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Media students on a studio sound stage

Media

Undergraduate Pathway in Media

Birmingham School of Media is home to a suite of industry-standard facilities: TV studios, radio studios, post-production suites, dubbing suites and a green screen studio.

Facilities are used by industry as well as students. The school has recently partnered with Huffpost UK, giving students the opportunity to experience work in a live newsroom environment.

Birmingham City University (BCU) is ranked 1st in the UK for Film Production and Photography and in the UK Top 20 for Media and Film Studies (The Guardian 2024).


Duration

  • Two semesters

Intakes

  • September
  • January

Entry Points

  • Foundation

Progression Degrees

BSc (Hons) Video Game Development (2-year)

This accelerated two-year degree gives you a guaranteed video game development placement in BCU’s in-house studio, taking place over the summer term. Studying one of the only video games degree courses of its kind in Europe, you will graduate prepared to work for companies such as Sega and Sony.

Find out more: BSc (Hons) Video Game Development (2-year)

BA (Hons) Media and Communication

You will explore media production practices as well as representation, identity and culture within media. In addition to critical skills, you will develop technically across a broad range of media forms, such as television, radio, photography and digital.

Find out more: BA (Hons) Media and Communication

BA (Hons) Music Business

If you’d like a career promoting and managing live music events and creating music media content, this degree is for you. You will study a variety of modules, including:

  • Music, commerce and culture
  • Music cities
  • Digital music, data and media
  • Community and industry collaboration.

Find out more: BA (Hons) Music Business

BA (Hons) Media Production

You will be immersed in BCU’s industry-standard TV and radio studios to create media content and learn how to do the following:

  • Pitch ideas
  • Shoot and edit video
  • Use digital technology to edit and mix sound
  • Present a show
  • Record interviews and create podcasts.

There will be opportunities to make traditional content – such as magazines, documentaries and adverts – while also exploring new ideas in social media.

Find out more: BA (Hons) Media Production

The student experience | Media Production and Communication

Programme Details

Foundation Modules

Interactive Learning Skills and Communication

Throughout this module, you will learn the academic skills needed for success at a UK university, such as:

  • Time management
  • Public speaking techniques
  • Appropriate language styles
  • Professional communication and presentation
  • Researching and referencing techniques.

Critical Thinking

You will be introduced to the fundamentals of critical thinking. You will learn how to examine and comment on components of an argument, so that you can develop a structured and analytical response.

Extended Media Experimentation

You will explore your own ideas while experimenting with processes and techniques and discovering the characteristics and properties of selected media.

Mass Communication

This module will introduce you to the core concepts and principles relevant to mass communications, including some of the major theories.

Media Experimentation in Art and Design

You will have the opportunity to explore a wide range of media – experimenting with both traditional and contemporary processes and techniques. You will gain an understanding of the potential and limitations of media, using critical review and reflection in the planning and development of your own ideas.

Personal Combined Experimental Studies in Art & Design

This module will cover topics including:

  • Reviewing and reflecting on your own work
  • Challenging previous thoughts, ideas and beliefs
  • Health and safety requirements
  • Record-keeping.

Business Studies

You will learn to define what a business is and its functions in relation to the different types of business costs. You will also be introduced to marketing, the marketing mix and product life cycle.

Globalisation

You will explore how the concept of globalisation has evolved, looking at:

  • The economic, political, technological and social forces involved
  • Local/regional beliefs that become global.

ICT Skills

This module will introduce you to the concepts of ICT skills, including applications and reporting mechanisms.

Foundation Modules – Video Game Development

Interactive Learning Skills and Communication

Throughout this module, you will learn the academic skills needed for success at a UK university, such as:

  • Time management
  • Public speaking techniques
  • Appropriate language styles
  • Professional communication and presentation
  • Researching and referencing techniques.

Numerical Techniques 1

This module will introduce you to basic mathematics and mathematical applications – including equations, algebraic problems and trigonometry.

Numerical Techniques 2

This module covers a variety of numerical techniques associated with basic number theory, including:

  • Cartesian coordinates
  • Indices
  • Logarithms
  • Polynomial, quadratic and simultaneous equations
  • Geometric progressions.

Physics 1

This module defines the basic laws of physics. You will learn how to describe the fundamentals of mechanics and thermofluid mechanics.

Design Concepts

This module will introduce you to design, the importance of design and the fundamentals of technical drawing.

Programming Techniques

This module covers the fundamentals of programming, how it is used, and how it contributes to the engineering process and solves engineering problems. You will also learn about the purpose and processes of object-orientated programming, as well as gaining an introductory understanding of Java.

ICT Skills

This module will introduce you to the concepts of ICT skills, including applications and reporting mechanisms.

Physics 2

This module will define the key concepts of physical science in an interdisciplinary context. You will also explore physical laws and their relevance to technology, engineering and environment principles.

Workshop Requirements

All students accessing the 3D workshops, plaster room, glass room, water-jet cutting room and the kiln room will need to wear safety footwear with toe caps. Such footwear can be purchased from any safety footwear provider (e.g. Sports Direct) and can be as cheap as £12. The shoes should be S1P and comply with EN 20345.

There is no long-term storage facility for personal items in the workshops, so you will need to bring the safety footwear with you each day you are accessing the workshops.

Career Prospects

  • Broadcaster
  • TV Producer
  • PR Manager
  • Content Specialist
  • Videographer

Industry-standard Facilities

BCU’s School of Media is based in the Parkside Building on BCU’s City Centre Campus. Inside you will find a suite of TV and radio studios, post-production suites, and a huge green screen studio.

Our Facilities – School of Media
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