BSc (Hons) Business with Media Communications with Foundation Year

Entry year:
2025/26
Start date:
September
Study mode:
Full-time
Course duration:
5 years Placement year, 4 years FullTime
Campus:
Mount Pleasant
UCAS Code:
N123
Grades/points required:
DDD-CDD (72-80)

Why study this course with LJMU?

  • Approved by the Chartered Institute of Public Relations (CIPR)
  • Exciting year-long work placements with high-profile companies like General Motors, the Volkswagen Group and Airbus
  • Sessions and guest lectures delivered by media comms and PR practitioners
  • 91% of students surveyed said the teaching staff on our business courses were good at explaining things (National Student Survey 2024)
  • Study abroad opportunities in China, the USA and across Europe following your second year of study
  • International Foundation Year course available offering direct progression onto this degree programme - visit LJMU's International Study Centre to find out more
  • Shortlisted for the Times Higher Education Awards 2024 Business School of the Year

About your course

The CIPR-accredited BSc (Hons) Business with Media Communications at Liverpool John Moores University is the ideal preparation for a successful career in public relations and offers exciting placement opportunities.

The Business with Media Communications degree will prepare you for a career in a public relations role within corporate communications, internal communications, event management or areas relating to online public relations, such as search engine optimisation and social media strategy development.

Foundation Year (Level 3)

The Foundation Year is ideal if you have the interest and ability to study for a degree, but do not have the qualifications to enter directly onto the Business with Media Communication honours degree programme yet.

Once you pass the Foundation Year (level 3) you will progress directly onto the first year of the honours degree. If you are a full-time UK student, you will qualify for student financial support for the full duration of your course (subject to eligibility criteria).

This Chartered Institute of Public Relations accredited degree gives you an appreciation of traditional business functions which work closely with aspects of media communication functions in organisations such as marketing, combined with the study of the tactics, tools and strategies of PR and communication management. Practitioners deliver sessions and guest lectures so you have the opportunity to learn about real issues and to make the link between theory and practice which you can apply if you choose to take placement.

Level 4 study onwards

This programme is part of the 'Business with' suite, which allows students to transfer to a different specialism, such Finance, International Business Management or Digital Marketing, at the end of level 4 year of study.

Another advantage of this degree is the optional sandwich year in which you spend 48 weeks on a paid work placement in the UK or overseas. This will enable you to put into practice many of the concepts and techniques developed in years one and two as well as developing your personal skills and enhancing your CV.

Students who complete the placement year in the School's more established degrees tend to experience a significant improvement in their academic performance and many go on to gain first class honours degrees, often returning to work for their placement company after graduation.

Liverpool Business School has partnerships with business schools at universities and colleges across Europe, in the USA and in China. Students on this programme are able to spend a semester in their second year at a partner university abroad as part of their studies. Students can also choose to spend an additional year of study at one of our partner universities between the second and third years. All study abroad opportunities are in English. There are also many supported opportunities for activities at partner universities during summer vacations and Liverpool Business School provides places on language skills courses.

Live Consultancy Project

Through LJMU's Liverpool Business Clinic, students have a unique opportunity to work on real client briefs with local organisations putting academic theory into real world practice. This live consultancy projects is an optional module to a traditional final-year dissertation. 

Course modules

What you will study on this degree

Further guidance on modules

Modules are designated core or optional in accordance with professional body requirements, as applicable, and LJMU’s Academic Framework Regulations. Whilst you are required to study core modules, optional modules provide you with an element of choice. Their availability may vary and will be subject to meeting minimum student numbers.

Where changes to modules are necessary these will be communicated as appropriate.

Core modules

Core modules

Core modules

Optional modules

Core modules

Professional accreditation

This is an approved course by the industrys professional body, the Chartered Institute of Public Relations (CIPR). This is an additional benefit in a highly competitive job market and recognised as such by our employer partners.

Your Learning Experience

Excellent facilities and learning resources

The course is delivered via lectures and seminars combined with online learning, placements, workshops, action learning sets, social media and problem-based learning. This combination of teaching methods provides a varied and fulfilling learning experience and increases your chances of achieving higher grades.

Work-related Learning

Early in level 5 you can decide whether to undertake a paid 48-week work placement in the UK or overseas. You would do this placement between level 5 and 6.

Placements give you experience of what its like to work in the fast paced PR sector as well as giving you a chance to put your learning into practice, develop personal skills and enhance your employability.

Liverpool Business School's Placement Support Unit will help you find suitable vacancies and support you during the application process and whilst on placement.

Previous Business and PR students have completed placements with organisations as diverse as Coty, Cream, Disney and Liverpool John Lennon Airport.

Whether you choose to undertake a work placement or not, some options on this course give you a taste of what its like to work in the PR industry as they require you to make contact and work with real companies.

Dedicated personal tutor, plus study skills support

The Liverpool Business School is a supportive environment in which to study and the student-centred approach of your tutors will ensure that you are given the support and guidance you need. You will be assigned a personal tutor. They will set up one-to-one tutorials with you to discuss a piece of coursework or to work with you on your personal development plan.

Throughout the assessment process support is available in the form of guidelines, hints and tips and revision and recap sessions, as well as study support classes and one-to-one support from your personal tutor and module leader.

Assessment varies depending on the modules you choose, but will usually include a combination of exams and coursework.

We understand that students perform differently depending on the way they are assessed, which is why we offer a combination of assessment methods. These include written work (essays, etc), presentations (group/individual), formal examinations, practical assessments, portfolio work (including e-portfolios) and project work e.g. planning and implementing your own 'live' event.

Where possible we will try and base assessments on real-life scenarios, for example, students on the Online PR module work in a team with a real company to develop and evaluate a social media strategy and Event Management students conceive, plan and implement a real event.

Once you have completed an assessment, feedback is given within 15 working days of submission, so that you can promptly discuss your marks with your tutor and establish where you are performing well and areas for improvement.

Business with Media Communications at Liverpool John Moores University

To see official information about this course and others visit Discover Uni.

Make an informed choice.

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Where you will study

What you can expect from your School

The School is based in the Redmonds Building, in the heart of the bustling Mount Pleasant Campus and Liverpool's growing Knowledge Quarter. The building is home to high quality lecture theatres and seminar rooms, social spaces, a café and a roof terrace with far reaching views of the cityscape and welsh hills. It is only a short walk from LJMU's Aldham Robarts Library, which contains all the resources you will require for your studies, and is open seven days a week.

 

Course tutors

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The placement year enabled me to gain first rate experience working within a busy PR department of a global brand and built on skills developed in the degree.

Career paths

As a Business with Media Communications graduate you will enjoy varied career opportunities both in the UK and overseas.

Liverpool Business School has historically had an excellent employment record with graduates securing graduate-level positions with leading employers in public and private sectors. These include Everton Football Club, Kellogg company, Santander and Deloitte.

You could find yourself working in a wide variety of media comms and PR settings, from PR departments in large multi-national organisations, to PR agencies, search engine optimisation companies and specialised event management companies.

Some of our students have graduated with the confidence and ideas to set up their own successful businesses.

 

Student Futures - Careers, Employability and Enterprise Service

A wide range of opportunities and support is available to you, within and beyond your course, to ensure our students experience a transformation in their career trajectory. Every undergraduate curriculum includes Future Focus during Level 4, an e-learning resource and workshop designed to help you to develop your talents, passion and purpose.

Every student has access to Careers Zone 24/7, LJMU's suite of online Apps, resources and jobs board via the LJMU Student Futures website.

Tuition fees and funding

Foundation first year:
£5,760
Second and subsequent years:
£9,535
Placement year:
£1,905

The University reserves the right to increase tuition fees in accordance with any changes to the maximum allowable fees set by the UK Parliament. In the event of such a change, any fee increase will be subject to a maximum cap of 10% of the total course cost as originally stated at the time of your offer.

The fees quoted above cover registration, tuition, supervision, assessment and examinations as well as:

  • library membership with access to printed, multimedia and digital resources
  • access to programme-appropriate software
  • library and student IT support
  • free on-campus wifi via eduroam

Additional costs

Although not all of the following are compulsory/relevant, you should keep in mind the costs of:

  • accommodation and living expenditure
  • books (should you wish to have your own copies)
  • printing, photocopying and stationery
  • PC/laptop (should you prefer to purchase your own for independent study and online learning activities)
  • mobile phone/tablet (to access online services)
  • field trips (travel and activity costs)
  • placements (travel expenses and living costs)
  • student visas (international students only)
  • study abroad opportunities (travel costs, accommodation, visas and immunisations)
  • academic conferences (travel costs)
  • professional-body membership
  • graduation (gown hire etc)

Funding

There are many ways to fund study for home and international students. From loans to International Scholarships and subject-specific funding, you'll find all of the information you need on our specialist funding pages.

Entry requirements

Please choose your qualifications below to view requirements

Grades/points required from qualifications: DDD-CDD (72-80)

Work out how many UCAS points your qualifications are worth by visiting the UCAS Tariff Calculator.

Qualification requirements

How to apply

Securing your place at LJMU

UCAS is the official application route for our full-time undergraduate courses. Further information on the UCAS application process can be found here https://www.ljmu.ac.uk/study/undergraduate-students/how-to-apply.

We are looking for students with the potential to:

Understand and critically evaluate the theory, concepts and principles that underpin the practical techniques of business.

Demonstrate their understanding by communicating effectively, both orally and in their written work.

Possess the self-discipline to manage their time and tasks effectively throughout their time here at LJMU.

Your university life

From accommodation and academic support to clubs and societies. Find out what LJMU has to offer.

Talk to our students

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See what our students are saying

At LJMU we want you to know you're making the right choice by studying with us. You can see what our students are saying about their experience with us through their reviews on the following websites:

The university reserves the right to withdraw or make alterations to a course and facilities if necessary; this may be because such changes are deemed to be beneficial to students, are minor in nature and unlikely to impact negatively upon students or become necessary due to circumstances beyond the control of the university. Where this does happen, the university operates a policy of consultation, advice and support to all enrolled students affected by the proposed change to their course or module.
Further information on the terms and conditions of any offer made, our admissions policy and the complaints and appeals process.