BA (Hons) Media Studies
Course
options
Key Details
- Award
- Degree of Bachelor of Arts
- UCAS Course Code
- P300
- Course Length
- 3 years
- Course Start Date
- September 2025
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Why you should choose us
89%
Of graduates go on to work and/or study within 15 months after the course
Graduate Outcome Survey 2020Course Overview
Media shapes our lives, today more than ever before. It makes celebrity, fame and fortune. It’s also a force of persuasion and power—a place of information and misinformation. Your degree in Media Studies will help you to understand, interpret, and shape our complex world. Whether you’re aiming for a career in the media and creative industries or not, this is a subject that will prepare you for the workplace of the twenty-first century. Whatever direction you choose in life, your studies will equip you with the knowledge, critical skills, technical insights, and experience you need to achieve your ambitions.
In your Media Studies course, you'll explore a range of media supported all the way by our friendly and approachable, world-leading scholars and creative practitioners. You'll also engage with important concepts, theories, and approaches within the discipline. Throughout, you'll develop the skills involved in media production. This could be in film or TV production, podcasting, radio or other digital media forms.
Our dedicated resource for digital creativity, known as BLOC, offers state-of-the-art media technologies. This will support your learning and allow you to explore various media tools. You'll also have the chance to gain real-world experience as our internship scheme provides an opportunity to work and network with industry professionals. Previous students have interned at local media production companies, as well as at the Eastern Anglian Film Archive.
Across the degree, you'll also develop many transferable skills. These include advanced research skills, effective communication, teamwork, leadership, and self-management. These skills will equip you for a wide range of career opportunities in the media industries and beyond. In the past, our graduates have gone on to success as film industry executives, producers, media managers, creative directors, and other related fields such as film heritage, for example. We look forward to welcoming you into our media program and helping you achieve your goals in this dynamic and exciting field.
Placement Year and Study Abroad
You’ll have the option to add an international dimension to your studies by applying to spend a semester studying abroad in your second year. For further details, visit the Study Abroad section of our website.
Study and Modules
Structure
In the first year, you’ll be introduced to major debates, theories and thinkers in media studies, providing you with the foundational knowledge needed to progress with confidence into the more specialist modules of years two and three. Modules in this first year will introduce you to some of the core characteristics of the media industries. You’ll consider the material, social and institutional contexts in which media forms have been produced and explore the technologies and platforms driving digital media. As well as exploring audio-visual and audio formats ranging from television to podcasts, you’ll learn how to analyse and think about media representations. Alongside your journey through these subject areas, you’ll develop key skills needed to analyse a range of media forms and be encouraged to develop and apply your critical voice as a researcher and writer.
Compulsory Modules
Whilst the University will make every effort to offer the modules listed, changes may sometimes be made arising from the annual monitoring, review and update of modules. Where this activity leads to significant (but not minor) changes to programmes and their constituent modules, the University will endeavour to consult with students and others. It is also possible that the University may not be able to offer a module for reasons outside of its control, such as the illness of a member of staff. In some cases optional modules can have limited places available and so you may be asked to make additional module choices in the event you do not gain a place on your first choice. Where this is the case, the University will inform students.
Teaching and Learning
In addition to timetabled lectures and seminars, teaching staff hold dedicated office hours where students can seek advice and guidance on a one-to-one basis. You’ll also be assigned an academic adviser who can support you through your studies.
In your first year, you’ll acquire skills vital to independent learning and develop the analytical skills which you’ll need throughout your course. You’ll have access to dedicated sessions designed to help you make the most of UEA’s state-of-the-art library facilities. Through these sessions and your academic modules, you’ll develop skills in finding resources and critically assessing sources. You’ll be given opportunities to practice essay writing and presentation skills as well as working in groups to develop the skills necessary for effective collaboration.
Assessment
Throughout the degree, you’ll be assessed in a variety of ways, from essays to presentations and group work. In the first year, assessment largely focuses on ensuring you have the key critical and analytical skills needed to work more independently in your second year.
Structure
In the second year, you’ll deepen your knowledge, with modules looking in greater detail at areas such as digital media, exploring different facets of media industries or developing your research skills. At this stage in your degree, you’ve the freedom to begin to specialise in areas that excite you the most, perhaps exploring media practice through film or television studio production, investigating media’s role in society relation to identity. In this year you’ll also have the opportunity to complete an internship. Previous students have undertaken placements with local radio stations, television production companies and the East Anglian Film Archive among others.
Compulsory Modules
Optional A Modules
(Credits: 20)Optional B Modules
(Credits: 60)Whilst the University will make every effort to offer the modules listed, changes may sometimes be made arising from the annual monitoring, review and update of modules. Where this activity leads to significant (but not minor) changes to programmes and their constituent modules, the University will endeavour to consult with students and others. It is also possible that the University may not be able to offer a module for reasons outside of its control, such as the illness of a member of staff. In some cases optional modules can have limited places available and so you may be asked to make additional module choices in the event you do not gain a place on your first choice. Where this is the case, the University will inform students.
Teaching and Learning
In your second year, you’ll develop as a self-motivated researcher and independent creative thinker. The second year offers a wider range of learning and teaching methods from teacher-led surveys to student-centred practice or scaffolded independent study.
Assessment
In addition to practical and critical skills assessments, by the end of your second year, your assessment will have prepared you for independent research.
Structure
This year allows you to specialise further and develop your research skills in our dissertation module which includes a period of supervised independent study. You may also choose from optional modules that are taught by our world-leading academics and cover topics such as science fiction, gender, digital media, or adaptation, for example.
Compulsory Modules
Optional A Modules
(Credits: 30)Optional B Modules
(Credits: 60)Whilst the University will make every effort to offer the modules listed, changes may sometimes be made arising from the annual monitoring, review and update of modules. Where this activity leads to significant (but not minor) changes to programmes and their constituent modules, the University will endeavour to consult with students and others. It is also possible that the University may not be able to offer a module for reasons outside of its control, such as the illness of a member of staff. In some cases optional modules can have limited places available and so you may be asked to make additional module choices in the event you do not gain a place on your first choice. Where this is the case, the University will inform students.
Teaching and Learning
In your final year, the focus is on realising your potential. You’ll have the opportunity to write a dissertation on a topic of your choice under the supervision of one of our experts. The emphasis in the final year is on taking the skills you’ve learned and applying them to topics you’re interested in.
Assessment
In the final year, you’ll also have the opportunity to work closely with an expert supervisor in completing a dissertation on a topic of your own devising.
Employability
After the Course
You’ll graduate with the skills required to find work in the creative industries, both in the UK and elsewhere in the world. You could enter broadcasting, social media, public relations or a content agency. Alternatively, you could continue your academic passion with postgraduate study at UEA.
Careers
Examples of careers you could enter include:
- Social media
- Publicity officers
- Radio
- Television production
- Journalism
- Publishing (books, magazines, newspapers)
Discover more on our Careers webpages.
Entry Requirements
- This course is open to
UK and International fee-paying students. Choose UK or International above to see relevant information. The entry point is in September each year.
We welcome and value a wide range of qualifications, and we recognise that some students might take a mixture of different qualifications. We have listed typical examples that we accept for entry.
You should hold or be working towards the specified English and Mathematics requirements and one of the examples of typical entry qualifications listed below. If your qualifications aren’t listed, or if you are taking a combination of qualifications that isn’t specified, please contact Admissions.
- English and Mathematics
All applicants must hold or be working towards GCSEs in English Language and Mathematics at minimum grade 4 or grade C.
In place of Mathematics GCSE we can also consider Functional Skills Level 2 Mathematics.
We accept a wide range of English Language qualifications, please see our English Language equivalencies page.
- Contextual Offers
UEA are committed to ensuring that Higher Education is accessible to all, regardless of their background or experiences. One of the ways we do this is through our contextual admissions schemes.
- Typical UK Entry Requirements
A levels
ABB
Contextual offer: BBC
BTEC
Level 3 Extended Diploma: DDM
Contextual offer: DMM
Combinations of BTEC and A levels
Extended Diploma: DDM
Contextual: DMM
Diploma: DD plus B at A level.
Contextual: DD plus C at A level.
Extended Certificate: D plus BB at A level.
Contextual: D plus BC at A level.
BTEC in Public Services, Uniformed Services and Business Administration are all excluded from our BTEC offers
Access to HE Diploma
Access to Humanities and Social Sciences Pathway. Pass Access to HE Diploma with Distinction in 30 credits at Level 3 and Merit in 15 credits at Level 3
T levels
Obtain an overall Pass including an B in the core of the T Level and a Distinction in the Occupational Specialism.Any subject is acceptable.
Foundation Year options:
If you do not meet the academic requirements for direct entry, you may be interested in one of our Foundation Year programmes such as - Media Studies with a Foundation Year.
- Further Examples of Typical Entry Requirements
International Baccalaureate
32 points overall
Irish Leaving Certificate
3 subjects at H2, 3 subjects at H3
Scottish Highers
AAABB
Scottish Advanced Highers
BCC. A combination of Advanced Highers and Highers may be acceptable
- Deferred Entry
We welcome applications from students who have already taken or intend to take a gap year. We believe that a year between school and university can be of substantial benefit. You are advised to indicate your reason for wishing to defer entry on your UCAS application.
- Admissions Policy
Our Admissions Policy applies to the admissions of all undergraduate applicants.
- This course is open to
UK and International fee-paying students. Choose UK or International above to see relevant information. The entry point is in September each year.
We welcome and value a wide range of qualifications, and we recognise that some students might take a mixture of different qualifications. We have listed typical examples that we accept for entry.
You should hold or be working towards the specified English and Mathematics requirements and one of the examples of typical entry qualifications listed below. If your qualifications aren’t listed, or if you are taking a combination of qualifications that isn’t specified, please contact Admissions.
- English and Mathematics
All applicants must hold or be working towards GCSEs in English Language and Mathematics at minimum grade 4 or grade C.
In place of Mathematics GCSE we can also consider Functional Skills Level 2 Mathematics.
We accept a wide range of English Language qualifications, please see our English Language equivalencies page.
- Typical International Entry Requirements
We accept many international qualifications for entry to this course. For specific details about your country, view our information for International Students.
A levels
ABB
BTEC
Level 3 Extended Diploma: DDM
Combinations of BTEC and A levels
Extended Diploma: DDM
Diploma: DD plus B at A level.
Extended Certificate: D plus BB at A level.
BTEC in Public Services, Uniformed Services and Business Administration are all excluded from our BTEC offers
International Baccalaureate
32 points overall
- INTO UEA
If you do not meet the academic and/or English language requirements for direct entry our partner, INTO UEA offers progression on to this undergraduate degree upon successful completion of a preparation programme. Depending on your interests, and your qualifications you can take a variety of routes to this degree.
- English Foreign Language
Applications from students whose first language is not English are welcome. We require evidence of proficiency in English (including writing, speaking, listening and reading):
-
IELTS: 6.0 overall (minimum 5.5 in all components)
We also accept a number of other English language tests. Review our English Language Equivalencies for a list of example qualifications that we may accept to meet this requirement.
Test dates should be within two years of the course start date.
If you do not yet meet the English language requirements for this course, INTO UEA offer a variety of English language programmes which are designed to help you develop the English skills necessary for successful undergraduate study.
-
- Deferred Entry
We welcome applications from students who have already taken or intend to take a gap year. We believe that a year between school and university can be of substantial benefit. You are advised to indicate your reason for wishing to defer entry on your UCAS application.
- Admissions Policy
Our Admissions Policy applies to the admissions of all undergraduate applicants.
Fees and Funding
Tuition Fees
View our information for Tuition Fees.
Scholarships and Bursaries
We are committed to ensuring that costs do not act as a barrier to those aspiring to come to a world leading university and have developed a funding package to reward those with excellent qualifications and assist those from lower income backgrounds. View our range of Scholarships for eligibility, details of how to apply and closing dates.
Course Related Costs
Please see Additional Course Fees for details of other course-related costs.
How to Apply
UCAS Hub is a secure online application system that allows you to apply for full-time undergraduate courses at universities and colleges in the United Kingdom.
Your application does not have to be completed all at once. Register or sign in to UCAS to get started.
Once you submit your completed application, UCAS will process it and send it to your chosen universities and colleges.
The Institution code for the University of East Anglia is E14.
View our guide to applying through UCAS for useful tips, key dates and further information: