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Prospectus

 

BA (Hons) International Communications Studies with Chinese

Course prospectus hero image

Key information

Degree

BA (Hons) International Communications Studies with Chinese

Types of study

Full time

Duration

Three or four years depending on entry qualifications

Start date

September 2025

Faculty

International Communications / Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences

Study model

4+0

About the study model: For the 2+2 study model courses, the student will spend the last two years at our UK campus. For the 4+0 study model courses, the student will spend the entire degree programme in Ningbo, China with 'study abroad' opportunities from year three.

Introductory video

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Entry requirements

Depending on your academic and English language qualifications, you may be eligible for a traditional three year degree programme, or a four year programme with a preliminary year enabling you to gain the subject-specific knowledge and skills required to embark on degree-level studies.

Please find the entry requirement relevant to your country of origin here. If your country is not listed, please email global@nottingham.edu.cn.  

If you are a mainland Chinese student, your Gaokao score should be in the first division as a minimum requirement, and your English test score should be no less than 115/150. For more details, please check the Chinese version prospectus.

English language requirements 

If your first language is not English or your entry qualification was not obtained in the English medium (from an approved institution) you are required to provide evidence of your proficiency in English.

Minimum requirements for the four-year programme:

  • IELTS 5.5 (no less than 5.0 in any element) or 
  • PTE Academic 59 (minimum 53) or
  • TOEFL (IBT) 80 (minimum 17 in Writing and Listening, 18 in Reading and 20 in Speaking)

Minimum requirements for the three-year programme:

  • IELTS 6.5 (no less than 6.0 in writing) or
  • PTE Academic 71 (minimum 65) or
  • TOEFL (IBT) 90 (minimum 19 in Writing)

Minimum age requirements

You should be at least 18 years of age on admission to the University. The date of "admission" is defined as the first day of September in the relevant academic year. This requirement may be waived on an individual basis if your parents or guardians give their written agreement in advance to additional safeguards and requirements. Visit here for more information.

Course overview

The programme provides you with an opportunity to study a wide range of subjects, including contemporary mass media, journalism, new digital communications, the history of European and American societies, communications theory, the psychology of communications, arts and communications and cultural studies.

In addition, the study of Chinese (Mandarin) from beginners' to advanced level will form a core element in years two to four.

Students will also have an opportunity to enrich their studies by taking modules offered by International Studies and International Business. 

Special features

International Communications degrees explore the complex world of communications, media and culture. You will study different forms of visual and linguistic communication, new technologies, politics, popular and high culture, and news media.

  • Learn with expert staff who conduct internationally acclaimed research
  • Engage with objects, images and media of the past and understand how they influence us in the present
  • Develop critical tools to see and understand the world differently

Course structure

Year One (Preliminary Year) 

The first year comprises a special programme of English for Academic Purposes designed by staff from the highly experienced Centre of English Language Learning (CELE) at the University of Nottingham. This is carefully integrated with the content programmes offered by each academic division so as to prepare students fully for years 2-4 of the degree. Some of the content modules on year 1 are specifically related to the study of communications: Media and Texts: Society, Critical, Creative, and Reflective Thinking, Media and Texts: Culture, and Reading and Vocabulary Enhancement.

See Year One Programme for more information.

Year Two (Qualifying Year)

In this first year of specialist study, extensive twenty-credit modules are structured around a student-centred learning approach to learning with extensive reading set alongside practical exercises intended to familiarise students with contemporary communications theory and practice. These modules will also give you an opportunity to practice the study skills needed for more independent research later on in your degree. 

Year Three (Part I)

During this year, you will build on the skills and knowledge you have acquired so far by applying them to a more in-depth study of issues relating to contemporary international communications in a variety of optional modules. Optional topics include global media and communication, cultural analysis, political communications, and etc.. 

You will also have the opportunity to participate in an exchange or study abroad programme for one or both semesters of their third year. See Exchange and Study Abroad Programme for more information.

Year Four (Part II)

In this year you can choose from a number of optional modules. Besides taught modules the focus of your study in this final year is an individual dissertation project. This is on a topic of your own choice and consists of guided research spread over the whole academic year. You will also complete your Mandarin studies.

Please note that the structure of this degree and its modules may be subject to change.

Year 1 modules

+

ACADEMIC YEAR 2025-2026

Compulsory

Students must take all modules in this group.

Code

Title

Credits

Taught

CELEN044

Media and Texts: Society

20

Autumn

CELEN048

Reading and Writing in Academic Contexts

20

Autumn

CELEN069

Oral Communication Skills A

10

Autumn

CELEN121

Critical, Creative, and Reflective Thinking

10

Autumn

CELEN043

Media and Texts: Culture

20

Spring

CELEN051

English in Specific Academic Contexts a (Arts & Social Science Pathways)

20

Spring

CELEN082

Oral Communication Skills B

10

Spring

CELEN091

Reading and Vocabulary Enhancement

10

Spring

Credit total: 120

 

 

 

 

Year 2 modules

+

ACADEMIC YEAR 2025-2026

Compulsory

Students must take all modules in this group.

Code

Title

Credits

Taught

INCM1031

Media and Society

20

Autumn

INCM1032

Communication and Technology

20

Autumn

LANG1082

Mandarin 1A

20

Autumn

INCM1030

Communication and Culture

20

Spring

INCM1033

Cultures of Everyday Life

20

Spring

LANG1083

Mandarin 1B

20

Spring

Credit total: 120

 

 

 

Year 3 modules

+

ACADEMIC YEAR 2025-2026

Compulsory

Students must take all modules in this group.

Code

Title

Credits

Taught

INCM2025

Understanding the Chinese Creative Industries

10

Autumn

INCM2026

Researching Communications 1

10

Autumn

LANG2075

Mandarin 2A

20

Autumn

INCM2027

Researching Communications 2

10

Spring

LANG2076

Mandarin 2B

20

Spring

Credit total: 70

 

 

 

Restricted - Group I

Students must take a minimum of 50 and a maximum of 50 credits from this group.

Code

Title

Credits

Taught

BUSI2120

Corporate Entrepreneurship

10

Autumn

INCM2028

Cultural Analysis

10

Autumn

INCM2057

Gender and Society

10

Autumn

INCM2060

Creating Participatory Media

10

Autumn

INTS2035

Risk Analysis: Political and Business Risk

20

Autumn

INTS2037

The Silk Road: cultural interactions and perceptions

20

Autumn

INCM2029

Public Relations and Propaganda

10

Spring

INCM2032

Translating Cultures

10

Spring

INCM2043

Reading Film and Television

10

Spring

INCM2058

Screen and Popular Culture

10

Spring

INTS2002

International Organisations

20

Spring

Credit total: 150

 

 

 

 

Year 4 modules

+

ACADEMIC YEAR 2025-2026

Compulsory

Students must take all modules in this group.

Code

Title

Credits

Taught

LANG3080

Mandarin 3A

20

Autumn

INCM3033

BA International Communications Dissertation

40

Full year

LANG3081

Mandarin 3B

20

Spring

Credit total: 80

 

 

 

Restricted

Students must take a minimum of 40 and a maximum of 40 credits from this group.

Code

Title

Credits

Taught

BUSI3194

International Business Environment and Strategy

20

Autumn

BUSI3195

Globalisation and Innovation in China

10

Autumn

INCM3046

Digital Games as Communication

20

Autumn

INCM3047

Documentary and Reality

20

Autumn

INCM3090

Intercultural Communication Competency

20

Autumn

INTS3028

Global Development Politics

20

Autumn

BUSI3189

Business Ethics and Sustainability

20

Full year

BUSI3120

Strategic Innovation Management

10

Spring

INCM3045

Media Management

20

Spring

INCM3069

Transmedia Narratives and Digital Literacy

20

Spring

INCM3088

Hollywood and Chinese Cinema

20

Spring

INTS3012

Contemporary Security: theories and issues

20

Spring

Credit total: 220

 

 

 

 

Careers and further study

Understanding how to communicate, learn, express yourself and do business on global digital media platforms with people from all over the world is at the core of our teaching programmes. The skills and knowledge will lead you to a wide variety of industries including:

  • Media
  • Public relations
  • Marketing
  • TV station
  • Advertisement

Our students prove to be highly articulate and develop good writing, presentation, teamwork, negotiation, research and documentation skills.

Of the 170 undergraduates who graduated from the School of International Communications in 2024, 149 students sought further study. These graduates were admitted to top 100 ranked institutions in the UK, Australia, China (Hong Kong) and the US. Destinations included University College of London and Imperial College London in the UK, University of Hong Kong in China (Hong Kong), University of Melbourne in Australia, and New York University in the US.

Additionally, second (or third) language acquisition as part of their undergraduate degree enabled our graduates to pursue further study in Spain, France and Japan.

Fees

Chinese Mainland students

100,000 RMB / year (2024 Entry)

China's Hong Kong, Macao & Taiwan students

100,000 RMB / year (2024 Entry)

International students

120,000 RMB / year

Scholarships, sponsorships and bursaries

To encourage academic excellence, we offer a comprehensive and expanding range of full and partial scholarships. 

Historically nearly 30% of our undergraduate students were awarded scholarships for their entry. Once enrolled, current students are eligible for additional merit and/or performance-based scholarships and awards, which covers approximately 32.5% of our whole student body.

Please check here for scholarship types and policies for applicants from Hong Kong, Macao, Taiwan and overseas countries. If you are a mainland Chinese student, please visit the Chinese language prospectus.

More information

Download a PDF version of the School Brochure.

Contact us

Student Recruitment and Admission Office

University of Nottingham Ningbo China
199 Taikang East Road, Ningbo, 315100, China

E. admissions@nottingham.edu.cn
T. +86 (0574) 8818 0182
W.


Faculty Office of Humanities and Social Sciences

Room 306, Innovation and Enterprise Building (IEB)
University of Nottingham Ningbo China
199 Taikang East Road, Ningbo, 315100, China

E. FHSS@nottingham.edu.cn
W.


Ready to apply? Browse our how to apply page to find our more on how to prepare and submit your application.

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