BA Media Studies

3 Years On Campus Bachelors Program

Maynooth University

Program Overview

The BA in Media Studies at Maynooth University in Ireland gives you a dynamic blend of practical media production skills and critical understanding of how media shapes society, culture, and politics — from digital storytelling to analysing contemporary media trends. This degree is ideal if you’re passionate about creative communication, media industries, and want to build both hands‑on expertise and analytical insight for a career in content creation, research, or media strategy.

Curriculum structure

Year 1:
In your first year, you’ll build core foundations in media theory and creative practice, exploring how media operates in society while also getting hands‑on with tools for audio‑visual production and interactive projects. You’ll take around 30 credits of Media Studies modules, learning basics like media research, web authoring, and film/TV production, while combining these with BA subjects of your choice such as languages, business, or social sciences to broaden your arts education.

Year 2:
In the second year, you deepen both your critical analysis and practical skills through project‑based work and optional electives that allow you to tailor your path — from multimedia storytelling to interactive media studies. You’ll start to shape your academic focus with Media Studies as a major or as part of a major/minor combination, continuing to explore media cultures, genre theory, and production practices alongside your chosen arts subjects.

Year 3:
Your final year brings advanced study where you integrate everything you’ve learned into larger individual and group projects, combining research, creative production, and critical reflection. You’ll study higher‑level topics in media design, industry practices, and interactive storytelling that prepare you for professional life or postgraduate study. This year really brings your practical experience and theoretical insights together for real‑world application.

Focus areas: Critical media theory, audio‑visual production, interactive storytelling, media research, digital media practices, cultural/media analysis.

Learning outcomes: You’ll graduate able to produce compelling media content, analyse media’s role in culture and politics, conduct independent research, and work effectively across digital platforms and media industries.

Professional alignment (accreditation): This is an approved NFQ Level 8 Bachelor of Arts degree in Ireland, comparable to international undergraduate standards and recognised for academic and professional progression.

Reputation (employability rankings): Maynooth University is consistently ranked among the top young universities globally, placed within the top 90 in the 2024 Times Higher Education Young University Rankings, and features in broader global university rankings, supporting strong academic quality and graduate prospects.

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

At Maynooth University, your Media Studies degree is designed so you don’t just learn about media — you create and analyse it. From your very first year, hands‑on instruction in creative media practice builds practical skills in audiovisual production, interactive storytelling, and critical media analysis that mirror real industry workflows. The Department of Media Studies is based in the Iontas Building on North Campus, where you’ll work on independent and group projects that strengthen your ability to research, produce, and present media content. Coursework regularly involves practical assignments, collaborative production tasks, and opportunities to combine digital practice with theoretical study to prepare you for the evolving media landscape.

Here are the core experiential learning opportunities and facilities that support your practical development:

Digital media labs and multimedia production tools: Access to specialised labs for creating and editing media, supporting coursework in audiovisual and digital media practice.
Hands‑on project work: Structured practical modules and group projects throughout the three years build skills in production, editing, story development, and media research.
Independent and collaborative work: Opportunities to work individually and in teams on creative media assignments, helping you develop a portfolio of real media work.
Internships and industry experience: Engagement with professional environments through placements, freelance opportunities, and media projects linked to industry.
Library and research resources: The John Paul II Library and associated audiovisual collections support research, access to media texts, and ongoing project work.
Campus community and creative environment: Maynooth’s campus spaces, study pods, and social learning zones provide collaboration areas that support media-related work and teamwork.

Progression & Future Opportunities

Graduates of the BA Media Studies at Maynooth University leave with a versatile mix of practical media production skills, critical thinking, and a deep understanding of how media shapes culture and society — strengths that equip you for creative and communication roles across the media industries. Typical career paths for graduates include positions in television and film production, social media and content creation, communications and public relations, and media research and analysis:

Career support services: Maynooth University’s Careers & Employability Service provides one‑to‑one career guidance, CV and interview preparation, access to job and internship listings through the Careers Connect portal, and support for placements and graduate roles. Students can also participate in mentoring programmes and skill‑building activities such as mock interviews and short internships to strengthen their professional profile.
Employment statistics and insights: While specific figures for Media Studies graduates are not published separately, the university broadly supports students in preparing for work, placements, and further study, with dedicated services advertising graduate jobs, internships, and part‑time roles that help build experience during and after your studies.
Industry connections: Graduates have taken up roles with organisations such as RTÉ, BBC One, Virgin Media, Microsoft, Accenture, and creative studios like Cartoon Saloon and Brown Bag Films, demonstrating the real‑world relevance of the degree and its strong ties with employers in media and related sectors.
Accreditation value: The BA Media Studies is a fully recognised undergraduate qualification on Ireland’s National Framework of Qualifications (Level 8), giving you a credential respected for both employment and postgraduate study in Ireland and internationally.
Graduate outcomes: Alumni from this programme work in digital media, marketing and communications, content creation, broadcast and media production, and research roles. Many have also started their own creative ventures or continued into specialised postgraduate study.

Further Academic Progression:
After completing your BA Media Studies, you can pursue postgraduate degrees to deepen expertise or specialise, such as the MA in Critical and Creative Media, which builds on your critical, production, and research skills, or other taught and research‑based master’s programmes in related areas. You can also continue into PhD research if you are interested in advanced academic or research careers.