Media and English

Media and English is a combination that addresses both the creation and the critical analysis of the texts, images and messages that constitute contemporary culture. English literature trains you to read with precision and depth, to understand how language constructs meaning across different forms and periods, and to situate texts within the cultural and intellectual contexts from which they emerge. Media studies examines the institutions, technologies, industries and cultural dynamics through which modern communication is produced and consumed, bringing a social scientific and analytical perspective to the full range of contemporary media.

At the University of Derby this three-year, full-time programme includes a foundation year available for those who need additional preparation, along with a sandwich year in professional practice and a placement component. You will study literature and media in a genuinely integrated way, considering not just the close analysis of literary texts but the situations in which literature and media are produced and received. The programme includes intellectual and cultural history, art, film, philosophy, linguistics and sociology, as well as contemporary cultural politics and diverse cultural expression from across the globe and from different historical periods.

Graduates work across journalism, broadcasting, publishing, content production, public relations, social media, arts administration, education, digital marketing and the creative industries. The combination of critical reading, analytical writing and media understanding is valued by a wide range of employers who need people who can think carefully about language and culture and communicate clearly to different audiences. Many graduates also pursue postgraduate study in English, creative writing, media studies or journalism, using the dual foundation the undergraduate degree provides.