2023/24 entry
BSc (Hons) Business with Media Communications with Foundation Year
Why study Business with Media Communications with Foundation Year at Liverpool John Moores University?
- 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
- 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
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
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.
Liverpool Business School has partnerships with business schools at universities and colleges across Europe, in the USA and in China. 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.
"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."
Professional accreditation/links
This is an approved course by the industry’s 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.
Fees and funding
There are many ways to fund study for home and international students
Fees
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.
Employability
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. In the last Destination of Leavers in HE survey (2016/17 data), 92% of our Business and Media Communications (formerly Business and Public Relations) graduates had secured employment or were in further study within 6 months of graduating.
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
We are committed to ensuring all our students experience a transformation in their employability skills and mindset and their career trajectory. A wide range of opportunities and support is available to you, within and beyond your course.
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. It will enable you to become more proactive, adaptable and resilient in your awareness and approach to career possibilities.
Every student has access to Careers Zone 24/7, LJMU’s state-of-the-art suite of online tools, resources and jobs board. There are opportunities for flexible, paid and part-time work through Unitemps, LJMU’s in-house recruitment service, ensuring students can build experience whilst they study.
One-to-one careers and employability advice is available via our campus-based Careers Zones to accelerate your job search and applications, CV and interview technique. Themed careers and employability workshops, a programme of employer events and recruitment fairs run throughout the year and students have the opportunity to hear from a range of alumni who openly share their own onward experience.
Student Futures work with businesses to create opportunities for fully funded internships which help students increase their network within the Liverpool City Region and beyond. Our Start-Up Hub can help you to grow your enterprise skills and to research, plan and start your own business or become a freelancer.
A suite of learning experiences, services and opportunities is available to final year students to help ensure you leave with a great onward plan. You can access LJMU’s Careers, Employability and Enterprise Services after you graduate and return for one-to-one support for life.
Go abroad
LJMU aims to make international opportunities available to every student. You may be able to study abroad as part of your degree at one of our 100+ partner universities across the world. You could also complete a work placement or apply for one of our prestigious worldwide internship programmes. If you wanted to go abroad for a shorter amount of time, you could attend one of our 1-4 week long summer schools.
Our Go Citizen Scheme can help with costs towards volunteering, individual projects or unpaid placements anywhere in the world. With all of these opportunities at your feet, why wouldn’t you take up the chance to go abroad?
Find out more about the opportunities we have available via our Instagram @ljmuglobalopps or email us at: goabroad@ljmu.ac.uk.
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What you will study on this degree
Please see guidance on core and option modules for further information on what you will study.
This course is currently undergoing its scheduled programme review, which may impact the advertised modules. Programme review is a standard part of the University’s approach to quality assurance and enhancement, enabling us to ensure that our courses remain up to date and maintain their high standard and relevancy.
Once the review is completed, this course website page will be updated to reflect any approved changes to the advertised course. These approved changes will also be communicated to those who apply for the course to ensure they wish to proceed with their application.
Some of the new module content that is being considered, and is subject to approval, may include:
- Media Production Management
- Writing for audiences
- Foundations of Media Communications
- Media Event Management
- Working in industry
- Social Responsibility
Further guidance on modules
Modules are designated core or option in accordance with professional body requirements, as applicable, and LJMU’s Academic Framework Regulations.
Whilst you are required to study core modules, optional modules may also be included to provide you with an element of choice within the programme. The availability of optional modules may vary from year to year and will be subject to meeting minimum student numbers.
Where changes to modules are necessary these will be communicated as appropriate.
Level 3
Core modules
Developing Skills for Business
20 credits
This module aims to facilitate your development of personal, academic and professional skills as a foundation for your current and future studies in Business related subjects. It will equip you with the tools to become confident and independent learners at university.
Understanding Business Organisations and Operations
20 credits
This module provides you with an introduction to the world of business, the types of business and structures, the functional areas, and management theories and challenges faced by business in today's commercial world.
Essentials of Management
20 credits
This module introduces you to management theory. This foundation module will develop your appreciation, understanding and application of management and professionalism in different career pathways and specialist areas.
Introduction to Marketing and PR Communications
20 credits
This module gives you an understanding of the key concepts and terminology used in marketing and public relations. It also gives you a knowledge and understanding of your role within organisations and explores the factors that can influence consumer behaviour.
Data Analysis Techniques for Business
20 credits
This module equips you with the technical skills to be able to design and produce Microsoft Excel spreadsheets for business use, and to facilitate the development of basic analytical skills.
Programme Case Study
20 credits
This module develops your independent learning and expertise in an area of business relating to your target programme. Through a co-creation process your subject interests will be harnessed to enable you to develop your knowledge in a self-selected topic area. The module aims to be flexible to enable you to explore an area of interest to you and you will be assessed in a manner that supports this.
Level 4
Core modules
Business Environment
20 credits
This module provides a comprehensive foundation for the application of theory and practice in the business environment.
Public Relations: Practice And Principles
20 credits
This module enables you to gain a practitioner based insight into the practice and positioning of the public relations function.
Communication Theory
20 credits
This module introduces you to the concept of communication and enables you to recognise the communication process through the application of theoretical communication models.
Creative Media Production
10 credits
This module enables you to utilise the advances in Web 2.0 to the advantage of the PR practitioner.
Personal And Professional Development
10 credits
This module enables you to develop skills that support successful academic study and personal development.
Writing For PR
20 credits
This course enables you to acquire the necessary writing skills for Public Relations communications.
Consumer Behaviour
20 credits
Within this module, you will acquire knowledge about the issues and dimensions of consumer behaviour. You will recognise the importance of external and personal internal factors in determining behaviour and attitudes.
Level 5
Core modules
Media Management
20 credits
This module incorporates the various media campaign tactics available to the modern PR manager, and illustrates how platforms and channels can be used to the advantage of clients and practitioners alike.
Corporate Communications
20 credits
This module enables you to critically evaluate the role of strategic internal communication in enabling organisations to be more effective from both a theoretical and practitioner perspective.
Event Management
20 credits
This module focuses on the key areas of strategy, planning and management associated with event management. Project management principles and practical techniques are covered to enable you to deliver events.
Graduate Enterprise
20 credits
This module enables you to develop a business idea in response to an identified business opportunity. Graduate Enterprise enables you to engage in the experience of developing a business idea.
Employability Skills
20 credits
This module provides you with the skills and knowledge to succeed in the graduate employment market.
Level 6
Core modules
Integrated Digital Marketing Communications
20 credits
This module enables you to develop a theoretical and practical understanding of current issues and trends in digital marketing communications.
Change Management
20 credits
This module seeks to give you an understanding of the theory and practice of organisational change so that you can undertake and manage it effectively.
Business and Public Relations Dissertation
30 credits
This module allows you to demonstrate your ability to select a valid business and public relations topic, to collect and synthesize relevant information on the topic, to adopt a critical attitude to the information retrieved, and to present the information in a professional manner.
Issues in Crisis Management
10 credits
This module illustrates how a crisis can help comprehend corporate culture. The module will show what it is like to be in a crisis situation, the transferrable skills being to use initiative and think on your feet.
Strategic Campaign Management
20 credits
This module enables you to explore, develop and apply effective public relations campaigns in the context of wider strategic goals.
Working in the Creative Industries
20 credits
This module enables you to understand the skills and needs of creative professionals in terms of their careers and roles in the sector.
Teaching and work-related learning
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 it’s 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 Employability 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 it’s like to work in the PR industry as they require you to make contact and work with real companies.
Support and guidance
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
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.
Course tutors
Our staff are committed to the highest standards of teaching and learning
Michael Swain
Programme Leader
Michael Swain
Programme Leader
The relatively small teaching groups, allows us to really know our students. We work together to help them gain good graduate-level employment at the end of their studies.
Facilities
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 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Entry requirements
Please choose your qualifications below to view requirements
Minimum points required from qualifications: 72
GCSE and equivalents
Prior to starting the programme applicants must have obtained Grade C or Grade 4 or above in English Language and Mathematics GCSE or an approved alternative qualification below:
- Key Skills Level 2 in English/ Maths
- NVQ Level 2 Functional skills in Maths and English Writing and or Reading
- Skills for Life Level 2 in Numeracy/English
- Higher Diploma in Maths/ English
- Functional Skills Level 2 in Maths/ English
- Northern Ireland Essential Skills Level 2 in Communication or Application of Number
- Wales Essential Skills Level 2 in Communication or Application of Number
A Levels
- Minimum number of A Levels required: 2
- Is general studies acceptable? Yes
- Average A Level offer: DDD
- Are AS level awards acceptable? Acceptable only when combined with other qualifications
- Maximum AS Level points accepted: 20
T Levels
- T Level requirements: 72 UCAS points in a related subject
BTEC qualifications
- National Certificate (RQF): Acceptable only when combined with other qualifications
- National Extended Certificate: Acceptable on its own and combined with other qualifications
- National Diploma (RQF): Acceptable on its own and combined with other qualifications
- National Diploma subjects / grades required: DM if studied on its own or to the total of 72 UCAS points if combined with other qualifications
- National Extended Diploma (RQF): Acceptable on its own and combined with other qualifications
- National Extended Diploma subjects / grades required: MMP if studied on its own or to the total of 72 UCAS points if combined with other qualifications
Access to Higher Education Diploma
- Access to Higher Education Diploma acceptability: Acceptable on its own and combined with other qualifications
- Further information: At least 24 Merits and 21 Passes, or any other combination that equates to 72 UCAS Tariff points in a relevant subject
International Baccalaureate
- International Baccalaureate: Acceptable on its own and combined with other qualifications
- Additional information: 24 IB Diploma Points
Welsh awards
- Welsh Baccalaureate: Acceptable only when combined with other qualifications
Irish awards
- Irish Leaving Certificate: Acceptable on its own and combined with other qualifications
- Grades / subjects required: 72 UCAS Tariff points with a maximum 20 UCAS Tariff points from Ordinary Level
Alternative qualifications considered
Applications are welcomed from mature and non-standard applicants, who will be considered on an individual basis. These applicants may be required to submit an essay and/or attend an interview, and should demonstrate potential and motivation and/or have relevant experience.
Reduced Offer Scheme
Mature and non standard applicants may be invited to attend interview
IELTS6.0 (minimum of 5.5 in each component) or equivalent English language proficiency test.
International entry requirementsPlease Note: All international qualifications are subject to a qualification equivalency check.
Can this course be deferred?Yes
Is a DBS check required?No
Application and selection
Securing your place at LJMU
We want students who are interested and committed to a career in Public Relations with the ability to:Communicate effectively and confidently, manage time and tasks effectively as an individual and as part of a team. Use appropriate sources to find and organise information. Select and critically evaluate information in order to analyse problems.
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.