FdA Film & Media Production

To gain entry to the programme, you will be required to satisfy the standard or non-standard entry requirements.

Standard entry criteria:

• 4 GCSE passes at grade C (grade 4) or above
• Ideally, the above will include maths and English (or equivalent qualifications) or a commitment to study GCSE maths and English alongside the programme.
• International applicants require a minimum 5.5 IELTS in English.
• You will hold a BTEC National Qualification, A-Levels or equivalent in a relevant subject, or a total of at least 32 UCAS tariff points.
• An impressive personal statement and appropriate references.

Non-standard entry criteria:

• Candidates with non-standard entry applications will be considered on the basis of relevant work experience and attainment of skills, which demonstrate an ability to study at this level concordant with UK Quality Code chapter (B2).
• International applicants require a minimum 5.5 IELTS in English.
• Attend a successful interview with two members of the curriculum team.
• A personal statement.
• Appropriate reference.
• Participation in induction activities to assess standard of academic writing in English.
• Participation in basic and key skills builder (BKSB) assessments to establish level of maths, English and ICT skills (applicable where no formal qualifications in film and/or media and/or IT related subjects and/or work experience in a film and/or media related job role can be evidenced).
• A commitment to study GCSE maths and English alongside the programme if needed.

You will be required to contribute to optional trips and day visits, and will have the opportunity to participate in experiential trips such as New York (approximately £800) or Europe (approximately £350). Purchasing an external hard drive and good set of headphones would be advised (approximately £60).

You will meet with course tutors. Please bring with you a showreel of creative moving image work or a range of examples of creative practice. Your interview will consist of some questions and opportunities for discussion. You will find out more about the course, resources and opportunities for progression, plus you will be shown the facilities within the department and possibly have the chance to see other learners on campus.

This exciting programme aims to educate and train new entrants into the creative media sector by germinating specialist technical skills and facilitating an understanding of professional practice, research and innovation.

You will have the opportunity to work independently and focus on your own career aspirations and specialist technical pathways. You will also develop professional skills, as well as considering the higher skills associated with leadership, strategy and innovation. These skills will be encouraged and explored through industry focused teaching and learning and engagement with ‘live’ projects and work experience.

A range of formative and summative assessment methods will be conducted throughout the course, with feedback being recorded and shared with you at various points during modules in order to help you to improve and progress. You will be assessed through practical assignments, portfolios, essays, reports and presentations.

During your time as a student at New College durham you will have access to a range of support mechanisms, including your own personal tutor, an academic support coach, a personal learning coach, careers guidance and learning support where applicable.

You will study the following:

• Work Related Learning - will provide you with an understanding of working methods that are synonymous within the film and media industries. Exploration of creative and imaginative tasks, participation in fast paced simulated film and media activities and the opportunity for undertaking live work will form the foundations of these modules.
• Personal and Professional Development - you will develop degree level skills, focussing on reflective practice and skill building in relation to personal and professional development.
• Specialist Practical Application - you will work on a large scale project within your chosen field. You will present, from research, a proposal for a project that will allow you to practice your skills in depth, through practical production of a Film or Media product. This module will allow you to work towards new skills targets.
• Historical Contexts in Film and Media - this module will provide you with the opportunity to develop analytical skills in the study of specific areas of knowledge. You will discover and utilise research methods and techniques in line with industry practice, using case studies to form an understanding of structure and quality, before conducting research on a relevant historical film or media issue.
• Current Issues and Debates in Film and Media - you will develop analytical, critical and conceptualisation skills in the study of specific areas of knowledge. You will be encouraged to think laterally, developing academic writing on key issues and debates of film and media.

• Monday - 9am - 1pm
• Tuesday - 9am - 4pm

Any times indicated are based on current courses and may be subject to change in future years. Full timetables will be confirmed at the start of each course.

A wide range of teaching and learning methods appropriate to the nature of the programme will be used across both levels and all modules.

At Level 4, the teaching and learning strategies used place emphasis on development of knowledge, understanding and analysis, and will begin to encourage the application of these to the workplace through the use of practical workshops, work related examples and case studies.

At Level 5, the teaching and learning strategies used will continue to develop the higher order intellectual skill of analysis and will focus on the development of evaluation and synthesis, through the use of a variety of mechanisms, particularly through the use of a research and development project. Independent learning will be encouraged and supported through one-to-one and online tutorials. This will ensure you are able to enhance your classroom learning, wider reading and access to information.

On the full-time programme, it is envisaged that sessions will be attended over two days per week, whilst on the part-time course you will attend for one day a week. Sessions delivered in college will consist of the following:

• Lectures
• Seminars
• Group work
• Practical work
• Workshops
• Critiques
• Peer feedback sessions
• Work experience
• Tutorials.

All modules on the course are mandatory. Due to the dynamic nature of the industry, the flexibility around techniques practiced and subjects explored will occur within the delivery of the modules and not necessarily as part of the module descriptors. Instead more general language is used to describe module structure, into which various different approaches can be facilitated, year on year.

This programme has an industry and career focus, and has been developed in consultation with regional and national employers and industry specialists. The study programme is responsive to the core elements of technical ability, professionalism and innovation desired by employers within the film, TV and radio industry.

The focus is on practical and professional rather than academic in the second year of the programme as you will gain relevant and role-specific training. You will receive individualised and specialist tutoring towards gaining entry level positions in film and media.

You will have access to new resources, including:

• Creative & Digital Centre
• Industry standard TV studio
• Video cameras
• Mac computers
• State-of-the-art radio suite
• Cinema cameras
• Other specialist equipment, e.g. DJI Ronin Gimbal.

While external work placement does not need to form any part of this programme, as a formal requirement, the course team highly encourages you to engage in such activities to enhance your knowledge and develop a range of work based skills needed for progression. Work related skills will be developed across the course from initial tutor led activities.

You could progress to a top-up degree in Film & Media Enterprise at New College Durham, or a relevant subject at university.

Alternatively, you could gain employment in the film and media industry, for example, working freelance or working for a production company.