Bachelor of Arts in Creative Writing and Journalism with Foundation Year

at Middlesex University London United Kingdom

You enrol on a four-year course, which includes the one-year foundation course. If you complete this year successfully you progress directly onto one of our three-year degree courses in these subject areas. The number of students who progress to degree study are very high - in fact some of these students have gone on to become some of our most successful graduates.

BA Sociology

Our sociology BA teaches you essential hands-on skills while you develop the research ability and theoretical knowledge that allows you to understand the effects of social issues on society. Our sociology courses are taught within an interdisciplinary department of our School of Law, bringing you in contact with some of the leading scholars in the industry.

During the foundation year you will learn how computers are used by a broad range of people and organisations as well as acquiring fundamental software development skills and knowledge of hardware. You also gain relevant mathematical and statistical skills and develop useful communication skills.

BEng Mechatronics and Robotics

The BEng Mechatronics and Robotics programme offers a strong understanding of Artificial Intelligence, automation systems, Industrial Internet of Things as well as mechatronics for real-time systems through practice-based learning.

With waves of new technology, the opening of application areas and in response to changes in industrial focus and interest, this programme in the area of automation engineering, offers fresh technological content and opportunities for practice-based skills development.

You enrol on a four-year course, which includes the one-year foundation course. If you complete this year successfully you progress directly onto our three-year media degree courses listed below. The number of students who progress to degree study are very high - in fact some of these students have gone on to become some of our most successful graduates.

BA Creative Writing and Journalism

With our journalism and creative writing course you don't have to pick between the two areas of interest. Our course offers the unique experience of combining both subjects, so you can develop your skills as a writer across different styles.

During the course, you'll cover everything you'll need to know about journalism – from shorthand to digital media. You'll also learn about the life of a journalist whether you want to write for a newspaper, magazine, or online platforms.

Our human resources pathway allows you to shape your studies towards your career ambitions and fast-track your knowledge in people management alongside the operational functions of companies.You will develop key business skills, knowledge and experience in order to excel in a management career. Companies and organisations require graduates who have expert business knowledge, who can also demonstrate analytical and problem solving skills, and the professional acumen to deal with challenges in a fast-paced business environment.

Through two compulsory modules you will focus on Strategic Management and, Leadership and Management Development. You will also choose one option from: Service Encounter; Facilitating Creativity in Business; Managing Individual and Organisation Change; Equality, Diversity and Inclusion; and also choose either an internship or research project.

Course Highlights

• Our Business School has a growing alumni network that connects business and management students with successful graduates who can share and discuss their career experiences
• You will have access to cutting-edge business resources including the Chartered Management Institute's Management Direct Resource Hub

Learning about computer-based systems can open a lot of different career doors. Our information technology course combines theoretical knowledge with practical experiments to prepare you for the world of work. You’ll have access to a wide range of advanced equipment and software. Our interworking labs come equipped with telecommunication equipment, high-end simulation software, and much more. We even have remote access for the features you will need.

A degree in information technology is a great step to a career in the IT field. You can look forward to securing a key role in the IT support sector, IT project development and anywhere else that database and multimedia skills are needed. Past graduates from this course have gained employment with KPMG, IBM, TalkTalk and other prestigious companies.

Middlesex University is ranked 176-200 in the world for computer science (THE World University Ranking, 2019).

How you’ll apply your new skills

• You’ll learn to apply your theoretical knowledge with practical experiments in our modern labs or using remote access, component kits and a wide range of software. Teaching is made up of different styles like lab and group work alongside individual projects, which include designing websites and IT systems.
• Our course gives you the option to extend your studies by a year to spend the third year doing a paid work placement in an IT-based industry. You’ll enhance your career prospects and practice your knowledge before the final year, possibly leading to a better grade. We’ll help you secure your placement and even cover your tuition fees for the year.
• There’ll be lots of career events throughout your time studying so you’ll have plenty of opportunities to meet and talk with potential employers before you graduate.

Imaginative, original and full of ideas, Creative Technology combines technical and creative skills to create the technologies of the future. At Middlesex, you'll have the opportunity to learn about and experiment with different types of technology and use them to design and build your own inventions.

• Technology has become fundamentally important to art, design and culture and the skills associated with the once-separate creative and technical worlds increasingly overlap. This is a practical course with an emphasis on collaboration and experimentation. You will benefit from your lecturers creative, academic and technical expertise, and you'll be encouraged to step out of your comfort zone and tackle something new.
• You'll work with your peers on group projects and in the past students have made an interactive cushion, immersive VR and AR environments, Hololens environments, 360 videos, projection mapping projects, locative mobileapps, novel gaming environments and, wearable tech.
• Working within the current public distancing guidelines, we will be enhancing our online teaching with access to our cutting-edge facilities such as TV, radio and sound studios, 3D workshops and workshops for high-end digital work.
• We welcome students from any background onto this course, in the past, for example, we have had journalists, artists, designers, programmers, marketing and TV executives, engineers biologists and teachers. It's an unusual opportunity for students with diverse skills to work together, and it's this variety that gives it so much character.

Course Highlights

• Our staff are active in research and industry, and their combined areas of expertise include music and sound technology, social media, interactive technologies, visual and digital imagery, gaming, creative software and managing creative projects.
• You'll have the opportunity to work on real industry briefs. In the past, students have worked with Games companies, Sony and designer and engineer Moritz Waldemeyer.

Effective marketing is essential to every successful organisation – and our BA Marketing is the ultimate stepping-stone to an exciting career across a range of disciplines. You’ll follow in the footsteps of graduates who have pursued careers in all areas of marketing, including marketing research, product development, brand management, integrated marketing communications, and retailing at companies including Bardingtons, Prem International School, IKEA, a number of local authorities, and the NHS.

As part of our Business School, you’ll develop your critical thinking, and gain the tools and knowledge needed to successfully navigate the professional marketing field.

You’ll also have the flexibility to tailor your marketing degree with a range of optional modules – from brand management and consumer behaviour, to market insight and digital marketing – that will complement your personal interests and career goals. You'll work on a consultancy project with a brief set by industry professionals and develop practical solutions in response.

Build your hands-on experience and develop your business skills

• You’ll get plenty of support throughout your studies – and our specialist librarians are also on hand to give you any additional support you need to excel in your marketing degree.
• You’ll also have the opportunity to gain invaluable hands-on experience and employability skills with two work experience options. You can integrate a work placement into your studies with a 36-week sandwich placement as part of a 4-year degree, or two 18-week summer placements as part of a 3-year degree.

Our Sociology with Criminology degree is designed to give you a grounding in sociological and criminological thinking, research methods and key skills to articulate new and emerging social and criminological issues. You'll focus on how society responds to crime, its causes and consequences, and investigating how we do and should respond to criminal behaviour in all its forms.

Crime and criminal justice are central issues in today’s society, and our specialist Criminology and Sociology BA – one of the first in the world – opens up a wide range of career opportunities. You'll be taught the essential skills while you develop your ability to design and conduct social research through a range of traditional, innovative, and digital methods.

Once you graduate, you'll be able to demonstrate an extensive knowledge of both disciplines and continue to use this knowledge for creative, critical, and ethical thinking in future careers.

Build your practical skills

• You’ll be part of our thriving learning environment, with a specialist teaching approach that gives you plenty of support throughout your studies. You’ll also get a free electronic textbook for every module as part of your course.
• Our Sociology with Criminology course is taught within the interdisciplinary department in the School of Law, where you’ll benefit from some of the UK’s most influential and innovative academics. All of our scholars are actively engaged in current research, including human rights abuses, criminal behaviour, and more.
• You’ll have the option to choose the modules you want in your second and third years, meaning you can tailor the programme to your unique set of interests and career prospects. You can also choose to extend your course by a year and take a work placement or integrate it through volunteering and placement modules. In your final year, you can also choose between a dissertation and project, making your degree as suited to your individual needs and interests as possible.

The Foundation Year in Business is taught by the same lecturing staff who teach on our degree courses and you are taught in small group seminars, workshops and lectures. You will be able to develop transferable skills in business, communication and problem-solving.

BA Marketing

Effective marketing is essential to every successful organisation – and our BA Marketing is the ultimate stepping-stone to an exciting career across a range of disciplines. You’ll follow in the footsteps of graduates who have pursued careers in all areas of marketing, including marketing research, product development, brand management, integrated marketing communications, and retailing at companies including Bardingtons, Prem International School, IKEA, a number of local authorities, and the NHS.

Our sociology BA teaches you essential hands-on skills while you develop the research ability and theoretical knowledge that allows you to understand the effects of social issues on society. Our sociology courses are taught within an interdisciplinary department of our School of Law, bringing you in contact with some of the leading scholars in the industry.

You will have the freedom to choose your modules and focus of study in your second and third year meaning you can tailor your degree to your individual interests and future career goals. The programme itself has a strong focus on race and "decentering" the discipline of sociology, making it ever more relevant in today's world and making intersectionality a central feature of your study and practice. You'll also have the opportunity to take on a work placement or study abroad.
Build your hands-on practical skills

• You’ll be part of our thriving learning environment, with a specialist teaching approach that gives you plenty of support throughout your studies. You’ll also get a free electronic textbook for every module as part of your course.
• You’ll have the option to extend your course by a year to spend your third year building your employability skills as part of a paid work placement at a community organisation or NGO. Our academic advisers will help you find your placement and give you the support you need to complete a winning application.
• You can also choose to integrate work experience within the existing programme by taking the relevant volunteering and work placement modules. If you're looking to expand your resume, a study semester abroad with one of our partner institutions can really develop your skills and breath of study, and give you a new perspective for your career.