Media and Cultural Studies BA Hons

When you join this programme, you won’t just read about media — you’ll do media. At Lancaster, you’ll get hands-on experience in the Digital Media Studio using specialist equipment to experiment with digital storytelling, film, audio, and multimedia production.

You’ll also be part of Lancaster’s vibrant creative-arts community. From professional editing suites and media labs to the purpose-built LICA building with its flexible performance and workshop spaces, you’ll have everything you need to bring your creative ideas to life.

Because the degree is research-led, your learning stays current and relevant. Many modules draw directly from staff research on topics like fandom, AI, surveillance, and inequality — so you’ll be engaging with the same issues shaping today’s media landscape.

Here’s how your learning becomes deeply experiential:

Creative media practice + critical theory: You’ll combine hands-on creative work with academic insight. For your final project, you might choose to research a topic in depth or produce a media piece such as a podcast, social campaign, or multimedia project.

Specialist tools and facilities: You’ll have access to the Digital Media Studio, editing suites, and equipment loans for cameras, audio recorders, and other professional tools.

Flexible and interdisciplinary learning: In your first year, you’ll study core modules like Transformations: From Mass Media to Social Media and can choose options from areas like sociology, gender studies, or the broader social sciences — allowing you to tailor the degree to your interests.

Student media and societies: Get involved with Lancaster’s student-run TV station, radio, cinema, and newspapers — perfect opportunities to gain real experience working with audiences and teams.

Field trips, guest speakers, and public events: The programme connects you with industry professionals and journalists through talks and workshops, and includes occasional field trips to media institutions, museums, and cultural venues.

Library, archives, and research centres: Lancaster’s refurbished library includes digital studios for media work, while The Ruskin (Library, Museum & Research Centre) offers fascinating archives and collections for creative research projects.

Creative arts spaces: Through the LICA building, Great Hall, and Bowland Annex, you’ll have access to purpose-built facilities for media production, editing, and performance.

Taught by leading researchers: You’ll learn from academics who are active in fields like media activism, fandom studies, algorithmic culture, and social inequality — meaning you’re learning from people who are shaping the conversations that define media today.

Most graduates from Lancaster’s Media and Cultural Studies degree step into exciting and dynamic careers across the media, communications, and creative industries — or into sectors that value strong storytelling, analytical thinking, and cultural insight. You’ll graduate ready to work across journalism, social media, cultural institutions, or arts organizations — and to adapt as new opportunities emerge in the ever-evolving media landscape.

Typical job roles include:
Journalist / Digital Journalist / Editorial Assistant
Social Media Manager / Digital Communications Officer
Media Researcher / Content Producer / Media Buyer
Public Relations / Communications Consultant / Arts Manager

How Lancaster Helps You Get There

Personalised career support
Lancaster’s Careers & Employability Service offers one-to-one consultations, CV and portfolio guidance, networking events with employers, career fairs, and workshops on interview and presentation skills. You’ll also enjoy lifelong access to their support — even after graduation.

Specialist employability guidance
The Faculty of Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences (FHASS) has its own Employability Hub, which provides tailored support focused on placements, internship advice, and job application skills designed specifically for students in creative and cultural disciplines.

Placement opportunities
You can choose the 4-year “with placement” version of the degree, which includes a full year in industry. Lancaster supports you before, during, and after your placement, helping you find a role that fits your interests and goals.

Even if you choose the standard 3-year route, you can still take part in shorter internships or external collaborations through the FASS Placements & Internships Scheme.

Creative enterprise experience
In your third year, the Creative Enterprise module (part of Lancaster Institute for the Contemporary Arts) helps you design and manage real creative projects, explore freelancing opportunities, and develop entrepreneurial skills for the cultural and creative sectors.

Real-world engagement
The degree regularly features guest speakers from media organisations such as the BBC and independent production companies, as well as opportunities to collaborate on real-world projects. Students also benefit from Lancaster Arts — the university’s public arts arm — which includes theatres, galleries, and performance venues that connect students directly with professional creative practice.

Employability and Graduate Success

Around 90% of media and cultural studies graduates are in work or further study within 15 months of finishing their degree.
Typical starting salaries average around £22,000, rising over time to approximately £27,000 or more depending on role, location, and experience.

Lancaster consistently ranks among the top UK universities for graduate employability, with about 97% of graduates in employment or further study within six months of graduating.

Graduates from this degree have gone on to roles such as:
Editorial Assistant, Media Coordinator, Content Producer, Digital Marketer, Social Media Manager, Script Supervisor, and Arts Manager — and many also launch their own media or creative ventures.

Beyond specific job titles, the degree builds highly transferable skills — communication, research, creativity, and critical thinking — that open doors across industries.

Further Study and Academic Progression

Many graduates choose to continue their studies at Lancaster through postgraduate programmes such as:

• MA Global Media & Society

• MA Film Studies

• MA Cultural Studies

For those drawn to research, Lancaster also offers a PhD in Media and Cultural Studies, where you can develop a specialised project with expert supervision.

Some graduates branch into interdisciplinary areas, combining media with subjects such as digital humanities, communication studies, or cultural policy. Others pursue professional training — for instance, in journalism, film production, or digital analytics — to strengthen their technical expertise.