Pursuing a degree in media and marketing abroad: what you must know

With society and the world becoming more and more connected and dependent on media and digital technology, studying media and marketing can help you stay relevant in the modern workplace.

Whether your interest lies in broadcasting or social media campaigns, you’ll get to explore that and more throughout the course of your media studies program.

While it feels like graduating with a media or marketing degree limits your career options, this is not true at all. If you decide to pursue opportunities outside the media industry, you can successfully do so thanks to the transferable skills you’ll develop.

What is media and marketing

Media

When you pursue media studies, you’ll take a closer look at how the different forms of media, such as print, television and film, affect society as a whole and influence people in their business and personal lives.

Apart from that, expect to dive into media theory as well as new methods of communication and explore the different areas of media including journalism, media relations, social media, strategic communications, digital marketing, web design and more.

Marketing

Marketing falls under the umbrella of media studies and is a popular specialization for those who wish to pursue a career in it.

With a goal of showcasing the value of a product or service, marketing is a compilation of efforts by a company to reach an audience and attract them via high-quality and creative messaging.

Through campaigns and content, good marketing can strengthen brand loyalty and boost sales.

Future outlook of the industry

As technology continues to evolve, so does the way we communicate. We now have more tools to communicate as compared to 5 years ago – for example, the different types and functions of social media which have in turn created more jobs.

When the COVID-19 pandemic hit, media and communication jobs became more valued around the world as companies had to think outside the box and reach their target audiences in new ways.

With a projected growth of around 14% in the next decade, the demand for media and communication jobs is expected to continue soaring!

If this is a career path you’re considering, read on to get a clearer idea about what to take note of before pursuing your media and marketing studies.

3 things you must know about studying media and marketing

1. The study options and costs

Your first step towards a career in the media would be a bachelor’s degree in media theory, communication or a comparable discipline.

This would typically take 4 years to complete, with each year costing anywhere around US$8,390 to US$26,586 in the US.

In the UK, your bachelor’s degree would take 3 years to complete, and you can expect to fork out around £9,250 per year.

Should you decide to further your studies after completing your bachelor’s, you can consider a master’s degree in media theory.

In the US, you’ll be set back around US$19,934 and this would take up to 2 years, depending on whether you study on a full-time or part-time basis.

As for the UK, expect to pay anywhere between £8,350 to £15,950 for a program that spans over 1 or 2 years.

2. The jobs and careers in the field

As a media studies graduate, some career paths you can consider include:

• Journalist
• Public relations officer
• Social media manager
• Media researcher
• Film / video / TV producer

If you choose to specialize in marketing, you can pursue the following jobs:

• Marketing executive
• Digital marketer
• Brand manager
• Copywriter
• Media planner

3. The cross-industry opportunities

As a media studies graduate, you would have acquired transferable skills such as writing, presenting, creative thinking and the ability to communicate clearly and directly.

Hence, you would be able to move to other industries and explore other jobs if you wish to.

For those who wish to work in a role that isn’t purely based in an office, you can consider working in sales or events.

Depending on your skill set, you can also consider pursuing a job as a graphic designer or specializing as a writer or editor in a specific area such as tech or fashion.

Further your studies in media and marketing with IDP

Now that you have a clearer idea about what it takes to pursue media and marketing, are you ready to take the next step?

With a wide range of media and marketing courses and universities that you can potentially choose from, there’s no doubt you would be able to find a suitable one.

At IDP, we have what it takes to ensure that you successfully enroll in a suitable course that is most aligned with your career goals.

Our team of education counsellors will be with you every step of the way – from assisting you throughout your application process to offering tailored guidance and valuable advice according to your unique situation.

Book your free counselling session to get started!