Media Studies

A Brighton Media Studies degree prepares you for a variety of rewarding creative career paths across the media industry – from PR to production, marketing to presenting.

Studying here at Brighton, you’ll be part of a community that helps you grow, no matter what your background. This course is packed with opportunities to build real-world experience, including a paid placement after year two and live projects with industry partners.

Our inclusive approach to learning will help you go further and explore who you are; we’ll make sure you play to your strengths and learn in ways that suit you best.

Top reasons to choose this course

• You’ll graduate with skills suited towards a range of career paths, including advertising, marketing, publishing and production.

• Tailor your degree to your specific career ambitions with option modules in areas such as branding, journalism, PR and podcasting.

• Boost your CV with an optional paid placement year to apply your learning in a real-world setting and gain valuable industry connections.

• Learn in a creative, diverse and supportive community that gives you opportunities to collaborate with your peers on creative projects.

• Learn from a team of experts who bring real-life industry experience into the classroom.

• Work on real-world client briefs which reflect how you’d work in the industry, and grow your portfolio and network.

Why Brighton is a great place to study Media Studies
Brighton is a city with creativity at its heart, making it the perfect setting to study Media Studies. From independent film festivals to screenings and exhibitions, the city offers endless inspiration and opportunities to engage with the creative community.

Our long heritage in art, design and media education means you’ll be part of a diverse network of creatives, with access to opportunities and industry connections that extend beyond the campus.

Named one of the best cities on the planet and third best city in the UK by Time Out, Brighton is also a bustling hub for music, design and film.

Year 1
You’ll build a strong foundation in media theory, exploring how digital media, popular culture and key critical approaches shape our everyday lives. You’ll analyse audiences, industries and texts, and depending on your options you will begin exploring video production, photography, media consumption or film analysis.

Core modules
Critical Approaches to Media 1
Producing and Consuming Digital Media
Media and Popular Culture
Critical Approaches to Media 2

Options*
Understanding Audiences: Theory and Context
Video Production
Film Language and History

Year 2
You’ll gain insight through a media industry placement while deepening your understanding of how visual culture, activism and research shape the media landscape.

Core modules
Media Placement
Visual Media Culture
Social Media for Activist and Community Groups
Research Methods and Methodology

Options*
Critical Debates in Film Studies
Media Ethics and Professional Practice
Podcasting
Specialist Portfolio
Brands and Public Relations
Genre and Narrative
Factual Production
Photographic Practice

Optional placement year
An optional placement year gives you the chance to apply your skills in a professional setting, gain industry experience and build valuable contacts before returning for your final year.

Final year
You’ll bring together everything you’ve learned in an independent dissertation or production-based project, showcasing your ability to research, analyse and create at an advanced level. You’ll also explore how media shapes global challenges and have the option to specialise in areas such as TV production, media law, digital marketing, screen genres, national identity or videogames.

Core modules
Global Challenges
Politics and Political Communication
Dissertation

Options*
Media Law and Policy
Digital Media Marketing and Innovation
Sustainability and Innovation in Digital Culture
Television Production
Critical Approaches to the Videogame
Screening the Unreal: Science Fiction, Horror, Fantasy
Deconstructing the Nation: Empire and Race in the Twenty-first Century

*Option modules are indicative and may change, depending on timetabling and staff availability.