What is IGCSE Media Studies?

We all know what it’s like to truly immerse yourself in a good film, TV show or video game. But what if you could combine your love of media with your academic studies? If this sounds appealing, IGCSE Media Studies (opens in a new tab) might be for you.

Before you choose your IGCSE options, you need a clear picture of what each subject involves. That’s why we’ve created this guide for IGCSE Media Studies: what it is, how it’s assessed, and whether it’s the right choice for you.

Key Takeaways

• IGCSE Media Studies helps you to understand how media is produced and received

• The four main areas you’ll cover are media language, media representations, media industries and media audiences

• The assessment consists of two components: a written paper and Non-Exam Assessment (NEA)

• You’ll likely benefit from studying IGCSE Media Studies if you enjoy media and want to develop your media literacy

What is IGCSE Media Studies All About?

Like GCSE Media Studies, IGCSE Media Studies is all about understanding how media – including print, film and news – is created and consumed.

We interact with the media on a daily basis. Every time you watch your favourite shows on streaming or scroll through Instagram, you’re part of a media audience. Understanding the process behind media creation can help you to become a more conscious audience member, giving you the tools to decode the hidden messages and technical tricks producers use to grab your attention.

With its blend of theoretical knowledge and practical application, IGCSE Media Studies can be really helpful for your other subjects. If you’ve ever had to make a PowerPoint presentation, analyse a primary source from a news article in History or create a video for a project, you’ve already used some of the core skills taught in IGCSE Media Studies.

What Will You Study in IGCSE Media Studies?

OxfordAQA, the only exam board currently offering IGCSE Media Studies, covers four broad areas:

1. Media Language

• Media forms and meanings

• Codes, conventions and genres

• Narrative

• Media contexts

You’ll learn valuable communication skills for a range of different purposes, including to persuade, inform and entertain. These skills will also be highly beneficial for IGCSE English Language.

2. Media Representations

• Representations of reality

• Stereotypes

• Representations in the news

• Audiences and representations

• Media contexts

You’ll develop critical thinking skills, enabling you to discern fake news, misinformation and partiality – all of which is very topical (opens in a new tab)!

3. Media Industries

• Ownership and media production

• Convergence

• Globalisation

• Funding and regulation

• Media contexts

You’ll develop commercial awareness and business literacy, both of which are especially useful for IGCSE Business or Economics.

4. Media Audiences

• The nature and significance of the audience

• Defining and categorising media audiences

• Targeting

• Theoretical perspectives on the audience

• Audience practices

• Media contexts

You’ll analyse and evaluate theories on audience motivation and needs, which goes particularly well with IGCSE Psychology.

For more information on the IGCSE Media Studies topics, visit our page.

How Is IGCSE Media Studies Assessed?

The table below outlines Oxford AQA’s assessment structure for IGCSE Media Studies:

What Skills Will You Gain?

IGCSE Media Studies helps you develop a range of skills, including the following:

• Creativity

  • Creating a media product

• Communication

  • Using verbal and non-verbal methods to persuade, inform and entertain

• Analysis 

  • Understanding and evaluating different theories on audiences

• Critical thinking

  • Discerning fake news, misinformation and partiality

These skills are useful for undergraduate degrees in Media Studies (opens in a new tab), careers in media (opens in a new tab), and roles requiring media literacy (opens in a new tab).

Who Should Take IGCSE Media Studies?

This IGCSE is ideal if you:

• Would like to produce your own media product

• Want to develop your communication skills

• Are interested in modern developments in media, such as social media and AI

• Like analysing different types of media, including television and news

• Think you might study Media Studies at university

OxfordAQA has no previous learning requirements for IGCSE Media Studies, so it’s up to schools which students they allow onto the course. Check with your school’s Media department to clarify any specific entry requirements they might have.

What Can IGCSE Media Studies Lead To?

IGCSE Media Studies can open up several academic and professional pathways.

Further Study Options

• A Level Media Studies combined with other relevant A Levels, such as Film Studies or English Literature

• Degrees in Media Studies, (opens in a new tab) Film (opens in a new tab) or Journalism (opens in a new tab)

Career Pathways

With Parliament recently calling for workplace-based media training (opens in a new tab), IGCSE Media Studies will put you in a great position with employers in the modern world of work. Here are just some of the different industries and roles where IGCSE Media Studies is particularly useful:

• Marketing and advertising, e.g. digital marketer

• Journalism, e.g. news reporter

• Film, e.g. producer or video editor

• Business, e.g. web designer

• Entertainment, e.g. video game designer

Is IGCSE Media Studies Hard?

While many students find IGCSE Media Studies manageable, the demands for critical thinking, the NEA and understanding key terms can sometimes be challenging.

Fortunately, there are tools that can help. Developing time management skills will help you to juggle the NEA with your other components and subjects, and I always recommend my students use Knoword (opens in a new tab) for vocabulary. Search ‘media’ to find packs that might be relevant to you, and you can quiz yourself using different modes.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is there coursework or practical work in IGCSE Media Studies?

Yes, there is. 50% of your IGCSE comes from your NEA, which requires you to spend around 30-40 hours in total on making a media product.

Is IGCSE Media Studies useful for my future?

The skills you’ll gain from it – such as communication, analysis and media literacy – are transferable and useful in a variety of contexts.

Whether the subject content will be useful for your future depends on what your goals are. If you want to study Media Studies beyond IGCSE or work in the media industry, it will be useful. If not, you might find it more useful to study a different IGCSE.

Is IGCSE Media Studies respected by universities?

Yes! As an OxfordAQA qualification, it carries the prestige of Oxford University Press – an Oxford University Department – and AQA, which is the UK’s largest provider of GCSEs and A Levels. Its qualifications, including IGCSE Media Studies, are recognised worldwide (opens in a new tab).

Final Thoughts

IGCSE Media Studies is a relevant and diverse qualification equipping you with practical, real-world skills. It works especially well alongside IGCSE English and Psychology, and it opens a number of doors both academically and professionally.

If you like analysing television shows, films, video games and other types of media, IGCSE Media Studies is likely something you’ll enjoy. You also get to analyse an episode of Dr Who – how many other subjects can say that?

References

• About OxfordAQA (opens in a new tab)

• Complete University Guide: Undergraduate Media Studies Courses (opens in a new tab)

• Gov.uk (opens in a new tab): A Safe, Informed Digital Nation (opens in a new tab)

• House of Lords Communications and Digital Committee: Media Literacy (opens in a new tab)

• Knoword (opens in a new tab)

• National Literacy Trust: Media Literacy (opens in a new tab)

• OxfordAQA International GCSE Media Studies (9257) Specification (opens in a new tab)

• OxfordAQA International Qualifications: International GCSE Media Studies (9257) (opens in a new tab)

• Oxford AQA International Qualifications: Non-exam assessment (opens in a new tab)

• Tutopiya: IGCSE and A-level Subjects for Media, Film and Journalism Degrees (opens in a new tab)

• UCAS: Careers in Media, Publishing and Information Services (opens in a new tab)

• UCAS: Courses in Film (opens in a new tab)

• UCAS: Courses in Journalism (opens in a new tab)

• UCAS: Courses in Media Studies (opens in a new tab)