BA (Hons) Media Studies
University of Portsmouth
Key Information
Campus location
Southsea, United Kingdom
Languages
English
Study format
On-Campus
Duration
3 - 4 years
Pace
Full time
Tuition fees
GBP 9,250 / per year *
Application deadline
Request info
Earliest start date
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* for UK/Channel Islands and Isle of Man students/EU residents | £16,200/year: international students
Scholarships
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Introduction
Are you curious about how the media influences the world we live in? Our BA (Hons) Media Studies course is distinguished by its innovative mix of options. It will give you a fascinating way to gain a deeper academic understanding of this prime form of communication.
You'll learn how global media reflects, shapes and affects societies and cultures, from news and television to social networks. You’ll also consider how identity is formed through the media and its representations in contemporary formats and genres, such as TV talk shows, the comic book industries, and science. As you progress in your degree, you can create your learning plan by choosing optional modules, including film production.
You’ll graduate ready to begin your media career in many communicational fields, but you’ll also have creative and transferable skills you can use in any sector.
Course highlights
- Gain expert insight into popular culture, fan communities, and the latest media tech developments by attending the annual Portsmouth Comic Con – where course lecturers and previous students have been panellists.
- Enhance your studies by learning from a teaching team of widely published media experts and research-active academics.
- Cultivate a well-rounded, futuristic understanding of media from staff expertise in contemporary popular culture genres (including science fiction, fantasy, horror, and animation).
- Tailor your degree by choosing modules to suit your specialisation.
- Develop filmmaking skills with optional practical film modules from the second year.
- Build valuable professional experience and knowledge by taking an optional placement year – either with a company or self-employed.
- Broaden your expertise with the chance to gain industry-recognised accreditations such as ScreenSkills safety training and Adobe Certified Professional (ACP).
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Admissions
Scholarships and Funding
Curriculum
Modules
Year 1
Core modules
- Creative Reviews and Features – 20 credits
- Film, Genre and Adaptation – 20 credits
- Introduction to Media Studies – 20 credits
- Media and the Image - 20 credits
- Researching the Media – 20 credits
- Understanding Film Production – 20 credits
Year 2
Core modules
- Gender and the Media – 20 credits
- Propaganda – 20 credits
- Screen Media – 20 credits
Optional modules
- CCI Placement Plus - Full Year - 40 credits
- CCI Self-Employed Placement – Full Year – 40 credits
- CCI Work Placement – Full Year – 40 credits
- Film, Media and Communication Study Abroad - Full Year - 120 credits
- Film, Media and Communication Study Abroad - Half Year - 60 credits
- Film, Media and Performance Study Exchange – 60 credits
- Engaged Citizenship Through Interdisciplinary Practice – 20 credits
- Media Networks: Exploring Digital Culture – 20 credits
- Media, Culture and National Identity – 20 credits
- Production: Camera and Editing – 20 credits
- Production: Short Film-Making – 20 credits
- Professional Experience – 20 credits
- Researching Genre – 20 credits
- Social Issues in the Media – 20 credits
- Sport and the Media – 20 credits
- Student Enterprise – 20 credits
- Transmedia Narratives and Strategies - 20 credits
Year 3
Optional modules
- Celebrity and Society – 20 credits
- Film and Media Dissertation – 40 credits
- Practical Video Project – 40 credits
- Cultures of Consumption – 20 credits
- Media Fan Cultures – 20 credits
- News, War and Peace – 20 credits
- Representing Science in the Media – 20 credits
- Researching Animation – 20 credits
- Studying Comedy – 20 credits
- TV Talk Shows – 20 credits
Placement year (optional)
Between your second and third years, you can complete an optional work placement to gain professional experience and enhance your skills. It's also a great incentive for employers once you graduate.
You can work for a company, organisation or agency, or you can go self-employed and start your own business with fellow students or by yourself.
Whatever you decide – or even if you just want some employability advice – our exclusive Creative Careers team can support you every step of the way.
Placement areas
Previous students have done placement in areas such as:
- Digital Marketing
- Social media
Placement destinations
Previous students have interned at big companies, including:
- Sky
- ITV
- Panasonic
- NBC Universal
- Disney
- St James Place Wealth Management
Career Opportunities
The communication, research, writing, and critical thinking skills you learn in this media studies degree will be essential for employers within and outside the media industry.
You can also continue your studies at the postgraduate level. Many of our graduates pursue Master's and Doctorates, with a number of them taking further teacher training to work in education.
Graduate areas
Previous media studies graduates have gone on to work in areas such as:
- media research
- digital specialisms (e.g. website design and creation)
- public relations and marketing
- journalism
- publishing
- new media development
- film production
- film and TV companies
Graduate roles
Job roles our graduates have taken on include:
- teacher
- media research assistant
- marketing assistant
- production manager
- sound and vision engineer
- film/video producer
- advertising journalist
- assistant publicist
- PR and communications officer
Graduate destinations
Some of our alumni have gone on to work for big names such as:
- BBC
- Warner Bros
- Universal Pictures International
- Mitchells & Butlers
- Lush Cosmetics
Ongoing careers support
Get experience while you study, with support to find part-time jobs, volunteering opportunities, and work experience. You can also venture into freelancing or set up and run your own business with help from the University Startup Team.
Towards the end of your degree and up to five years after graduation, you’ll receive one-to-one support from our Graduate Recruitment Consultancy to help you find your perfect role.
Creative Careers
Our in-faculty Creative Careers team has extensive recruitment experience and knows the creative sector well, making it easier for students to find placements within the creative industries.
They can guide you through every step of the application process, including:
- Searching for the ideal job through their database of vacancies
- Giving tips on how to write an interesting CV that will catch employers' attention, no matter the role
- Organising mock interviews, so you can hone your technique and familiarise yourself with the recruitment environment
- Writing your startup business proposal – if you're going down the self-employment route
The team will continue to give you support throughout your placement year.
Facilities
English Language Requirements
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