MA Media Production (Professional Placement)

at Birmingham City University

COURSE IN DEPTH
 
In order to complete this course you must successfully complete all the following CORE modules (totalling 140 credits):

 

Television Documentary and Features
20 credits

 

This module is intended to give an overview of professional practice in contemporary UK television production with a particular focus on factual entertainment genres. You will gain an understanding of the professional practices in television and video by developing production, editorial and technical skills. Comprehension of television production skills will be enhanced through the use of current internet systems of distribution, such as tablet and mobile media and social media platforms.

 

Television Factual Entertainment
20 credits

 

This module is intended to give an overview of professional practice in contemporary UK television production with a particular focus on factual entertainment genres. You will gain an understanding of the professional practices in television and video by developing production, editorial and technical skills. Comprehension of television production skills will be enhanced through the use of current internet systems of distribution, such as tablet and mobile media and social media platforms.

 

Research in Practice
20 credits

 

The module is intended to help you develop and consolidate your ideas for your MA Major Project. By providing a common module that comprises of all MA Media cohorts, Research in Practice aims to facilitate a shared skillset that aids the successful completion of the MA Major project, as well as the potential for routes into PhD progression beyond. It is also designed to encourage interdisciplinary discussions across MA awards.

 

Work Placement
20 credits

 

The purpose of this module is to enable you to develop professional attributes and subject skills through experience in the work place, and to critically reflect upon your learning in that context. You will normally be expected to arrange your own placement, with support from academic staff and BCU Careers. It is also possible to fulfil this module via a shorter placement duration and a linked ‘live’ project set by the employer.

 

Major Project
60 credits

 

The purpose of the module is to enable you to undertake a sustained, in-depth and theoretically informed research project exploring an area that is of personal interest to you. It is important that we can support you appropriately, so you will be guided towards choosing a research topic which is relevant to your discipline and in which your lecturers have expertise. The outcome may take the form of a written dissertation or a practical outcome with accompanying reflective, critical and contextual material. The main consideration when choosing your topic is that it must be relevant to your programme and you should consider the relevance of this topic to your future academic or professional development.

 

In order to complete this course you must successfully complete at least 40 credits from the following indicative list of OPTIONAL modules.

 

Narrative: From Media to Interactive Media
20 credits

 

Within the context of media integration and convergence, Narrative: from media to interactive media aims to help students to build a flexible skillset that provides a basis to critically adapt to both new and developing storytelling technologies.

 

Social Media as Culture and Practice
20 credits

 

This module is intended to give an overview of the current state of scholarly research into the use of social media platforms as a communication tool and also enable students to develop as social media practitioners who can develop innovative solutions to communications problems and develop their expertise at using social networking platforms in sophisticated ways. To that end, the module combines engagement with academic texts through lectures and seminars, with a series of practicebased workshops. The module explores the role of social media as an aspect of everyday communications, examining the technologies and practices that are put to use by citizens, activists, media producers and others, examining the range of practices that are emerging and their social and cultural role and character.

 

Live Events and Festival Management
20 credits

 

This module offers an extension to the other modules on the MA Events, Festivals and Exhibitions Management pathway. Whilst being an integral part of the pathway the module also works as a standalone optional module for those students on other pathways who can apply the key learnings to their own specialism.

 

Film Festivals, Marketing and PR
20 credits

 

This module provides an in-depth look at a major crux for the film industry: film festivals. Film festivals play a part in the financing, distribution and marketing of independent films and therefore the study of them is a core part of the overall. The present module will give students an understanding of the importance of film festivals to the industry, and give them insight into the skills needed to mount a successful marketing and public relations strategy at a festival.

 

Strategic Communication for Social Change
20 credits

 

This module develops a sophisticated understanding of the processes and outcomes of planning a communications strategy for a range of organisations that strive to bring about social change. Throughout the emphasis is on the communication challenges facing activist, not-for-profit, charity, and public sector organisations and developing persuasive messages to explain complex issues to a range of stakeholder groups.

 

Law, Regulation and Institutions
20 credits

 

Law, Regulation & Institutions focuses on key areas of the law and regulatory systems as they relate to the media, as well as allowing you to research those institutions which are important sources of news.

 

Researching Media Cultures
20 credits

 

This module explores the current state of international academic knowledge and debates based on the research interests of staff and students involved with the Birmingham Centre for Media and Cultural Research. It will provide you with a systematic understanding of approaches to researching media cultures and the opportunity to develop your insights through an area of interest, connected to your MA project.

 

Core modules are guaranteed to run. Optional modules will vary from year to year and the published list is indicative only.

INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS

Annual and modular tuition fees shown are applicable to the first year of study. The University reserves the right to increase fees for subsequent years of study in line with increases in inflation (capped at 5%) or to reflect changes in Government funding policies or changes agreed by Parliament. View fees for continuing students.

Award: MA Starting: Sep 2022
Full Time 18 months (including Professional Placement - see below*) £17,930 in 2022/23

Enhancing employability skills

The aim of our MA Media Production course is to prepare you for a career in the fast-paced world of media and broadcasting. Thanks to our outstanding facilities and reputation for producing work-ready, highly skilled graduates who are already proficient on industry-quality equipment, our students are sought after.

 

You’ll have worked with guest lecturers who are working within the industry and you’ll have gained good contacts during your course, all of which will stand you in good stead when looking for employment.

 

It is very useful to have an idea what you would like to do when the MA has finished. Ambition is strongly encouraged. We have a very experienced professional development team who have worked in the radio and television industries and are widely networked with professionals currently working in production.

 

An individual professional development plan is created with the help of staff and the practicalities of achieving professional goals is covered in detail. You will create appropriate CV’s and covering letters, mock interviews are offered and actively encouraged. 

 

PLACEMENTS

You are encouraged to find a placement or work with an external client while studying on the course. This is an ideal way to build your network, an essential element of working in the short-term contract, freelance structure of the television and radio industries.

 

Because we work with people across the industry – both in the UK and overseas – you might be offered the opportunity to work with global professionals and clients.

 

Students with an interest in television production will be able to apply for established placement schemes with Sky and the BBC Drama department in Birmingham. Many opportunities are connected with production activity in and around the city. For example, we work closely with Film Birmingham who appreciate the ‘industry ready’ abilities of our students and graduates. Recent films produced in Birmingham, which included paid placements for our students, include The Girl with All the Gifts, Kingsman 2 and Stephen Spielberg’s Ready Player One. The BBC also approach us regularly with opportunities including producing original content for BBC Three online and the BBC Sports Personality of the Year show.