, providing structured professional experience and international exposure despite the part-time mode. You will develop your multimedia production skills through coursework and placements, gaining direct experience of producing content for online and broadcast formats. The critical and theoretical dimensions of the programme develop your ability to analyse media environments and understand the structures that shape what gets produced and how it is received.

You will build skills in content creation, digital production, media analysis, and professional communication, alongside the research and critical thinking capabilities that the academic study of media develops.

Graduates pursue careers in digital media, journalism, broadcasting, public relations, marketing, content management, social media, communications consulting, and arts and cultural organisations. Many build careers across several of these fields. Postgraduate study in media, journalism, communications, or digital content is a natural next step for those wanting to deepen their expertise.