BA (Hons) Media Studies

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

Why choose this course?

You can choose to specialise in print or broadcast media after the first year or continue to study both.Make your degree more practical or theoretical - whatever suits you and your ambitions. All practice modules are taught by industry experts so you benefit from their experience - for instance, the radio and TV production modules are taught by people currently working in the industries. You'll have the opportunity to undertake work based learning and to participate in short notice work experience in the media industries. Recent examples include BBC, ITV1, The Red Earth Theatre Company, feature films, such as Anthony Minghella's Breaking and Entering and video commissions. Assessment will be through your coursework.

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

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

Your career

Take a look at our student's work

You will have the opportunity to gain work experience during stage two and three of the course. We have established contacts with a number of independent film companies, local radio stations, and newspapers and could help you gain work experience and help further your media career.

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

Lectures, seminars, tutorials, practical workshops, research projects, work-based learning.
Elements of e-learning are under development in some modules.

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; the Derby Magistrates' Courts.

As part of the induction week this year, current students were taken to The Ritz cinema in Belper to see Somers Town. There was also an introduction to the film from Ashley Ramsden.

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 current exhibitions in London.

Work placements

You will have the opportunity to undertake assessed modules on work based learning in relation to the creative and cultural industries in years 2 and 3. Recent examples have included work on The Birmingham Post, the Tamworth Herald, The Derby Evening Telegraph, The Observer, Maxim, The Times, Dusted (University of Derby Student Magazine), BBC Watchdog, The Jeremy Kyle Show (ITV1), PriceBusters TV, Reed Publishing, Derwent Community Radio, Radio Derby, University of Derby Radio and Hallam FM.

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.