This is an archived page and for reference purposes only
You cannot be part of today’s society without being affected by the constant stream of mediated culture: from digital news radio, to billboard advertising, to government cultural policy, to high fashion and street style.
Overview
We are all caught up in the network of communications, whether in face-to-face encounters, on Facebook or Twitter, or by way of email; it is something we all do, cope with, and make sense of. Cultural Studies addresses contemporary media and culture in more theoretical and analytical ways, seeing them in a broader global and historical context and evaluating their impact on the ways we experience our lives and organise and govern our societies.
Cultural Studies at Kent is an innovative subject exploring the complexity of contemporary media and culture in our rapidly changing global society. The degree offers an academically rigorous approach to the study of mediated cultural forms, practices and technologies and their vital social, political and economic implications. We examine a range of exciting areas, from digital media and journalism, to the creative and cultural industries, to social identities and sub-cultures.
You critically explore the links between culture, media and society with a focus on: popular culture; mass media and advertising; digital media technologies; news and journalism; television and film; literature and the arts; cultural differences and practices; gender, sexuality, class, race, religion and identity; the body and embodiment; transnational media and culture; capitalism and media ownership; cultural history and memory; and multiculturalism and cultural policy, among other areas.
You have the opportunity to work across disciplinary boundaries and to choose modules from a wide range of subject areas – all addressing ‘culture’, ‘media’ and ‘society’ as they are widely understood. This includes practice-based modules and creative forms of assessment focused on building both critical thinking and transferable knowledge and skills.
This programme has a Year Abroad option which takes place between Stages 2 and 3 of your degree. You can apply to add a year abroad to your degree programme from your arrival at Kent until the autumn term of your second year.
In your final year of study, there is an option to take a dissertation module on a subject of your choice, which allows you to focus in detail on an area you are particularly passionate about. Recent dissertation topics include: ‘Corporate crime and media activism’; ‘The performance of gender’; ‘Online dating and virtual sociality’; ‘Fantasy film and black identity’; ‘Political transparency and collective memory’ ; ‘Punk subcultural identity in the 21st century’; ‘The uses of graphic novels in literacy education’; and ‘Corporate communication and viral media’.
Think Kent video series
In this talk, Dr Carolyn Pedwell grapples with two central questions: firstly, how can we think more critically about the contemporary political workings of empathy? and secondly, how might we understand the complex links between empathy and transnational relations of power?
Independent rankings
Media and Film Studies at Kent was ranked 3rd in The Guardian University Guide 2017 while Sociology* at Kent was ranked 10th for course satisfaction in the same guide. Sociology at Kent was ranked 7th in The Times Good University Guide 2017.
For graduate prospects, Media and Film Studies at Kent was ranked 5th in The Guardian University Guide 2017. Of Sociology students who graduated from Kent in 2015, 90% of were in work or further study within six months (DLHE).
*Cultural Studies is included in Sociology
Course structure
The following modules are indicative of those offered on this programme. This listing is based on the current curriculum and may change year to year in response to new curriculum developments and innovation.
On most programmes, you study a combination of compulsory and optional modules. You may also be able to take ‘wild’ modules from other programmes so you can customise your programme and explore other subjects that interest you.
Year abroad
Going abroad as part of your degree is an amazing experience and a chance to develop personally, academically and professionally. You experience a different culture, gain a new academic perspective, establish international contacts and enhance your employability.
The year abroad takes place between Stages 2 and 3 at one of our partner universities. Places and destination are subject to availability, language and degree programme. For a full list, please see Go Abroad.
To be eligible for the year abroad all students must obtain an average of 60% in the first and second years of their degree. In addition, those students studying on a Tier 4 visa must ensure they comply with the prevailing UKVI visa regulations governing course changes that are applicable to their individual circumstances.
You are expected to adhere to any academic progression requirements in Stages 1 and 2 to proceed to the year abroad. The year abroad is assessed on a pass/fail basis and will not count towards your final degree classification.
Teaching and assessment
We use a variety of teaching methods, including lectures, case study analysis, group projects and presentations, and individual and group tutorials. Many module convenors also offer additional ‘clinic’ hours to help with the preparation of coursework and for exams.
Assessment is by a mixture of coursework and examinations; to view details for individual modules click the 'read more' link within each module listed in the course structure.
Programme aims
The programme aims to:
- develop your capacity to learn and undertake critical analysis in cultural studies and media
- provide teaching which is informed by current research and scholarship in this field
- provide a flexible and progressive curriculum which includes options from a wide range of disciplinary areas with an intellectual investment in the study of culture and media
- promote an understanding of cultural identities, differences and transitions, and the historical, political and economic contexts of their emergence and change
- provide a broad knowledge of relevant concepts, debates and theoretical approaches in the study of culture and media
- meet the needs of the local and national community for a critical understanding of culture and media and their role in society
- facilitate the personal development of students as independent, life-long learners capable of collating and analysing information and producing new knowledge
- provide opportunities for the development of personal, communication, research and other key skills appropriate to graduate employment in a range of cultural, media and education related spheres and for further research in the field of cultural studies and media.
Learning outcomes
Knowledge and understanding
You gain a knowledge and understanding of:
- the complexity of culture and media as contested objects of inquiry
- the role that media and cultural institutions play in society
- the role and function of cultural and media forms as sources of popular knowledge and ideas
- the ways in which people engage with cultural and media texts and practices, and make meaning from them
- the relation between cultural texts (eg, artistic, literary, media, social, political, scientific) and the historical contexts of their production and reception
- different modes of modern global, international, national and local cultural experience
- how culture is both product and process and gives rise to social and political ‘forms of life’
- how the modes of production/consumption of cultural and media texts and products shape contemporary life
- the nature of the cultural impact of new technologies
- a wide range of disciplinary approaches to culture and media, and the distinctive character of cross-disciplinarity in the production of new knowledge in cultural studies.
Intellectual skills
You gain the following intellectual skills:
- ability to analyse a wide range of cultural and media forms
- critical evaluation of scholarship and ideas, both classical and contemporary
- representation in language of the views and ideas of others
- application of cultural and media theory to both familiar and unfamiliar cultural material, phenomena and contexts
- expression of own ideas in oral and written communication
- ability to identify, evaluate and to construct arguments.
Subject-specific skills
You gain the following subject-specific skills:
- conception and application of cross-disciplinary strategies of investigation of cultural and media issues, themes, topics
- the ability to identify and analyse ethical and political subject matters represented in media culture of all kinds
- the ability to account for and criticise, the interrelation of aesthetic cultural practices and forms, and the social and political contexts of their emergence and affect
- the ability to evaluate theoretical models and paradigms of cultural and media production, consumption and reception
- the ability to integrate diverse sources of cultural information and produce new knowledge.
Transferable skills
You gain the following transferable skills:
- gathering and collating, retrieving and synthesising information drawn from a variety of sources (library, IT, CD-ROM, press, etc.) – textual, visual, popular and academic, in traditional formats as well as electronic
- working independently on the design and execution of research projects
- the ability to reflect on and understand the accumulation of knowledge about cultural practices diversely understood
- to be adaptable, creative and self-reflective in producing output for a variety of audiences
- skilled at self-directed project planning, development and execution of work to deadlines
- skills of expression in written and oral forms; be adept at representing both the ideas of others as well as your own and able to argue for and justify your views.
Careers
School of Social Policy, Sociology and Social Research graduates are adaptable and flexible in their thinking and approach tasks in a rigorous, ethical, yet creative and reflective fashion. They develop key transferable skills including: communication, organisational and research skills; the ability to analyse complex information and make it accessible to non-specialist readers, write reports and use data analysis computer programs, and can take on positions of leadership in addition to working effectively and considerately in teams. These skills and attributes are valued in a wide range of professions.
Our graduates work in media, journalism, broadcasting, the cultural and creative industries, national and local government, social and cultural policy, international institutions and NGOs, teaching, arts administration, publishing, advertising and design, public relations, research, information services, leisure industry management, tourism and heritage, and the organisation of social and community projects.
If you choose to take the Year Abroad option you further increase your portfolio of skills by gaining experience of living and studying in a different culture. You learn to appreciate and assess different approaches to cultural and media giving you a uniquely global perspective.
Entry requirements
Home/EU students
The University will consider applications from students offering a wide range of qualifications. Students offering alternative qualifications should contact us for further advice.
It is not possible to offer places to all students who meet this typical offer/minimum requirement.
New GCSE grades
If you’ve taken exams under the new GCSE grading system, please see our conversion table to convert your GCSE grades.
| Qualification | Typical offer/minimum requirement |
|---|---|
| A level | BBB |
| GCSE | 5 GCSEs grade C or above. |
| Access to HE Diploma | The University will not necessarily make conditional offers to all Access candidates but will continue to assess them on an individual basis. If we make you an offer, you will need to obtain/pass the overall Access to Higher Education Diploma and may also be required to obtain a proportion of the total level 3 credits and/or credits in particular subjects at merit grade or above |
| BTEC Level 3 Extended Diploma (formerly BTEC National Diploma) | Distinction, Distinction, Merit |
| International Baccalaureate | 34 points overall or 15 points at HL |
International students
The University welcomes applications from international students. Our international recruitment team can guide you on entry requirements. See our International Student website for further information about entry requirements for your country.
If you need to increase your level of qualification ready for undergraduate study, we offer a number of International Foundation Programmes.
Meet our staff in your country
For more advise about applying to Kent, you can meet our staff at a range of international events.
English Language Requirements
Please see our English language entry requirements web page.
Please note that if you are required to meet an English language condition, we offer a number of 'pre-sessional' courses in English for Academic Purposes. You attend these courses before starting your degree programme.
General entry requirements
Please also see our general entry requirements.
Fees
The 2017/18 tuition fees for this programme are:
| UK/EU | Overseas | |
|---|---|---|
| Full-time |
For details of when and how to pay fees and charges, please see our Student Finance Guide.
UK/EU fee paying students
The Government has announced changes to allow undergraduate tuition fees to rise in line with inflation from 2017/18.
In accordance with changes announced by the UK Government, we are increasing our 2017/18 regulated full-time tuition fees for new and returning UK/EU fee paying undergraduates from £9,000 to £9,250. The equivalent part-time fees for these courses will also rise from £4,500 to £4,625. This was subject to us satisfying the Government's Teaching Excellence Framework and the access regulator's requirements. This fee will ensure the continued provision of high-quality education.
For students continuing on this programme, fees will increase year on year by no more than RPI + 3% in each academic year of study except where regulated.*
The University will assess your fee status as part of the application process. If you are uncertain about your fee status you may wish to seek advice from UKCISA before applying.
Fees for Year Abroad/Industry
As a guide only, UK/EU/International students on an approved year abroad for the full 2017/18 academic year pay an annual fee of £1,350 to Kent for that year. Students studying abroad for less than one academic year will pay full fees according to their fee status.
Please note that for 2017/18 entrants the University will increase the standard year in industry fee for home/EU/international students to £1,350.
General additional costs
Find out more about accommodation and living costs, plus general additional costs that you may pay when studying at Kent.
Funding
University funding
Kent offers generous financial support schemes to assist eligible undergraduate students during their studies. See our funding page for more details.
Government funding
You may be eligible for government finance to help pay for the costs of studying. See the Government's student finance website.
The Government has confirmed that EU students applying for university places in the 2017 to 2018 academic year will still have access to student funding support for the duration of their course.
Scholarships
General scholarships
Scholarships are available for excellence in academic performance, sport and music and are awarded on merit. For further information on the range of awards available and to make an application see our scholarships website.
The Kent Scholarship for Academic Excellence
At Kent we recognise, encourage and reward excellence. We have created the Kent Scholarship for Academic Excellence. The scholarship will be awarded to any applicant who achieves a minimum of AAA over three A levels, or the equivalent qualifications (including BTEC and IB) as specified on our scholarships pages.
The scholarship is also extended to those who achieve AAB at A level (or specified equivalents) where one of the subjects is either Mathematics or a Modern Foreign Language. Please review the eligibility criteria.