Media and Communication with Foundation Year

The Highlights

• Study a course created to keep up with the fast-paced media industry.
• Develop your practical communications skills on the programme, meaning you'll quickly become an effective communicator across various multimedia channels.
• Exciting new modules allowing you to study both theory and practice of media and communications, to prepare you for roles in the media sector.
• Develop your multimedia skills through coursework and placements, you’ll gain direct experience in producing content for online and broadcast formats.
• Learn from tutors who are highly experienced in the communications industry and well connected, having worked in online and broadcast roles for organisations like the BBC, ITV News, and other media outlets.
• Hear the latest insights, get advice from the best in the industry and build contacts. We recently visited the BBC’s flagship political programme, Sunday, and took part in a Q&A with Laura Kuenssberg.

Bringing industry to the classroom

The first year of your degree offers an introductory overview of key media and communications knowledge and skills - such as writing, podcasting and basic video production skills. In your second year, you'll choose to focus on PR skills, script writing or develop your audio skills further. In your final year, you'll have the opportunity to work on a long term project for a media organisation.

The PR modules offer the opportunity for you to join our student-run communications agency, where you'll get real-life experience of working for real clients and help them solve their media and communication issues.

Foundation Year - helping you to achieve more

Including a foundation year as part of your four-year study programme will give you a head start in your academic and professional life. The foundation year offers the chance to strengthen your skills, knowledge and confidence – with extensive support from our expert staff – before you advance to stage one of your honours degree. It could also be beneficial if you are planning a career change and want to get to grips with aspects of subjects which are new to you.

Our degrees with a foundation year are continuous, meaning that you won’t need to apply again once you have successfully completed the first year.

Boost your employability with a placement year

Take an optional placement year to put your skills into practice in a real-world setting. We’ll support you in finding a placement and throughout your time in industry. It’s a great way to gain valuable experience for your CV, build contacts, and explore career options before you graduate.

Please note that our modules are subject to change - we review the content of our courses regularly, making changes where necessary to improve your experience and graduate prospects.

Our tutors use a varied approach to teaching which engaging and interactive. You'll get to hear the latest insights and get advice from industry guest speakers and start to build your contacts.

You will learn in a variety of ways, including through:

• Workshops
• News days
• Work experience/real projects for employers
• Lectures and seminars, including guest lectures from key industry figures
• Fieldtrips.

This course develops the broad range of knowledge and skills you need to become a multimedia communications professional, adept in the production of content for multiple platforms and skills which can take you anywhere in the world. 

You will also be well-suited to roles in politics, content creation, marketing, communications/PR, social media, the wider creative industries, as well as law and public administration. In fact, the research and media communication skills you'll graduate with, are transferable to a huge variety of graduate level jobs.

2026 entry

These are the typical qualification requirements for September 2026 entry.

Contextual offers may apply to students who meet certain criteria.

Further information about our fees and support you may be entitled to

Additional costs and optional extras

Additional information about your studies

Teaching hours

Like most universities, we operate extended teaching hours at the University of Derby, so contact time with your lecturers and tutors could be anytime between 9am and 9pm. Your timetable will usually be available on the website 24 hours after enrolment on to your course.

Course updates

The information provided on this page is correct at the time of publication but course content, costs and other individual course details do change from time to time and are updated as often as possible, so please do check these pages again when making your final decision to apply for a course. Any updated course details will also be confirmed to you at application, enrolment and in your offer letter.

If you are thinking about transferring onto this course (into the second year for example), you should contact the programme leader for the relevant course information as modules may vary from those shown on this page.