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MEDIA STUDIESCanterbury

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MEDIA STUDIES AT KENTIf you are fascinated by contemporary culture,curious to know what’s next and eager to influencethat change, then our Media Studies degree is foryou. Taught by leading researchers, you discoverhow media shape us, how they can enrich andtransform our lives in the digital age and howyou, through your creative practice, can shape the media.

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FlexibleprogrammeCreate a programme focusedon your interests. Your modulechoices include: contemporaryculture; the media industry;digital filmmaking; podcasting;photography; psychology ofthe arts and video gaming.And you can choose to spenda year abroad or on placement.

Kent’s StudentMedia CentreOur student union runs a mediahub where student volunteerswork together to produce print,radio and online content. Thehub houses industry-standardediting suites, a radio studio,and a TV studio, giving youfurther opportunities to getinvolved in media production.

Lively campusKent is a campus university, soeverything you need is withinwalking distance. You canwatch a play or a film at theGulbenkian arts centre, danceat The Venue nightclub, keep fitat our sports centre and meetfriends at one of the manycampus cafés and restaurants.

InspirationalteachingGreat teachers inspire andchallenge. Whether they’relecturing on contemporaryculture or sparking adiscussion on violence in videogames, our staff are skilledat bringing their subject to lifeand drawing you in to theconversation.

Industry linksOur staff have excellent linkswith industry and frequentlybring in colleagues fromorganisations such as the BBCand Guardian online to talk tostudents, helping them to startto build up contacts. We alsohosted Oscar-winning filmproducer Caroline Waterlow.

Great locationThe city of Canterburycombines medieval buildings,traditional pubs, modern barsand restaurants and chain andindependent shops. London isless than an hour away by high-speed train; you can be in Parisor Brussels in around two.

World-leadingresearchYou learn from leading experts.Our staff undertake researchof international quality; writeand contribute to journalarticles and books; are activepractitioners; and provideexpert comment to the media.They put you in touch with thelatest ideas.

ExcellentresourcesAccess more than a millionbooks, ebooks, databases and journals at the University’sTempleman Library. Use itsdedicated viewing facilities,make the most of its DVDcollection, and work at one ofthousands of networked PCsacross the Canterbury campus.

Career successEmployability is a priority atKent. By studying, you sharpenskills that are useful in workinglife, such as time managementand developing an argument.You have opportunities to gainwork experience and access tocareers advice, boosting yourCV and your confidence.

WHY CHOOSE MEDIA STUDIES AT KENT?

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Media Studies: Shaping the futureOur Media Studies degree opens up many opportunities for itsgraduates. You gain experience of using industry-standard video and filmmaking equipment, a sound dubbing studio, individual editingsuites and a digital studio. We constantly update our programme toensure you develop the content creation and media making skills youneed and, through analytical modules in media history, social mediaand participatory culture, the ability to understand the impact thatcontent might have. An area that is changing so rapidly needsinformed graduates able to shape its future.

The Guardian UniversityGuide 2020• Media and Film Studiesat Kent was ranked 24thoverall out of 88 universities

Destinations of Leavers fromHigher Education (DLHE)• Over 95% of Kent’sgraduates who respondedto the most recent nationalsurvey of graduatedestinations were in work orfurther study within sixmonths (DLHE, 2017)

Research ExcellenceFramework• Based on the most recentResearch ExcellenceFramework, Kent was rankedin the top 20 for researchintensity by the Times HigherEducation, outperforming11 of the 24 Russell Groupuniversities

Teaching ExcellenceFramework• Kent was awarded gold, the highest rating, in the UK government’s TeachingExcellence Framework*

Independent rankings

*The University of Kent’s Statement of Findings can be found atwww.kent.ac.uk/tef-statement

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Have you joined any studentsocieties?Yes. I joined the PhotographySociety, which I really enjoyedand I’m also in the Christian UnionSociety. Societies are a great wayto meet people and make friends.

Do you like Canterbury? Canterbury is a really nice city andthe area is very green, it has acountryside feel, though actuallyit’s not far from London.

What do you want to do afteryou graduate?Possibly journalism, I also enjoydocumentaries and looking at howthey influence society, so to moveinto that area would be great, andI like practical filming. I haven’tdecided yet, but I think by the timeI finish my degree I’ll have a goodidea of what I want to do next. Myacademic adviser has told me to go to the University’s Careers andEmployability Service, so I’ll do that.

What advice would you give tosomeone considering Kent?The course itself is great and covers lots of different areas.

One thing I’d definitely recommendis visiting the campus, it’s a greatcampus, but you won’t appreciatehow nice the environment is unlessyou visit. You can see pictures butit’s not the same. Also, come to uniwith an open mind and throwyourself into every opportunity thatcomes your way. I can’t imaginemyself at any other uni. You shouldcome. I’m happy I came.

Enoch Odubade is in thesecond year of his MediaStudies degree.

Why did you choose Kent?I came to Kent via Clearing so didn’tknow a lot about it, but I instantlyfell in love with the campus; it’s sogreen. I lived in Eliot College in myfirst year, it’s very central I couldwake up and in five minutes be inmy lecture. It’s good to be in thecentre of things, you feel part ofeverything.

Why Media Studies?I wasn’t sure if I wanted to study justone area. Media Studies allows youto select modules in other areas.Also, we don’t just look at media inits practical form, we analyse media,for example looking at how socialmedia can influence politicalcampaigns; it’s really interesting.The ability to mix and match and,to some extent, to create my owncourse really appealed to me. Youstart to discover what you’re goodat, what you enjoy and what youdon’t, which gives you a better idea of the path to take when you graduate.

Have you had a favouritemodule so far?I’m currently studying a moduleabout social media andparticipatory culture, looking at how,in the digital age, we are no longerjust consumers of media, we arealso content creators. This wasn’tthe case, say 20 years ago, whenonly those in positions of power orwith the right training could produce

content. We are discussing whatimpact this wider access has onsociety as a whole.

Tell us about your lecturers. My academic adviser is great, ifI have any trouble with my essays,I just go and talk to her. She actuallyworks in the media industry as wellso has lots of contacts and isadvising me about finding a workplacement. It’s good to have amember of academic staff withthese connections who knowshow the industry works.

And your fellow students? It’s quite a small course, soeverybody knows each other and you don’t feel awkward asking questions in class if youdon’t understand something.There’s a nice community feel.

I’m a student ambassador formy course. I enjoy it, talking toprospective students and helpingthem to understand what theirchoices are is rewarding. Havingjust been there myself, I knowwhat it’s like. Being a studentambassador is also a good way tomeet students from other courses.

What about the facilities? The facilities are very good. Wehave the Lupino cinema and thereare editing suites and computerrooms. I enjoy practical work sohave experience of using this kindof equipment, but if you haven’tthere’s lots of support. People in the School are very helpful.

STUDENT VIEW

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CHOOSING YOUR DEGREE

Media Studies is a newprogramme designed forstudents with a passion forcontemporary culture anda desire to influence futuredevelopments in the arts.

Media Studieswww.kent.ac.uk/ug/1901This interdisciplinary degreefocuses on contemporary mediaand the ways in which ideas aboutsociety are communicated. Youexamine how meaning is created,cultural expression generated, andeveryday experience mediated by arapidly evolving landscape of digitaltechnologies and media practices.

Our teaching staff are leadingresearchers who guide you as youlook to answer questions such as:how can we use mobile devicesas tools to make art? How can wenavigate ethical concerns such asviolence in video games andexploitation in advertising? Whatare the most influential mediaorganisations and how do theyoperate?

The programme includes modulesthat involve both theoreticaldiscussion and creative practice.You also select modules from a wide range available in areas such as media arts, photography,television studies, screenwriting andcontemporary art. In addition, youcan also take a ‘wild’ module fromsubject areas such as, film studies,drama and theatre, art history,literature, history, philosophy, politics and sociology.

Our modules are designedto deepen understanding ofcontemporary media, developcritical thinking and analytical skills,and enhance creative ability. Youalso develop specialist subjectskills and knowledge, providing anexcellent grounding for employmentin the media and creative industries.You also develop a range oftransferable skills that are valuablein many careers beyond mediaand the arts.

Media Studies with anApproved Year Abroadwww.kent.ac.uk/ug/1906The year abroad programme isa four-year degree. You have thesame module choices as you wouldon the three-year programme, but(subject to satisfactory progression)you spend a year between yoursecond and final year studyingabroad.

Teaching and assessmentAll modules involve lectures, smallgroup seminars, screenings andoccasionally group trips to galleries, museums, libraries orfestivals. Helping you to acquireindependence of thought andthe skills of autonomous learningare central to our teaching aims.At the same time, the Media Studiesprogramme emphasises a closeworking relationship with students.You have access to a designatedtutor for academic guidancethroughout your time at university.

Methods of assessment varybetween modules. The majority

of modules are assessed solelyby coursework, while others havea mix of coursework and exams.

Typically, you attend two lectures aweek of one-and-a-half to two hoursin duration and two seminars orworkshops of two to three hours.In addition, many modules havescreenings, readings, trips andrelated learning activity. In additionto seminars, workshops andlectures, teaching across theprogramme includes one-to-oneguidance and project supervision.

Joint honours You can study Media Studies aspart of a joint honours degree withthe following subjects:• Media Studies and Art History • Media Studies and Drama • Media Studies and Film

For more details about our jointhonours programmes, seewww.kent.ac.uk/ug

International studentsIf you are applying from outside the UK without the necessaryEnglish language qualifications, you may be able to take the KentInternational Foundation Programme(IFP), which can provideprogression to the Media Studiesprogramme. For more information,see our website: www.kent.ac.uk/ifp

Further informationIf you want to know more aboutthis programme, please contact:T: +44 (0)1227 823177E: arts@kent.ac.uk

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YEAR ABROAD/PLACEMENT YEAR

At Kent, you have theopportunity to broadenyour experience eitherby studying overseasor through a workplacement.

All students within the School ofArts can apply to spend a yearstudying abroad or on placement as part of their degree programme.The year usually takes placebetween the second and finalyears of study.

Year abroadGoing abroad as part of yourdegree is an amazing opportunityand a chance for you to developacademically, personally andprofessionally.

You gain confidence andindependence and further developmany of the transferable skills

employers are looking for, suchas the ability to communicateeffectively and being able to planand organise your time. You alsodemonstrate that you are flexiblein your outlook and have theenthusiasm and drive to succeedin a new environment.

For many students, their yearabroad is a life-changing andrewarding experience. Having risento the challenge of living in anothercountry, they have a renewed beliefin their ability to succeed.

We have exciting exchange linkswith universities in Asia, the USA,and Canada, as well as manyEuropean destinations via theErasmus exchange network. See theA to Z course list at www.kent.ac.uk/goabroad/opportunities/az.html fordetails.

Placement yearThe placement year providesthe opportunity for you to gainexperience in the workplace as partof your degree. The placement canbe either paid work or an internship.

It gives you the opportunityto increase your contacts andnetworks so that you can hit theground running when you graduate.If taken, the year is assessed ona pass/fail basis through employerfeedback and a written report thatyou submit.

Tuition fees for the placement yearare greatly reduced and employersmay offer expenses or a salary.

There are many benefits to takinga placement year: it gives you thechance to gain some knowledge ofthe work environment, acquire newskills and develop your confidence.

For more information, seewww.kent.ac.uk/humanities/studying/placement

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YOUR STUDY PROGRAMME

Your studies are dividedinto three stages. At Stage1 you take a series ofintroductory modules.Your studies at Stages 2 and 3 build on thesefoundations and alsoallow you to follow your own interests.

Module informationPlease note that these module listsare not fixed as new modules arealways in development and choicesare updated yearly. The details arecorrect at the time of publication(June 2019). See www.kent.ac.uk/ugfor the most up-to-date information.

In addition to the listed modules,you can choose to take up to 30credits per year from the University’sextensive list of ‘wild’ modules insubject areas such as, film studies,drama and theatre, art history,literature, history, philosophy, politics and sociology.

To read a full description of any of the modules listed, go towww.kent.ac.uk/courses/modulesand search for the module code.Where a module code isn’t shown,just search using the module title.

Stage 1You take the following module:• Media and Meaning(MSTU3010).

You then take at least two from: • Media and Identity (MSTU4002)• Making Media (MSTU3000)• Media Audiences (MSTU4001).

You then choose optional modulesthat may include:• Contemporary Culture and Media(SO335)

• Film Style (FI313)• Introduction to Contemporary Art(HA314/HA315)

• Introduction to the History ofPhotography (HA316/HA317)

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Stage 3 You take the following modules:• Media, Industry and Innovation(MSTU6001).

You then choose optional modulesfrom a list that may include: • Arts Internship (ART501)• Arts Funding and Policy: MakingIt Happen (ART526)

• Independent Project (ART500)• Podcasting (MSTU6002) • Psychology of the Arts (ART520)• Sex, Gender and Visual Culture(MSTU6003)

• Transmedia: Comics, Games andVR (MSTU5003).

• Introduction to Aesthetics and thePhilosophy of Art (HA361/HA362)

• Making Media (MSTU3000)• Modern Culture (SO334)• Popular Performance: Pubs,Clubs and Citizenship (DR346).

Stage 2You take:• Media Ethics (MSTU5000).

You then choose optional modulesfrom a list that may include:• Activist Video Making• Disability and the Arts (ART522)• Photography: Contexts ofPractice (ART523)

• Podcasting (MSTU5005)• Social Media and ParticipatoryCulture (MSTU5001)

• Video Gaming: Play and Players(MSTU5006).

“After I graduate, I willprobably do a Master’s.This degree has opened myeyes to modern media andI feel there is so much moreresearch to be done. Withregards to a career, I hope to go into marketing andadvertising, where I can applythe skills I’ve learnt at Kent.”

Aldo Manella Media Studies

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“There may be times duringyour studies when you needfriendly support andguidance. You may haveissues with your health,concerns about money, orworries about your studies.Whatever it might be, you willbe welcome at the Arts StudentSupport Office, where we willlisten and advise.”

Jacqui DoubleArts Student Support Officer

• discussing exam accessarrangements

• helping you with emotional,psychological or mentalhealth issues

• applying for relevant funding to support you.

Find out more at:www.kent.ac.uk/studentsupport

SUPERB STUDY SUPPORT

We’ll support youthroughout your timeat Kent, from helpingyou adjust to universitystudy to discussingmodule choices andessay topics with you.

You are assigned an academicadviser in your first year, and theyhelp you get the most from yourdegree programme. They meetwith you regularly to discussgeneral academic issues or specificassignments. They are able to assistyou in developing academic skillsand refer you to other sources ofhelp if you need it.

Peer supportThe best advice often comes from people who’ve been in yoursituation. On our buddy scheme,first-year students can request to bematched with second- or third-yearstudents on a similar degreeprogramme.

‘Buddies’ can help you settle in to university life and find your feet.They can help you to discuss ideasand improve your study skills as youprogress through your first year.

Study skills adviceSuccessful students take control oftheir own learning. Kent’s StudentLearning Advisory Service (SLAS)can help you increase yourcompetence and confidence andfulfil your potential. You can requesta one-to-one appointment or attend

workshops on a diverse rangeof topics from making the mostof lectures to writing well andavoiding plagiarism.

Student support andwellbeingYou might need extra help to getthe most from university. If youhave a medical condition, specificlearning difficulty, mental healthcondition or disability, the StudentSupport and Wellbeing team isthere to support you.

They are committed to improvingaccess to learning for all studentsat Kent and can assist with manythings, including:• talking to your lecturers aboutany help you need in lectures or seminars

• arranging note-takers, signersand other support workers for you

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A SUCCESSFUL FUTURE

What do you hope todo once you have yourdegree? Whether you have a specific careerpath in mind or haven’tyet thought much beyonduniversity, we can helpyou to plan for successin the future.

Build your CVYour degree studies help you todevelop skills such as thinkingcritically, expressing yourself clearly,solving problems and working bothindependently and as part of ateam. These transferable skills arevalued by employers and will alsobe vital if you go on to further study.

At Kent, you have lots of other greatopportunities to enhance your skills.For instance, you could:• join a society or sports club (evenbetter – get involved in running it)

• volunteer in the community• work in a part-time job or takeup a summer internship

• represent your fellow studentsas a student rep, or becomea student ambassador

• learn a new language or skillwith Study Plus.

Getting involved like this means that you can earn EmployabilityPoints, which you can exchange for employability rewards. The morepoints you earn, the more valuablethe rewards. We work with local,national and international employersto offer internships, work experienceand a range of other activities thatprepare you for the world of work.

Developing career skillsThe creative industries arecompetitive, but if you combineambition with the skills you gain atKent you will be in a great positionto succeed. If you choose to spend

a year on placement, you giveyourself the opportunity to makecontacts and assess possiblecareer paths. Many students findthat working during their summerbreak is a good way to gainvaluable experience.

Find a great jobYour degree can lead to a widerange of fascinating careers –graduates from the School of Artshave gone on to work in journalism,photography, film and TVproduction, arts organisations, filmand TV archives, marketing anddistribution, and university andschool teaching. Our Media Studiesgraduates will have lots of optionsopen to them including online filmand content producers, gallerycurators, podcast producers andmedia analysts.

Your School supports you withemployability events tailored tohumanities students, from exploringcareer options to presenting yourskills and experience effectivelyto employers.

Visit our careers fair to talk topotential employers and useour award-winning Careers andEmployability Service for adviceon preparing your CV. Our trackrecord speaks for itself: over 95% of Kent graduates who respondedto the most recent national survey of graduate destinations were inwork or further study within sixmonths (DLHE, 2017).

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COME AND FIND OUT MORE

Choosing a universityis a big step, so it’simportant to find out asmuch as you can beforeyou make your decision.Come and visit us to seewhat we can offer you.

Open DaysOpen Days are a great way to findout what life as a student at Kentis like. For instance, you can:• learn more about the course you are interested in at asubject presentation

• ask questions – talk to theacademic teams at theinformation stands

• find out about student finance,opportunities to study abroadand extra-curricular activitiessuch as those run by Kent Sport.

Explore the campus at your ownpace on the self-guided walkingtour. You can visit different types of accommodation, chat to currentstudents and enjoy the stunningviews over the city of Canterbury.

Open Days are held in the summerand autumn. Book your place atwww.kent.ac.uk/opendays

Applicant DaysIf you apply to Kent and we offeryou a place (or ask you to comefor an interview), you will usuallybe invited to an Applicant Day.Applicant Days run in the springterm and are an opportunity tofind out about the course in moredetail. You spend time with youracademic school meeting staffand current students, and takepart in activities that give you aflavour of your prospective courseand university life.

Informal visitsIf you can’t make it to an Open Dayor Applicant Day, you can still visitus. We run tours of the campusthroughout the year.

If you live outside Europe, weappreciate that you might find itdifficult to attend our scheduledevents, so we can arrange apersonal campus tour for you and your family.

Let us know you’re comingScheduled tours and personalcampus tours (for internationalstudents) need to be bookedin advance – you can do thisvia www.kent.ac.uk/informal

Meet us in your countryOur staff regularly travel overseasto meet with students who areinterested in coming to Kent.We also have strong links withagents in your home country whocan offer guidance and information

LocationCanterbury

AwardBA (Hons)

Degree programme

Single honours• Media Studies (W990) • Media Studies with an ApprovedYear Abroad (W991)

Joint honours• Media Studies and Art History• Media Studies and Drama• Media Studies and Film For UCAS codes please see:www.kent.ac.uk/ug

Offer levels

Single honoursBBB at A level;BTEC Extended Diploma: DDMIB Diploma 34 points overallincluding 15 points at HL.

Year abroadThose students taking a yearabroad must meet the necessaryrequirements at the end of Stage1 and Stage 2 in order to spend

a year abroad studying at one of our partner universities.The year abroad is betweenStages 2 and 3. For more details,see p7 or visit our website atwww.kent.ac.uk/goabroad

Placement yearStudents have the opportunityto apply for a placement year inthe UK or abroad, working for anorganisation or company as partof their studies. The placementyear takes place between Stages2 and 3. For more details, seewww.kent.ac.uk/humanities/studying/placement

Funding opportunitiesFor details of scholarshipsand bursaries at Kent, seewww.kent.ac.uk/ugfunding

Offer levels and entryrequirements are subjectto change. For the latestinformation, seewww.kent.ac.uk/ug

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on studying at Kent. Find out moreat www.kent.ac.uk/courses/international

Self-guided toursIf you prefer to explore on your own, you can download a self-guided walking tour atwww.kent.ac.uk/informal or pick up a copy from us.

A self-guided audio tour is availabletoo, which allows you to learn aboutKent without even leaving home.See www.kent.ac.uk/courses/visit/informal/audio-tour.html

Explore onlineIf you can’t come and see us,you can find out more about theacademic team, the course andevents in the department andSchool online at www.kent.ac.uk/arts

Keep in touch with us via socialmedia:www.facebook.com/unikentartswww.instagram.com/unikentartswww.twitter.com/unikentarts

Contact usIf you would like more informationon Kent’s courses, facilities orservices, please contact us on:T: +44 (0)1227 768896www.kent.ac.uk/ug This brochure was produced in June 2019. The University of Kent makes every effort

to ensure that the information contained in its publicity materials is fair and accurateand to provide educational services as described. However, the courses, services and other matters may be subject to change. For the most up-to-date information,see www.kent.ac.uk/ug and for full details of our terms and conditions, seewww.kent.ac.uk/termsandconditions

For the University to operate efficiently, it needs to process information about youfor administrative, academic and health and safety reasons. Any offer we make toyou is subject to your consent to process such information and is a requirement in order for you to be registered as a student. All students must agree to abide by theUniversity rules and regulations at: www.kent.ac.uk/regulations

FIND OUT MORE (CONT)

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University of Kent, The Registry, Canterbury, Kent CT2 7NZ T: +44 (0)1227 764000 www.kent.ac.uk/ug

COME ANDVISIT USTo find out more about visitingthe University, see our website:

www.kent.ac.uk/visit