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University of Nottingham Malaysia

Course overview

The School of Media, Languages and Cultures offers several three-year Honours degree programmes in International Communications Studies. These courses combine knowledge in the study of communications, journalism, media, film and cultural studies with foreign languages. Our degrees offer global perspectives or the various aspects of communication, media, and culture. Degrees offered in Malaysia are mirrored on those in the UK and China thus enabling mobility and the sharing of materials and resources between campuses. Optional modules in Film and Television Studies, English Languages and Literature along with Performing Arts provide further avenues for specialisation and additional career options. Students learn from native speakers and use the International Language Studio which offers flipped-classroom teaching and blended learning to improve the student experience when learning a foreign language. Our Digital Media Lab enhances media production opportunities for students doing module assignments and media production exercises including filmmaking, audio and podcasting; and colour grading for video. 

Why choose this course?

Media and communications underpin almost every facet of modern life, from the global economy to interpersonal relationships and our leisure time, to how we learn about the world we live in. With digitisation and convergence only accelerating this trend, there is an ever-increasing need to understand the implications of these developments and to gain the skills and knowledge necessary to participate in shaping global media and communication infrastructures. International Communications explores the complex world of communications, culture and media in their various forms including linguistic, multimodal and visual – from new technologies, politics and popular culture, to critical theory, high culture and news media. The degree will train you in the theories and realities of local and international media and communication, enabling you to develop the analytical, creative, practical and problem-solving skills needed to succeed in our globalised society.

Modules

Core Modules

Students will learn and practise the four skills of listening, speaking, reading and writing together with basic grammatical structures. This will enable them to manipulate the language and participate effectively in everyday social situations.

Learning outcomes:

  • Pronunciation.
  • Standard spelling.
  • Ab initio syntax.
  • Ab initio sentence semantics.
  • Gist comprehension and more detailed reconstruction of audio material.
  • Basic oral skills.
  • Intellectual skills.
  • To familiarise students with the discipline of cultural studies and question the taken-grantedness of the ‘everyday’ in society.
  • To enable students to undertake basic cultural analysis.
  • To develop a critical understanding of key areas of culture and society.
  • To appreciate the relation between particular cultural phenomena and the representations of everyday life, and their broader context.

Learning outcomes:

  • Theoretical and methodological approaches to the study of culture and epistemological problems associated with archiving and representing the everyday.
  • Key areas of contemporary culture.
  • To familiarise students with the interdisciplinary field of communications theory, including communication technologies.
  • To encourage students to discriminate between particular theoretical positions.
  • To enable students to analyse a range of communicative texts, acts and contexts and the impact of technology upon communications practice.
  • To enable students to reflect upon their own technologised communications practices.

Learning outcomes:

  • A broad knowledge of the terrain of communications theory as well as an understanding of the historical evolution and contemporary forms of information and communications technologies.
  • The theoretical equipment to deal with a wide range of communications situations.
  • A glossary of key terms, concepts and models relevant to the field of communications studies.

Typical optional module

The module aims to introduce students to:

  • A wide range of contexts and styles of music from around the world.
  • Facilitate the development of critical skills for the analysis of diverse musical practices.
  • Give students an introductory grounding in the terms, concepts, and principal debates in the fields of ethnomusicology and popular music studies.

Learning outcomes:

  • Awareness of cultural differences and ethnomusicological approaches to the study of other cultures.
  • Development of critical perspectives on the meanings of musics in different cultures.
  • Introduction to a diverse range of music cultures.
  • Ability to situate one’s own musical experience(s) in global contexts.
  • Awareness of debates surrounding the term ‘World Music’.
  • Development of a critical understanding of the key issues in Anglophone and Asian popular music.
The above is a sample of the typical modules we offer but is not intended to be construed and/or relied upon as a definitive list of the modules that will be available in any given year. Modules (including methods of assessment) may change or be updated, or modules may be cancelled, over the duration of the course due to a number of reasons such as curriculum developments or staffing changes. Please refer to the module catalogue for information on available modules.

Core Modules

The overall aim of the module is to develop further competence in the language by improving the four skills of speaking, reading, listening and writing. Students will continue to develop their awareness of autonomy in language learning under the guidance of their language tutor. Teaching is communicative with regular opportunities for pair- and group- work. Emphasis is placed on oral and aural skills, making full use of multi-modal resources available.

Learning outcomes:

  • The language structure at post- beginner level.
  • More complex grammatical structures through the study of a broader range of topic areas across the four skills of listening, speaking, reading and writing.
  • To familiarise students with the history of political communication and public relations.
  • To enable students to spot ‘spin’ and propaganda.
  • To enable students to understand the links between public relations, politics and the exercise of power in liberal democracies.

Learning outcomes:

  • An understanding of the historical evolution and contemporary forms of public relations and news management techniques.
  • A knowledge of the theoretical debates around the ideological effects of public relations and propaganda campaigns.
  • An appreciation of the overt and covert information strategies employed by politicians.
  • To familiarise students with the wide range of interdisciplinary approaches to knowledge production.
  • To encourage students to make informed decisions regarding the appropriateness of particular methodological approaches to concrete communications contexts.
  • To enable students to identify, plan, and carry out a communications research topic of their own choosing.

Learning outcomes:

  • An understanding of the varied and interdisciplinary methods used in cultural research.
  • An appreciation of the distinction between qualitative and quantitative methods and the uncertainties and limits of particular methodologies and theoretical approaches.
  • An awareness of the implications of technological, discursive and generic mediation upon communication processes.
  • An appreciation of the importance of audiences and contexts to the understanding of communications processes.
  • An understanding of the pragmatics of research processes.

Typical optional modules

  • To help students acquire language interpreting skills appropriate to the context of community interpreting.
  • To review and identify examples of good interpreting practice, and to encourage students to demonstrate extended competence in both languages.
  • To encourage students to reach their own decisions about dilemmas and challenges encountered while interpreting a foreign language.
  • To explore the main linguistic and cultural issues associated with the profession of liaison interpreter.

Learning outcomes:

  • Demonstrate an understanding of linguistic, textual and cultural issues relating to interpreting.
  • Use different techniques to resolve interpreting difficulties.
  • Have developed a reasonable range of specialised vocabulary used in the process of interpreting.
  • Have developed a wide comprehension of sophisticated written and spoken language.
  • To familiarise students with the ethical and political dimensions of cultural and critical theory.
  • To encourage students to make politicised decisions regarding the appropriateness of particular theoretical approaches to concrete situations.
  • To enable students to analyse the complex cultural politics of their own everyday lives.

Learning outcomes:

  • A broad knowledge of the terrain of cultural politics.
  • Theoretical techniques for the analysis of cultural forms and practices with an awareness of their political impact.
  • Knowledge of the forms taken by power relationships within culture.
  • An appreciation of the processes by which power/ideology enters our lives and affects everyday experience.
  • To help students acquire translation skills appropriate to a variety of types of general texts, and to develop an awareness of the main socio-linguistic and cultural issues associated with the job.
  • To review and identify examples of good translation practice, and to encourage students to demonstrate extended competence in both languages.
  • To encourage students to reach their own decisions about the most convenient translations methods and choice of words.

Learning outcomes:

  • Demonstrate an understanding of linguistic, textual and cultural issues relating to translation.
  • Use different techniques to resolve translation difficulties.
  • Critically analyse the source text. Have developed a reasonable range of specialised vocabulary used in the process of translation.
  • Demonstrate some knowledge of the variety of translation approaches appropriate to a range of texts.
  • Have developed a wide comprehension of sophisticated written and spoken language.
  • To provide an introduction to Japanese literary works
  • To increase understanding of Japanese literature and cultural background, society and people in which the chosen authors worked
  • To develop the skills to identify and examine key themes or issues of the period in relation to the literary works studied
  • To develop further the skills of the target language
  • To develop further the skills needed for close reading and textual analysis
  • To develop further the skills needed for research and presentation

Learning outcomes:

  • Knowledge and awareness of the cultural, historical and political contexts appropriate to Japanese culture
  • Knowledge and understanding of the key features of literary works produced by the selected authors
  • Knowledge and understanding of the authors and their work in relation to their literary and cultural context
The above is a sample of the typical modules we offer but is not intended to be construed and/or relied upon as a definitive list of the modules that will be available in any given year. Modules (including methods of assessment) may change or be updated, or modules may be cancelled, over the duration of the course due to a number of reasons such as curriculum developments or staffing changes. Please refer to the module catalogue for information on available modules.

Core Modules

The overall aim of the module is to consolidate and extend students’ competence to an intermediate level in the four skills of speaking, reading, listening and writing. Special emphasis will be placed on developing more sophisticated oral and written skills. Students will continue to develop their awareness of autonomy in language learning under the guidance of their language tutor. 

Learning outcomes:

  • The language structure at intermediate level.
  • More complex grammatical structures through the study of a broader range of topic areas across the four skills of listening, speaking, reading and writing.
  • To give students the opportunity to develop a critical argument within a sustained piece of writing, extending research competence through the gathering, organising and processing of primary and secondary materials.
  • To teach skills of planning, developing and presenting project-based work, paying attention to issues of research methodology and to the critical apparatus that supports scholarly work.

Learning outcomes:

  • Close understanding both of the chosen subject and of its related field of study.
  • Familiarity with an appropriate range of secondary literature.
  • To provide a sound breadth and depth of knowledge of a broad range of contemporary digital communication and media.
  • To cultivate critical engagement with the different factors that have shaped and continue to shape the development of digital communication and associated media cultures.
  • To develop analytical and conceptual skills in both oral and written engagement with digital communication and media contexts from cultural, political, economic, technical and regulatory perspectives.
  • To advance students' familiarity with key debates and discourses in the field of digital communication and related media cultures.
  • To convey the skills required to carry out analysis of digital texts in their social, cultural, political and technological contexts at an advanced level.

Learning outcomes:

  • Demonstrate knowledge and robust critical understanding of the numerous contexts within which digital communication and media are applied.
  • Knowledge and critical understanding of the historical contexts of digital communication and media, how these have evolved, and continue to evolve.
  • Ability to assess the wider impact of the constantly evolving digital communication and media contexts including the emergence of new modes of interactive forms and practices.
  • Show a good awareness of key scholarship and other significant discourses and how they inform the study of digital communication and media and their relationship to various social, economic and cultural practices.
  • The purpose of the module is to familiarise students with key concepts, theories and debates in feminist media studies and queer media studies.
  • To encourage students to discriminate between particular theoretical and political positions in feminism and queer theory.
  • To enable students to analyse a range of media and cultural texts, contexts and practices through the perspectives of feminism and queer theory.

Learning outcomes:

  • Knowledge of concepts.
  • Theories and debates on gender and sexuality.
  • Understanding of the ways in which media and popular culture are shaped by, and at the same time shape gender and sexual norms, practices and identities.
  • Understanding of the political potential of media engagement with issues of gender and sexuality.
  • Students will be able to critically analyse, interpret and evaluate representations of gender and sexuality in media and popular culture; and draw on the industrial context of media and reflect on its impacts.

This module aims to:

  • develop skills to write for the media.
  • Equip students with the necessary knowledge of writing with clarity and coherence and with responsibility.
  • Developing students’ skills and methods in researching and gathering information.

Learning outcomes:

  • The module will be taught through a combination of interactive lectures and workshops. By the end of the module, students will be able to put together a news report, researching and writing a feature article. You will explore the differences and similarities between writing for a newspaper and writing for a radio or TV news program. This module will help you understand the legal and ethical framework in which journalists must operate.
The above is a sample of the typical modules we offer but is not intended to be construed and/or relied upon as a definitive list of the modules that will be available in any given year. Modules (including methods of assessment) may change or be updated, or modules may be cancelled, over the duration of the course due to a number of reasons such as curriculum developments or staffing changes. Please refer to the module catalogue for information on available modules.

Entry requirements

All candidates are considered on an individual basis and we accept a broad range of qualifications. The entrance requirements below apply to 2024 entry.

A Level

BBC, excluding critical thinking and general studies.

IB Diploma

28 points with 5,5,4 at Higher Level.

STPM

BBC+, excluding Pengajian Am.

UEC

1 A and 4 B3s, excluding Bahasa Malaysia and Chinese language

SAM or other Australian matriculations

ATAR 82 (consideration to be made based on relevant subjects).
Canadian Ontario Grade 12 Secondary School Diploma (OSSD) 77% average based on 6 subjects (consideration to be made based on relevant subjects).

Canadian Secondary School Diplomas from other provinces are acceptable and to be assessed based on the University’s requirements.
Advance Placement (AP) 4, 4, 3 in relevant subjects.
Diploma - Other Institutions Acceptance to the second year is on a case-by-case basis (and at the discretion of the School) but normally would require an overall GPA of 3.20 out of 4.0 and above, including good grades in relevant subjects.
Foundation - Other Institutions Acceptance is at the discretion of the School but normally would require an overall GPA of 3.20 out of 4.0 and above, including good grades in relevant subjects.
University of Nottingham Malaysia Foundation Successful completion of the Foundation in Arts and Education or Business and Management programme.

We strongly encourage all interested students to apply. Our students come to us with a diverse range of qualifications and we are also reviewing and accepting grades based on the minimum acceptable (and those who are holding grades with near misses). The only way for us to fully determine eligibility is through the submission of a completed application.

Entry requirements in the prospectus and website may not always apply and individual offers may vary.

IELTS (Academic):

6.5 (with no less than 6.0 in each element)

TOEFL (iBT):

90 (minimum 19 in Writing and Listening, 20 in Reading and 22 in Speaking)
 

71 (with no less than 65 in each element)

GCE A Level English Language or English Literature:

grade C

GCE AS Level English Language or English Literature:

grade C

SPM:

CEFR level B2

GCSE O-Level:

grade C / 4

IGCSE (first language):

grade C / 4

IGCSE (second language):

grade B / 6

MUET:

Band 4.5

UEC:

grade A2

IB English A1 or A2 (Standard or Higher Level):

4 points

IB English B (Higher Level):

4 points

IB English B (Standard Level):

5 points

IELTS ,TOEFL and PTE (Academic) test results must be less than 2 years old and all IELTS must be the academic version of the test. MUET results are valid for five years from the date of the release of results.

Foundation progression options

The Foundation in Arts and Education is a 1+3 year programme that results in direct progression to the undergraduate degrees offered within the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences. This rigorous programme provides students with a strong academic background that will result in enhanced language, communication, critical thinking and study skills.

Students on this programme also chose from a range of elective modules that provide the opportunity to sample topics related to their chosen undergraduate pathway such as politics, the world economy, media and education.

Learning and assessment

How you will learn

  • Lectures
  • Seminars
  • Tutorials
  • Workshops
  • Supervision
  • Practical classes
  • Field trips

How you will be assessed

  • Coursework
  • Group coursework
  • Dissertation
  • Examinations
  • Presentation
  • Research project
  • Essay
  • Portfolio (written/digital)
  • Poster presentation

Applying

Our step-by-step guide contains everything you need to know about applying for undergraduate courses.

How to apply

Fees

ResidencyFees
Malaysian studentsRM38,300 per year
International studentsRM44,500 per year

Where you will learn

Malaysia Campus

Semenyih Campus is 48km from Kuala Lumpur International Airport and just 45 minutes’ drive from the famous city centre with its iconic Petronas Twin Towers. On arrival, you are immersed in the green jungle backdrop that Malaysia provides with wildlife, sunshine and campus lake.

The campus is home to our business, education, science and engineering schools, which sit alongside a sports centre, library and student accommodation. The University has everything a modern day student could wish for with the added bonus of being located in central Asia allowing you to travel further afield in your free time.

Public transport is plentiful with free shuttle services operating on some routes. Taxi/Grab services in Malaysia are very reasonable and used widely by the student community.

Careers

An international communications degree is your passport to a variety of rewarding professions. Likely career fields include the audio-visual, digital and print media industries, marketing, production, public relations and research. Graduates with a passion for language can pursue interpreting, publishing and translation roles while others may continue their studies and pursue research and/or teaching degrees. Many of our graduates go overseas to work at universities in South Korea, Japan, China, and Europe. Some of our graduates have pursued postgraduate study at LSE, National University of Singapore, Mahidol University (Thailand), Oxford University and the University of Nottingham campuses in both China and the UK.

The University has an established Careers Advisory Service (CAS) that provides students with essential resources and guidance for career choices offering many opportunities to develop the skills needed to plan and manage your future. Our Careers Advisory Service will work with you to improve and maximise your employability skills as well as providing essential resources and guidance that will assist you with job/course applications. They will facilitate searches for appropriate work experience placements and connect you to a wide range of prospective employers or training opportunities.

Graduates from the School of Media, Languages and Culture have entered roles in prominent organisations and companies with above-average starting salaries. Career paths in these fields include advertising account executives, copywriters and creative roles, news editors, journalists and reporters. Our graduates have gone on to positions and roles such as film producer, journalist, advertising creatives, marketing, and corporate communications. Our graduates are found in companies such as Astro Radio, MalaysiaKini, BFM, Marie Clare, Leo Burnett, Ogilvy & Mater, BBDO, and iFlix. Other career options include arts or heritage administration and management, the civil service, diplomatic or embassy work and government service, non-governmental organisations, politics and think tanks. The list continues with roles in consultancy, human resources, management and recruitment within the international business environment. SMLC graduates have worked in UNHCR, Royal Bank of Scotland, Ferrero Rocher, S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies (Singapore), International Schools and publishing houses.

Frequently asked questions

UNM’s International Communication Studies BA (Hons) is an undergraduate programme that focuses on the study of communication in a global context. Students will have the opportunity to explore the theories, practices, and challenges of communication across various cultures, media platforms, and international settings.

The entry requirement for this degree programme is a pre-university qualification. Students taking the A Level will need a minimum of BBC, while those who sit for STPM need a BBC+, excluding general studies. For students who have just completed their high school diploma, UNM’s Foundation in Arts and Education offers a direct path progression into this course.

This programme covers a wide range of subjects related to international communication, such as intercultural communication, media and globalisation, digital communication, public relations, journalism, and advertising.

Graduates of this programme can pursue various career paths in international media organisations, public relations agencies, advertising firms, multinational corporations, non-profit organisations, and government agencies. 

Job opportunities include international communications specialist, media consultant, public relations officer, digital content strategist, cross-cultural communicator, and more.

Yes, there will be opportunities for international experience with our study abroad or exchange programmes. Students will be able to immerse themselves in different cultures, develop intercultural communication skills, and gain a global perspective on communication practices

Yes, we provide internship opportunities for students to gain practical experience in this field of work. These internships can be with local or international organisations, media companies, advertising agencies, or other relevant institutions. 

Yes, UNM offers scholarships and financial aid for Malaysian and International students who meet the criteria

This content was last updated on 22 February 2024. Every effort has been made to ensure that this information is accurate, but changes are likely to occur between the date of publishing and course start date. It is therefore very important to check this website for any updates before you apply.