A guide

to studying these subjects at

university and your opportunities

afterwards

Looking Ahead

Subjects inside include: creative writing, drama, English language and literature, film studies, journalism, media studies, broadcasting, and TV and film production

08

English, Film, Journalism and Media

2 • University of Portsmouth • Looking Ahead • English, Film, Journalism and Media

Subject overviewEnglish, film, journalism, media and associated subjects within the cultural industries are very popular subjects to study at degree level. Depending on the specialism concerned, courses will focus on various literary, cultural, communication and performance-based topics. The aim is to enhance understanding of the creative energies, emotions, political views or religious beliefs of writers, broadcasters, film makers and performers past and present.

Choosing an English, film, journalism or media course

Look out for:

• Course accreditation, where appropriate, with organisations such as the National Council for the Training of Journalists and Drama UK.

• The difference in focus between courses. For example, is your preference for broadcast or written journalism? Are you interested in the theoretical or practical sides of media or film studies, or would you prefer a course that allows you to combine both?

• National Student Survey (NSS) statistics show whether students graduating from their course have been happy with the course, facilities and support provided during their studies. This can be found through your chosen university’s website.

• Employment statistics for graduates, which can be found on your chosen university’s website, via their careers service or at www.unistats.com.

• Additional features of the course such as work placements, study abroad options, optional units, extended projects, enterprise opportunities, participation in industry events and competitions, and practice handling equipment that you’ll be expected to use in the workplace.

It’s important to remember that these subject areas are vast, so course content may vary enormously between different universities and institutions, who also often offer courses combining two specialist areas. You’ll definitely need to do your research to find the right course for you!

There are many courses on offer around the country. Here are some examples of English, film and media courses at the University of Portsmouth:

Media and Performing ArtsCreative and Media WritingDrama and PerformanceEnglish and Creative WritingEntertainment TechnologyFilm StudiesFilm Studies and Creative WritingFilm and Television StudiesMedia StudiesMedia Studies and Entertainment

TechnologyMusical TheatreTelevision and Film ProductionTelevision and Broadcasting

EnglishEnglish LanguageEnglish Language and LiteratureEnglish LiteratureEnglish and Media StudiesEnglish with Psychology

JournalismJournalismJournalism with English LanguageJournalism with English LiteratureJournalism with Media Studies

Please check www.ucas.com for courses available across the UK and www.port.ac.uk/courses for up-to-date information on Portsmouth courses.

English, Film, Journalism and Media • Looking Ahead • University of Portsmouth • 3

The courseWhat will you study?

During your time at university, you will study your chosen subject in depth. Universities usually run a number of compulsory or ‘core’ topics for each course, which everyone studies in order to gain understanding of the key areas. There will also be ‘optional’ topics from which you select according to your interests and how you want to specialise within your course.

Units vary depending on the university. Below are a few examples of core and optional units for English, film, journalism and media courses at the University of Portsmouth:

• Core units: depending on the course, you could study topics such as writing an autobiography, musical theatre skills, authorship, poetry and poetics, audio-visual literacy, law for journalists, media analysis, documentary production, cinematography and sound and motion capture.

• Optional units: screenwriting, musical theatre, Shakespearean history, style in English, alternative animations, international news in focus, cult media, physical theatre, streaming media, website design, delivery and soundtrack creation, crime writing and underwater filming are examples from our courses. The optional units tend to reflect the research interests of the lecturers, so it’s worth investigating this to check their interests match your own.

How will you study?Lesson typeDepending on your course, you will be taught through lectures, seminars, practical workshops and supervised project work.

Contact timeThis will vary depending on the course, but on average, you will spend about 19 per cent of your week in lectures and seminars. This may decrease as you progress and spend more time working independently.

Assessment methodsYou will be assessed by a combination of coursework and examinations, with the balance more heavily weighted towards coursework, particularly after your first year. Depending on your course, you may also be assessed on a range of skills such as delivering group presentations or putting on productions.

Further information for the universities you are considering can be found via the university websites, Unistats at www.unistats.com or Which? University at www.university.which.co.uk.

4 • University of Portsmouth • Looking Ahead • English, Film, Journalism and Media

Top tips for a successful application

• Show an active and genuine interest in your subject – refer to research and hot topics you have investigated and talk about authors, writers and actors that have inspired you.

• Refer to relevant work experience or volunteering you have undertaken. Explain what you have gained from these experiences.

• For the universities you are applying to, read the entry information included within the course information on the UCAS and university websites carefully. This will often show what sort of person they are looking for.

• Refer to hobbies and interests you hope to continue at university through the clubs and societies offered via the Students’ Union; this will show how you hope to become a member of the university community.

• For many courses there may be auditions (Performing Arts) or entry tests (Journalism) as part of the application process. Prepare well for these by contacting the universities for detailed information and meeting with careers staff in sixth form/college to discuss key points.

Key skills and qualities required for these subjects

SkillsAs well as a good grasp of IT and multimedia sources, you will also need excellent presentation skills and, in many cases, good public speaking ability. Communication, analytical and research skills are important to succeed in these subject areas.

QualitiesQualities relate more to your personality. You will need to show intellectual curiosity, enjoy reading about your subject, have an interest in the cultural, historical and political issues surrounding your subject and be happy to work in groups or on your own initiative.

QualificationsAs for all degree courses, you will usually need at least five GCSEs grade A*–C including English and maths. You will also need Level 3 qualifications such as A Levels, International Baccalaureate (IB) or BTEC. A good command of the English language will help you in all of these subjects and an A Level in English (or equivalent) is usually required for entry onto English or creative writing degrees. Subjects are not always specified for drama, film, media, performing arts or journalism courses, but good grades and relevant experience or qualifications will help you gain a place.

Getting a place

English, Film, Journalism and Media • Looking Ahead • University of Portsmouth • 5

What to do next• Unlike at school and college, university

courses do not always have a set curriculum and can therefore vary widely in their content. Look carefully at the course content of the universities you are considering to make sure they cover the topics you are most interested in.

• Compare universities on a range of factors including employability, student satisfaction, assessment methods and lecturer contact time using the Key Information Sets (KIS) which can be found on each university’s website or via www.unistats.com.

• Read widely, visit the theatre and attend other relevant performances.

• Get involved in clubs and societies at your school/college. For example, you could contribute to the school magazine or website, volunteer at the radio station or join the amateur dramatics society or a reading group. If your school doesn’t have any of these, show your initiative and start one yourself.

• Try to get some relevant work experience or shadowing and be able to describe what you learned from the experience. This is particularly important if you’re interested in a more vocational course like journalism. Contact your local newspaper to see if they have any opportunities for you to get involved.

• Tutors on journalism and creative writing courses may want to see examples of your writing, so if you’re interested in either of these subjects, it may be useful to start building a portfolio of your work.

Where to find out more

BFI: British Film Institute at www.bfi.org.uk.

Drama UK: Championing quality drama training in the UK at www.dramauk.co.uk.

NCTJ: National Council for the Training of Journalists at www.nctj.com.

Uni info: a site where students share academic and social knowledge at www.thestudentroom.co.uk and a website that provides university and course reviews at www.whatuni.com.

UCAS: Universities and Colleges Admissions Service for information about university courses and the application process at www.ucas.com.

• Show an interest in current affairs and try to be aware of leading contemporary figures in your chosen field.

• Take up an extracurricular hobby/activity such as playing a sport or musical instrument, or participate in award schemes such as the Duke of Edinburgh Award. These kinds of activities show you are a well-rounded person.

6 • University of Portsmouth • Looking Ahead • English, Film, Journalism and Media

Where could you work?Graduates who’ve studied these subjects pursue a wide range of careers. Make sure you’re aware of the full range of opportunities available. Here are a few ideas to get you started.

If you’re keen on becoming a film director or producer, then you’ll need plenty of practical experience, energy and drive. You’ll also need to be good at networking, as this is a very competitive area. Opportunities for getting started include producing DVDs for business training and working on independent or corporate video and television productions.

Other possibilities traditionally linked to English, film, journalism and media include publishing, writing, editing, advertising, public relations, library or museum work, teaching (you’ll need a further qualification, such as a PGCE, after your first degree), studio management and researching for TV or radio. Typical employers are publishers, PR companies, local government, educational institutions, charities, the tourist trade, social services, independent production companies or even large broadcasters such as the BBC, advertising and marketing agencies and public sector organisations such as the NHS.

Aside from acting, jobs specifically related to drama and the performing arts include choreographer, composer, production designer, theatre lighting director, producer, sound manager, stage manager, wardrobe manager and broadcast presenter. Performing arts graduates can also work in areas such as retail, finance, social work, travel and tourism, marketing, arts organisations, education institutions, leisure companies and local government to name just a few.

Graduates from NCTJ-accredited journalism degrees tend to work for newspapers, news agencies, websites, TV and radio broadcasters, magazines or online news companies. You will normally be required to enter into a training contract and gain the NCTJ National Certificate. However, you should note that, although an accredited undergraduate degree offers a slight short cut, there are plenty of options to go into journalism without a first degree in the subject, usually by completing a postgraduate NCTJ-accredited course or, if you’re lucky, being recruited straight onto a two-year training contract with an employer.

Transferable skillsAll university courses will also give you many transferable skills. You will develop your teamwork, communication, problem solving, self-motivation and time management skills, making you highly employable in a wide range of other careers. In fact, it is estimated that 60 per cent of employers looking to recruit a graduate (someone with a degree qualification) do not mind what your degree is in, just that you have that level of qualification.

English, Film, Journalism and Media • Looking Ahead • University of Portsmouth • 7

What do our English, film, journalism and media students go on to do?

Destination

76.3% Employed

14.7% Further study

0.6% Volunteering

5.6% Unemployed

2.8% Other

Each year we gather statistics to identify what our students are doing six months after graduating. Many find work, continue studying or even take time out to travel. Here are the statistics for our English, film, journalism and media students who graduated in 2013:

Here are a few examples of careers followed by our students:

BA (Hons) English Literature • Copywriter

BA (Hons) English and Media Studies • Graduate PR and Marketing Trainee

BA (Hons) Journalism • News and Sports Reporter

BA (Hons) Film Studies • Film Database Executive

BA (Hons) English and Creative Writing • Intern at Vogue Magazine

Please note, these statistics (in line with national requirements) are gathered just six months after students graduate; employment prospects often change and improve greatly over the following few years. Find out more through the What do graduates do? publication at www.hecsu.ac.uk.

Titles in the series01. Accounting, Economics and Finance

02. Architecture, Property and Surveying

03. Art and Design

04. Biological Sciences

05. Business and Management

06. Computing and Creative Technologies

07. Engineering

08. English, Film, Journalism and Media

09. Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences

10. Health Sciences and Social Work

11. History, Politics and Social Studies

12. Law and Criminology

13. Mathematics and Physics

14. Modern Languages and Area Studies

15. Psychology

16. Sports Science

MD9751 0415

Education Liaison and Outreach TeamUniversity of Portsmouth T: 023 9284 6214St Andrew’s Court E: elot@port.ac.ukSt Michael’s Road W: www.port.ac.uk/elotPortsmouth PO1 2PR www.facebook.com/universityofportsmouth

DisclaimerPlease be aware, this is not a course leaflet, it is a guide for university. Every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the information contained in this publication at the time of going to press (April 2015). However, you are advised that this information could be subject to change. For the most up-to-date information, please refer to www.ucas.com and for University of Portsmouth courses, please refer to our website www.port.ac.uk.

AccessibilityIf this document is in a format inaccessible to you, contact us and we will provide the information in a more suitable format. Please email corporate.communications@port.ac.uk.

PDF versions of this leaflet and others in the series are also available on our website at www.port.ac.uk/lookingahead.

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