Media Communications and Publishing

You’ll gain an in-depth understanding of how modern media and communication works, develop the skills to create attention-grabbing content, and share it across the latest media and publishing platforms. 

Throughout your degree you’ll develop the skills to create impactful marketing strategies and campaigns, eye-catching social media content, feature articles in print and online, and explore the use of emerging technology in publishing.

You’ll learn about the publishing industry in all its forms, and get involved in the entire process of publishing both digitally and in print, from design to editing to proofreading.

Year one
In your first year you’ll learn how to research audiences, and how to inspire and change perceptions through media.
You’ll gain an overview of the publishing industry, with a focus on book publishing, and find out more about how the industry works, and the different roles within it.

You’ll also be introduced to the Adobe Creative Suite, and learn how to use it to enhance your studies.

Year two
There will be a focus on practical skills this year. You’ll produce social media marketing materials for clients and companies, and take an in-depth look at marketing in the book industry, as well as book design and production. You’ll also build on your Adobe skills to produce professional-standard marketing content, and have the chance to work on industry projects with clients.

Optional modules cover media ethics, digital storytelling, media making, text editing and magazine publishing.

Year three
Look ahead to your life after graduation. In your final year, you’ll work beyond the borders of the University, focusing more on practical applications for your business and communication skills. 

You’ll get to join The Studio, our innovation hub for creative media technology, and produce a large-scale communications campaign directed at the type of employer you would like to target. 

You’ll also work with outside clients on publishing projects encompassing all aspects of the industry, from marketing to book creation.

Your assessments are designed to help you build a portfolio that you can take into your career. On some modules you’ll produce digital media campaigns, feature articles and social media content, while elsewhere you’ll deliver presentations and research reports.

You’ll be taught by a team of experienced researchers, creative media practitioners and publishing experts. 

Most modules use a mix of lectures and small group seminars, skills labs and creative workshops. We also invite experts from across arts and cultural sectors to talk about their experiences, and visiting media publishers will offer insights from the front line of contemporary publishing.

You’ll have the opportunity to take part in visits to local media businesses to give you a real-world grounding.

Ongoing tutor feedback and workshop exercises will help you to develop your work to a high level.

You'll learn to be adept at project management, whether for a particular story you’re working on, or for a larger project.

Throughout the course, you’ll work to briefs set by your tutors or industry collaborators, or your own negotiated briefs.

To find out more about how we teach and how you'll learn, please read our Learning and Teaching Delivery Statement.

A unique aspect of this degree is that all final-year students will also join The Studio, Bath Spa University’s brand-new city-centre hub for creative media technology. aug

You’ll also get to work on live industry briefs and projects for clients, helping you build a professional portfolio.

You can also work on the student-led Milk Magazine.

Our Media Communications and Publishing course is designed for those looking to succeed within and across the ever-growing communications and publishing industries, developing much sought-after skills in print and digital content creation, marketing, creative strategy, PR, journalism and social media management.

Our graduates are employed as editors, marketeers, social media content creators and managers, journalists, copywriters, web and graphic designers, magazine designers, and audiobook producers.

Media Communications and Publishing graduates have gained employment in numerous media, marketing and publishing companies including; ITV, The Social Shepherd, Komedia, Penguin Random House, Oxford University Press and Future Publishing.

As part of your degree, you could study abroad on a placement at one of Bath Spa’s partner universities.

If you’re a full-time undergraduate student starting your first year at Bath Spa University, you can apply for the Certificate in Global Citizenship, which you’ll study alongside your degree.

You’ll gain global awareness and add an international dimension to your student experience, and funding is available. On successful completion of the programme, you’ll be awarded a Certificate in Global Citizenship. This is in addition to your degree; it doesn’t change your degree title or results.

The Professional Placement Year (PPY) provides you with the opportunity to identify, apply for, and secure professional experience, normally comprising one to three placements over a minimum of nine months. Successful completion of this module will demonstrate your ability to secure and sustain graduate-level employment.

By completing the module, you'll be entitled to the addition of 'with Professional Placement Year' to your degree title.

Before your PPY, you'll work to identify roles of interest and secure a placement. The Placements Team will support through timetabled sessions and 1:1 appointments.

As well as completing a minimum of 900 placement hours, you will complete two assessments demonstrating your skill development, growth in professional behaviours and how the PPY has impacted your future career aspirations.

Aiming to make work experience more accessible, we have introduced the PPY Bursary. Students undertaking a PPY can receive between £500 and £1,500 to be used towards placement costs such as travel, food, workwear or accommodation.

For more information and details of eligibility criteria, please visit the PPY Bursary webpage.

You'll be taught at our Newton Park campus, which is located on the edge of Bath and offers a blend of modern and eighteenth-century buildings, with good access to the city while being nestled in the countryside. From your lectures, you’ll be able to visit the library, the Students’ Union, and access our student information and support teams, as well as many of our cutting edge facilities. 

• Our Library offers a wealth of learning resources including books, journals, DVDs and an extensive range of electronic services. Our Subject Librarians for Media Communications and Publishing provide subject-specific support, including help with research.
• ASk (Academic Skills) provides support for your academic work, including feedback on written drafts and other help with academic writing.
• Our Virtual Learning Environment provides online access to learning materials such as lecture slides, assessment information, discussion boards and other resources. 
• The Careers team run networking events and advisory workshops that explore your future options and the essentials of the job application process. They help you get experience by assisting with your search for work placements and paid part-time jobs while you're studying. When you're ready to progress into your chosen career, they can help you secure graduate-level employment, freelance opportunities, and funding for your own business ideas. Career support continues for years after you graduate with the dedicated Grad Support Unit.
• You’ll have free access to thousands of business, design and tech courses online via LinkedIn Learning.
• If English isn't your first language, our English Language Unit can help you improve your English, reach your full potential and boost your confidence.
• Our Student Wellbeing Services are available to support you through your learning.
• You’ll have access to Apple Macs to use for your work, in our dedicated Mac Lab.