Are you passionate about media? Do you have a fascination with the future of British Media and have a love for social networking platforms such as Facebook, twitter and LinkedIn? If so, then the a course in Media Studies may be the perfect option for you.

However, it is important to remember that you should also have an interest in current events, as well as an understanding of how different publications write for specific target audiences. Media Studies degrees will be assessed through a variety of assessment methods from examinations to written assignments. Although the contact hours are not as high as some other course subjects, you will be expected to study around the subject in your spare time. You will need to be self-motivated and highly organised in order to do well.

Media Studies graduates have a number of prospects available to them for future employment. Given that the skills learnt on the degree programme, particularly the social media skills, are applicable within web-based roles such as web admin, social media, advertising and marketing.

Many graduates also consider taking a post-graduate qualification such as a NCTJ diploma or MA which allows them to work in more vocational fields such as journalism or to take the Graduate Diploma in law. Due to the teaching shortage, many graduates are entitled to PGCE funding which will allow them to teach within mainstream education.

Many Media Studies graduates also take on writing roles, finding work as copy writers or bid writers. With the average starting salary for a graduate being £17,358, many young people with a freelance degree are opting to take on additional freelance work.

If you’re a non-native speaker of English, the most important thing that you will need to do before starting your course in order to demonstrate that you’ve the language skills to make the most out of your Media Studies course. Depending upon the University, different degree programmes will have different entry standards, but most of the courses will be similar in that they expect graduates to have a minimum of 3 A-levels, or equivalent, and will last for 3 years. Some universities however will offer undergraduates the opportunity to further extend their course so that they can spend a year abroad studying or complete a work placement within the media industry.

The starting salary for new Media Studies graduates is particularly low, but there is still tough competition for places as top salaries within the media industry can be quite large. While it is important for students to gain a strong degree, it is also vital that they spend their time at university gaining work experience with a number of different media firms.

For a degree such as Media Studies, your university location will have a dramatic impact upon your future prospects within the jobs market. You should try and find a location which will not only make you happy, but will provide you with as much experience as possible. If you’ve the option, try and study at a University located in a city with a thriving arts and media industry as it will be easier to find term-time placements in the surrounding areas.

Of course, your own personal happiness is also paramount when deciding where to study. If you’re an outgoing individual who loves new experiences, then try and study in the heart of a larger community where there is always something happening. Smaller Universities will be more suited to less extrovert personalities.

When choosing a journalism course one of the questions you ought to ask is which areas of the subject matter are most fascinating? You will be studying journalism for at least three years, so it is important that whichever university or degree programme you choose, offers specialist modules in your area of interest. Whether you want to study fashion and features writing or radio broadcasting, there’s a range of options available to suit every undergraduate.

Of course fees and academic grades should also come into consideration when deciding where to study. Many of the prestigious universities such as City University expect applicants to have a minimum of 3 A-levels or equivalent with top level grades. Do your predicted grades match these requirements?

If you are struggling with fees, or are still applying for funding, there are a number of bursaries and scholarships available for students.