A LEVEL
Media Studies
In Media Studies, you’ll look at how television, film, social media and advertising shape the way we see the world.
Learn to see the media all around you in new ways, uncovering how stories are crafted and how they influence audiences. Through creating your own work, you will find your voice as a storyteller, developing the insight and confidence to communicate with impact.
You arrive as you are, and you’re celebrated for it. You leave ready to take on the world.
— Sixth Form student
Why Choose Media Studies at St Paul’s?
Our Media Studies department is a lively and imaginative environment where ideas take shape and every voice matters.
- Smaller classes create the space to explore, question, and develop your own creative perspective.
- Experienced teachers bring industry insight and a passion for storytelling, helping you analyse, design, and produce media with purpose and originality.
- You will join a supportive community where collaboration, debate, and curiosity drive learning.
- Media Studies opens doors to future study and careers in journalism, film, marketing, digital design, and beyond.
- It is a place to challenge assumptions, experiment with new forms of communication, and take pride in the stories you choose to tell.
Where Media Studies Can Take You
Students from St Paul’s go on to study film, communications, journalism, and digital media at leading universities, or begin careers in production, marketing, and the creative industries, where strong storytelling and analytical skills set them apart.
I thought about leaving, but I realised no one else would care about me the way St Paul’s does. Here, I’m not starting over, I’m moving forward.
— Student Name
What You’ll Study
You will investigate how stories, images and technology influence the way people think and connect. Through both analysis and creation, you will build confidence in expressing ideas clearly and creatively. These are skills that universities and employers value highly.
Your studies will cover:
Investigating Media Language and Representation – Explore how meaning is created through media language and representation across different forms, including music videos, video games, advertising, film marketing, newspapers and radio. You’ll analyse how social, cultural and historical contexts shape the messages media products convey, supported by key theoretical approaches.
Investigating Media Forms and Products – Build on your analytical skills by studying media language, representation, industries and audiences across television, magazines and blogs. You’ll explore how these platforms reflect and influence society, while developing a critical understanding of how audiences engage with media.
Media Production – Create your own original media product in a chosen format such as television, magazines, film or music marketing. You’ll apply theory to practice, showing your understanding of audience, industry and design, and demonstrating creativity and technical skill through a professional-standard production.
Full details of the course can be found in the exam board’s official Eduqas specification.
As you move through the course, you’ll learn to question what you see, uncover hidden meanings, and think critically about the stories shaping our world. These analytical and creative skills open doors to a wide range of careers and university pathways.
You arrive as you are, and you’re celebrated for it. You leave ready to take on the world.
— Sixth Form student
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Media Studies Exam Results
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PASS RATE
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achieved
A* to C
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achieved
A* to B
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achieved
A* to A
Entry Requirements
This course does not have additional entry requirements beyond our standard entry requirements.
These requirements are in place to help set you up for success and make sure you have the right foundation to enjoy the challenge of Sixth Form study.
I thought about leaving, but I realised no one else would care about me the way St Paul’s does. Here, I’m not starting over, I’m moving forward.
— Student Name
Hear From Our Students
Media Studies is definitely a subject you should consider whoever you are and whatever your interests are
A truly inspiring subject which allows you to use your knowledge not just within, but outside of the subject too
Studying media will teach you the skills to become part of tomorrow’s world. Media is perfect for any career in journalism, PR, or Literary work
Mr M Bullock
SUBJECT LEADER FOR MEDIA
Thank you for your interest in Media Studies at St Paul’s. Our team of enthusiastic specialists are here to guide and support you as you explore how media shapes our world.
Should you have any questions at all about studying Media Studies at A Level, or the possible career paths beyond College, please do not hesitate to contact me.
Send me a message
We’d love to hear from you, whether you want to talk about subject choices, entry requirements, or your future career ideas.
Are you ready to question the world around you, explore how stories shape society, and create media that informs, inspires and influences?
Start your Media Studies journey at St Paul’s.
Whatever course you choose, you’ll be joining a community where every student is known and loved. Our mission is not just to help you succeed academically, but to help you grow as a person, supported and celebrated every step of the way.
Media StudiesCourse Content
This exciting course will equip you with the communication and technology skills needed to succeed in the modern workplace, whether in the media industry or not.
| COMPONENT 1 Investigating Media Language & Representation | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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WEIGHT |
30% |
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FORMAT |
Examined |
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This component introduces learners to the knowledge, understanding and skills required to analyse media products through the study of key areas of the theoretical framework – media language and representation.
Students study media language and representation in relation to examples chosen by the exam board. They will study at least two examples in each of the following forms:
- Music video and video games
- Advertising and film marketing
- Newspapers and radio news/current affairs programs
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Students explore and analyse how meanings and representations are constructed in media products through media language, as well as considering how they are influenced by social, cultural, historical and industry (including economic and political) contexts. Relevant theoretical approaches and theories are also studied.
| COMPONENT 2 Investigating Media Forms & Products | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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WEIGHT |
40% |
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FORMAT |
Examined |
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Students build on the knowledge and understanding developed in Component 1 by studying all four areas of the theoretical framework.
Students study media language, representation, media industries and audiences in relation to:
- Television
- Magazines
- Blogs
This involves the detailed study of set products in a holistic way, building on the study of media language and representation in Component 1 to also consider industry and audience issues. Students explore the influence of relevant social, cultural, historical and industry contexts on the set products. Relevant theoretical approaches and theories are also studied.
| COMPONENT 3Media Production | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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WEIGHT |
30% |
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FORMAT |
Non Examined Assessment |
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Learners create an individual media production in one form, applying their knowledge and understanding of media language, representation, industry and audiences in response to a choice of briefs set by the exam board. The forms that learners can work in include television, magazine, film marketing, music marketing and online options. The intended audience and industry context are specified in the brief.Â
