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Media Studies A Level

A Level

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Availability & Details

Media - A Level HF1-MDIAAL/C01

Venue
Havant Campus

Type of study
A Levels

Dates
(2 years)

Examination board
Oxford Cambridge & RSA Examinations

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Overview

Media Studies explores how the media impacts us as individuals and as a society. You’ll learn how media industries operate and explore issues such as representation, audience and genre.

You will learn about a wide range of media forms including television, magazines, video games and online media. The emphasis of this course will be on developing your analytical skills through discussion and essay writing. There is a practical element to the course and you will have the opportunity to create your own music video, TV sequence or advertising campaign.

Five GCSEs at grade 4 or above including English Language.

The Media A Level is made up of three components:

  • For Component 1, you will learn to analyse media language and representation and study media industries and audiences, focusing on advertising, including historical print-based ads and film marketing (Black Panther and I, Daniel Blake), as well as contemporary audio-visual charity advertisements. You will also study newspapers, video games (Assassin’s Creed) and music videos (Vance Joy and Beyonce).
  • For Component 2, you will examine various media forms in greater depth including contemporary TV drama (Life on Mars and The Bridge), mainstream and alternative magazines and finally blogs.
  • Component 3 is a practical coursework unit in which you will learn to use industry-standard software to create either a magazine and associated website or film marketing/music marketing materials.

You will be assessed via two examinations for Components 1 and 2. You will work on Component 3 in class from March to Christmas, submitting your creative portfolio at the end of the second year.

A good A Level pass in a range of subjects will assist you in progressing to Higher Education or appropriate employment. Media Studies students have progressed to careers in a variety of areas such as journalism, marketing, TV/film production and events management.


“HSDC provided me with the opportunity for autonomous study and the choice of subjects that I wanted to study, which helped me develop relevant knowledge as well as relevant skills for the workplace.”

Lucas Ratcliffe, A Level and CTEC student

The teaching and support was absolutely brilliant, they couldn’t have done anything more or anything better, if I had any questions my lecturers would always stay behind to help me if I needed it and their emails were always open, it was second to none. This college is the best by far.

Amber Searle, BTEC student

"I am delighted with my results and am really looking forward to studying Law at Oxford University. I really enjoyed my time at HSDC Alton and I really appreciate all the help and support from my fantastic teachers, without whom I wouldn't have got my place at Oxford."

Catherine Goldie, HSDC Alton A Level Student