Graduate careers advice: you and your media studies degree

Read our careers advice on how your career can develop.

Related jobs include:

• Broadcaster
• Editor
• Film/TV producer
• Market researcher
• Picture researcher/editor
• Presenter, radio and television
• Public relations officer
• Radio production
• UX designer
• Writer, radio/TV/film

Work experience

Media is a highly competitive field, so experience, combined with motivation and persistence, is critical in finding employment.

Contact TV, radio, print, advertising and PR agencies to see what work experience opportunities they offer. While on your course, take up any voluntary positions or part-time summer placements you can find. Take a role at your university’s radio station, newspaper or publications office.

Your course may offer you the chance to take a work placement with a media related organisation. This will allow you to gain practical experience and build contacts.

More information on work experience can be found here .

What sectors?

The media, creative and cultural industries are the main sectors where media studies graduates find employment. Areas of work include television, radio, film, computer games, journalism, digital media, PR, writing and publishing.

Employers include:

• the civil service;
• communications agencies;
• local government;
• publishing;
• TV/radio;
• PR consultancies;
• marketing firms;
• educational institutes.

Your media studies CV

Combining theory with practice, a media studies degree will develop skills like:

• research;
• critical analysis;
• teamwork;
• time management;
• media awareness, both commercial and cultural;
• flexibility;
• creativity.

Your course will develop your ability to communicate information clearly and effectively, an attribute all employers appreciate.

Postgraduate study

If you wish to branch out to a career in areas like teaching, media law, journalism or PR, you may wish to take up further study to develop your knowledge of such areas or to meet qualification standards.

Postgraduate study won’t guarantee employment but it will develop your skills and allow you to build contacts. It may not be necessary depending on the area you wish to pursue a career in.

More information can be found in our Further Study section.