BA (Hons)
UCAS CODES: 4 YEARS – D200
NEW: 4 YEARS WITH FOUNDATION – RF09
Would you like to gain the skills to succeed in a digital world? Social media and digital communication have become fundamental to the work and lives of people across the world; revolutionising politics, culture, society, and business.
Our new BA (Hons) Digital Communication and Social Media programme gives you the practical skills and indispensable knowledge you need to become part of this thriving industry.
Combined with a strong theoretical spine, this highly flexible programme is transferable for any workplace or career, whether you wish to build your own brand, aspire to work for a large organisation in a digital role, or envisage doing further study.
Our students have gone on to a range of successful careers in finance, business, media and not-for-profit organisations thanks to the unique teaching experience at Richmond. We spoke to those alumni as well as faculty members and employers about career prospects for future students graduating with a dually accredited liberal arts degree.
About the programme
All of our students at Richmond graduate with both a UK and US degree, opening up international opportunities. Like our other undergraduate programmes, this BA is based on the American liberal arts tradition, which offers a multi-disciplinary approach. That’s why your first and second year will include Visual Thinking and Narratives of Change, as well as Visual Culture and Advertising Practice.
Choose from a range of electives which offer you the option to specialise: such as Sociology, Mass Media and Communications, and Research and Writing.
Your journey on this programme will continue in the third and fourth year, as you study such courses as Mass Communications and Society, Creating Digital Images, Coding and Social Research (developing your research skills), providing valuable knowledge essential for any digital campaign.
This programme also has a high practical content as you develop skills in New Media and Web Design, providing an understanding and application of key production processes and professional practices relevant to social media, cultural and communication industries.
With this programme you will become an expert marketeer and a highly effective social media user, capable of building a company’s profile. You will gain an understanding of reputation management through digital media, the role of the influencer and how to target your core audiences.
This programme allows you to specialise in the areas you’re most passionate about: from marketing and PR to video production, postgraduate study to journalism, web design to building a personal brand, while teaching you essential knowledge and skills, in four key areas:
This wide-ranging course will empower you with essential skills for the future, giving you everything you need to succeed in a fast-moving and ever-growing industry.
What you will study
Richmond is the only university in the UK where the degree programmes are based on the US educational approach which is a four year pathway. Every undergraduate degree student will first enter our Liberal Arts programme before specialising in their Major.
This programme can also be taken as a three year pathway depending on previous qualifications. The entry requirements for all undergraduate programmes at Richmond are the same, regardless of your chosen Major.
Find out more about the Core Curriculum >>
YEAR 1Courses
Plus one of the following:
Plus one of the following:
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YEAR 2Courses
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YEAR 3Courses
Plus one of the following:
Plus one of the following:
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YEAR 4Courses
Plus one of the following:
Integrated Internship
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In addition to the courses outlined above, there are open electives in each year. Course content and delivery can be subject to change. For more detailed information on the programme specification, please find more details here.
A normal course load per academic year is 30 US credits, equivalent to 120 UK credits. Students complete 120 UK credits at Level 6 in their chosen major.
Digital Communications & Social Media (BA) with Foundation
There are many reasons why taking this programme with a Foundation option could be the ideal choice; you may not have the exact subjects or grades at A level to meet the entry requirements, you may have tried other options such as apprenticeship and want to change direction or have been living abroad.
Whatever your starting point, studying this programme with a Foundation option offers you a great opportunity to gain both a UK and US degree and start the adventure of a lifetime, studying with us in the world’s top student city.
This is what our Foundation option can offer you:
Entry requirements
At Richmond our undergraduate degree programmes, which are based on the US educational approach, are offered on a four year pathway. Every undergraduate degree student will first enter our Liberal Arts programme before specialising in their Major.
This programme can also be taken as a three year pathway depending on previous qualifications. The entry requirements for all undergraduate programmes at Richmond are the same, regardless of your chosen Major.
Below is information on our entry requirements for both 4 years and 4 years with foundation programmes.
4 YEARS
4 YEARS W/ FOUNDATION
We understand that not every student is in the same situation, if you have any questions about your qualifications, please get in touch with us enquiries@richmond.ac.uk.
For more information on English Language Requirements for your country visit our How to Apply webpage.
Fees & funding
Undergraduate tuition fees for students starting their programme this academic year can be found in the table below.
UK |
EU / INT |
US |
||||
| Spring 2023 | Fall 2023 | Spring 2023 | Fall 2023 | Spring 2023 | Fall 2023 | |
| Undergraduate Programmes
(per year) |
£9,250 | £9,250 | £14,750 | £14,900 | $38,000 | £14,900 |
*This includes a scholarship award upon successful application
(Hint: Scroll left & right to view the full table)
For more information visit our Tuition Fees & Funding webpage.
Employability
The University offers personal development seminars, leadership opportunities and access to work experience, volunteering and internships. There is also a dedicated, personalised service for assistance with CV writing, interview preparation tips and much more.
Throughout your studies, you will have the opportunity to build links with industry experts and Richmond alumni, connecting you to a vast and influential worldwide network.
Internships
We offer career support and advice through our Careers & Internships Office that will assist and guide you in your study choices to make sure you stand out from the crowd when you graduate. Whether you are interested in gaining work experience in London or internationally, we will be here to help you find the best possible opportunities.
Through internships you will gain business acumen, beneficial work experiences and transferable skills which will give you a competitive advantage in a fast-paced working environment.
Work while you study across 5 continents through our partners Connect123 and CRCC Asia with destinations in Spain, Argentina, South Africa, China, Japan, Vietnam and Australia.
Study abroad
All students at Richmond University have the opportunity to study abroad. You can either study at one of our campuses for a semester to a year or study overseas at any of our partner locations across the world giving you an unique experience.
How to apply
You can apply one of three ways, either apply directly through us, apply through UCAS and for our US students, via the Common Application ($50.00).
In order to submit your application you will need the following information
Visit our How to Apply webpage for more information regarding Entry Requirements, admissions processes and to start your application.
When to apply
We encourage you to complete your application as early as possible, even if you are completing your undergraduate programme of study. In this case you will be offered a place that is conditional on successfully completing a specified qualification and English language qualification if applicable.
If you would like your application to be considered for a Richmond bursary, an early application is strongly recommended.
Register for an Undergraduate open event at Richmond >>
Sign up and find out about our programmes, generous scholarships and what life is like at Richmond.
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“We’re delighted to offer this new BA programme, which provides students with the skills they need to succeed in the dynamic world of digital communication and social media. This flexible, versatile, and rigorous programme seeks to future-proof graduates for the intellectual and professional opportunities offered by new technology.”
– Dr Sam Brooker, Programme Leader
