Media Studies A Level

The media plays a central role in contemporary culture, society and politics. This course encourages students to critically analyse how media platforms and products can affect our perceptions of the world through the representations, ideas and points of view they offer. The constantly changing relationships between media technologies and audiences will also be explored.

Because the media provides us with ways to communicate, with forms of cultural expression and the ability to participate in key aspects of society, students will be provided with opportunities to develop skills in moving image production, audio production, image manipulation and web design.

The culmination of academic study and acquisition of practical skills will benefit many students in their future careers, because the economic importance of the media is unquestionable, with the media industries employing millions of people worldwide and generating significant global profit.

Media Studies is a good companion course to a large number of other academic or creative subjects, such as:

• English
• Film Studies
• Sociology
• History
• Politics
• Business
• Graphics
• Economics
• Psychology

Studying the media can help prepare students for careers in a range of fields, such as: TV, Film or Digital Media Production, Journalism, Marketing, Public Relations, Advertising or Events Management.

A large number of media students also progress to study media, or other related subjects, at university and this A Level prepares them appropriately for either academic or practical/production courses.

See what some of our former Media Studies students have gone on to do.

This course covers:

• Media Language: how the media, through their forms, codes, conventions and techniques, communicate meanings
• Representation: how the media portray events, issues, individuals and social groups
• Media Industries: how the media industries’ processes of production, distribution and circulation affect media forms and platforms
• Audiences: how media forms target, reach and address audiences, how audiences interpret and respond to them, and how members of audiences become producers themselves
• Media Production: how to research, plan and create media products which are suitable for specific platforms, industries and target audiences
• Contexts of Media: media products in relation to relevant key social, cultural, economic, political and historical contexts.

Course Specific Trips, Visits & Experiences

Media students have the opportunity to take part in a variety of course related experiences. In recent years, these have included:

• Talks from visiting Industry specialists about careers and opportunities in the creative
  industries
• BFI Film Academy opportunities to participate in one-day and residential courses
• Reigate College’s Film and Media Awards Evening (RAFTAs)
• A trip to New York where students had a range of experiences including a guided tour of the Museum of the Moving Image as well as the chance to see locations used in various productions
• Visits to local Media companies, Brighton Electric Studio
• Work experience opportunities where possible
• A visit to the Warner Bros. Studio tour
• Trips to the BFI in London for special study days, screenings and lectures on course
  related topics
• Chances to complete practical work “on location”

In addition to course specific experiences, students also have the opportunity to get involved in the College’s Activities Programme. Activities related to the creative industries include; Radio Production, Young Journalist, College Newspaper, Photography club, Film Club, Practical Filmmaking and many more.

All students need to gain an experience of the work place during their time at College and for students studying vocational courses it should ideally be linked to one of their subject areas.

The exam board for this A Level is Eduqas and this course is assessed through a combination of three components.

Component 1 – Media Products, Industries and Audiences

Written examination: 2 hours 15 minutes

35% of qualification

Assesses knowledge and understanding of advertising, music videos, newspapers, radio, video games and film marketing.

Component 2 – Media Forms and Products in Depth

Written examination: 2 hours 30 minutes

35% of qualification

Assesses knowledge and understanding of ‘Television in the Global Age’, ‘Magazines: Mainstream and Alternative Media’, and ‘Media in the Online Age’

Component 3 – Cross-Media Production

Non-exam assessment (coursework)

30% of qualification

An individual cross-media production, based on two forms, in response to one of the briefs available supplied by the exam board.

All students need to have at least five GCSEs at  Grade 4 or above (and a satisfactory school reference) in order to be accepted on an A Level/BTEC Level 3 Programme. 

In addition, students should meet the following minimum GCSE requirement:  

• Grade 5 in English Language

Students will enjoy this course if they:

• Are keen to produce their own media pieces
• Are willing to take part in debate and express their views
• Are interested in the role of media in modern society
• Are interested in how technology is changing media industries

What’s the difference between Media Studies and Film Studies?

In Film Studies you will study a range of films in a lot of detail focussing on the analysis of film as an art-form, as well as representations in film.

In Media Studies you will cover a broad range of different media forms across the course including traditional and new media.

As well as the kind of analysis covered in Film Studies (analysing media language and representation) you will also be studying media audiences and industries from an academic perspective (industry is not included on the Film course).

So, for example, you will be analysing media texts and considering how characters, places, time periods and issues are represented, but you will also be considering regulation, the impact of technology on the television industry and the companies involved in producing and distributing content so that you can discuss the academic issues and debates surrounding this.

What’s the difference between Creative Digital Media Production and Media A Level – apart from the qualification?

Both involve theory and practical production.

However, the A Level has more emphasis on theory and involves more exam assessment (70% exam assessed). You will study a wider range of media forms and academic theories on the A Level course.

The Creative Digital Media Production course involves theory and analysis but also includes units that have more of a vocational focus, helping students develop skills such as responding to a brief and planning for production as well as production techniques.

What kind of job/career will this lead to?

The Media Studies course helps prepare students for a broad range of possible progression routes both in media Industries and beyond. See some examples here – https://www.prospects.ac.uk/careers-advice/what-can-i-do-with-my-degree/media-studies.

The Media Studies course helps students develop a range of transferable skills (see course information for details) that are in demand across many industries.

Research found that Media Studies graduates are second only to Medical students in terms of Employability (https://www.managementtoday.co.uk/media-studies-the-uks-second-most-employable-degree/article/1221489).

Do you need your own equipment?

We will provide the filming equipment and software students will need for practical production work. These are all compatible with our systems and we do not encourage students to buy or use their own equipment due to this. The only cost to students is we require them to purchase an SD Card from our shop as these are compatible with our equipment (the cost is approximately £11.50), and to provide their own 3.5mm wired headphones. These are both requirements of the course and should be brought to every lesson.

What other subjects work well with Media?

There is no bad combination with Media Studies as it is a course that involves a wide range of academic and creative skills.

It may be useful to study it alongside other essay or art based subjects such as Politics, History, Film or Photography, but we have students studying a wide variety of courses alongside their Media A Level such as Maths, Business Studies and PE.