Bachelor of Arts (Hons) in Politics, International Relations and Journalism (with Sandwich Year)

at University of Hertfordshire - De Havilland Campus United Kingdom

Join the next generation of media professionals, with a powerful, practical course that gives you the skills and agility to thrive in a rapidly changing industry. Explore the nature of language, communication and the media. Write news, features and fiction. Study films, music and celebrity. Design magazines, websites and a fascinating, successful future.

The media world is evolving fast. Digital and social media are developing at breakneck speed and changing the way we talk to, learn from and understand each other. Here at Hertfordshire, our mass comms course focuses on communication and media practice, encouraging you to be entrepreneurial and professional, with a diverse set of sought-after creative skills.

You’ll have a whole range of opportunities, including exploring publishing and PR, examining the ethical and legal aspects of journalism, developing your voice as a writer, studying the context behind films, spending a life-changing year abroad or taking a year-long work placement.

Bridging theory and practice — Students studying this course will gain a theoretical and critically reflective understanding of media whilst gaining practical skills as an author and designer of published material. The majority of our courses are assessed by 100% coursework.

Value added — Every student is allocated a personal tutor to monitor and advise on their overall academic and personal development supplemented with drop-in skills sessions and specialist tutors to refine and polish your writing. Our Media Matters series of Media Industry talks and Creative Writing talks are career focussed, delivered by industry specialist professionals. 

The MPhys allows you to study astrophysics to a greater depth and breadth than the BSc. It’s particularly recommended if you’re interested in pursuing research in industry, government or academia, or if you want to go on to further postgraduate study. During the course you’ll study more advanced topics such as galaxy formation and evolution, high-energy astrophysics and atmospheric physics. You’ll also undertake a large research project within our Centre for Astrophysics Research. We have an innovative strand of industrial projects, supported by the Institute of Physics, that gives you direct experience of working in industrial research. You’ll also have the exciting opportunity to spend a year at a major astronomical research centre or an international observatory.

• The MPhys programme allows students to study astrophysics to a greater depth and breadth than our BSc programme. An MPhys is particularly recommended for those students interested in pursuing research in the industrial, government and academic sectors, and who are likely to consider undertaking further postgraduate study (MSc and/or PhD degrees).

• The MPhys programme allows students to study astrophysics to a greater depth and breadth than our BSc programme.
• In the MPhys year you will study more advanced courses in a range of Astrophysics and Physics specialisms (including Galaxy Formation & Evolution, High Energy Astrophysics, and Atmospheric Physics), plus undertake a large research project within the Centre for Astrophysics Research.
• Your research project will form a third of your final year and you will be closely supervised and guided by one of our experienced researchers while you work on a cutting-edge problem in modern Astrophysics. Previous projects include developing Lucky Imaging cameras at our observatory, studying extreme variable stars in the Milky Way, studying observations of powerful Active Galactic Nuclei, and designing new space telescopes to study extrasolar planet atmospheres. We have an innovative strand of industrial projects supported by the Institute of Physics that give you direct experience of working in industrial research.

This course is ideal if you want a degree that can lead to a wide range of business careers. It offers a creative mix of academic study, skills development and practical training, giving you the best possible platform for your career. You’ll learn principles of accounting, economics and marketing, and choose from a variety of other subject options. Strong partnerships with industry ensure our curriculum is up to date and meets business needs. Add a language and take the opportunity to study abroad. This course is aligned to several professional bodies for students to work towards achieving professional recognition.

You can also study a language with this course. You can be awarded the degree ‘with language’ in the title if you choose to study a foreign language in all years of study.

• Gain a broad base of business knowledge and explore a variety of career paths.
• Study key areas like accounting, finance, economics, HR, marketing and operations.
• Explore global perspectives, ethics, strategy, employment law, problem solving and much more.
• Create a stand-out CV by spending a year studying abroad.
• Add one of five languages to your business studies, gaining a sought-after new skill.

Indicative course structure
Available as a full honours degree or as top up programme. See below for details about entry requirements for both programmes.

This course is ideal if you want a degree that can lead to a wide range of business careers. It offers a creative mix of academic study, skills development and practical training, giving you the best possible platform for your career. You’ll learn principles of accounting, economics and marketing, and choose from a variety of other subject options. Strong partnerships with industry ensure our curriculum is up to date and meets business needs. Add a language and take the opportunity to study abroad. This course is aligned to several professional bodies for students to work towards achieving professional recognition.

You can also study a language with this course. You can be awarded the degree ‘with language’ in the title if you choose to study a foreign language in all years of study.

• Gain a broad base of business knowledge and explore a variety of career paths.
• Study key areas like accounting, finance, economics, HR, marketing and operations.
• Explore global perspectives, ethics, strategy, employment law, problem solving and much more.
• Create a stand-out CV by spending a year studying abroad.
• Add one of five languages to your business studies, gaining a sought-after new skill.

This degree involves a practical workshop programme, establishing and refining your understanding of the tactile qualities and properties of materials and how they can be manipulated to express your ideas. In the First Year you’ll learn contemporary approaches to designing and making across a range of 2D and 3D media. Then, in the Second Year, you’ll focus your interests in order to reach the high level of refinement necessary for the professional marketplace. Our students produce a richly diverse range of artefacts, such as accessories, experimental and fine jewellery, and conceptual pieces for exhibition or commission.

• Contemporary Design Crafts Jewellery degree encourages fresh ideas, inventive use of materials and techniques, and awareness of contemporary markets.
• You establish and refine your interests in the field of jewellery to reach the high level of skills demanded by the professional marketplace.
• Placements develop a versatile understanding of the workplace, establishing our graduates as contemporaries in a competitive professional market. .

Pharmacists are experts in medicines and a trusted source of advice and treatment. The role of pharmacists is developing in exciting new ways to support patients through medicine management and non-medical prescribing, as well as drug development. Using state- of-the-art facilities, you’ll gain the scientific knowledge to become a skilled and confident pharmacist. You’ll develop an understanding of normal and abnormal bodily functions and be able to apply what you’ve learned to the treatment of patients. You’ll also study the role of the pharmacist in healthcare and industry, and develop vital interpersonal skills. Work placements are essential and you’ll have opportunities in every year of the course.

• Excellent facilities including a simulated pharmacy and refurbished chemistry labs
• Placement visits in all years of the programme
• Regular promotion of work experience opportunities as well as workshops preparing you for working as a pharmacist including interview techniques, NICE (National Institute for Health and Care Excellence) evidence workshops, work placements, negotiating workplace politics, Q and A sessions for applying for pre-registration employment.
• Mentoring programme between students of all years
• Active Pharmacy Society
• Lecture series with bodies such as the Royal Pharmaceutical Society and the BPSA
• Summer Scholarships/Summer Research Projects with researchers from the University.
• Accredited by the General Pharmaceutical Council
• We have strong links with local healthcare providers and pharmaceutical industries

This degree is accredited by the Institute of Biomedical Science (IBMS). Students who complete an IBMS portfolio during the placement year, which is successfully verified, receive the award of Applied Biomedical Science. With a career in biomedical science, you could help improve the lives of millions of people suffering from a wide range of diseases. You’ll study the causes, diagnosis and treatments of major diseases such as cancer, cardiovascular disease, blood disorders, respiratory diseases, biochemical and endocrine disorders, and infectious diseases. Once you’ve developed a fundamental understanding of biology and chemistry, you’ll move on to specialised areas such as pathophysiology, molecular biology, haematology, clinical microbiology, immunology, biochemistry, histopathology and transfusion science. You’ll also have the exciting opportunity to study abroad or take a year-long work placement in industry. This degree is accredited by the Institute of Biomedical Science and the Royal Society of Biology.

• Biomedical Science involves the study of disease, drugs and other topics related to human health.
• The biomedical sciences are made up of the following disciplines; biochemistry, haematology, immunology, microbiology, histology, cytology, bacteriology and transfusion (blood) technologies.
• In the UK the term 'biomedical scientist' is a protected title used by professionals working within the pathology department of a hospital. This group of healthcare professionals is the second largest profession registered by the Health Professions Council but not all students who study biomedical sciences end up working as biomedical scientists. Many graduates continue in pharmaceutical companies or other research institutes.

A career in writing enables you explore the world through your work – discovering people and places, exploring unfolding events, influencing debate and shaping your own creative voice. On this course, you’ll write for blogs, websites, print, video, audio and multimedia contexts, developing the skills to research your subject and really engage your readers.

Together, these subjects give you exciting opportunities to develop your voice as a writer and discover ways to publish your work. In journalism, you’ll learn about ethics, target audiences and the journey from interview to finished article. You’ll analyse newspapers and their values, as well as exploring broadcasting and online journalism.

In creative writing, you’ll learn important skills for devising, editing, revising and submitting your work. You’ll analyse texts, explore the effects of the author’s choices and create short stories, drama, poetry and creative nonfiction of your own. You’ll also have opportunities to work with schools or museums, attend guest lectures, study abroad or take a year’s work placement.

From September 2020, subject to validation, we will be offering a new single hons degree in Creative Writing. Find out more information.

• This course will help you to develop professional writing skills.
• Journalism and Publishing at the University of Hertfordshire ranked 21st out of 57 universities in the Guardian University league table 2016.

The aim of the Fine Art programme is to equip you with the skills, knowledge and understanding required to practice at an advanced level, to foster your creativity and enhance your employment opportunities. You will work alongside artists and designers and benefit from contributions from visiting artists, designers, makers, as well as from involvement with our international exhibitions programme and gallery environment. This is the perfect opportunity to develop your individual creative practice and place it within the wider professional context of fine art.

You will work with other students to explore and challenge the boundaries of your practice and, through discussion, explore some of the key ideas that inform contemporary fine art practice. We strongly encourage conceptual experimentation and development of originality in use of materials to explore possibilities and realise the potential of your ideas. Seminars, research methods and debates will help you to advance, as well as technical skills.

Our staff are experienced in research and professional practice, and you will also benefit from contributions from visiting artists, designers, makers and other arts and design professionals, as well as from involvement with our international exhibitions programme and gallery environment. 

 Induction, seminars and social events for students and staff mean that you will be part of a friendly and supportive postgraduate community, which also includes film makers, musicians and professionals working in new media. Senior research staff and internationally renowned artists work with postgraduate students, helping you to develop original and challenging work.

Our sports coaching degree gives you the opportunity to explore coaching theory, research and practice. You’ll focus on contemporary areas of sports coaching study, including coach education, learning and practical skills. You’ll also develop your own specialised coaching knowledge, attributes and abilities through a whole range of theoretical and hands-on experiences. Throughout, we’ll encourage you to shape your own professional development journey and achieve the appropriate vocational coaching qualifications to take your career in the direction you want. We’ll also emphasise the importance of developing your academic and research strengths, improving your confidence, credibility and critical writing skills.