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Communications and Media

Graduates from this subject tend to fall broadly into two groups – those who wish to work in media professions and those who use their degree as a route into careers unrelated to the subject studied. Many Film and Television Studies graduates aim to work in the creative and media industries – sectors which cover a wide range of activities including TV and radio broadcasting; film-making (pre-production, production and post-production); animation and interactive media (computer games, interactive TV and web design).

In 2010/11, six months after graduating:

85.0% of graduates with a first degree were in employment

5.0% were in full-time further study

2.5% were combining work and study

Although many graduates are drawn to the production and broadcast side of film making, there are many other opportunities available. Interactive media is the largest sector in the audio-visual industries and offers job roles across the spectrum, from design to production and business support roles. Other opportunities exist in areas such as publishing, journalism, marketing, advertising, events management and public relations and with around 60% of graduate positions open to graduates from all disciplines a broad range of careers are available with a degree in this subject. 

In 2010/11 Communications and Media graduates were employed in the following positions:

• Assistant Editor
• Design Assistant
• Freelance Logger
• Global Events Executive
• News Reporter
• Press Office Assistant
• PR Consultant

In 2010/11 Communications and Media graduates entered further study courses such as:

• MA 3D Advanced Multimedia Design
• MSc Communications and Media
• MSc Marketing

The positive impact of a sandwich placement on graduate employment outcomes across Brunel is considerable. Those who have done placements are also much more likely to be in employment for which their degree was a formal requirement or where they believe their degree gave them a competitive advantage in recruitment.

Placement leavers from Communications and Media experienced the following outcomes:

• 92.3% progressed into employment or further study
• 58.3% were engaged in a graduate-level activity (employment or further study)
• 58.3% of employed leavers were working in the top three categories of graduate level employment
• The average starting salary was £18,000.  

For those who wish to enter media careers the first step is usually to achieve relevant experience and this is a notoriously difficult and highly competitive sector. Entry level jobs tend to be classified at non-graduate level so while the number of leavers entering graduate-level employment does not appear to be as high as in other subjects the roles achieved broadly reflect the nature of the experience required. In what is an extremely competitive sector the opportunity that placement brings in terms of networking has undoubtedly benefited many graduates from this subject.

Relevant experience is almost always required for jobs in the media professions and for those students graduating without it, it is often combined with another part-time job. Job search strategy is often about getting a ‘foot in the door’ in order to compete for graduate positions later.

A growing national trend is for many students to delay their job applications until completing their studies, preferring to focus on achieving the highest grade possible. This can result in some graduates initially continuing with their part-time job while they explore their options after graduating. As a result some graduates were working in non-graduate level positions including sales, customer service and administrative occupations.

The DLHE survey provides a snap shot of a very short amount of time (six months) after graduating and while many have progressed into relevant graduate jobs others are taking time out, travelling, waiting to start a course or continuing with their part-time job while they explore their options after graduating. Many graduates have moved on in their careers since completing the questionnaire.