Media BA
London, Stratford (UCL East)
This is the programme information for 2026 entry
If you require details of the previous year's programme, Media BA (2025), click here
Media BA prepares students to navigate the evolving digital landscape by blending creative production with critical thinking. Different from a purely practical film-making or games design degree, this programme focuses on understanding issues and debates around the future of digital media and emerging media, emphasising practice-based research and making. Through interdisciplinary approaches, students engage in worldbuilding, interactive media, and moving image production while exploring cultural and social contexts.
Study mode
Duration
UK tuition fees (2025/26)
Overseas tuition fees (2025/26)
Programme starts
September 2026Application deadline
14 Jan 2026UCAS course code
Entry requirements
- Grades
- AAB
- Subjects
- An Arts and Humanities subject or Computer Science preferred.
- GCSEs
- English Language and Mathematics at grade C or 4.
Contextual offer information
- Grades
- BBB more about contextual offers
- Subjects
- No specific subjects. An Arts and Humanities subject or Computer Science subject preferred. At least two A level subjects should be taken from UCL's list of preferred A level subjects.
- GCSEs
- English Language and Mathematics at grade C or 4.
- Points
- 36
- Subjects
- A total of 17 points in three higher level subjects, with no higher level score below 5.
Contextual offer
- Points
- 32 more about contextual offers
- Subjects
- A total of 15 points in three higher level subjects, with no higher level score below 5.
UK applicants qualifications
For entry requirements with other UK qualifications accepted by UCL, choose your qualification from the list below:
Equivalent qualification
Pass in Access to HE Diploma with a minimum of 30 credits at Distinction and 15 credits at Merit, all from Level 3 units.
BTEC Level 3 Extended Diploma (QCF) or BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diploma (RQF - teaching from 2016) with Distinction, Distinction, Distinction.
D3,D3,M1 in three Cambridge Pre-U Principal Subjects.
AAB at Advanced Highers (or AA at Advanced Higher and BBB at Higher).
Not acceptable for entrance to this programme.
UAL Level 3 Extended Diploma in Creative Media Production & Technology with overall mark of Distinction.
International applications
Country-specific information, including details of when UCL representatives are visiting your part of the world, can be obtained from the International Students website.
Access and widening participation
UCL is committed to widening access to higher education. If you are eligible for Access UCL you do not need to do anything in addition to the standard UCAS application. Your application will be automatically flagged when we receive it.Undergraduate Preparatory Certificates
The Undergraduate Preparatory Certificates (UPC) prepare international students for a UCL undergraduate degree who don’t have the qualifications to enter directly. These intensive one-year foundation courses are taught on our central London campus.
Typical UPC students will be high achievers in a 12-year school system which does not meet the standard required for direct entry to UCL.
For more information see: ucl.ac.uk/upc.
English language requirements
The English language level for this programme is: Level 2
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Information about the evidence required, acceptable qualifications and test providers can be found on our English language requirements page.
A variety of English language programmes are offered at the UCL Centre for Languages & International Education.
Course overview
In a world increasingly shaped by digital media and creative artificial intelligence, Media BA empowers students to become innovators who shape the future of the creative industries and creative economy. With the rapid transformation of the creative industries, there is a pressing need for professionals who can blend technical creative production and creative exploration with critical thinking - skills which are at the heart of our programme. We aim to prepare students to meet the challenges of a rapidly changing digital world by combining technical production with a deep understanding of cultural, ethical and social issues.
You will gain a broad understanding of how the media is made, how it is experienced, how it functions and how it offers you expressive opportunities
IOE, UCL's Faculty of Education and Society has ranked number 1 in the world for Education for 11 consecutive years (QS World University Rankings by Subject, 2024). You will learn from world class researchers and lecturers who themselves are active media practitioners. This includes, how to study, analyse and critically reflect on the media, whether through examining its history, or its composition, or how people engage with it in an increasingly digital society.
The programme encourages you to reflect creatively and critically about the design and impact of media through entrepreneurial thinking and develop a foundation of enterprise skills. There are opportunities to undertake a workplace placement across a range of sectors, including media industries, galleries and museums, the community sector, or education.
Please note that this course is dealing with the creative production of media (film, games and interactive and emerging media) and critical media practice.
What this course will give you
Throughout the course you will:
- Develop skills in creative media production, including film, games, and interactive media.
- Gain expertise in emerging digital media and creative AI.
- Blend technical skills with critical and ethical thinking.
- Explore the cultural, social, and historical impact of media.
- Build enterprise and entrepreneurial skills for the creative industries.
- Access workplace placements in media, museums, community, and education sectors.
- Engage in hands-on, practice-based research and creative experimentation.
You will also benefit from our brand-new cutting-edge media facilities at UCL East, including state-of-the-art cinema and podcast suite, fully equipped editing suites, access to an extensive collection of media equipment and specialised media technicians to support innovative media production and experimentation.
You can reach advanced level in film (moving-image production) or/and interactive and emerging media and games, important media forms for the global creative economy. This will prepare you for a wide range of employment in the media landscape of the UK, and beyond.
Teaching and learning
In each year of your degree you will take a number of individual modules, normally valued at 15 or 30 credits, adding up to a total of 120 credits for the year. Modules are assessed in the academic year in which they are taken. The balance of compulsory and optional modules varies from programme to programme and year to year. A 30-credit module is considered equivalent to 15 credits in the European Credit Transfer System (ECTS).
Upon successful completion of 360 credits, you will be awarded a BA (Hons) in Media.
Modules
Please note that the list of modules given here is indicative. This information is published a long time in advance of enrolment and module content and availability is subject to change. Modules that are in use for the current academic year are linked for further information. Where no link is present, further information is not yet available.
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Year 1
The programme begins, in year one, with introductory modules common to all students. This will include theoretical and critical thinking approaches to media and the practical strands of film-making and moving image and interactive and emerging media and games. In the third term, you will undertake an individual practice-based project in which you can apply the new skills and knowledge you've learned.
Year 2
In the second year, you will get the opportunity to specialise in an area which enables you to develop unique, meaningful projects that reflect a wide range of voices, urgent topics and experiences. Core module choices in film allow you to explore the history and cultures of moving image production and develop skills through making documentary and fiction films. Core modules choices in games and interactive media will equip you with a foundational skill set that blends technical expertise such as programming, 3D modelling, and animation for interactive media with conceptual frameworks in media theory and speculative design, as well as emerging media technologies linked to creative artificial intelligence.
Students will also get to work on a range of optional modules to complement their specialism which could include creative areas of interest like sound for media, creative writing for media, a foreign language module option or choose more theory-based modules to deepen their understanding of cultural and social issues. Students also have the opportunity to take some optional modules which are delivered at UCL's Bloomsbury campus.
You also have the opportunity to take up a work placement (subject to availability). You will work with an organisation in the media industry, community sector, cultural sector or in education, gaining important experience of media in the workplace.
Year 3
Most of the third year will be taken up with your major degree project, which includes a production project in which you develop a lab-based creative piece for the degree show, together with a related dissertation.
The final-year degree show is the celebration of the students' achievements. The show will be open to the public and includes a preview for industry and UCL's media network.
Compulsory modules
Optional modules
Optional modules
Your learning
Media BA is facilitated in state-of-the-art media facilities at UCL East which includes labs, lecture theatres and a fully-functioning cinema. The programme includes a variety of lectures, seminars, workshops, specialist classes, one to one supervision tutorials and lab-based activities including practice-based project sessions. Students are encouraged to engage with self-directed and collaborative learning, and project development which will be supported by lecturers and lab technicians. Group work is used to help students develop collaboration and communication skills, essential for real-world media industries, while encouraging them to share diverse perspectives and work together on creative projects.
The work placement option provides you with a real-world experience in an organisation that produces, enables or uses media: for example, a broadcaster, a games developer, a museum, a community, cultural or educational organisation. The placement will be for a minimum of 10 days. You will complete an assignment demonstrating what you have learned about the media-related workplace.
Typical contact hours vary between 8-15 hours per week, depending on the year of study and module choice, and include lectures, seminars, practice-based classes, film screenings and supervised lab-based learning. Students will also display a level of independent study (25-30 hours per week), for example, by engaging with open lab sessions where technicians are available for one to one support, or with key topics and required readings in preparation for the discussions promoted in the programme.
Assessment
Assessment is through a variety of mediums to enable you to demonstrate your learning in different ways. We use essays, reports, blogs, podcasts, oral presentations and portfolios. Portfolios provide a space for you to work on creative outputs individually and in groups with supporting materials and reflective accounts allowing you to show how you contributed to shared work and collaborated with a group. In final year creative projects, you are assessed on design presentations, prototyping and a larger creative work and dissertation. By producing a range of creative works and reflections, you can build a portfolio of work to share with future employers or to apply for internships. We will support you with informal feedback through the modules, and with clear feedback on assessed assignments to help you improve. The weight given to each assessment method varies across modules to ensure a manageable workload throughout the programme.
Accessibility
Details of the accessibility of UCL buildings can be obtained from AccessAble. Further information can also be obtained from the UCL Student Support and Wellbeing Services team.
Visit us
Online - Open day
Media information video
Watch this video to find out more about Media at UCL, including entry requirements, course structure and other helpful information. Recorded Spring 2024.
The foundation of your career
The programme will equip you with a comprehensive understanding and skillset for creative industries and media research.
Graduates of Media BA are well-prepared for diverse careers in the rapidly evolving creative industries and creative economy. These include roles in film and television production, interactive media and game design, digital storytelling, and media research. They are also equipped to work in education, cultural institutions, and community sectors or to forge their own paths as innovative entrepreneurs and independent creators.
The programme will prepare you for a range of careers such as creative producer, creative programmer, media designer, game artist, game designer, immersive media professional, film maker, film editor and compositor or media researcher.
From our first cohort of graduates in 2024, popular graduate destinations have been as a production assistant in a creative agency, account executive in an advertising agency, project manager and media consultant, content creator, independent film-maker and marketing and content creation assistant.
A number of our graduates have gone on to further postgraduate study in diverse specialist areas of their choice such as cinematic and video game design, film studies, media and communications, screenwriting and fine art.
Employability
- Creative production skills to advanced level. Specialising in film and moving image interactive media and games, showcasing versatility and innovation in your craft.
- Collaborative and entrepreneurial thinking skills with experience in media entrepreneurship, creative industry workflows, and collaborative practices. Graduates will be equipped to lead and adapt within diverse professional settings.
- Critically informed media understanding of media's role in society, enabling you to engage thoughtfully with global cultural and social issues.
- Media research capabilities ensuring a comprehensive approach to understanding and designing media.
- Practice-based research skills which bridge theory and practice, driving forward-looking projects that address urgent global challenges and opportunities in media.
Fees and funding
Fees for this course
| Fee description | Full-time |
|---|---|
| Tuition fees (2025/26) | £9,535 |
| Tuition fees (2025/26) | £39,800 |
Fees are for Undergraduate 2025/26 entry and are for the first year only. Fees for subsequent years may be subject to increase: Student Terms and Conditions. UK fees are in line with the Government announcement on fee cap increases and are subject to the passing of secondary legislation. Overseas fees shown are the fees that will be charged to 2025/26 entrants for each year of study on the programme, unless otherwise indicated below.
Full details of UCL's tuition fees, tuition fee policy and potential increases to fees can be found on the UCL Students website.
Additional costs
Media equipment will be provided for all students to use as part of compulsory modules.
You may incur material costs for pursuing an individual research interest in practice modules however assessment is made on the quality of the work which is not determined by the cost of these materials.
Students are advised to purchase an external hard-drive (approx. £30-50 for 2TB) so they can make copies of their media-based work across the programme. UCL offers students a base of 100GB of OneDrive space for storage of their work, however having a hard-drive or access to large media cloud-based storage is advisable to have back-up copies and to provide personal access to work after graduation.
There may be additional costs to purchase entry to art galleries, museums or similar as part extra-curricular field trips for those who wish to participate.
Students may wish to purchase entry to other museums/galleries around London as part of their wider experience but this will not be a requirement of the programme.
There may be additional travel and expenses, such as refreshments or meals, associated with an internship or the work placement
Students may incur travel costs if they wish to attend UCL events on the Bloomsbury campus or if they have permission to undertake a module or other learning on the Bloomsbury campus.
For in-person teaching, UCL’s main teaching locations are in zones 1 (Bloomsbury) and zones 2/3 (UCL East). The cost of a monthly 18+ Oyster travel card for zones 1-2 is £114.50. This price was published by TfL in 2024. For more information on additional costs for prospective students and the cost of living in London, please view our estimated cost of essential expenditure at UCL's cost of living guide. If you are concerned by potential additional costs for books, equipment, etc., please get in touch with the relevant departmental contact (details given on this page).
Funding your studies
Various funding options are available, including student loans, scholarships and bursaries. UK students whose household income falls below a certain level may also be eligible for a non-repayable bursary or for certain scholarships. Please see the Fees and funding pages for more details.
Scholarships
The Scholarships and Funding website lists scholarships and funding schemes available to UCL students. These may be open to all students, or restricted to specific nationalities, regions or academic department.
Next steps
Your application
We are looking for applicants who:
- Like to engage and have a deep interest in skills of craftmanship, materials, aesthetics and the cultures of visual language.
- Have an interest in understanding the media's role in society.
- Enjoy articulating your creative process, motivations, and influences.
- Deeply reflect and are thoughtful regarding your engagement in media.
- Are motivated, committed and able to work independently and within a team.
How to apply
Application for admission should be made through UCAS (the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service). Applicants currently at school or college will be provided with advice on the process; however, applicants who have left school or who are based outside the United Kingdom may obtain information directly from UCAS.
Selection
For further information on UCL's selection process see: How we assess your application.
Media BA portfolio
Your application will need to include a personal statement and an online portfolio of works you have created. After you submit your UCAS application, you'll be emailed with details of how to upload your portfolio. You submit your portfolio electronically.
In your personal statement you will need to demonstrate a strong interest in media, games, film and emerging technologies in relation to both theory and practice. Explain how you see yourself as a future media thinker and practitioner, and describe your potential future role in relation to your skills and aspirations.
A portfolio is a collection of work that showcases your skills, personality and creative potential. It should narrate your story, from what you've learnt and created so far to what you plan to do next. With initial sketches, contextual references and finished pieces, it is your chance to show us why you want to study on the Media BA course. We accept wide range of media including film and moving image, showreels conceptual drawings, storyboards, 3D works, game walkthroughs, prototypes, art and design works, animation, illustration, creative writing and scripts, photography etc. Portfolios will be assessed based on their quality of engagement with materials, concepts and creative expression, and the way they convey their ideas through a variety of media.
We use the following areas to consider your submission which reflects the focus of Media BA:
Creativity and innovation: the depth and originality of creative concepts, ideas, and projects presented and artistic flair evident in visual, written, or interactive components.
Experimentation: engagement and interest in skills of craftmanship, materials, aesthetics and the cultures of visual language
Programme Alignment: alignment with the programme’s emphasis on media practice, film-making and games and interdisciplinarity of these. An interest in understanding of media's role in society.
Articulation of Ideas: articulates their creative process, motivations, and influences and critical reflection and thoughtfulness regarding their engagement media.
Why submit a portfolio?
We would like to get to know you as a creator and as someone who thinks deeply about digital media and its role in society. Although grades give a good indication that you understand a subject, we are also interested to know how you think through making, how do you express yourself through practice and your personal approach to creation.
What should I include?
Up to 6 items representing a variety of your work and approaches. These will need to be uploaded as a PDF file or provided as an online web site link. Media files can be uploaded on Vimeo, YouTube, Soundcloud, Google drive and provided as a link on your PDF document or embedded in your web site. Portfolio uploads should not be larger than 450MB.
Tips for portfolio
- Include pieces that show a wide range of skills and ability to work with different materials and techniques.
- Include some work in progress to show us how you research and develop your ideas.
- Explain your work, Include labels to guide us through your creative processes and vision.
- Show your unique approach, your personality, individuality and passion are your most powerful tools.
- Present your work in a consistent format that is readable and watchable, create your story through images and videos.
Got questions? Get in touch
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