The MA Media Production course gives you the opportunity to kick start or further your career in the television and radio industries. The course offers a clear progression pathway for students who have already completed undergraduate studies in television or radio.

For those who already have industry experience, or are looking to change career path, the course provides the chance to learn additional skills and apply professional media practice to your existing resume.

WHAT'S COVERED IN THIS COURSE?

While this is largely a practical course that will give you the professional skills you’ll need to work in a fast-paced, real world television or radio environment, you’ll also study production theory.

You’ll develop a detailed knowledge of how both mediums work today and how they are constantly evolving. Professional practice is embedded into the course which will prepare you for a career in either the television or radio industries.

You’ll also use your academic thinking to evaluate the current state of digital media, giving you the opportunity to reflect critically on your own performance.

Throughout the course, you’ll be supported by academic staff that have vast amounts of experience in television and radio production, such as radio documentary producer Sam Coley and community radio researcher Siobhan Stevenson.

If you have an interest in television production you will develop a detailed knowledge of how production processes work and will be encouraged to explore online content development and distribution. The specialist television modules mirror industry approaches and therefore you will operate as a production team to complete assignments in both modules. This approach has allowed a number of recent MA students to progress seamlessly into professional production roles.

If your ambitions lie in setting yourself up as a freelancer with a focus on technical skills we will encourage you to develop your entrepreneurial and networking skills and engagement with social media platforms to establish a robust foundation to launch your professional career.

If you tailor your studies to radio you will cover traditional AM/FM broadcasting, as well as digital distribution. You’ll also develop your entrepreneurial skills, engage with social media platforms, and look at how radio is used for social and economic development.

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.

Some of our radio students have partnered with American student radio stations to produce award-winning programmes.