Study media abroad

Media is an exciting and constantly evolving sector that impacts nearly all aspects of our lives, covering everything from television and cinema to social media and blogs. By studying media or media studies abroad you’ll examine how it influences and reflects society, as well as gaining creative and practical skills for a career in the industry.

Media is a broad subject that can cover a huge number of areas including journalism, communication, broadcast, marketing, PR, advertising and many more. It’s possible to study a degree that focuses on each of these specific subjects, or you can study a joint honors program like communication and media or film and media.

You can study media all over the world, and choosing to attend a university abroad means you’ll get to choose from the best programs. You will also get a unique perspective on how the media works in another country that could give you an advantage when you look to start your career.

You can study media at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels, with some universities offering doctorate degrees in certain fields. At bachelor’s level, you will study over three or four years to earn a BA, or if you go to a US liberal arts college you’ll study media as a major or minor subject.

At master’s level you are able to study media as a stand-alone subject, and it is usually offered as an MA. Some universities offer research based master’s programs you can study, known as an MRes (master of research). Most master’s programs will take one or two years to complete, and a PhD can take up to six years of study.

Some programs let you add an extra year that you can spend working in industry gaining valuable experience. Most modules will be delivered through lectures, small group seminars, workshops and practical production sessions. Common assessment methods include essays, oral presentations, portfolios and exams.

The exact program structure and content of each media or media studies program will be unique to each university, but there are some common subjects and modules you can expect to study, including:

• International journalism
• Visual media
• Filmmaking
• Production studies (TV and radio)
• Understanding audiences
• Public relations
• Media ethics
• Mobile media cultures
• Online storytelling

There are a huge number of areas you can work in as a media graduate. Although most students will look to start a career in a media industry, the skills you’ll learn will be transferable to many different sectors.

Some of the most popular careers for media studies graduate include:

• Broadcast journalist
• Media researcher
• Advertising media buyer
• Public relations officer
• Social media manager
• Media producer (TV, film, video etc)
• Presenter
• Copywriter

If your program offers internships, use this opportunity to get experience in the industry and to make some useful connections. If you’re unsure exactly what you want to do after graduation, use the university’s career services for advice and guidance.