BA (Hons) Creative Media with Foundation

If you are yet to make an enquiry to study with the University of Plymouth and are interested in securing a place for September 2020, you can pre-register for Clearing to receive priority treatment on results day.

Read our Clearing advice

Our Media students have tremendous opportunities to gain the knowledge and skill set required for employment in a variety of work settings. A media degree gives you the perfect opportunity to develop and refine your technical skills and methods, which are essential to work in creative media production, but you will also develop a broad range of transferable skills which are desired by a wide range of employers.

Where could a media degree take you?

Advice from graduate Danny Cooke:

"To be a freelance film-maker, you need to be dedicated and patient. When you start off, it is unlikely that you would be making a sufficient amount of income. When studying, use your spare time to build up a portfolio, this is one of the most important things to help you get clients."

Your foundation year will:

• Welcome you to an engaging, experiential learning environment with a focus on active exploration, experimentation and discovery across a wide range of material, methods and media.
• Help develop your practical, technical and creative skills through studio and workshop based projects.
• Provide training in key learning skills for further undergraduate study and build an awareness of practise, context and theory.
• Introduce you to the accessible community of experienced academics, practitioners and technical staff that will support you on your studies.
  
• Give you access to a wide range of enviable specialist workshops, laboratories and facilities across the campus and become part of our vibrant student community through the various opportunities available within the School of Art, Design and Architecture.
• Enable you to explore and develop your personal interests and strengths as a creative practitioner.

This course is an integrated part of the BA (Hons) Creative Media degree at the University of Plymouth. Successful completion of your foundation year (Year 0) will not lead to a separate award or qualification in its own right but provides progression onto Year 1 of the creative media degree.

When you join the BA (Hons) Creative Media with Foundation, you will:

• Freedom to experiment – you can choose to focus on one medium, develop several or integrate across the range to find your own creative voice. You’ll have the opportunity to develop projects to suit your own creative and career ambitions.
• Open doors to your future career by showcasing your work to the public in exhibitions, and developing a portfolio of work. You can enhance your professional profile further by engaging with our live briefs.
• Advance your technical skills using our outstanding equipment and facilities including a fully equipped cinema, moving image studio with green screen, photographic and sound studios, computer labs, animation rostrums and much more.
• Learn from award-winning tutors from industry, arts practice and academic research.
• Tailor your degree to match your interests and career goals with an option to specialise in television in your final year.
• Benefit from strong links with the industry such as the BBC, ITV and Royal Television Society along with regional arts and community groups, giving you the opportunity to develop and realise creative collaborations beyond the University.
• This course is assessed by coursework only – there are no exams.

• Year 0

• You become part a vibrant creative community through an engaging learning environment with a focus on active exploration and discovery across a wide range of methods and media. Upon successful completion of this year, you enter the first year of the BA (Hons) Creative Media course.
  

  Core modules

  • ADA001 Materials, Methods and Media

    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.

  • ADA002 Image, Type and Narrative

    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.

  • ADA003 Risk and Resolution

    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.

  • ADA004 Critical Themes in Art & Design

    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

• In your first year, you will explore what Creative Media means to you through a series of short, critically framed, practical projects. You will investigate narrative composition and context, in still and moving image, sound, interaction and animation. You will start to work beyond the University, exploring professional working methods in a documentary and explore audience address in a public exhibition or screening.
  

  Core modules

  • MEDI405 Documentary

    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.

  • MEDI406 Situating Practice

    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.

  • MEDI408 Photo Narratives

    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.

  • MEDI409 Interactive Media and Animation

    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.

  • MEDI410 Film Narratives

    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.

  • MEDI411 Creative Media Practice

    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

• In your second year, you will study advanced practical techniques and develop a critical framework for your practice. Creativity, experimentation and developing your own creative voice will be at the heart of this part of the course. You will explore socially engaged media working in collaboration our industry partners. A module on media theory will enhance your academic skills. A field trip is part of stage two, as is the option to study abroad.
  

  Optional modules

  • MEDI501 Critical Dialogues

    Critical Dialogues 2 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.

  • MEDI505 International Project

    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.

  • MEDI508 Critical Dialogues 2

    Through a lively lecture/seminar programme, Critical Dialogues 2 builds on contemporary debates and media histories introduced the Critical Dialogues module. The module continues to explore a range of seminal media arts theory / practice and facilitates students to engage critically with their own work, situated in the context of established practitioners.

  • MEDI509 Experimental Production

    This module provides a framework in which to research and develop one or more large-scale projects built on thematic interests (i.e. a sense of personal `practice¿), by means of practical experiments, underpinned by contextual research and ongoing reflection.

  • MEDI510 Transmedia Storytelling and Branding

    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.

  • MEDI511 Social Context

    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.

  • MEDI512 Experiment

    In this module students will undertake a range of short projects where they are required to experiment with a number of forms and practices. The module provides the framework for a student lo take creative risks, broaden their practical skills, enhance their confidence and to develop their own creative voice.

• Year 4

• In your final year, you will complete two major self-directed projects in independent practice and collaborative practice. All our students do a written dissertation on a subject of their choice. You will prepare for your future career in our professional module and showcase your achievements in a substantial public exhibition or screening. In stage three, we offer one to one mentoring by industry professionals and the opportunity to meet and network with potential employers.
  

  Core modules

  • MEDI602 Media Dissertation

    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.

  • MEDI608 Media Arts Futures

    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.

  • MEDI609 Collaborative and Contextual Practice

    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.

  • MEDI611 Independent Practice

    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.

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 01752 585858 or email ug-admissions@plymouth.ac.uk, where a member of the team can offer you further advice.