Everything you need to know...
International/EU: £13,995 per year (£1,200 for placement year)
Course summary
- Get ready for a full degree by taking an extra foundation year at the start.
- Learn the practical, technical, writing and research skills that you'll need for undergraduate studies.
- Choose from a wide range of digital media, media arts and communications topics.
- Develop your portfolio and professional and academic skills.
The foundation year is designed especially for students who need additional skills or experience to begin a full BA Journalism, Public Relations and Media degree. The course is suitable if you don’t meet the entry requirements for our full degree course, or you want extra preparation before starting degree-level study. You'll learn with experienced practitioners and develop your interests. After completing your foundation year, you’ll have the skills and knowledge you need, and progress directly onto the full degree.
How you learn
After your foundation year, your studies will be led by a team that includes award-winning journalism, PR and media practitioners, along with internationally-recognised theorists. They have experience across a range of industries — including TV, health and charity — across the public and private sectors.
Throughout the full degree course, you attend a combination of lectures, workshops and seminars where key topics and concepts are introduced and explored. This includes a mix of tutor-directed learning and discussions, and student-led exercises and tasks. You’ll engage in collaborative activities in person, and online.
You learn through
- essays
- practical work
- case studies
- reports
- group work
- concept maps
- research projects
- oral presentations
- portfolios
Course leaders and tutors
Peter Spence
Senior LecturerCurrently teaching a number of film theory modules on the BA (Honours) Film and Media Production course, Peter is also an award-winning film-maker whose work has scr … Read more
Applied learning
Work placements
You will have the opportunity to arrange a year-long work placement in between your second and third years of the full undergraduate degree. This gives you a real-world experience to prepare you for your future career.
Networking opportunities
Our staff are active in the journalism, PR and media industries. As a result, experts from across the sectors are a core feature throughout the degree course. They cover topics from regional and national journalism, digital and social skills to search engine optimisation, crisis management, charity, sports and music PR.
Every year we hold industry events that link you with regional and national PR experts. Graduates return to share their experiences and top tips for finding jobs. Selected students are offered a chance to be mentored by PR professionals for one year.
You will gain automatic free student membership of the Public Relations Communications Association (PRCA). Benefits include exclusive access to work placements, internships, graduate schemes and entry-level jobs, free and unlimited online training, and free access to the industry-recognised PRCA Online Certificate.
We also work closely with the Chartered Institute of Public Relations and the Professional Publishers Association.
Field trips
On the full degree, we take student trips to regional, national and international events, including the Berlin Film Festival, where you get the chance to meet industry experts.
You can also apply for our Go Global student initiative, which has taken our students to destinations such as Malaysia and Paris, gaining new skills and a broader cultural insight into how journalism and PR are applied internationally.
There is opportunity to study abroad as part of the international Erasmus programme (subject to the UK’s continued participation in the Erasmus programme following the Brexit transition period).
Come to an open day
Find out more at our undergraduate open days. Book now for your place.
Future careers
The full degree course prepares you for a career in
- music and entertainment management
- in-house and agency public relations
- journalism
- media relations
- digital PR
- event management
- corporate communications
- lobbying and political communications
- radio
- film and TV production
- blogging
- social media
- content creation
Previous journalism and PR graduates have gone on to work in
- BBC World Service
- BBC local radio
- Sky
- TalkSport
- environmental lobbying positions
- social media campaigning
- Oxford University
- Diva Creative
- Edelman
- Nelson Bostock
- Liverpool FC TV
- TUI travel - head office PR team
Where will I study?
You study at City Campus through a structured mix of online lessons and face-to-face teaching with access to digital and online resources to support your learning.
City Campus
City Campus is located in the heart of Sheffield, within minutes of the train and bus stations.
City Campus map | Campus facilities | Keeping safe on Campus
Adsetts library
Adsetts Library is located on our City Campus. It's open 24 hours a day, every day.
Learn moreLearn more about your department
Media, Arts and Communications Facilities Tour
Take a look around the media, arts and communication facilities at Sheffield Hallam University with lecturer Saskia Wilson.
Entry requirements
All students
UCAS points
- 80
With at least 32 points from one A level or equivalent BTEC National qualifications. For example:
- CDD at A Level.
- MMP in BTEC Extended Diploma.
- A combination of qualifications which must include an A level grade C or BTEC grade M.
GCSE
- English Language or Literature at grade C or 4 or equivalents*
- Maths at grade C or 4 or equivalents*
You can find information on making sense of UCAS tariff points here and use the UCAS tariff calculator to work out your points.
• An Access to HE Diploma with at least 45 credits at level 3 and 15 credits at level 2. At least 15 level 3 credits must be at merit grade or above from a QAA-recognised Access to HE course, or an equivalent Access to HE certificate.
We may also accept you, if you have limited qualifications but can show evidence of ability and a genuine commitment to studying Journalism, Public Relations with Media.
We treat the foundation year as part of the Journalism, Public Relations with Media degree programme. Offers made to students will be for four years of study (or five years of study including a placement). This is made up of the foundation year plus one of our Journalism, Public Relations with Media degrees.
Some applicants may be invited to attend an informal interview with the course leader to ensure that the programme is suitable for themselves and their aspirations.
If English is not your first language, you will need an IELTS score of 6.0 with a minimum of 5.5 in all skills, or equivalent. If your English language skill is currently below IELTS 6.5 we recommend you consider a Sheffield Hallam University Pre-sessional English course which will enable you to achieve an equivalent English score.
Please note the University will only admit students who are aged 18 at the point of enrolment.
Additional information for EU/International students
If you are an International or non-UK European student, you can find out more about the country specific qualifications we accept on our international qualifications page. You can also watch a video guide on how to apply.
For details of English language entry requirements (IELTS), please see the information for 'All students'.
Modules
Module and assessment information for future years is displayed as currently validated and may be liable to change. When selecting electives, your choices will be subject to the core requirements of the course. As a result, selections may be limited to a choice between one of two or more specified electives in some instances.
You will be able to complete a placement year as part of this course. See the modules table below for further information.
Year 1
| Module | Credits | Assessment |
|---|---|---|
| Module: Creative Synergies In Media Production | Credits: 40 |
Assessment:
Coursework |
| Module: Media In Context | Credits: 20 |
Assessment:
Coursework |
| Module: Media Project | Credits: 40 |
Assessment:
Coursework |
| Module: Preparing For Independent Practice And Study | Credits: 20 |
Assessment:
Coursework |
Year 2
| Module | Credits | Assessment |
|---|---|---|
| Module: Digital Skills And Client Management | Credits: 20 |
Assessment:
Coursework |
| Module: History Of Communication | Credits: 20 |
Assessment:
Coursework |
| Module: Introduction To Pr | Credits: 20 |
Assessment:
Coursework |
| Module: Making Media | Credits: 20 |
Assessment:
Coursework |
| Module: Media Law And Democracy | Credits: 20 |
Assessment:
Coursework |
| Module: Pr And Persuasion | Credits: 20 |
Assessment:
Coursework |
Year 3
| Module | Credits | Assessment |
|---|---|---|
| Module: Brand Management And Entrepreneurship | Credits: 20 |
Assessment:
Coursework |
| Module: Reputations, Issues And Crisis Management | Credits: 20 |
Assessment:
Coursework |
| Module: Research Skills | Credits: 20 |
Assessment:
Coursework |
| Module: Researching And Reporting | Credits: 20 |
Assessment:
Coursework |
| Module | Credits | Assessment |
|---|---|---|
| Module: Digital Communications In Practice | Credits: 20 |
Assessment:
Coursework |
| Module: Feature Writing | Credits: 20 |
Assessment:
Coursework |
| Module: Foreign Language | Credits: 20 |
Assessment:
Coursework |
| Module: Global Communications Strategy And Critique | Credits: 20 |
Assessment:
Coursework |
| Module: Life And Style Journalism | Credits: 20 |
Assessment:
Coursework |
| Module: Radio And Sound Production | Credits: 20 |
Assessment:
Coursework |
| Module: Tv And Video News Skills | Credits: 20 |
Assessment:
Coursework |
Year 4
| Module | Credits |
|---|---|
| Module: Placement Year | Credits: - |
Final year
| Module | Credits | Assessment |
|---|---|---|
| Module: Applied Project / Dissertation For Pr | Credits: 20 |
Assessment:
Coursework |
| Module: Contemporary And Professional Issues In Public Relations | Credits: 20 |
Assessment:
Coursework |
| Module: Pr Specialisms | Credits: 20 |
Assessment:
Coursework |
| Module | Credits | Assessment |
|---|---|---|
| Module: Corporate Communications: Strategy And Critique | Credits: 20 |
Assessment:
Coursework |
| Module: Foreign Language | Credits: 20 |
Assessment:
Coursework |
| Module: Magazine Creation | Credits: 20 |
Assessment:
Coursework |
| Module: Magazine Publishing | Credits: 20 |
Assessment:
Coursework |
| Module: Moral Panics | Credits: 20 |
Assessment:
Coursework |
| Module: Pr And Power | Credits: 20 |
Assessment:
Coursework |
| Module: Tv2: Tv Journalism And Production | Credits: 20 |
Assessment:
Coursework |
Fees and funding
Home students
Our tuition fee for UK students starting full-time undergraduate study in 2021/22 is £9,250 per year. During your placement year you will pay a reduced fee of £1,200.
† If you are studying an undergraduate course, postgraduate pre-registration course or postgraduate research course over more than one academic year then your tuition fees may increase in subsequent years in line with Government regulations or UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) published fees. More information can be found in our terms and conditions under student fees regulations.
International students
Our tuition fee for International/EU students starting full-time study in 2021/22 is £13,995 per year. During your placement year you will pay a reduced fee of £1,200.
Financial support for home/EU students
How tuition fees work, student loans and other financial support available.
Additional course costs
This link allows you to view estimated costs associated with the main activities on specific courses. These are estimates and, as such, are only an indication of additional course costs. Actual costs can vary greatly depending on the choices you make during your course.
Additional costs for Media, PR and journalism courses (PDF)Legal information
Any offer of a place to study is subject to your acceptance of the University’s Terms and Conditions and Student Regulations.
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