BA (Hons) Media Studies

When can you start this course? | UCAS code | Fees | Course length | Entry requirements

Why choose this course?

You can gain vital experience on a work placement. Find out more.

We're an accredited centre for Digidesign Pro Tools, the industry standard recording and editing software that's used worldwide, so you'll get relevant practical experience that will give you a real advantage when you're looking for a job.

All our courses are taught by active researchers and practitioners, who will inspire and challenge you and help you to get the most out of your studies. The staff who teach the theoretical courses and modules have all published, and those who deliver the practical components have first hand experience of working in the media industries.

You'll have the opportunity to gain valuable experience on a work placement during stages two and three. We have established contacts with a number of independent film companies, local radio stations and newspapers, which could help you to gain work experience and further your media career.

About the course

This course will introduce you to the study and practice of a range of media forms and institutions. It focuses on how media engages with society, with practice based modules encouraging your creativity and understanding of the shaping of media products.

You'll develop a high level of media literacy and an understanding of forms of media power and manipulation.

During stage one you will be introduced to a range of theoretical and methodological approaches in the study of the media, including theories of language and meaning, audience based research and the historical contextualisation of media forms and institutions. You will also study practice based modules covering television, radio and print and digital production.

You will also be able to choose optional modules that explore a range of media and texts that suit your interests. As well as optional modules covering topics such as documentary, American cinema, television production and digital publishing, you'll also complete the Independent Study, a research project on a topic of your choice, during stage three. You also have the option to take further work experience.

Find out more about what subjects and modules you'll be studying...

Your career

Theory modules are taught at Kedleston Road, at the heart of our Derby campus. Take the video tour.

Careers talks are arranged each year and former students have gone on to work in TV researching, film and TV production, public relations, marketing, film archiving, radio presenting or production and newspapers. Others used their degree for higher level entry into, for example, the civil service, public relations, charity management, customer services, further education or teaching.

How you'll learn

Fieldtrips

Trips have been arranged to the London Film Festival; the National Museum for Photography, Film and Television, Bradford; the Alexandra Palace Television Society; the Derby Telegraph and the Derby Magistrates' Courts.

Students have also been taken to The Tate Britain and The Southbank Centre as part of a module titled Art and Artists on Screen. In the module they study media representations of art and artists and the two case studies included Francis Bacon and Andy Warhol to coincide with exhibitions in London.

Start dates

If you're from the UK or EU you can apply to study this course in:

September 2012

If you're from a country outside the EU you can apply to study this course full time in:

September 2012

UCAS code

UCAS code: P300 - for full-time September start.

If you aren't a full-time September starter please apply directly at www.derby.ac.uk/applyonline using course code P302.

Fees

This is a resource intensive course.

UK/EU students

Full time: £7,495 (each year)
Part time: £935 per module (you usually take 18 of these modules in total).

International students

Full time: £9,975 (each year)

*These fees apply if you're starting this course between September 2012 and August 2013. We recommend you check fee details with us though, as they can change. Costs can increase each year.