Top-up your existing qualification to a full honours degree. Mix academic rigour with practical skills. Undertake a CV-enhancing work placement. Gain a comprehensive understanding of new media, cultural theory and popular culture, and their increasing significance in contemporary culture and society. Acquire new skills using industry-standard equipment.
Overview
Mass Communications contains an equal combination of practical and theoretical skills – as found in our Journalism and Public Relations degrees – with academic study of media, film and culture.
On the practical side, modules include ‘News Journalism’, ‘Scriptwriting’ and ‘New Media’. As part of daily drop-in sessions, professional journalists are on hand to provide professional input into your work.
On the theory side, modules include ‘Media Studies’, ‘Cultural Theory and ‘Popular Culture’ and ‘Film Studies’.
Why us?
This degree prepares you for a wide range of careers in newspapers, magazines, radio, TV, Public Relations and new media industries
Course structure
We use a variety of teaching methods including lectures, demonstrations, screenings, seminars, workshops, tutorials, small-group work, debates, group and individual project work, independent learning, open and resource-based learning, multimedia and new media learning, production practice and work placements.
Generally, the theory modules employ a lecture-plus-seminar format, while practice modules use workshop-tutorial and/or lecture-tutorial formats.
Assessment methods include portfolios of practical work, essays, examinations, reports and presentations.
Facilities
We continually invest in industry-standard equipment and our David Puttnam Media Centre is a centre for excellence for training students.
Career ready
This degree prepares you for a wide range of careers in newspapers, magazines, radio, TV, Public Relations and new media industries. It is also highly relevant to many positions in industry, commerce and the Civil Service, as well as to jobs in the arts and voluntary sectors.
Career opportunities
Recent graduates from Sunderland have gained jobs with employers such as:
- BBC (including Radio 1)
- Channel 4
- Sky TV
- MTV
- The Guardian
- Regional newspapers
- PR companies
You could also choose to continue your studies with a Masters degree at the University of Sunderland.
The Enterprise Place
If you have a good idea for a new business and have the dedication and motivation to make it happen, then we want to hear from you. The Enterprise Place, based on-campus at St Peter's Gate Business Centre, is the perfect environment for entrepreneurial students and graduates to turn their business ideas into reality. You’ll have access to free hot desk space, IT facilities, specialist advice and support and business mentors and networking opportunities.
To find out more about how we can help you start a business, please contact the University's Enterprise Team on 0191 515 3751 / [email protected]

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