Bachelor of Arts (Global Media)

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Course Overview
Key Facts
Course Outline
Further Education
Why Choose This Course?
Course Fees
Find Out More

Entry Points (2023)

350

Course Overview

The BA Global Media is an exciting new programme being launched by University of Galway in 2021. The programme aims to give you a robust and challenging university experience, introducing you to a range of areas such as interactive web media, data, media production, journalism and film studies. It will also give you a critical understanding of the changing global media environment and an insight into the role of the media in a globalised world.

Various modules will also examine how society exchanges information through communication in democratic societies, as placed within historical and theoretically-grounded contexts.

With platform convergence, and a dissolving of the walls between information and entertainment media, the study of media and communication – in particular with a focus on international issues such as social media; globalisation; populism; digital literacy; data; verification and mis-information – has resonance with university applicants interested in undergraduate degree programmes with a focus on the media and communication studies.

Galway has a vibrant media sector both on-campus and off-campus with strong media production, film and television companies based in the West of Ireland as well as a student run radio station, Flirt FM, on campus.

Study abroad and work placement opportunities will be provided in the third year of the programme. The programme will create graduates with a broad range of knowledge, understanding and professional capacity. You will study Global Media alongside another Arts subject and you will be able to tailor your exit options depending on subject choice.

Applications and Selections

Who Teaches this Course

Requirements and Assessment

Key Facts

Entry Requirements

Minimum Grade H5 in two subjects and passes in four other subjects at O6/H7 level in the Leaving Certificate, including Irish, English, another language, and three other subjects recognised for entry purposes.

Additional Requirements

Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL)

Duration

4 years

Next start date

September 2024

A Level Grades (2023)

universityofgalway.ie/alevels

Average intake

QQI/FET FETAC Entry Routes

5 (More Info)

Closing Date

NFQ level

Mode of study

ECTS weighting

Award

CAO

GY135

Course code

Course Outline

You will undertake a set of core modules each year and you will be able to choose elective options in journalism and media production; interactive web media; or film studies. Quotas apply for elective choices.

Year one

AJ1104 Introduction to Digital Literacy
AJ1100 History of Media
AJ1102 Introduction to Media and Communication
Choose between: AJ1105 Creative Coding and Web Media 101 OR AJ1106 Pop Culture, Media and Society

Year two

AJ2102 Power without Responsibility
AJ2100 Online and Social Media: Theory and Practice
AJ2109 Understanding Media Audiences
AJ2110 How Television Lobotomised the World

Choice of:

Media production [10cr]
Journalism and writing [10cr]
Media studies [10cr]
Interactive Web Media [10cr]
Film Studies [10cr]

Year Three

Study abroad/Erasmus and/or work internship

Year Four

AJ4103 The Contemporary Irish Media: Policy, Politics and Practice since 1922
AJ4106 Media Research Methods
AJ4105 Media Law and Ethics
AJ4100 We Need To Talk about Gender, Identity, Race and Sex

Choice of:

Journalism and writing [10cr]
Media production [10cr]
Advanced Interactive Web Media [10cr]
Film Studies [10cr]
Dissertation [10cr]

Assessment will be via a combination of continuous assessment and project work. You may be required to undertake written exams in other Arts modules. Students spend an average of 40 hours a week attending lectures, tutorials and practical classes, and undertaking independent study.

Curriculum Information

Curriculum information relates to the current academic year (in most cases).
Course and module offerings and details may be subject to change.

Glossary of Terms

Credits: You must earn a defined number of credits (aka ECTS) to complete each year of your course. You do this by taking all of its required modules as well as the correct number of optional modules to obtain that year's total number of credits.
Module: An examinable portion of a subject or course, for which you attend lectures and/or tutorials and carry out assignments. E.g. Algebra and Calculus could be modules within the subject Mathematics. Each module has a unique module code eg. MA140.
Subject: Some courses allow you to choose subjects, where related modules are grouped together. Subjects have their own required number of credits, so you must take all that subject's required modules and may also need to obtain the remainder of the subject's total credits by choosing from its available optional modules.
Optional: A module you may choose to study.
Required: A module that you must study if you choose this course (or subject).
Required Core Subject: A subject you must study because it's integral to that course.
Semester: Most courses have 2 semesters (aka terms) per year, so a three-year course will have six semesters in total. For clarity, this page will refer to the first semester of year 2 as 'Semester 3'.

Year 1 (60 Credits)

Year 2 (60 Credits)

Year 3 (60 Credits)

Optional AJ3101: Media internship (full year) - 60 Credits - Semester 5
Optional AJ3102: Media Internship (S1) - 30 Credits - Semester 5
Optional AJ3104: Study Abroad / Erasmus Exchange (Full Year) - 60 Credits - Semester 5
Optional AJ3105: Study Abroad / Erasmus Exchange (S1) - 30 Credits - Semester 5
Optional AJ3103: Media Internship (S2) - 30 Credits - Semester 6
Optional AJ3106: Study Abroad / Erasmus Exchange (S2) - 30 Credits - Semester 6
Optional BSS3105: Global Engagement Module - 5 Credits - Semester 6

Year 4 (60 Credits)

Further Education

You’ll be qualified to undertake further study in a range of MA programmes at University of Galway, including:

• MA (Journalism)
• MA (Global Media and Communication)
• MA (Film Studies)

Why Choose This Course?

Career Opportunities

On graduating you’ll be ready to work in a range of media-related roles including in journalism; television and film production; tech companies; the civil and public service; NGOs; marketing and communications; and a wide range of other areas.

Who’s Suited to This Course

Learning Outcomes

Transferable Skills Employers Value

Work Placement

You will have the opportunity to undertake a work placement in a company such as a media organisation; in a production company; volunteering; in the technology sector; or in the public sector. You can choose to either do a one semester or fullyear internship. The programme will also facilitate students to undertake their own placements internationally.

Study Abroad

You can undertake a semester of Erasmus study in a European University or Study Abroad exchange in a non-EU country. NUI Galway has specific partnerships with universities, including in Sweden, Spain, Austria, the USA and Canada. If you are undertaking a modern language as part of your degree you are expected to spend at least a semester studying in that language.

Related Student Organisations

Course Fees

Fees: EU

€6,276 p.a. (€6,416 p.a. including levy) 2024/25

Fees: Tuition

€3,276 p.a. 2024/25

Fees: Student Contribution

€3,000 p.a. 2024/25

Fees: Student levy

€140 p.a. 2024/25

Fees: Non EU

€20,000 p.a. (€20,140 p.a. including levy) 2024/25

EU Fees are comprised of Tuition + Student Contribution Charge + Student Levy** €140. **Payable by all students and is not covered by SUSI. Further detail here.