BA Society, Culture and Media

The 2012 Complete University Guide ranks UEA second in the country for Media and Communications Studies. Read More…

This very popular academically rigorous degree not only provides a sound foundation in social studies, but also enables you to develop an understanding of the ways that contemporary media relate to culture and to society. You can combine studying the politics of culture with studying cinema, or learn the critical thinking skills of philosophy and apply them to understanding modern media and culture. There are modules that emphasise linguistic approaches to media, the relationship between culture and society, new media and the politics of mass media.

What makes us who we are? Clearly our genes and the situation we grew up in are very important but so, increasingly, is the culture into which we have been socialised. Culture includes talk and the way people act and interact in a society - not only the rituals and ceremonies distinctive to a particular society's culture but also the tastes, lifestyles and fashions that we may think of as part of our individual identity.

During the twentieth century we saw a massive increase in 'mediated culture' - the images, talk, ideas and writing communicated to us through the electronic media. The cultural sphere of face-to-face interaction and print media that dominated during the nineteenth century was extended during the twentieth to include radio, cinema, television, recorded music and magazines. And over the last thirty years computer technology has extended all these media still further, especially via the internet that enables us to send and receive messages of all types: sound, image, text and a mix of all three. Together these media have become a major feature of the culture of contemporary society and have reshaped our political life and how all manner of social relations and cultural values are established and maintained.

Why study Society, Culture and Media at UEA?

UEA has now become a major academic centre for the study of culture and media, and this innovative programme, introduced in September 2002, brings together research and teaching expertise in sociology, socio-linguistics, film and television studies and political science. You will study core units such as Culture and Society and those that develop research skills but you will also be able to choose from a range of options including units such as, Cinema since 1960, Constructing the News, Consumer Cultures, Contemporary Social Identities, Discourse Analysis, Economics of Film and TV, European Media: News and Documentary, Interpreting Modernity, Introduction to European Cinema, Key issues in film studies, Language and Politics, Politics and Mass Media, Politics and Popular Culture, Sociology of the Body, Visual Culture and Television sitcom.

This degree programme is not designed to provide technical or professional media training but to give you the sort of knowledge and ideas that could set you on a wide variety of careers including those in the leisure and cultural industries. As well as developing a range of transferable skills, on completion of the degree you will have an understanding of how culture and media shape modern societies that will enhance your abilities to contribute to cultural change as a citizen.

PSI Graduate comments

Casey Bingham – BA Society, Culture and Media (2006)

I very much enjoyed my time at UEA. I thought that the teaching in general was very good; staff were always polite, friendly and eager to help in any way that they could. I was particularly pleased with my choice of course because I felt that it gave me a good deal more breadth in the subjects that were on offer. While the compulsory units helped to lay a theoretical foundation, I felt able to take this in my chosen direction through careful selection of both optional and free choice units.

Xiao Yang – BA Society Culture and Media (2006)

I really learnt a lot from this lovely university, not only knowledge related to my major, also other experience. There are many courses that are very interesting in my major. I chose ‘Politics and Mass Media’, ‘Interpreting Modernity’, ‘Culture and Society’, ‘Key Issues in Film Studies’, ‘Researching Documents’, ‘Stardom in Film and Television Studies’ and so on. I really gained lots of knowledge which I hadn’t learnt before, and I really enjoyed it. The teachers and other staff at UEA are very friendly and helpful. From 2003 to 2006, I was an overseas student studying at UEA, so I always had certain problems to deal with, for example, how to choose a suitable course; how to do my first presentation; how to do a group work with native students; etc. When I met difficulties, and asked them for help, they were so patient and gave me useful suggestions. Until now, I really want to say thanks to all staff at UEA – I am proud that I have studied at UEA, and I am also happy that I have met such lovely people at UEA.

At the same time, I joined the society of ‘Street Jazz Dance’ at UEA, which really brought me extra fun. In there, I made a large number of friends from different countries. In addition, I did quite a lot of performances in LCR (at UEA campus). I really loved that time, now I always miss that wonderful time.

Now I work in the International Foundation College in Shenzhen as a teacher of IELTS. Although this job is not related to my major at all, I really love it. The reason is that all the students in our college are going to study abroad for an Undergraduate or Masters Degree, and I can use what I have learnt and what I have experienced to tech them, and give them more suggestion to know how to study and how to live in foreign countries.

Course Organiser:Dr. Sanna Inthorn

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Entry Requirements A Level: ABB International Baccalaureate: 32 Scottish Advanced Highers: ABB Irish Leaving Certificate: AABBBB Access Course: Please contact the university for further information. HND: Please contact the university for further information. European Baccalaureate: 75% Students for whom English is a Foreign language

We welcome applications from students from all academic backgrounds. We require evidence of proficiency in English (including writing, speaking, listening and reading). Recognised English Language qualifications include:

• IELTS: 6.5 overall (minimum 6.0 in Reading and Writing with no less than 5.5 in any component)
• TOEFL: Internet-based score of 88 overall (minimum 20 in Reading and Speaking components, 19 in Writing component and 17 in Listening components.
• PTE: 62 overall (minimum 55 in Reading and Writing components with no less than 51 in any component).

If you do not meet the University's entry requirements, our INTO Language Learning Centre offers a range of university preparation courses to help you develop the high level of academic and English skills necessary for successful undergraduate study.

Interviews

The majority of candidates will not be called for an interview. However, for some students an interview will be requested. These are normally quite informal and generally cover topics such as your current studies, reasons for choosing the course and your personal interests and extra-curricular activities.

Gap Year

We welcome applications from students who have already taken or intend to take a gap year.

Deferred Entry

We welcome applications for deferred entry, believing that a year between school and university can be of substantial benefit. You are advised to indicate your reason for wishing to defer entry and may wish to contact the appropriate Admissions Office directly to discuss this further.

Intakes

The School's annual intake is in September of each year.

Alternative Qualifications

If you have alternative qualifications that have not been mentioned above, then please contact university directly for further information.

GCSE Offer

Students are required to have GCSE Mathematics and GCSE English Language at Grade C or above.

Assessment

For the majority of candidates the most important factors in assessing the application will be past and future achievement in examinations, academic interest in the subject being applied for, personal interest and extra-curricular activities and the confidential reference.

We consider applicants as individuals and accept students from a very wide range of educational backgrounds and spend time considering your application in order to reach an informed decision relating to your application. Typical offers are indicated above. Please note, there may be additional subject entry requirements specific to individual degree courses.

The Student Experience Survey ranks UEA third in the country - two places higher than last year's result and overtaking both Oxford and Cambridge... Read More >

The School of Political Social and International Studies (PSI) specialises in teaching and research in politics, international relations, media and culture.

We offer a wide range of courses that allow you to explore the politics of different countries and regions – for example, Russia, South-east Asia, the United States, Europe and Australia and, of course, the United Kingdom. You can learn about the key power-holders, about how parties compete to influence the public and how policies are made. Some of our students experience life in the lobby at first hand through the parliamentary internship scheme.

In the international arena there are modules dealing with security, terrorism, American foreign policy, fundamentalism, environmental issues and international players such as the United Nations. A module on the history of world politics since 1945 helps you understand how we arrived at 21st-century global patterns of power.

We offer a distinctive range of degrees specialising in media, culture and politics where topics covered may include mass media, political blogs, popular culture, new media, political marketing and 'practical media’, which enables students to make their own news documentary.

All our degrees give you opportunities to take modules from other UEA Schools which are selected to fit in with our degree programmes. Each degree includes the option of a 'free choice’ module taken from another School.

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Further information on fees and funding for 2012 can be found here

University Fees and Financial Support: International Students

The University will be charging International students £11,700.00 for all full time School of Political, Social and International Studies undergraduate programmes which start in 2012.

Please click to access further information about fees and funding for International students