Another academic year is ending. For the board year students it is already gone. Unlike the very few who have their goals set, there are many looking for all the options available in different fields. And I totally understand. Because it is normal to not know what industry to work in when you don’t even know about all the industries out there. And with each passing day taking you nearer to results the pressure must be increasing. But do not worry. Here in this article you are going to know about the most interesting field on the planet. And this will surely help you to decide where your interest lies and walk that way.
Media Studies deals with various aspects of Media. Since the media is the medium of communication between the masses, it is also known as Mass Media and Mass Communication. Under this subject one is taught about communication sciences and communication studies mainly. But looking at the expansion of media and its impacts on every household, topics such as philosophy, psychology, political economy, political science, sociology, history, economics, art and film theory and information technology are also included. India understood the potential of media back when it was struggling for its freedom. Print Media, the then popular medium, was widely used to get people together. Freedom leaders used it to communicate with the masses through newspapers. Thus the awareness spread lead to the freedom movement of India. After independence, the media industry grew like a bamboo plant waiting underground for years. Now the industry needed well trained professionals. Looking at the need, in 1962, government of India took advice from the Ford Foundation/ UNESCO team of internationally famous mass communication experts. Following the same, Anna University started the very first Media Programme in the country.
Today there are very few colleges that do not offer any course in Media studies. Every year, many Media passouts take their jobs as a Media Planner, Multimedia specialist, Public Relation Officer, Social Media Manager, Producer (TV, Film, Video), Web content Manager, Advertising account executive, Broadcast Journalist, Editorial assistant, Event Manager, Film director, Magazine journalist, Market researcher, Writer, etc in communication agencies, Civil services, Educational institutes, local government, Marketing organisations, Media companies, TV and Radio companies, Newspaper industry, PR consultancies, Publishing companies and many more.
Surely, for a nice fulfilling Media career one needs to have equally wonderful education with greater exposure. Therefore, below you can go through the list of top Media colleges that have been imparting quality education and thus contributing to the industry well for the years. Also do understand that these are the few that top the list because, the count of all the colleges that teach Media Studies exceeds 1200 in India.
1. INDIAN INSTITUTE OF MASS COMMUNICATION (IIMC), New Delhi
It was ranked 1st by ‘India Today’ in 2018 rankings among the top Mass Communication Colleges in India. They Offer Post Graduate Diploma in 3 streams which are Advertising and Public Relation, Journalism and Radio and TV Journalism and also a Diploma in Journalism. This 1965 established college is affiliated to Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU). To get into this institution one with bachelor’s degree in any discipline needs to pass their university level Indian Institute of Mass Communication (IIMC) Entrance Exam. IIMC offers a total of 430 seats in their 6 university affiliated campuses. Few of its notable alumni are Chitra Subramaniam, Deepak Chaurasia, Nidhi Razdan and Anshu Gupta.
2. AJK MASS COMMUNICATION RESEARCH CENTRE, JAMIA MILLIA ISLAMIA, New Delhi
It was ranked 2nd by ‘India Today’ and 1st by ‘The Outlook’ in 2018 rankings among the top Mass Communication Colleges in India. Established in 1982, the institution offers MA in Mass Communication, Convergent journalism, Development Communication and Visual Effects and Animation and also PG Diploma in Still Photography and Visual communication, Broadcast Technology and Acting. The admissions are held through JMI Entrance Exam. Shahrukh Khan, Barkha Dutt, Kabir Khan and Kiran Rao are few names among its notable alumni. The placements offered on campus are better than any other media college.
3. DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNICATION, UNIVERSITY OF HYDERABAD, Hyderabad
This 1988-89 established department has been ranked 3rd by ‘India Today’ and 4th by ‘The Outlook’ in 2018 rankings among the top Mass Communication Colleges in India. The courses offered here are MA in Radio and Television, Print Journalism and New Media and Communication and Media Studies. One can seek admission for them through Hyderabad University’s Entrance Exam. The department is well known for its high standards in imparting education and good campus placements.
4. XAVIER INSTITUTE OF COMMUNICATION, Mumbai
This 1969 established institute was ranked 4th by ‘India Today’ and 3rd by ‘The Outlook’ in 2018 rankings among the top Mass Communication Colleges in India. You can choose from various Diploma courses such as Diploma in Communication for Development, Journalism and Mass Communication, Advertising and Marketing Communications, Mass Communication Marathi, Advanced integrated communication programme (for working professionals) and Film, Television and Digital Video Production or from Certificate programmes in Computer Graphics for print design, Creative writing, Public speaking and personality enhancement, photography, Radio Jockey and Announcing, Broadcasting, Compering, Dubbing and E-book Narration. The admissions are done through their entrance exam XIC-OET. The institution is well known for its excellence in education and placements. Well known people from this institution are Zarina Mehta, Ayaz Menon and Siddharth Sharma.
5. SCHOOL OF COMMUNICATION, MANIPAL ACADEMY OF HIGHER EDUCATION, Udupi
Since its establishment in 1997 the institution has improved to the point where it was ranked 5th by ‘India Today’ and 6th by ‘The Outlook’ in 2018 rankings among the top Mass Communication Colleges in India. The courses offered for students interested in Media Studies are Certificate course in Animation Technology, BA in Media and Communication, BSc in Animation, MAF- Film Making, MA in Media and Communication and PG Diploma in Corporate Communication. All the admissions are held through its Entrance Exam MU-OET. It is well known for the industry exposure and good placements. Also the institute is affiliated with Birmingham Institute of Art and Design and Purdue University.
6. SYMBIOSIS INSTITUTE OF MEDIA AND COMMUNICATION, Pune
Established in 1992, Symbiosis Institute of Media And Communication, Pune is part of Symbiosis International University (SIU). This private institute has been widely recognised and awarded 6th by ‘India Today’ and 2nd by ‘The Outlook’ in 2018 rankings among the top Mass Communication Colleges in India. SIMC hosted International Conference on Media and Communication in the year 2018. SIMC offers MA in Communication and Journalism and MBA in Communication Management in which you can choose to specialise in Brand Communication, Public Relation, Marketing and Media Analytics or Media Management. For the MA admissions the candidate with minimum 50% marks in a Bachelors’ degree from recognized institution/ university has to appear for SIMC MA MC Entrance Examination. After that, his or her performance in Personal Interaction (PI) and Written Ability Test (WAT) will configure the admission. While for MBA course one has to clear Symbiosis National Aptitude Test (SNAP) followed by Group Exercise (GE), Written Ability Test (WAT) and Personal Interaction (PI). The institute has the best infrastructure among Mass Media colleges across the country with 320 acres of campus.
7. CHRIST UNIVERSITY BANGALORE, Bangalore
Christ University was ranked 7th by ‘India Today’ in 2018 rankings among the top Mass Communication Colleges in India. The courses offered by this 1991 established University are BA CEP in communication and media, English and psychology, BA JPEng in Journalism, psychology and English, MA in Media and communication studies, Masters of philosophy (MPhil) in Media Studies and Doctor of philosophy (PhD) in Media Studies. Film studies, Global communication and media criticism and experientially exciting courses like photo journalism, corporate communication and public relations, computer graphics and web designing, print journalism, etc are the topics included in the curriculum. One can apply online for these courses on university’s official website.
8. SOCIAL COMMUNICATIONS MEDIA DEPARTMENT, SOPHIA SMT MANORAMA DEVI SOMANI COLLEGE, Mumbai
The department was awarded rank 8th by ‘India Today’ and 7th by ‘The Outlook’ in 2018 rankings among the top Mass Communication Colleges in India. Though the college was founded in 1940 the Bachelor of Mass Media course was introduced in the year 2003. It also offers Diploma in Social Communications which is affiliated to Garware Institute of Career Education and Development, University of Mumbai. Interested students can get a seat by performing well in SCM Sophia Written Entrance Exam. The college has good infrastructure along with high quality education.
9. INDIAN INSTITUTE OF JOURNALISM AND NEW MEDIA, Bangalore
It was ranked 9th by ‘India Today’ and 5th by ‘The Outlook’ in 2018 rankings among the top Mass Communication Colleges in India. The courses offered by the institute are Diploma in print, broadcast or multimedia and Post- graduate (PDG) diploma in print, broadcast or multimedia. This 2001 established campus takes in its students through IIJNM aptitude test and personal interview. It has also maintained a good placement record.
10. MANORAMA SCHOOL OF COMMUNICATION (MASCOM), Kottayam
It was ranked 10th by ‘India Today’ and 9th by ‘The Outlook’ in 2018 rankings among the top Mass Communication Colleges in India. The school offers Post Graduate Diploma in Print Journalism and Broadcast Journalism. Though it was established only in 2002, it lacks no facilities that all those long lived Media colleges have and is specially known for good infrastructure. The students are selected through their MASCOM Entrance Exam.
11. AMITY SCHOOL OF COMMUNICATION, Noida
Since its establishment in 1999, Amity School of Communication has undergone rapid growth in terms of infrastructure, performance, placement, faculty, etc. It was ranked 11th by ‘India Today’ and 8th by ‘The Outlook’ in 2018 rankings among the top Mass Communication Colleges in India. The campus has unique features such as an ultra modern HD Television Studio and a student run community radio station. ASCO offers BA in Film and Television Production, Journalism and Mass Communication, Mass Communication- International and BA (Hons.) Media Studies, MA in Advertising and Marketing Management, Film and TV production, PR and Event Management and Journalism and Mass Communication and both part time and full time PhD in Mass Communication. For admissions one needs to buy the form from their website. Students securing 80% + in class 12th (2018/19) are exempted from selection process. Its modern infrastructure and good industry exposure are its another unique features.
12. NSHM INSTITUTE OS MEDIA AND DESIGN (NIMD), Kolkata
This 1996 established institute was ranked 17th by ‘India Today’ and 11th by ‘The Outlook’ in 2018 rankings among the top Mass Communication Colleges in India. It has quality education and great infrastructure. The courses offered are BSc (Hons) in media Science and MSc (Hons) in Media Science. Its gives best exposure in Journalism, Marketing Communications, Photography, Multimedia, Video Editing and Sound Recording, Audio-Video Productions and Graphics and Animation. One can easily apply online on their website.
13. St. JOSEPH COLLEGE OF COMMUNICATION, Kottayam
SJCC was established in 2004 and was ranked 18th by ‘India Today’ and 14th by ‘The Outlook’ in 2018 rankings among the top Mass Communication Colleges in India. It is the first university affiliated media college in South India which is affiliated to Mahatma Gandhi University. They offer BA in Visual Communication, Multimedia, Animation and Graphic Design, Animation and Visual Effects and Audiography and Digital Editing. They also offer MA in Cinema and Television, Animation, Print and Electronic Journalism, Graphic Design and Multimedia. Interested candidates can apply offline for UG and PG courses. Admissions are given on the basis of Aptitude Test followed by the interview.
14. LADY SHRIRAM COLLEGE FOR WOMEN
Lady Shriram College (LSR) is under Delhi University. It has been ranked 3rd in Mass communication by India Today. Established in 1956, this 15 acres of campus offers BA honours in Journalism and Mass Communication. This girls only college, located in Lajpat Nagar, Delhi, has some of the most notable female faces as its alumni such as Nobel peace prize laureate Aung San Suu Kyi, film producer and interior designer Gauri Khan and actress Aditi Rao Hydari. For admission one must be a HSC pass with 45% marks. The selection is on merit basis for Delhi University pass outs while others have to score good in the entrance to secure their seat.
15. DELHI COLLEGE OF ARTS AND COMMERCE
Running under Delhi University, Delhi college of Arts and Commerce (DCAC) offers undergraduate courses in various arts and commerce fields. But you are reading about this 1987 established college here because of its B. A. (Hons.) in Journalism. DCAC has been ranked 6 for Mass Communication by India Today 2017. The syllabus includes all forms of Mass Communication such as advertising, PR, print journalism, television production, etc. The department of journalism established in 1989 is well known across the University for the number of tabloids throughout the year. Few of them are The DCAC Herald, DCAC Express and The DCAC Times. Students with minimum 45% marks in HSC can apply online by visiting the official website of the college. Selections are done based on first and second cutoff list declared by DCAC.
16. INDRAPRASTHA COLLEGE FOR WOMEN
This oldest women’s college in Delhi was established in 1924 and is affiliated to Delhi University. Indraprastha College for women offers B. A. (Hons.) in Mass Media and Mass Communication. The eligibility for this 3 year full time course is 12th pass with minimum 75% marks. The eligible students then have to appear for the entrance exam conducted by the college and admission is based on the marks obtained in the entrance test. This A Graded college was also ranked 6th for Mass Communication by India Today 2016.
17. KAMALA NEHRU COLLEGE FOR WOMEN
It was known as ‘Government College for Women’ previously. Later in 1974 the college was renamed after Kamala Nehru, freedom fighter and wife of Jawaharlal Nehru. The college is run by Government of Delhi since its establishment in July, 1964. They offer B. A. (Hons.) in Journalism and B.A. in Advertising Sales Management and Sales Promotion. Minimum 45% marks are required in 12th board exams to apply. Interested and eligible candidates have to register online. This college runs under Delhi University. And also it has been ranked 7 for Mass Communication by India Today in 2017.
The Indian youth indeed has plenty of options if he/she truly wishes to pursue a career in media studies. With the recent waves in technology, mass media has the potential to reach a lot of people all over the world. It is only fitting that with a responsible education, students use this power to their advantage.
- Manali Shelke
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