BA Media and English
About this course
BA (Hons) in Media and English is an undergraduate degree combining the study of literary texts, cultural history, and media production. Core topics include Data Analysis and Research Methods. Students can also opt to complete a foundation year or an industrial placement year between the second and final stages of the course. The first year covers foundational concepts through Media Industries, Newswriting, Analysing Media, Theorising Literature and Meaning (PDP), Mutants and Monsters: Interpreting Fantasy, Shakespeare and Early Modernity, and the optional Podcast Professional. The second year builds core knowledge with Celebrity Media and Culture alongside Curating Contemporary Television, while offering optional modules such as Literature, Identity and The Real, Modernism, Nineteenth-Century Realism: Conscience and Context, Poetry and Revolution in the British Romantic Period, Research in Practice, Print Design and Production, Writing for Impact, and Media Research. The final year includes compulsory study in Technology, Surveillance and Screen Media. Optional modules in the final year allow specialisation in areas like English Independent Study (PDP), Advanced Research in Practice, After The Modern: Existentialism and Postmodernism, Colonialism and Independence, Tragedy, Gender and Identity in Contemporary Literature, Riots and Rebels: Studies in Intercultural Drama, The Art of Crime, Modern and Contemporary Poetry, Eighteenth-Century Literature: Terror Wit and Letters of Love, Media Dissertation, Gendered Cyberspace, Start Up Journalism, and Data Science and Data Journalism.
Written by AI from the university's course page and module list. It can get details wrong, so check the official course page before you rely on it.
Entry requirements
UCAS tariff: 112 A level: BBC T Level: Merit BTEC: DMM GCSE: GCSE Maths and English Grade 4/Grade C (or above) or equivalent qualification Access to HE: Pass Access to HE Diploma with 60 credits: 45 at Level 3 with a minimum of Distinction: 15, Merit: 24, Pass: 6 English language: IELTS: 6.0 (with at least 5.5 in each skills area)
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What students say
Based on about 22 final-year students who answered, across similar courses at this university (a small group: a rough guide only)
- Teaching on my course: 86%
- Learning opportunities: 87%
- Assessment and feedback: 87%
- Academic support: 85%
- Organisation and management: 64%
- Learning resources: 89%
- Student voice: 81%
Do students stay on the course?
Based on about 70 students who started, across similar courses at this university
- Continued on course: 87%
- Left higher education: 13%
What graduates do next
Based on about 8 graduates who answered, across similar courses at this university (a small group: a rough guide only)
- Working: 85%
- Working and studying: 10%
- Unemployed: 10%
Most common jobs
- Artistic, literary and media occupations: 25%
- Customer service occupations: 20%
- Sales occupations: 20%
- Teaching Professionals: 5%
- Elementary occupations: 5%
- Find their work meaningful: 80%
- Feel on track for their future plans: 65%
- Use what they learnt on the course: 50%
Where graduates work (5 years on)
Based on about 90 graduates, across similar courses at this university
- North West: 3%
- Yorkshire and the Humber: 8%
- East Midlands: 45%
- West Midlands: 24%
- East of England: 7%
- London: 3%
- South East: 6%
- South West: 2%
- Wales: 1%
- Scotland: 1%
- Northern Ireland: 1%
Who gets in
Based on about 60 students who started, across similar courses at this university
- A levels: 95%
- Access course: 2%
- Other qualifications: 2%
- No formal qualifications: 2%
Accreditation & quality ratings
TEF 2023 (whole university): Gold overall, Gold for student experience, Silver for student outcomes.
Modules
- Placement Learning and Professional Development
- Media Industries
- Newswriting
- Analysing Media
- Theorising Literature and Meaning (PDP)
- Mutants and Monsters: Interpreting Fantasy
- Shakespeare and Early Modernity
- Podcast Professional
- Celebrity Media and Culture
- Curating Contemporary Television
- Literature, Identity and The Real
- Modernism
- Nineteenth-Century Realism: Conscience and Context
- Poetry and Revolution in the British Romantic Period
- Research in Practice
- Print Design and Production
- Writing for Impact
- Media Research
- Technology, Surveillance and Screen Media
- English Independent Study (PDP)
- Advanced Research in Practice
- After The Modern: Existentialism and Postmodernism
- Colonialism and Independence
- Tragedy
- Gender and Identity in Contemporary Literature
- Riots and Rebels: Studies in Intercultural Drama
- The Art of Crime
- Modern and Contemporary Poetry
- Eighteenth-Century Literature: Terror Wit and Letters of Love
- Media Dissertation
- Gendered Cyberspace
- Start Up Journalism
- Data Science and Data Journalism
Questions about this course
How much do graduates of BA Media and English at University of Derby earn?
The median salary is £25,000 after 15 months, £20,000 after 3 years, £23,500 after 5 years. After five years the middle half of graduates earn between £20,500 and £30,000. The £23,500 median after five years is £5,500 less than the UK median for English studies.
What do graduates of BA Media and English at University of Derby do next?
90% were in work or further study 15 months after finishing (Graduate Outcomes 2023-24).
Are students happy with the teaching on BA Media and English at University of Derby?
86% of final-year students were positive about the teaching in the National Student Survey 2025-26.
What grades do I need for BA Media and English at University of Derby?
The typical offer is BBC at A level. The average entrant had 111 UCAS points.
Does BA Media and English at University of Derby include a placement year or year abroad?
The course has an optional placement year.
How many students continue on BA Media and English at University of Derby?
87% of students continued into their second year, and 13% left higher education.