BA (Hons) Media Studies with a Year Abroad
Key Details
- Award
- Degree of Bachelor of Arts
- UCAS Course Code
- P30A
- Typical Offer
- ABB
- Contextual Offer
- BBC
- Course Length
- 4 years
- Course Start Date
- September 2027
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Course Overview
Why BA Media Studies with a Year Abroad at UEA?
Digital Storyteller? Content-creator? Ideas generator? Launch your future with UEA Media Studies at the heart of Norwich’s creative hub.
Why choose UEA?
- Learning by doing: Apply your understanding to real-life briefs and create multi-platform responses
- Media in Practice: Attend film festivals and events. Work with our industry partners Studying Media at UEA is full of opportunities to put your knowledge and skills into practice.
- Professional creativity: Use modern equipment and spaces for your projects. Our in-school technical team are multi-platform specialists
What is Media Studies with a Year Abroad?
Media Studies with a year abroad at UEA focuses on communication, curiosity, and creativity. You’ll be encouraged to explore media from new and diverse perspectives.
From day one, you’ll develop strong analytical and theoretical skills. These help you understand how media shapes culture and society.
You’ll build creative and practical experience across media, understanding their connections and how they operate today.
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Year Abroad
This four-year version of the course gives you the opportunity to spend the third year of your degree studying with one of UEA's many partner institutions across the globe, which offers teaching in your subject and in English. Destinations range from Japan to Hong Kong, Australia, Europe, Latin America, and Canada and the USA. Studying Abroad gives you the opportunity to broaden your academic and social horizons, giving you opportunities to develop your confidence and communication skills, while bringing a unique element to your CV that’ll help you stand out to prospective employers. Availability at our partner institutions does vary from year to year and we always recommend you bring an open mind about your destination preference. You'll also need to meet certain academic progression requirements (scoring an aggregate of 55% in your first- and second-year assessments). If for this or for any other reason you were to decide you were unable to spend your third year abroad, you can transfer to a three-year version of your degree at any time.
For further details, visit the study abroad section of our website.
Careers
Career Pathways
With a BA Media Studies with a Year Abroad degree, you could launch a career in:
- Social media content creation: Every company needs it! On our course you’ll learn what goes into planning, producing, and creating engaging digital content. You’ll know how to build audiences, promote brands, and communicate messages across social platforms
- Broadcast research: Our degree means you know your audience research and how to talk to people
- Brand management: Over your degree, you'll have mastered the skills to turn information into engagement, making brand management an ideal career choice
- Communications and PR: Executives rely on the combination of creativity and critical thinking that you develop with multiple assessments
- Digital marketing: a constantly growing sector, and our degree equips you with the practical expertise, creative knowledge, and skills you need to pursue this as a career destination
Career Support
From Working With Words to the Media, Language and Communication Studies Industry Week, students on our Media Studies degree benefit from a wide range of school–generated careers and networking events. In addition to this, our assessments are skills-forward, ensuring that our courses create an environment in which students gain the knowledge, understanding, and aptitude for the contemporary media and creative industries.
After the Course
Students from our Media Studies with a Year Abroad degree go on to successful careers across the media and creative industries.
Graduates work in roles including BBC editorial teams, digital content creation, marketing, PR, and branding for international organisations.
UEA supports you with specialist careers guidance, helping you build confidence and achieve your professional ambitions.
Study and Modules
Structure
In your first year, you’ll build a strong foundation in media theory, industry debates, and how media is produced and shaped.
You’ll explore digital platforms and formats from TV to podcasts, while building the core analytical, creative, and professional skills that will take you through the rest of your degree and beyond.
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.
Structure
In your second year, you’ll build your expertise in digital media and media industries while shaping your studies around what interests you most. You can choose more practical, production-focused modules, take a multimedia approach, or explore themes such as audiences and digital cultures in global contexts.
You’ll have the flexibility to combine different pathways, helping you tailor your degree to your interests and career goals. This year also offers the opportunity to complete a placement, gaining valuable real-world experience alongside your studies.
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.
Structure
On this course, you'll spend your third year studying abroad at one of our many partner institutions across the globe. This is a brilliant opportunity to experience living in another country, see how your subject and others are studied there, develop greater confidence and enhanced communication skills, and gain experiences that will help your CV stand out to employers.
Check out our Study Abroad pages to learn more.
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.
Structure
The final year is where you can make the connections that most interest you. In the first semester you’re supported in developing your final degree project, which is self-defined and can be multi-media. Alongside this, advanced modules help you explore key debates shaping media, culture, and society. Throughout the year, you’ll deepen your knowledge and prepare confidently for careers in the media and creative industries.
Compulsory Modules
Optional A Modules
(Credits: 40)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, and Assessment
Teaching and Learning
Collaborative learning and seminars are central to the course, supporting your knowledge and professional skills. Tutorials, labs, and projects connect your learning to real-world media practice.
Progressive, scaffolded approaches equip you with strong analytical, critical, creative, design and problem-solving capabilities through teamwork and communication skills.
In first year, you’ll explore core principles of digital media industries in a global context.
Collaborative seminars and workshops apply your learning to real-world challenges.
Building on your progress from the first year, you’ll deepen your study of media and culture exploring debates about how digital media and communication technologies create new ways of producing, sharing, and taking part in media. Modules give you the chance to experience digital media production as well as opportunities to learn the techniques used by the media and cultural industries to engage with and understand their audiences.
You'll spend your third year studying abroad at one of our many partner institutions across the globe. This is a brilliant opportunity to experience living in another country to see how your subject and others are studied there, develop greater confidence and enhanced communication skills, and gaining experiences that will help your CV stand out to employers.
Check out our Study Abroad pages to learn more.
Your final year focuses on preparing you professionally and intellectually for your onward journey. In your first semester you’re supported in developing your final year projects in whatever forms they take, and you'll hone the key presentation and graduate skills required for the media industries. You have the opportunity to design a major final project that can combine academic research with creative or multimedia practice. You may also plan events, work collaboratively, or interview professionals to explore careers you’re interested in after graduation.
Assessment
A range of assessments are embedded throughout year one including presentations, critical reviews, and digital portfolios. The aim of this is to support you as you develop your knowledge, understanding, and key skills. Because we want you to explore, your first-year grade doesn’t count towards your final classification.
You can expect a step-up in the demands of your second-year assessments. From industry-focused tasks such as planning a social media campaign or undertaking specific audience research, to projects that utilise your critical and creative skills in collaborative multi-media projects, your assessments are designed to stretch and demonstrate your developing understanding.
Assessment is shaped by your interests, giving you more independence to define the focus of your projects and coursework.
You have the freedom to choose whether you want to do a dissertation, a final year project, or a combination of modular projects.
Assessments may include written, creative, or practice-based work focussed on different media, issues or global contexts.
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(opens in a new window) 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(opens in a new window).
- Typical UK Entry Requirements
A levels
ABB
Contextual offer: BBC
BTEC
Level 3 Extended Diploma: DDM
Contextual offer: DMM
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.
Contextual offer: Pass Access to HE Diploma with Merit in 30 credits at Level 3 and Pass in 15 credits at Level 3.
T levels
Merit
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.
- 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 or above.
A combination of Advanced Highers and Highers may be acceptable.
Scottish Advanced Highers
BCC or above.
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.
- Progression
Once enrolled onto a course at UEA, your progression and continuation (which may include eligibility for study abroad, overseas experience, placement, or year in industry opportunities) is contingent on meeting the assessment requirements which are relevant to the course on which you are enrolled.
- 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(opens in a new window) 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(opens in a new window).
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
- UEA International Study Centre
If you do not meet the academic and/or English language requirements for direct entry our partner, UEA International Study Centre 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):
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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(opens in a new window) 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 meet the academic and/or English language requirements for direct entry our partner, UEA International Study Centre offers progression on to this undergraduate degree upon successful completion of a preparation programme
-
- 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.
- Progression
Once enrolled onto a course at UEA, your progression and continuation (which may include eligibility for study abroad, overseas experience, placement, or year in industry opportunities) is contingent on meeting the assessment requirements which are relevant to the course on which you are enrolled.
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Fees and Funding
Tuition fees for the Academic Year 2027/28 are:
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UK Students: £10,050
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International Students: £24,250
We estimate living expenses at £1,171 per month.
Further Information on tuition fees can be found here(opens in a new window).
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(opens in a new window) for eligibility, details of how to apply and closing dates.
Course Related Costs
Please see Additional Course Fees for details of 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: