Media studies and drama are not 'soft'

We were surprised to see A-level media studies described as a vocational subject, akin to photography or art and design ( Official: 'soft' A-levels damage chance of top university place , 4 February). In a global environment where media dominate social, cultural and political life, media students at this level learn how engagements with media partly shape our knowledge and opinions. Rather than preparing for media careers, they are required to master complex critical theories relating to topics such as identity, representation and ideology, and to understand the workings of powerful media institutions and practitioners. These challenges at least equal those of supposedly "hard" subjects such as English, history or modern foreign languages. The source of this "helpful" and "transparent" student guidance is the Russell Group of universities. Isn't it about time we had an independent guide to the admissions policies of all universities, alongside a genuinely transparent set of information on the subjects they are categorising and the learning outcomes they are designed to produce? Julian McDougall Newman University College Cary Bazalgette Media Education Association • In singling out drama A-level (alongside dance) as a subject to avoid if you want to go to a "leading" university, your article ( Universities 'still prefer traditional A-levels' , 4 February) ignored the fact that many Russell Group and other "leading" universities offer drama/theatre studies courses. A number of those specifically ask for or accept theatre studies A-level in their entry requirements. Dr Paul Kleiman Lancaster University