BA Media Studies

The 2012 Complete University Guide has ranked us second in the UK for Communications and Media Studies. The scoring is based on student satisfaction, entry standards, research and graduate prospects, which demonstrates that not only do our degree courses reflect the interests of the students, but the needs of employers too. Media Studies is an interdisciplinary degree programme which brings together theoretical and practical approaches to the study of contemporary media. Read More...

Year 1

During your first year the core elements of the programme introduce you to the media industries, the relationships between media and society, and a range of tools and approaches you can use to explore the media. A range of media are explored, including television, cinema, new media, and popular music. A core module examines what it is like to work in the media, making links between your studies and the media industries.

Year 2

There are a range of practical modules available to you, such as screenwriting, video production and television studio production. A compulsory module outlines a range of theoretical and practical research methods, to prepare you for your dissertation and other independent research work in the third year. We also offer a competitive Media Industries Internship module where you can work with a local industry partner. Many other options are also available, covering a range of media, including popular music, and looking at media texts in their national and historical contexts. You can also take modules from other Schools, such as Literature, Philosophy and Creative Writing.

Year 2 also allows you to take two modules of “Defined Choice.” Defined Choice options lists include School of Film and Television Studies modules, but also the broadest possible range of modules relevant to your degree, selected for you in order to help you broaden your intellectual horizons. Therefore, Defined Choice enables you to take further Film and Television Studies modules, or to experiment with new subjects, approaches and ideas, or to take a year of language modules. Your personal tutor will work with you to help you make these and other module choice decisions.

Year 3

In your final year you will take fewer modules but study their contents in more depth. A dissertation is compulsory, and this can incorporate both theoretical and practical work. Professional Video Production and Creative Work in the Media Industries allow further production work and learning about industrial contexts of production where you can gain useful experience. Other modules explore topics such as television genres, gender and world cinema. While there are fixed points within the programme, there is also lots of opportunity for you to structure the degree to your needs and interests. The School encourages interdisciplinary work, and this allows you to create the programme best suited to you. The programme as a whole draws on modules from many schools: Film, Television and Media Studies; Political, Social and International Studies; Economics; Literature and Creative Writing; Philosophy and Law. This course has been designed to allow you to choose 50% or more of your modules in creative and production options.

Teaching and Assessment

Academic study skills, key concepts, issues and ideas are introduced in lectures and seminars throughout your studies. In Years 2 and 3 there is a greater emphasis on seminar-based modules, which allow students to have time together with tutors to discuss new topics. You will spend time studying and researching in the library and you are also likely to spend time on creative work or projects.

Assessment types vary, but it is normal for students to undertake creative production projects, research essays, projects, examinations and presentations across their degrees. Assessments usually take place during and on the completion of modules. In your final year, you will also write a dissertation on a topic of your choosing and with the advice of tutors. There is no final examination. Your final degree result is determined by the marks you receive in years two and three.

All students joining degrees in the School of Film, Television and Media Studies would find it helpful to read Timothy Corrigan's A Short Guide to Writing about Film, (2010, 7th Edition, New York: Longman) over the summer prior to joining the University of East Anglia.

Course Organiser:Dr. Rayna Denison

• Undergraduate
  • Search Undergraduate Degrees
  • Apply
  • Fees & Funding
  • Request a prospectus
  • Visit Us
  • Mature Students
  • Parents and Family
  • Sixth Form Students
  • Year 7-11 Students
  • Teachers
• Postgraduate
• International Students
• International Preparatory Courses
• Study Abroad
• Information for New Students
• myUEA

Entry Requirements Qualification: BA (Hons) A Level: AAB-ABB International Baccalaureate: 33-32 Scottish Highers: Must have at least one Advanced Higher Scottish Advanced Highers: AAB-ABB Irish Leaving Certificate: AAAABB - AABBBB Access Course: Please contact the university for further information HND: Please contact the university for further information European Baccalaureate: 80-75% Students for whom English is a Foreign language

We welcome applications from students from all academic backgrounds. We require evidence of proficiency in English (including writing, speaking, listening and reading). Recognised English Language qualifications include:

• IELTS: 6.5 overall (minimum 6.5 Writing with no less than 6.0 in any component)
• TOEFL: Internet-based score of 92 overall (minimum 21 in Speaking component, 21 in Writing component, 20 in Reading component and 18 in Listening components.
• PTE: 62 overall (minimum 62 Writing component with no less than 55 in any component).

If you do not meet the University's entry requirements, our INTO Language Learning Centre offers a range of university preparation courses to help you develop the high level of academic and English skills necessary for successful undergraduate study.

Interviews

The majority of candidates will not be called for an interview. However, for some students an interview will be requested. These are normally quite informal and generally cover topics such as your current studies, reasons for choosing the course and your personal interests and extra-curricular activities.

Students will have the opportunity to meet with an academic individually on a Visit Day in order to gain a deeper insight into the course(s) you have applied for.

Gap Year

We welcome applications from students who have already taken or intend to take a gap year.

Deferred Entry - We welcome applications for deferred entry, believing that a year between school and university can be of substantial benefit. You are advised to indicate your reason for wishing to defer entry and may wish to contact the appropriate Admissions Office directly to discuss this further.

Intakes

The School's annual intake is in September of each year.

Alternative Qualifications

If you have alternative qualifications that have not been mentioned above, then please contact the University directly for further information.

GCSE Offer

Students are required to have GCSE Mathematics and GCSE English Language at Grade C or above.

Assessment

For the majority of candidates the most important factors in assessing the application will be past and future achievement in examinations, academic interest in the subject being applied for, personal interest and extra-curricular activities and the confidential reference.

We consider applicants as individuals and accept students from a very wide range of educational backgrounds and spend time considering your application in order to reach an informed decision relating to your application. Typical offers are indicated above. Please note, there may be additional subject entry requirements specific to individual degree courses.

UEA was one of the first British universities to develop the study of cinema and television.

The Student Experience Survey ranks UEA third in the country - two places higher than last year's result and overtaking both Oxford and Cambridge... Read More >

We have 12 dedicated members of academic staff, with several more colleagues contributing on a part-time basis. More than 40 graduates of the MA and PhD programmes hold teaching posts at universities in the UK and elsewhere. In the most recent quality assessments by the High Education Funding Council, teaching at undergraduate and postgraduate level was adjudged excellent (with a score of 23 out of a possible 24) and our research was placed in the top three of UK institutions.

Each year, some 60 undergraduates are registered for one of the Film and Television Studies degrees (BA Media Studies, BA Film and English Studies, BA Film and American Studies and BA Film and Television Studies). Teaching deals mainly with the history and current shape of British and American cinema and television and with film theory and criticism. We also run modules on other world cinemas and on television, video and film production. The BA degrees in Film and English Studies and Film and American Studies are interdisciplinary, with Film or Television Studies taking up between a half and two thirds of the course. The BA in Film and American Studies is a four year course with the third year spent studying at a university in the USA or Australia.

We have hosted a number of very successful events in recent years, including major conferences on British cinema (1988), Buffy the Vampire Slayer (2002), Post-Feminism and popular culture (2004), Going Cheap: Female Celebrity in the Tabloid, Reality and Scandal Genres (2008), and the Anglia TV and the History of ITV conference (2008).

To find out more about why we think you should choose our degree programmes, please follow the links below:

Why Study in the School

What Our Students Say

UniStats Information Fees and Funding University Fees and Financial Support: UK/EU Students

Further information on fees and funding for 2012 can be found here

University Fees and Financial Support: International Students

The University will be charging International students £11,700.00 for all full time School of Film, Television and Media Studies undergraduate programmes which start in 2012.

Please click to access further information about fees and funding for International students.