Media studies

Media studies can lead to a career in TV, journalism, marketing or digital content, but you'll need hands-on experience and real drive to stand out - so being proactive is essential

Job options

Jobs directly related to your degree include:

• Digital marketer
• Location manager
• Media buyer
• Media planner
• Media researcher
• Public relations officer
• Runner, broadcasting/film/video
• Social media manager
• Television/film/video producer
• Television production coordinator
• Web content manager

Jobs where your degree would be useful include:

• Advertising account
• Arts administrator
• Broadcast journalist
• Editorial assistant
• Event manager
• Film director
• Magazine journalist
• Market researcher
• Marketing executive
• Photographer
• UX designer
• Writer

Remember that many employers accept applications from graduates with any degree subject, so don't restrict your thinking to the jobs listed here.

Work experience

Media is a popular and competitive field, so work experience is critical, and you'll need to be motivated and persistent in your applications.

To find work experience, contact radio, television, newspaper, PR or advertising agencies and ask about opportunities. Summer placements or part-time paid or voluntary positions during term time or the holidays are a good option. It may also be useful to get involved with your university radio station, paper or publications office.

Some courses offer the opportunity to undertake a work placement with a media or related company. This provides an excellent opportunity to develop practical and professional skills and to make industry contacts.

Many media students freelance during their studies, and this is a great way to gain practical experience, build a portfolio and earn money. Commissions could involve, for example, video editing or filmmaking, content creation, social media management or writing for blogs. Find out more about freelancing.

Whether you do freelance work or not, you should aim to build a portfolio of your work to showcase your skills and experience in whichever area you're interested in. This can be shown when applying for further work experience or future jobs. See ScreenSkills for a useful resource on marketing yourself.

Search for placements and find out more about work experience and internships.

Typical employers

Media studies graduates typically enter careers in the media, cultural and creative industries. Areas of work include television and radio, film and video, digital media, computer games, journalism, writing and publishing, PR, marketing and media practice.

Employers include:

• communications agencies
• the Civil Service
• further and higher education institutions, such as colleges and universities
• local government
• marketing organisations
• media companies
• the newspaper industry
• PR consultancies
• publishing companies
• TV and radio companies.

Find information on employers in marketing, advertising and PR, media and internet, and other job sectors.

Skills for your CV

The mix of theory and practice in a media studies degree helps you to develop skills in the following areas:

• critical analysis
• research
• commercial, cultural and an ethical awareness of the media and creative industries
• teamwork
• initiation and development of creative work in writing, audiovisual or other electronic media
• critical engagement with a variety of media practices
• a flexible, creative and independent approach to tasks
• the ability to work to a brief and meet deadlines.

While these skills are invaluable for careers in the media, they are also highly transferable to a range of other roles. Media courses teach you to communicate effectively across different mediums - a skill that is valued by employers across many sectors.

Further study

Further study may be essential or highly desirable, depending on your chosen career path - for example, if you want to specialise within media, go into teaching or media law, or move into journalism or public relations.

Doing a postgraduate course won't guarantee you a specific job, but it can help you build valuable skills and grow your network. Before committing to further study, think about your long-term career goals - you might be able to get the experience you need through work or by taking professional qualifications once you’re in a role.

For information on further study and to find a course that interests you, see Masters degrees and search postgraduate courses in media studies.

What do media studies graduates do?

The top five jobs held by media studies graduates employed in the UK 15 months after graduation include advertising and marketing associate professionals (12%), arts officers, producers and directors (8%), PR professionals (6%) and photographers, audio-visual and broadcasting equipment operators (5%).

For a detailed breakdown of what media studies graduates are doing after graduation, see What do graduates do?

Graduate Outcomes survey data from HESA.