Everything you need to know...
International/EU: £15,860 per year (£1,200 for placement year)
Course summary
- Gain in-depth knowledge of journalism, PR and media.
- Research, plan, implement and manage successful journalism, PR and media campaigns.
- Use cutting-edge facilities for content creation and editing.
- Engage with current debates about the relationship between journalism, PR, media and wider society.
- Study flexibly — tailoring your learning to your career plans, while gaining a solid understanding of all three subjects.
On this course, you’ll examine key theories and issues relating to journalism, PR and media. You’ll learn with industry experts, and gain wide-ranging knowledge along with useful practical skills. You’ll graduate ready for a range of exciting positions within a dynamic sector. See articles written by our current students.
View our students' work
Find out more about the Media Arts and Communications department and view the work of some of our students.
How you learn
All our courses are designed around a set of key principles based on engaging you with the world, collaborating with others, challenging you to think in new ways, and providing you with a supportive environment in which you can thrive.
Your studies are 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 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
Applied learning
Work placements
You’ll have the opportunity to arrange a year-long work placement in between your second and third years. This gives you real-world experience to prepare you for your future career.
Recent students have worked with the BBC, regional newspapers, local and national PR agencies, Disney, Purple PR music agency, Mattel, Douwe Egberts, Dentsu Aegis, Top Cashback, South Yorkshire Police, Sheffield Children's Hospital, Sheffield Showroom and Sheff Doc/Fest, the international documentary festival. Students also work in the voluntary sector.
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 your 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
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 with the possibility of funding through the Erasmus+ programme (until 2023) or the Turing Scheme.
Teaching Quality
Sheffield Hallam University is ranked 8th amongst UK providers for journalism in the Guardian University Guide 2023 league table.
Future careers
This course prepares you for a career in
- journalism
- music and entertainment management
- in-house and agency public relations
- 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 lectures, seminars and practical sessions as well as 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 | City Campus tour | Keeping safe on Campus
Adsetts library
Adsetts Library is located on our City Campus. It's open 24 hours a day, every day.
Learn moreEquipment and facilities
On this course you work with
- PR Hub — our custom designed flexible teaching and learning space
- TV studio — to produce content packages and learn about news and programme production
- Radio studios — learning essential journalism and PR skills for audio broadcast
- Film screening facilities — the chance to see your work showcased in our state of the art facilities
- Creative Media Centre skilled support team
Learn 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
- 112
This must include at least 64 points from two A levels or equivalent BTEC National qualifications, including at least 32 points in a relevant* subject. For example:
- BBC at A Level
- DMM in BTEC Extended Diploma.
- A combination of qualifications, which must include 64 points from two A levels and may include AS Levels, EPQ and general studies. Where an applicant has not taken AS Level qualifications we may make a lower offer.
* Relevant subjects are • media studies • communication studies • film studies •
English • creative writing • a foreign language • sociology • politics • history •
psychology • accountancy/finance • business/economics • hospitality/events
management • dance/performing arts • drama/theatre studies • geography • art
and design • graphic design • IT/computing • music/music technology • sciences •
sport • world development.
You can find information on making sense of UCAS tariff points here and use the UCAS tariff calculator to work out your points.
GCSE
- English Language at grade C or 4
- Maths at grade C or 4
Access - 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.
If English is not your first language you must have an IELTS score of 6.0 with a minimum of 5.5 in all skills or equivalent.
Please note the University will only admit students who are aged 18 or over 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.
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: 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 2
| 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 3
| Module | Credits |
|---|---|
| Module: Placement Year | Credits: - |
Final year
| Module | Credits | Assessment |
|---|---|---|
| Module: Contemporary And Professional Issues In Public Relations | Credits: 20 |
Assessment:
Coursework |
| Module: Dissertation/Applied Project | Credits: 40 |
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 2023/24 is £9,250 per year. These fees are regulated by the UK government and are therefore subject to changes in government policy. 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 2023/24 is £15,860 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, 218.8KB)Legal information
Any offer of a place to study is subject to your acceptance of the University’s Terms and Conditions and Student Regulations.
Financial support for home/EU students
How tuition fees work, student loans and other financial support available.
