What Is A Level Media Studies?

Ever wondered why some adverts stick in your head, or how social media and film shape the way we think? A Level Media Studies explores those questions and more. You’ll learn how media messages are created, how audiences interpret them, and how global industries influence what we watch, read, and share. 

So, what is A Level Media Studies all about? It’s a subject that helps you see behind the screen. The course blends analysis and creativity, helping you understand how the media works while giving you the chance to produce your own original content. 

By the end of the course, you’ll not only understand how the media works but also how to use it to tell stories, shape opinions, and express ideas creatively.

Key Takeaways

• A Level Media Studies explores how media products are created, distributed, and understood across film, television, news, advertising, and online platforms.

• You’ll study four main areas common to all exam boards: media language, representation, audiences, and industries.

• Assessment includes two written exams (70%) and a creative coursework project (30%), where you design and produce your own original media product.

• It suits students who enjoy combining analysis with creativity and want to understand how media influences ideas, culture, and behaviour.

What Do You Study in A Level Media Studies?

A Level Media Studies gives you a deeper understanding of how media shapes the way we see the world. You’ll study a wide range of media forms, from television and film marketing to news, advertising, magazines, and social media. You’ll learn about how meaning is created and interpreted.

Most exam boards, including AQA (opens in a new tab), Eduqas (opens in a new tab), and OCR (opens in a new tab), organise the course around four key areas that you’ll revisit across different topics and case studies.

Media Language

You’ll explore how media products use technical, visual, and audio codes to communicate meaning.

You’ll learn to analyse:

• Camera work and editing in television or film

• Layout, typography, and colour in print and digital media

• Sound, lighting, and performance in moving image texts

You’ll understand how producers guide audience reactions and how subtle choices can influence interpretation. For example, you might look at how lighting and sound build tension in a film trailer, or how colour and composition influence how a magazine cover is perceived. 

Representation

Representation focuses on how people, places, and ideas are portrayed in the media. You’ll explore issues such as:

• Gender stereotypes in advertising and film

• The portrayal of race, class, or age in television

• How media both reflects and challenges social attitudes

This area helps you think critically about diversity, bias, and social messages in everything from news coverage to music videos. 

Examples include how advertising reflects social change, how news coverage shapes public opinion, or how television dramas explore diversity and inclusion.

Media Industries and Audiences

Here you’ll study how media organisations operate and how audiences engage with them. Topics include:

• Ownership, regulation, and globalisation

• The impact of digital technologies on production and distribution

• How audiences interpret, share, and even create content

You’ll also explore how audience research and marketing influence the media we consume every day.

Close Study Products (CSPs)

Each exam board provides a set list of Close Study Products, which are real-world examples that you’ll analyse in detail. 

For example, in the current Eduqas (opens in a new tab) Media Studies specification, options that your teacher might select for your study include:

• Newspapers: ‘The Times’, ‘Daily Mirror’

• Magazines: ‘Woman’ (1964), ‘Vogue’ (1965), ‘The Big Issue’ (2016)

• TV dramas: ‘Peaky Blinders’, ‘The Bridge’, or ‘Killing Eve’

• Movies (including film marketing): ‘Black Panther’ or ‘I, Daniel Blake’

• Radio programmes: BBC Radio’s ‘Woman’s Hour’

• Music video: ‘Formation’ by Beyoncé or ‘Seventeen Going Under’ by Sam Fender

• Video games: ‘Assassin’s Creed’ franchise

• Online and social media platforms: YouTube channels by Zoe Sugg and JJ Olatunji

Using these case studies will help you apply theory and show how media reflects its audience, context, and purpose. 

Because the media industry is ever-changing, exam boards regularly update their list of Close Study Products. Your teacher will confirm the items of study that apply to your course year.

Theoretical Frameworks and Key Theorists

You’ll use a range of academic theories to support your analysis, including:

• Roland Barthes – semiotics and meaning

• Stuart Hall – representation and audience decoding

• Judith Butler – gender theory

• David Gauntlett – identity and self-representation

• Henry Jenkins – fandom and participatory culture

These frameworks help you think critically about how media products shape meaning, identity, and ideology.

How Is A Level Media Studies Assessed?

A Level Media Studies is assessed through a combination of written exams and a creative coursework project, also known as Non-Exam Assessment (NEA).

Although the exact structure varies slightly between exam boards, all follow a similar pattern. Most courses include two written exams (worth around 70%) and a coursework project (worth around 30%).

Written Exams

Both exam papers assess your ability to apply theory, analyse meaning, and evaluate how media products communicate ideas to audiences.

You’ll write structured essays supported by examples from your set products and unseen texts.

Typical questions include:

• “How does media language influence audience response?”

• “In what ways do media representations reflect social, cultural, or political contexts?”

You’ll be expected to write clearly, use subject terminology accurately, and reference relevant theorists and case studies.

Coursework / Non-Exam Assessment (NEA)

The coursework allows you to apply what you’ve learned creatively. You’ll plan, design, and produce your own original media product in response to a set brief from your exam board.

Your work will demonstrate understanding of media language, audience, and representation, and you’ll complete a short written evaluation explaining your choices.

This part of the course develops your creativity, technical skills, and ability to link theory with practice.

Skills You’ll Develop

A Level Media Studies helps you build a strong mix of analytical, creative, and communication skills that prepare you for further study and a range of careers.

Analytical Thinking

You’ll learn to break down complex media texts, identify key techniques, and explain how meaning is created. This strengthens your essay-writing, interpretation, and reasoning skills. All of these are valuable in subjects like English, Sociology, or Politics.

Critical Awareness

The course encourages you to think deeply about how the media represents people and ideas. You’ll evaluate how media shapes public opinion, challenges stereotypes, and reflects cultural change.

Creative Production

Through your coursework, you’ll gain practical experience in planning, designing, and producing media content. You’ll learn to apply visual storytelling, layout, and digital editing skills in realistic contexts.

Communication and Writing

Media Studies helps you express complex ideas clearly and persuasively. You’ll practise using subject terminology and structuring written arguments, which supports success in other essay-based subjects and university work.

Digital Literacy

You’ll become confident using creative software and online tools to research, design, and share media products. This skill is increasingly valuable in higher education and the modern workplace.

Who Should Take A Level Media Studies?

A Level Media Studies is ideal for students who are curious about how media shapes the way we see the world. You’ll enjoy this subject if you like analysing what you watch, read, and share, and want to understand how meaning is created through images, language, and sound.

You might be suited to Media Studies if you:

• Enjoy exploring film, television, news, advertising, or social media

• Are interested in how media influences culture, politics, and identity

• Like combining creative projects with critical essay writing

• Have strong communication skills and enjoy discussion and debate

• Want to develop digital and design-based skills alongside analysis

The subject pairs well with other A Levels that focus on communication and culture, such as English Literature, Film Studies, Sociology, History, or Politics.

You don’t need to have studied GCSE Media Studies to take it. What matters most is curiosity about how the media works and a willingness to think critically about the messages it presents.

For further advice, consult our guide to choosing A Level subjects.

What Can You Do With A Level Media Studies?

A Level Media Studies opens up a wide range of creative and academic pathways. The analytical, creative, and technical skills you’ll develop are valuable in both university study and modern career fields.

University and Further Study

Universities value Media Studies for its balance of analytical and creative learning. It prepares you well for degrees that explore how media influences society, creativity, and communication.

Many students go on to study:

• Media Studies, Film, or Communications

• Journalism, Digital Marketing, or Public Relations

• Cultural Studies, Sociology, or English

Career Opportunities

The skills gained from Media Studies are highly transferable. They’re useful in creative and communication-based careers, including:

• Film, television, and radio production

• Advertising, marketing, and public relations

• Journalism and social media management

• Content creation and digital design

• Teaching, research, or communications

Even outside the media sector, your ability to analyse information, understand audiences, and communicate clearly will serve you well in almost any profession.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is A Level Media Studies respected by universities?

Yes. Media Studies is recognised as a rigorous academic subject, especially when studied alongside other analytical A Levels, such as English Literature, History, or Sociology.

It’s valued for its combination of research, essay writing, and creative skills.

Do you need Media Studies at GCSE to take it at A Level?

No. Most schools and colleges do not require GCSE Media Studies. You’ll start by learning the core concepts and terminology, so interest and enthusiasm are far more important than prior experience.

A background in English or humanities subjects can be helpful for developing analytical and essay-writing skills.

Is A Level Media Studies hard?

It can be challenging, as you’ll need to balance theory, analysis, and creative coursework.

However, if you’re organised, enjoy writing, and are curious about the media, you’ll likely find it rewarding and engaging.

What subjects go well with Media Studies?

Media Studies pairs well with English Literature, Film Studies, Sociology, Art and Design, or Politics. These subjects complement its mix of critical thinking, creativity, and communication skills.

Final Thoughts

A Level Media Studies is a relevant and engaging subject for today’s world. It helps you understand how the media shapes opinions, influences culture, and communicates ideas, while giving you the tools to create your own.

If you’re interested in storytelling, current affairs, or creative production, Media Studies offers the perfect mix of analysis and creativity. You’ll build transferable skills in writing, research, and design that prepare you for university and beyond.

Explore Save My Exams A Level Media Studies resources for expert revision notes, topic questions, and guidance on every part of the course.

References

• AQA | A-level Media Studies | Specification (opens in a new tab)

• Eduqas | AS and A Level Media Studies | Specification (opens in a new tab)

• OCR | AS and A Level Media Studies | Specification (opens in a new tab)