Course guide · updated Oct 2026

Media & Communications

Journalism, public relations, advertising, digital media and communication studies. What you learn, how degrees differ by country, and live program counts.

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What you study

How media works, and how to make it

Media and communications programs mix theory and practice. You study how media shapes audiences, politics and culture, and you learn to report, write, edit, produce audio and video, and plan campaigns.

Journalism programs emphasise reporting, ethics and media law. PR and advertising programs focus on strategy, brands and audiences. Digital media programs add content, platforms and analytics.

Popular specialisations

Where you can take it

Each card opens matching programs in the explorer, where you can filter by country, level and fees.

01

Journalism

Reporting, editing and media law.

Browse programs →02

Public relations

Reputation, messaging and stakeholders.

Browse programs →03

Advertising

Creative strategy and campaigns.

Browse programs →04

Communication studies

How messages shape people and organisations.

Browse programs →05

Digital media

Content, platforms and audiences online.

Browse programs →
Degree routes by country

How long it takes, and what comes after

Typical lengths and post-study work rules as of October 2026. Individual programs vary, so check the course page before you apply.

USAStudy in the USA →
Bachelor’s
A bachelor’s is usually a four-year degree, and you often take a broad mix of courses before you declare a major.
Master’s
Master’s programs commonly run one to two years, depending on the program and whether it includes a thesis or internship.
After you graduate
OPT gives up to 12 months of work at each degree level. Graduates of degrees on the DHS STEM list can apply for a further 24 months (STEM OPT). New OPT fees proposed by DHS in October 2026 are not in effect.

OPT gives up to 12 months; the 24-month STEM extension applies only if a program’s CIP code is on the DHS STEM list, so check before you rely on it.

UKStudy in the UK →
Bachelor’s
Three years in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, four in Scotland. A placement (sandwich) year, where offered, adds a year in industry.
Master’s
A taught master’s usually takes one full-time calendar year. Integrated master’s degrees (MEng, MSci) take four years, five in Scotland.
After you graduate
Graduate Route: 2 years if you apply on or before 31 December 2026, 18 months if you apply on or after 1 January 2027, and 3 years after a PhD.

One-year MA programs are available in journalism, PR and media. Media, journalism and communications is its own subject group in official UK data.

CanadaStudy in Canada →
Bachelor’s
Bachelor’s degrees take three to four years. Colleges also offer diplomas (two to three years) and certificates (one to two years).
Master’s
Master’s degrees take one or two years after a bachelor’s. Co-op programs add paid work terms in your field.
After you graduate
A post-graduation work permit (PGWP) of up to 3 years. Bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral graduates are exempt from the PGWP field-of-study rule; college programs must be in an eligible field.

Colleges offer diplomas in journalism, broadcasting and PR alongside university degrees. College programs must be in an eligible field of study for a PGWP.

Live from official data

Media & Communications programs you can apply to

Counts by country from our database of official course data, updated as the data changes. Pick a country to see a sample, then browse and filter the full list.

Explore all →
🇺🇸programs in the USBrowse →🇬🇧programs in the UKBrowse →🇨🇦programs in CanadaBrowse →

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Typical entry requirements

What universities usually look for

In general terms. Every university sets its own requirements, and they differ between programs at the same university.

Academics

For a bachelor’s: Class 12; many programs accept any stream. For a master’s: a degree in any subject is often accepted, with relevant experience a plus.

Portfolio

Writing samples, clips, video or campaign work. Some programs set a writing task as part of the application.

English

Most universities accept IELTS Academic, TOEFL iBT or PTE Academic, each setting its own minimum. For a UK Student visa your English must be at least CEFR B2 for degree-level study, and your university can assess this. See our IELTS, TOEFL and PTE guides. Writing is assessed throughout these programs, so aim above the minimum.

Your application

Statement of purpose and recommendations. Show what you have already made, published or run.

Career paths

Where graduates often go

Common roles for graduates of this field. Where you end up depends on your university, experience, work rights and the job market.

Journalist / reporterNews, features and investigations.
PR executiveMedia relations and reputation.
Content strategistPlans what gets published and why.
Social media managerRuns channels and communities.
CopywriterWords for brands and campaigns.
ProducerVideo, audio and podcasts.
Communications managerInternal and external comms.
Media researcherAudiences, data and insights.

We don’t quote salary figures on this page: they vary widely by city, employer and visa status. Ask a counsellor for current, sourced numbers for the roles you are considering.

Ready to shortlist Media & Communications programs?

Answer a few questions and the finder ranks universities by how well they fit your grades, budget and goals. Or talk it through with a counsellor who studied abroad.

Sources

Rules, durations and STEM codes on this page were checked against these official sources in October 2026. Live program counts come from our database of official course data; see credits and data sources. Always confirm details on the university’s own course page.

  1. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, DHS STEM Designated Degree Program List (last updated 22 July 2024) (checked Oct 2026)
  2. Study in the States (DHS), F-1 Optional Practical Training (OPT) (checked Oct 2026)
  3. Study in the States (DHS), STEM OPT Extension Overview (checked Oct 2026)
  4. Study in the States (DHS), DHS publishes proposed rule establishing fees for Optional Practical Training (7 October 2026) (checked Oct 2026)
  5. QAA, The Frameworks for Higher Education Qualifications of UK Degree-Awarding Bodies (2024) (checked Oct 2026)
  6. QAA, Master’s Degree Characteristics Statement (checked Oct 2026)
  7. GOV.UK, Graduate visa (checked Oct 2026)
  8. EduCanada (Global Affairs Canada), Common pathways to college and university (checked Oct 2026)
  9. EduCanada (Global Affairs Canada), Graduate studies (checked Oct 2026)
  10. IRCC, Post-graduation work permit: field of study requirement (checked Oct 2026)
  11. IRCC, Post-graduation work permit: about (length of the permit) (checked Oct 2026)
  12. GOV.UK, Student visa: knowledge of English (checked Oct 2026)