Harry Potter star Emma Watson prepares for Oxford studies

Emma Watson is currently studying at Oxford University. ?Photo: emmawatson.com

Clutching books and dressed down in jeans, boots and an anorak, fellow students could be forgiving for not recognising the multi-millionaire actress and Burberry model.

The 21-year-old, known for her role as Harry Potter's friend Hermione, told fans they may not hear from her for a while as she prepared to knuckle down for some serious hard work at the ancient university this term.

Watson, who enrolled at America's Brown University, put her education on hold earlier this year as she focused on her acting career.

She is returning to her studies this autumn, at Oxford, before returning to Brown next year to complete her degree.

On her website, Watson wrote: "To Everyone who is starting a New School Year, (sorry those who have been at school for a while Oxford starts late).

"Just to say have a great term and good luck with all your work.

"You might not hear from me for a while because I will be really busy studying but I wanted to just say hi and bye."

Communication and media studies degree course guide

Students tend to enjoy this course more than most, although be warned: media jobs are by no means guaranteed at the end of it.?Photo: Jim Ryce/Rex Features

"With telephone and TV it is not so much the message as the sender that is 'sent.'" Marshall McLuhan

What qualification do you leave with?

Most media-related programmes are awarded with BA degrees but volume of opportunities to study contemporary culture and mass communication with complimentary areas of study mean that there's a variety of courses available.

Standard degree length is three years.

What does it cover?

Cardiff University's BA in Journalism, Media and Cultural Studies gives students a background in mass communication, the major theories of journalism along with criticism of popular culture and conducting media research. Cardiff's reputation as a centre of excellence for journalism is underlined by its involvement in projects such research for our own columnist Peter Oborne's Channel 4 documentary about Islamophobia (see pamphlet) and its help with investigative reporter Nick Davies' must-read book Flat Earth News. The University of East Anglia runs a number of highly-rated courses which combine disciplines such as the BA in Politics and Media which studies the reporting and presentation of politics and could prepare students to be the next Jeremy Bowen. Such has been the expansion and diversification in media in recent decades that its possible to specialise in a many different disciplines and platforms. The University of Worcester's creative digital media programme prepares students for the increasing domination of online and IT-based media with its modules in web design, 3D animation and a mandatory course in digital film production.

What can you expect?

From the fame-hungry to the tech-savvy, the influence and popularity of all kinds of media makes defining a stereotypical student or generic department an impossible job.

What are the usual A-levels you need?

Requirements differ from institution to institution but students are often asked to bring a portfolio with them to interview and should be prepared to sound passionate about the media. Confidence and an entrepreneurial streak can be the most useful assets students can call on.

Career prospects

Unsurprisingly, as the media's role has grown in society so have the legions of people who want a media-related career. Though degrees are essential for many posts, it is rare that degrees alone will allow you to waltz into a post, so be prepared to show off your X factor at every opportunity.

Top places to study

The latest Complete University Guide (published in April 2011) rates Warwick, UEA, Nottingham Trent, Sheffield and Sussex as the top five universities for this subject according to an index based on student satisfaction, entry standards, an assessment of the quality of the university's research; and graduate prospects.