Media Studies (GCE A Level)

Why study Media Studies?

Media Studies is designed to enhance your enjoyment, understanding and appreciation of the media and its role in your daily life.

The course introduces you both to media ideas and the practice of production, which gives you the chance to develop a real understanding of media platforms, the contemporary media landscape and the influential role of the media in today’s society.

This course helps you develop three relationships with the media. As a consumer, you’ll become more aware of the many ways in which media messages are presented to us, as well as discovering how the institutions which produce and distribute media products are trying to reach you.

If you want a career in media, producing and evaluating your own media productions will give you a real hands-on understanding of both how media messages are created and what they are aiming to do.

In the first year of the A Level course, the students will cover the core concepts of media studies. They will also begin to work on their three pieces of coursework that are a response to a brief set by the exam board.

The second year consists of two end of unit exams taken in June. In addition, students will submit their three pieces of coursework.

The unit exams account for 70% of the final A Level grade and the coursework 30%.

The course is based around a study of key media concepts and media platforms and the important questions and debates they raise, proving the essential tools for any critical reading of media texts.

Investigations of contemporary media texts, research based case studies, and practical production projects will be underpinned by these key concepts and platforms.

The unit exams account for 70% of the final A Level grade and the coursework 30%.