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Media Studies at University of Portsmouth - UCAS

Course options

There are other course options available which may have a different vacancy status or entry requirements – view the full list of options

Course summary

This is a Connected Degree Portsmouth is the only University in the UK with the flexibility to choose when to do an optional paid placement or self-employed year. Either take a placement in your third year, or finish your studies first and complete a placement in your fourth year. You can decide if and when to take a placement after you've started your course. Overview 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 and 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 own 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 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 Associate (ACA)
Careers and opportunities The communication, research, writing and critical thinking skills you learn on this media studies degree will be essential for employers within and outside the media industry. You can also continue your studies at 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
When you finish the course, our Careers and Employability service can help you find a job that puts your skills to work in the industry. After you leave the University, you can get help, advice and support for up to 5 years as you advance in your career.

Modules

Year 1 Core modules in this year include:

  • Global Screens (20 credits)
  • Introduction to Media Studies (20 credits)
  • Screen Debates (20 credits)
  • Screen Research (20 credits)
  • Understanding Film Production (20 credits)
  • Writing for the Film and Tv Industries (20 credits)
There are no optional modules in this year. Year 2 Core modules in this year include:
  • Propaganda (20 credits)
  • Transmedia Narratives and Strategies (20 credits)
Optional modules in this year currently include:
  • Broadcast Radio and Podcasting (20 credits)
  • Comic Book Industries (20 credits)
  • Engaged Citizenship Through Interdisciplinary Practice (20 credits)
  • Film and Ethics (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)
  • Screen Media (20 credits)
  • Social Issues in the Media (20 credits)
  • Student Enterprise (20 credits)
  • World and Transnational Cinema (20 credits)
Year 3 Optional modules in this year currently include:
  • Celebrity and Society (20 credits)
  • Cultures of Consumption (20 credits)
  • Film and Media Dissertation (40 credits)
  • Media Fan Cultures (20 credits)
  • News, War and Peace (20 credits)
  • Practical Video Project (40 credits)
  • Representing Science in the Media (20 credits)
  • Researching Animation (20 credits)
  • Self Promotion (20 credits)
  • Studying Comedy (20 credits)
Placement year (optional) On this course, you can do an optional work placement year after your 2nd or 3rd year to get valuable experience working in industry. We’ll help you secure a work placement that fits your situation and ambitions. You’ll get mentoring and support throughout the year. We use the best and most current research and professional practice alongside feedback from our students to make sure course content is relevant to your future career or further studies. Therefore, some course content may change over time to reflect changes in the discipline or industry and some optional modules may not run every year. If a module doesn’t run, we’ll let you know as soon as possible and help you choose an alternative module.

Assessment method

You’ll be assessed through:

  • essays
  • presentations
  • scripts
  • video productions
  • programme proposal/pitch
  • reviews and features
  • reports/magazine features
  • examinations
  • dissertation/project
You’ll be able to test your skills and knowledge informally before you do assessments that count towards your final mark. You can get feedback on all practice and formal assessments so you can improve in the future. The way you’re assessed may depend on the modules you select. As a guide, students on this course last year were typically assessed as follows:
  • Year 1 students: 20% by practical exams and 80% by coursework
  • Year 2 students: 12% by practical exams and 88% by coursework
- Year 3 students: 13% by practical exams and 87% by coursework


How to apply

Application codes

Course code:
P300
Institution code:
P80
Campus name:
Main Site
Campus code:
-

Points of entry

The following entry points are available for this course:

  • Year 1
  • Year 2
  • Year 3

Entry requirements for advanced entry (i.e. into Year 2 and beyond)

We welcome applications for advanced entry. If you’d like to apply for advanced entry, you need to select the required year when you complete your UCAS application.

This course may be available at alternative locations, please check if other course options are available

Entry requirements

Qualification requirements


English language requirements

TestGradeAdditional details
IELTS (Academic)6English language proficiency at a minimum of IELTS band 6.0 with no component score below 5.5.
PTE Academic54An overall score of 54 with a minimum of 51 in each skill.
TOEFL (iBT)7979 with a minimum of 18 in Reading, 17 in Listening, 20 in Speaking and 17 in Writing.
Cambridge English AdvancedCambridge English: Advanced (CAE) taken after January 2015. An overall score of 169 with no component score less than 162.
Cambridge English ProficiencyCambridge English: Proficiency (CPE) taken after January 2015. An overall score of 169 with no component score less than 162.
Trinity ISEPassTrinity College Integrated Skills in English (ISE) Level III with a Pass in all 4 components

Student Outcomes

Operated by the Office for Students
70%
Employment after 15 months (Most common jobs)
95%
Go onto work and study

The number of student respondents and response rates can be important in interpreting the data – it is important to note your experience may be different from theirs. This data will be based on the subject area rather than the specific course. Read more about this data on the Discover Uni website.

Fees and funding

Tuition fees

EU £9535 Year 1
England £9535 Year 1
Northern Ireland £9535 Year 1
Scotland £9535 Year 1
Wales £9535 Year 1
Channel Islands £9535 Year 1
Republic of Ireland £9535 Year 1
International £17200 Year 1

Tuition fee status depends on a number of criteria and varies according to where in the UK you will study. For further guidance on the criteria for home or overseas tuition fees, please refer to the UKCISA website .

Additional fee information

Students who are resident in EU countries: please note that the net fee is inclusive of the Transition Scholarship Placement Year and Year abroad (at the time of publishing for 2024/25): UK/Channel Islands and Isle of Man students – £1,385 EU – £1,385 (including Transition Scholarship) International (Non-EU) – £2,875. Fees are accurate at the time of publishing and are subject to change at any time without notice. All fees are subject to annual increase. For more information about fees, go to port.ac.uk/study/undergraduate/undergraduate-fees-and-student-finance/tuition-fees-living-costs-and-other-study-costs
Media Studies at University of Portsmouth - UCAS