What do universities think about A-level media studies?
Media studies. A great introduction for a future career in media or communications? Or a subject some universities aren’t too keen on?
There’s never a shortage of rumours about A-level media studies flying around the common room. To get to the bottom of it, we asked a selection of universities how they view applicants with A-level media studies…
Do universities accept A-level media studies?
Exeter and Portsmouth - yes
Note: 8% of English studies students at the University of Exeter in 2012 studied A-level media studies, according to BestCourse4Me.
Note: 21% of English studies students at the University of Portsmouth in 2012 studied A-level media studies, according to BestCourse4Me.
Nottingham and Manchester – yes, but combine with ‘traditional’ subjects
There is a debate about what constitutes ‘academic content’, but be aware that A-level media studies does include practical elements.
Getting into the media industry
As with the rest of your A-level subject choices, you should choose A-level media studies because you think it’s a subject you’ll enjoy and will play to your strengths – but you don’t need to study it in order to pursue a media-related degree course such as journalism, media studies, PR or communications.
It might also be wise to combine media studies with two or more of the traditional subjects looked upon favourably by top universities, such as English, history or a modern language. This will keep your options open later on, when it comes to choosing courses and universities.
Next:
- What universities think about A-level general studies and A-level law.
- Six things you need to know before making your final choices
