BA Media Studies

Media_Screen_Studies

Undergraduate

BA Media Studies

Explore your creativity through practical filmmaking and visual design.

Key information

Study mode

Full-time

Course length

3 years

Typical offer

112 points

A Level grades: BBC

UCAS code

P306

Choose an option

Start date

Course overview

On this course, you'll master creative production skills, and you'll explore the economic, cultural and historical relationship between media and society.

You’ll examine news, documentaries and the representation of gender in media. You’ll also discover production studies – analysing the way that media industries are organised and structured, and what you need to do to get ahead.

Here, you'll benefit from brand new facilities – such as Middleton Hall, where we've invested £9.5 million to create a world-class concert venue, cinema and theatre space, with full video production capabilities. That's as well as our media lab and studio facilities.

Download our prospectus

2020 prospectus

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Six reasons to study Media at Hull

  1. 100% graduate employment rating*
  2. 5th in UK for overall student satisfaction†
  3. State-of-the-art digital media facilities
  4. Study under experienced industry experts
  5. Combine theory with hands-on production skills
  6. Surround-sound cinema and video editing suite

What you'll study

The course consists of 120 credits per year. Most modules are 20 credits, meaning you’ll study six modules each year. Some longer modules, such as a dissertation, are worth more (e.g. 40 credits). In these cases, you’ll study fewer modules - but the number of credits will always add up to 120.

First year modules

  • Compulsory

    Principles of Visual Design

    Discover the principles of visual design using software and traditional tools. You'll learn about layout, typography and colour palettes as well as engaging with design research.

    The Craft of Filmmaking

    Get insight into the practical and collaborative elements of filmmaking, on a module which introduces you to direction, cinematography, production management, editing and audio.

    Writing Criticism

    Sharpen your film analysis skills. You'll closely examine a range of different types of cinema and complete a series of written exercises that will help you become a better film critic.

    Production Studies

    Expand your understanding of how the media industries operate, with case studies ranging from small, independent production companies to Hollywood giants.

    Screen, Nation, Identity

    Explore the relationship between a nation's sense of history and identity, and the stories that it tells about itself on screen.

    Game and Entertainment Studies

    Discover game and entertainment studies and the social, political and historical contexts of video games. You'll write an essay to support the development of your own game designs.

Second year modules

  • Compulsory

    Representing the Real, Disclosing the Truth, and Capturing the Everyday

    Explore how film and TV represents reality and why - in an era of alternative facts and fake news - representing reality matters. You'll consider documentaries, news and more. 

    Television and Factual Production

    Produce factual content suitable for broadcast as part of a small production crew. It's an opportunity to develop your production skills and learn more about TV and factual production.

  • Optional

    Screening Genders

    Critically examine the representation of gender on screen through the lens of feminist film theory.

    Moving Image Techniques

    Learn to manipulate image and sound - and create your own experimental film or music video. 

    Creative Business: Pitch and Design

    Develop your understanding of the tools and techniques used to generate a business idea in the pre-production stage, and create a pitch deck for a product of your own design.

    Work-Based Learning (Digital Media)

    Develop your CV by undertaking a work placement as part of your course.

    American Alternative Cinema

    Go beyond the Hollywood mainstream with case studies including independent, cult, exploitation, trash and underground cinema.

    3D Asset Design

    Gain a grounding in the fundamentals of 3D Design. Learn the basics of modelling, textures, 3D painting and rendering, and design your own 3D animation and portfolio.

    Visual Design

    You'll develop graphic solutions for a range of platforms. In addition, you'll continue to explore design research with a view to developing more advanced solutions.

Final year modules

  • Optional

    Dissertation

    You will make an original contribution to research by designing, carrying out and writing up your own project on a topic you choose, supported by your dissertation supervisor.

    Screen Production Project 1: Planning and Pre-Production

    Turn your film idea into a workable and professional project before you step into production. Learn about what it takes to create a film before pitching your idea, ready for the next steps.

    Screen Production Project 2: Filming and Post-Production

    Create your film. Take the reins and follow the project through from pre-production to shooting, editing, screening and review.

    Is Television History?

    Reflect on the ways in which television can both do history and be history, with case studies ranging from period dramas to historical documentaries.

    Disney Studies

    An in-depth exploration of the history and impact of Disney's global entertainment empire.

    Telling the Truth: American Documentary Culture from the Muckrakers to Fake News

    Explore how photographers and filmmakers have documented American society from the early 20th century to the present day, on a module with a focus on visual culture.

    East Asian Cinema

    Examine the dynamic and diverse film output of countries including China, South Korea and Japan, and reflect on film as a 'transnational' phenomenon.

    Global Nightmares: Contemporary Horror Cinema From Around the World

    Analyse contemporary horror films in the national context of their respective country. You'll study movies including It, A Girl Walks Home Alone at Night, [REC], and À l'intérieur/Inside.

    3D Character Animation

    Apply principles of animation to bring life to your 3D characters. Learn and apply different workflows and explore advanced features of 3D animation.

All modules are subject to availability and this list may change at any time.

How you'll study

Throughout your degree, you’re expected to study for 1,200 hours per year. That’s based on 200 hours per 20 credit module. And it includes scheduled hours, time spent on placement and independent study. How this time’s divided among each of these varies each year and depends on the course and modules you study.

Overall workload

276 hours

Scheduled study Scheduled hours typically include lectures, seminars, tutorials, workshops, and supervised laboratory and studio sessions.

924 hours

Independent study Independent study is the time outside your scheduled timetable, where you’ll be expected to study independently.

Indicative assessment proportions

28%
72%
  • Practical

    Practical is an assessment of your skills and competencies. This could include presentations, school experience, work experience or laboratory work.

  • Coursework

    Coursework typically includes essays, written assignments, dissertations, research projects or producing a portfolio of your work.

Overall workload

264 hours

Scheduled study Scheduled hours typically include lectures, seminars, tutorials, workshops, and supervised laboratory and studio sessions.

936 hours

Independent study Independent study is the time outside your scheduled timetable, where you’ll be expected to study independently.

Indicative assessment proportions

10%
90%
  • Practical

    Practical is an assessment of your skills and competencies. This could include presentations, school experience, work experience or laboratory work.

  • Coursework

    Coursework typically includes essays, written assignments, dissertations, research projects or producing a portfolio of your work.

Overall workload

204 hours

Scheduled study Scheduled hours typically include lectures, seminars, tutorials, workshops, and supervised laboratory and studio sessions.

996 hours

Independent study Independent study is the time outside your scheduled timetable, where you’ll be expected to study independently.

Indicative assessment proportions

14%
86%
  • Practical

    Practical is an assessment of your skills and competencies. This could include presentations, school experience, work experience or laboratory work.

  • Coursework

    Coursework typically includes essays, written assignments, dissertations, research projects or producing a portfolio of your work.

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Foundation year

A foundation year is available to boost your confidence and skills if you don't quite meet our academic entry requirements.

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Work-based learning

Develop your CV by undertaking a work placement as part of your course in the second year.

Entry requirements

Don't meet our requirements?

We offer a Foundation Year to boost your skills and knowledge – it’s a great way to make your way into higher education.

Switch to the foundation year

Points can be from any qualifications on the UCAS tariff, but must include at least 80 points from

  • A levels
  • BTEC Subsidiary Diploma, Diploma or Extended Diploma
  • OCR Cambridge Technical Introductory Diploma, Diploma or Extended Diploma
  • CACHE Diploma or Extended Diploma
  • Irish Leaving Certificate
  • Scottish Highers
  • Welsh Baccalaureate Advanced Diploma
  • or a combination of appropriate Level 3 qualifications 

Alternative qualifications 

  • IB Diploma: 28 points.
  • Access to HE Diploma: pass with minimum of 45 credits at merit.

Worried you don’t quite meet our entry requirements?

We consider experience and qualifications from the UK and worldwide which may not exactly match the combinations above.

But it’s not just about the grades – we’ll look at your whole application. We want to know what makes you tick, and about your previous experience, so make sure that you complete your personal statement.

If you have any questions, our admissions team will be happy to help.

Don't meet our requirements?

We offer a Foundation Year to boost your skills and knowledge – it’s a great way to make your way into higher education.

Switch to the foundation year

If you require a Tier 4 student visa to study or if your first language is not English you will be required to provide acceptable evidence of your English language proficiency level.

This course requires academic IELTS 6.0 overall, with no less than 5.5 in each skill. See other English language proficiency qualifications accepted by this University.

If your English currently does not reach the University's required standard for this programme, you may be interested in one of our English language courses.

Visit your country page to find out more about our entry requirements.

Our teaching staff

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Take a tour of the facilities

Our Media Studies students master creative production skills in our industry standard digital media facilities.

Explore the virtual tour

Fees and funding

Home / EU

£9,250 per year*

International

£14,500 per year

*The amount you pay may increase each year, in line with inflation - but capped to the Retail Price Index (RPI).

UK and EU students can take out a tuition fee loan to cover the cost of their course, and UK students can take out a maintenance loan of up to £9,203 to cover living costs.

Substantial discounts are available for International students.  

More information on fees can be found in the Money section of the website.

Your tuition fees will cover most costs associated with your programme (including registration, tuition, supervision, assessment and examination).

There are some extra costs that you might have to pay, or choose to pay, depending on your programme of study and the decisions you make. The list below has some examples, and any extra costs will vary.

  • Books (you’ll have access to books from your module reading lists in the library, but you may want to buy your own copies
  • Optional field trips
  • Study abroad (including travel costs, accommodation, visas, immunisation)
  • Placement costs (including travel costs and accommodation)
  • Student visas (international students)
  • Laptop (you’ll have access to laptops and PC’s on campus, but you may want to buy your own)
  • Printing and photocopying
  • Professional-body membership
  • Graduation (gown hire and photography)

Remember, you’ll still need to take into account your living costs. This could include accommodation, travel and food – to name just a few. 

Scholarships

If you achieve

112 UCAS tariff points or above

from 3 A levels or equivalent, you could receive

£1,200 to £2,000

Find out more

An affordable city for students

From bills, to meals, to pints – you’ll find that your money goes a lot further in Hull.

Your future prospects

  • Journalist
  • Publisher
  • TV or film producer
  • Events manager
  • Marketing
  • Public relations

Our connections with the region’s film and media industry give you opportunities to get invaluable work experience while studying.

Media studies students have gained experience working on several feature films, reflecting the growing significance of the region in terms of film production.

Open Day at University of Hull

Ready to apply?

You can apply for this course through UCAS. As well as providing your academic qualifications, you’ll be able to showcase your skills, qualities and passion for the subject.

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This. Is. Hull.

A place where we stand up to kings, do deals with the world and take a wrecking ball to the slave trade. A place where culture stands out and the phone boxes are a different colour. A place where we're free-thinking, independent and proud of it.

*Percentage of students from this subject area in work or further study within six months of graduating: UK domicile full-time first degree leavers; Destinations of Leavers from Higher Education survey for the academic year 2016/17, published by HESA 2018

†Ranked fifth in the UK for this subject area with a 93% overall satisfaction score (National Student Survey 2019, HEIs)