BA (Hons) Creative Media with Foundation

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The key to our course design is understanding what the creative industries value, what’s attractive to employers and the diverse opportunities of creative media. Being a flexible media maker in a continually-evolving media landscape futureproofs your qualification.

Our graduates are multi-skilled, flexible practitioners fulfilling diverse roles in the global media ecosystem. We are proud of how we equip our students for an everchanging media landscape. You will graduate with:

• confidence in the value of your creative voice
• a fully developed professional profile and portfolio
• industry contacts
• experience working on collaborations beyond the university
• experience pitching ideas, negotiating with clients, branding, marketing and promoting
• experience designing and making for various contexts, from social media campaigns to live events
• knowledge of the social and ethical impact of professional media
• the ability to research and articulate ideas effectively.

Our graduates work as directors, producers, camera crew, editors and sound designers. They set up successful businesses. They become fashion and travel photographers, animators, book illustrators, web designers and curators. They are independent artists, marketing and advertising executives, media strategists, game makers and educators. Others continue into postgraduate study and become academics.

They can be found at the BBC, Disney and Radio One. Their work is found at the BAFTAs, in the National Portrait Gallery, on the cover of Vogue magazine and in the creative offices of Google and Facebook.

Where could a media degree take you?

When you join the BA (Hons) Creative Media, you will have access to and experience from:

• sector leading facilities, experts and media practices

• socially engaged live briefs and collaborations, offering life-changing opportunities

• unique blend of creative freedom and hands-on professional knowledge

• industry ready—make connections through our outstanding network, professional mentoring scheme and regular employers

• gain the media making skills and critical knowledge valued in the creative industries.

• Year 0

• The Foundation pathway provides students with non-standard entry points to progress onto the BA (Hons) course.

  The Foundation year allows you to develop skills across a range of media and introduces creative best practice in preparation for the first year of the undergraduate programme. During the Foundation year you will have the opportunity to explore creative processes relevant to visual design, animation, illustration, print-making, fine art, and photography. The course is designed to encourage visual exploration and creative discovery within an engaging and vibrant studio setting. Upon successful completion of the Foundation course, you will join the undergraduate BA (Hons) programme equipped with the skills and knowledge needed to successfully complete an undergraduate degree.

  Core modules

  • Materials, Methods and Media (ADA001)

    This module will introduce students to various techniques, materials and mediums through practise-based experiments, play and problem solving. You will be introduced to different creative processes and methods of working that will help you to develop your ideas and engage in critical and reflective practice.

  • Image, Type and Narrative (ADA002)

    Students will experiment with media, photography and typography to explore the relationship between image and word. This module enables students to gain knowledge within subject areas and explore the importance of developing an independent voice. Projects will become increasingly student driven as they develop their ability to propose ideas and solutions through self-directed inquiry, discovery and production.

  • Risk and Resolution (ADA003)

    Students will consolidate their skills, knowledge and understanding in initiating, researching, developing and presenting a final project and exhibition. This module will also enable students to continue to research and develop their strengths as an independent art and design practitioner and prepare them for their next stage of study.

  • Critical Themes in Art & Design (ADA004)

    This module introduces students to transformative phases within the historical and contemporary context of art, design, photography and media. Students will learn to ask critical questions and find answers through information gathering, reading and research. Through articulating responses, students will be introduced to academic conventions in preparation for progression to further Higher Education.

• Year 1

• You will explore what creative media means to you by making a series of short, critically framed, practical projects. You will investigate narrative expression and cultural context in disciplines including still and moving image, sound, interaction and animation. You will also work beyond the university on a live industry brief and public exhibition or screening that will introduce professional working methods and audience reception.
  

  Core modules

  • Documentary (MEDI405)

    The module introduces forms through which we (as subjects) construct (and are constructed by) representations of truth and reality. Students produce a substantial piece of practical documentary work. The choice of subject matter is open but the realisation should exist as an original document through gathering and analysis of primary (and sometimes source) material.

  • Situating Practice (MEDI406)

    In this module students will be required to critically evaluate the skills and experience gained in previous modules and develop strategies for the future. They will be introduced to key critical approaches to presenting work to the public and engage in practice which explores the dialogue between their work and wider contexts.

  • Photo Narratives (MEDI408)

    This module will introduce to students the creative possibilities of working with ideas of narrative. This is a practice lead module which integrates appropriate references to narrative theory.

  • Interactive Media and Animation (MEDI409)

    Students will experiment with interactive media and animation through a range of approaches for example through stop-motion, vector animation, artist programming (MaxMSP/Jitter etc.). Students will develop their practice through resolving theoretical and practical issues in the areas of interactivity, nonlinearity, moving image, use of sound and the construction of user-experiences.

  • Film Narratives (MEDI410)

    This module is a concise introduction to the practices of moving image production and screen-based storytelling. Students will also be introduced to various approaches for the generation and development of ideas.

  • Creative Media Practice (MEDI411)

    This module will provide students with a set of challenges to promote understanding of contemporary Media Arts practices and the context in which these practices sit. It will explore how theory and practice interlink as well as giving the students a grounding in relevant methodology.

• Year 2

• You will study advanced media practice and explore critical frameworks for your work. Experimentation and developing your creative voice are at the heart of this part of the course. You will collaborate with industry partners on a socially-engaged media project and gain professional confidence. Study of media theory will enhance your academic skills and media creation process. There is also opportunity to study abroad in stage 2.
  

  Optional modules

  • International Project (MEDI505)

    This module provides a structured context for a period of study in another country than the home one. As part of the module students will be expected to undertake appropriate study at a recognised institute. Additional project work will be approved prior to the commencement of the module but it is expected to reflect the exchange experience.

  • Transmedia Storytelling and Branding (MEDI510)

    This module challenges students to produce branding and advertising work in response to live briefs. Students will explore the techniques of this field, as well as critical responses to the culture industry. Students will underpin creative and theoretical approaches with practical skills.

  • Social Context (MEDI511)

    This module offers an opportunity for students to work collaboratively on projects that will develop and enhance their professional and creative skills in working towards a collective outcome. It places creativity at the core of collaboration alongside the facilitation of new ideas and practices.

  • Critical Dialogues (MEDI513)

    Critical Dialogues mixes contemporary debates and media histories in a lively lecture/seminar programme. The module provides exposure to seminal media arts theory / practice and facilitates students to engage critically with their own work, situated in the context of established practitioners.

  • Experiment (MEDI514)

    The module provides the frameworkk for a student lo take creative risks, broaden their practical skills, enhance their confidence and to develop their own creative voice. It provides a framework in which to research and develop one or more large-scale projects built on a sense of personal practice by means of practical experiments, underpinned by workshops, contextual research and ongoing reflection.

• Final Year

• The final year is about your passions, interests and ambitions. You complete two major self-directed projects in independent practice and collaborative practice. Hone your research skills in a dissertation and prepare for your future career in our professional module. You have the opportunity to showcase your achievements in a substantial public exhibition. We also provide one to one mentoring by industry professionals and the opportunity to meet and network with potential employers.
  

  Core modules

  • Media Dissertation (MEDI602)

    Students will research a subject area within Media Arts in considerable depth, developing their own methodologies in researching, collating and synthesising data and concepts in order to present arguments clearly and persuasively. The outcome will be a piece of written work with illustrations, bibliography, notes and appendices as appropriate.

  • Media Arts Futures (MEDI608)

    This module will support students in their aspirations beyond graduation. Students will identify career/ postgraduate aims and further develop their portfolios and professional profiles to effectively promote themselves and their practice in appropriate contexts.

  • Collaborative and Contextual Practice (MEDI609)

    In this module you will undertake a collaborative project, emphasis will be placed on working processes and methodologies, group interaction, the planning and completion of the project within a defined context. This module provides an important critical context arising from issues relating to collaborative practice, working from a research and development stage through to realisation in order to contribute new objects or forms of cultural production.

  • Independent Practice (MEDI611)

    Drawing on a growing sense of practice, underpinned by tutorial support, students will develop a large scale project through an application of practical and critical skills.

Every undergraduate taught course has a detailed programme specification document describing the course aims, the course structure, the teaching and learning methods, the learning outcomes and the rules of assessment.

The following programme specification represents the latest course structure and may be subject to change:

BA Hons Creative Media with Foundation Programme Specification 6797

UCAS tariff

32 - 48

Don’t have 32–48 UCAS tariff points? We will consider ‘non-standard’ applications on a case-by-case basis.

A levels: For Level 3 entry the Tariff points entry level will normally be 32–48 points from A level or equivalent. Non-standard applicants will normally be interviewed.

BTEC National Diploma/QCF Extended

Irish Leaving Certificate: Irish Highers, H5 in five subjects equivalent to 32–48 points.

International Baccalaureate: 24 overall

Proficiency in English: Students for whom English is an additional language will need to demonstrate ability in spoken and written English equivalent to an IELTS score of 6.0 and/or successfully complete the university’s special test before entering the foundation year.

We are looking for applicants with good potential including with non-standard qualifications and background, so will consider every application on a case by case basis. Alternatively, if you have any questions or concerns about meeting the entry requirements listed above we would encourage you to contact the Admissions Team on +44 1752 585858 or email admissions@plymouth.ac.uk, where a member of the team can offer you further advice.