As we hit exam season, many young people are sitting level 3 qualification in the hope of a higher education place this September, whilst those taking level 2 are considering their futures and potential degree options. Here is a suggestion: a degree that.
- produces groundbreaking innovative research
- produces highly skilled individuals able to work across a broad range of sectors
- a key part of a sector that has grown 1.5 times the rate of the wider UK economy
and the degree… Media and Communication Studies. The British Academy (the UK’s academy for the humanities and social sciences) has recently published “Media, Screen, Journalism and Communication Studies: Provision in UK Higher Education”. and paints a very different picture from the well-known usual accusations that these are Mickey Mouse low-value degrees.
The report highlights some groundbreaking research graduates produce, such as music’s influence on maternal mental health, developing a framework on children’s rights and digital technologies in collaboration with UNICEF, and digital skills and inclusion work across public, private and third-sector organisations. You can find graduates across a wide range of sectors, top graduate destinations in 2021/2022 were the Information and Communication sector and Professional, Scientific and Technical Activities sector. Graduates are working on issues such as the rise of new technology, the use of Artificial Intelligence and the dangers of disinformation. Whilst graduates in the Creative sectors are part of a £108bn contribution to the UK economy.
However, the report also highlights some issues of concern. Between 2019 and 2021, there has been a 2% drop in undergraduate numbers in media, screen, journalism and communication courses. (and also highlights a drop in GCSE and A level in these subjects). Media studies grew by 5%, whilst Cinematics and Photography saw a 5% drop. Journalism has seen a long-term drop of 21% between 2012 and 2021. Though spread across a wide range of institutions, there is a trend towards the Russell Group institutions (undergraduates up 14%) and London-based institutions (with 45% of postgraduate numbers).
The report shows that far from their portrayal as Mickey Mouse low-value degrees, a degree in media and communications could be the degree of the future.