Communication and Media

Communication and media is a discipline that examines how information, culture, and power flow through the technologies, institutions, and practices through which people communicate. Whether discussing celebrity culture, political disinformation, or the viral spread of digital content, media technology lies at the heart of how individuals and communities connect, form opinions, and share their worlds. As digital platforms have expanded the reach and speed of communication, understanding how media works has become more urgent than ever for practitioners, policymakers, and citizens alike.

At the University of Leeds, this three-year programme develops your understanding of the digital media landscape through both critical analysis and practical engagement. You will examine how media shapes culture and identity, how news and information circulate in digital environments, how organisations use media to reach audiences, and how communication technologies are changing the nature of public discourse. The programme brings critical theory and empirical research together, developing your ability to analyse media rigorously while also building practical skills in communication and digital content.

The programme includes a sandwich year, a year abroad, and a work placement, giving you significant professional and international experience alongside your academic studies. These elements allow you to develop professional skills in media and communication contexts, encounter different media cultures and environments, and build the networks and portfolio that careers in this competitive field require.

Graduates from communication and media programmes move into careers in journalism, broadcasting, public relations, digital marketing, content creation, social media management, advertising, communications strategy, and the creative industries more broadly. The critical and analytical skills developed through the programme are also valued in policy, research, and education. Postgraduate study in media, journalism, communications, or related fields is a natural route for those who wish to develop further.