Media, BA (Hons)

This Media course was ranked as one of the top 25 Media courses in the UK in the Times and Guardian university guides 2013. The course combines theoretical approaches to media with opportunities to learn practical media skills, and to learn from industry professionals. Why choose this course?

This popular degree combines theoretical approaches to media with opportunities to learn practical media skills. You will learn from industry professionals and explore all aspects of media cultures, from social networking sites and lifestyle magazines to anti-globalisation movements and computer gaming.

The course is designed to offer you maximum flexibility, allowing you to design your own degree according to your interests. You can choose either to take a broad-based course leading to the final award of BA (Hons) Media, or to specialise in a pathway. This involves taking pathway modules over the course and leads to the named degree award as below:

Pathways

• BA (Hons) Media with Media Communications
  This specialist pathway equips you with a combination of theoretical insight and practical skills relating to the broad field of public and professional communications. Encompassing examinations of advertising, journalism, public relations and aspects of the creative industries, the modules on the pathway develop digital and media literacy, writing, business and performance skills.
• BA (Hons) Media with Media Practices and Production
  The Media Practices pathway aims to develop skills that are transferable to a diverse range of employment contexts. It includes practical project-work in video and DVD-ROM production, and website design. It also engages with new forms of digital media production and distribution such as podcasting, blogging and content for mobile phones.
• BA (Hons) Media with Popular Culture
  This pathway focuses on analysing the texts and forms of popular culture and the ways in which these are produced by the media and cultural industries and institutions. It examines the relationship between popular cultural forms and social transformation, and traces the different ways in which taste, consumption, and identity have been mediated, distributed and regulated.
• BA (Hons) Media
  Students may not wish to take a specialist pathway, instead choosing from a wider selection of modules. These students are awarded the BA (Hons) Media award.

Expert teaching staff
This course is taught by a team of eminent researchers. In the latest Research Assessment Exercise (RAE) 85% of NTU Communication, Culture and Media research was assessed as world leading or international quality. For you this means that the course is informed by the latest thinking and you'll learn from people with a real passion for their subject.

Extra opportunities
Our flexible curriculum has been designed to create some amazing opportunities for students in the School of Arts and Humanities. Your second year of study is divided into two semesters that enable students to take part in optional:

• International exchange
• Work placements
• Learn or improve language skills

Gain valuable work experience that will impress employers, learn another language, experience other cultures and travel the globe - all as part of your degree. Our international exchange partners include universities in Australia, Europe, USA, Canada and Thailand. Find out more on an Open Day.

Joint Honours
You can also combine Media with one or two other subjects as part of our Joint Honours programme.

Any questions?

General course enquiries

• Email us
• Facebook

Admissions enquiries
Telephone: +44 (0)115 848 4200

When does this course start?

Please see the academic calendar for term dates.

What will I study?

Find out everything you need to know about what you'll be studying on this course in our Media module booklet .

Year Two - Extra Opportunities

Our flexible curriculum has been designed to create some amazing opportunities for you. Your second year of study is divided into two semesters that enables you to take part in the following optional opportunities:

• International exchange - Experience other cultures, travel the globe and open your eyes to a world of opportunities. Our exchange partnership with a number of international universities enables you to live and study in another country in your second year. Watch our video to find out more.
• Work placements - Gain valuable work experience that will impress employers and help you get ahead in your chosen career. Boost your employability by taking a credit-bearing work placement as part of your degree rather than a sandwich year.
• University Language Programme - Available to all students and gives you the option of learning a totally new language or improving the skills you already have.

How will I learn?

You will be taught through a variety of teaching and learning experiences which will include:

• lectures and briefings
• practicals
• workshops
• seminars
• tutorials
• presentations
• teamwork
• live projects
• personal development planning
• visits.

You will also be involved in self-directed project work where you will have the support of NOW, our virtual learning environment.

How will I be assessed?

This course uses a variety of assessment techniques to ensure that students can demonstrate their level achievement. Knowledge and understanding of the field are tested through:

• examinations
• coursework essays
• portfolios (which might include reports, reviews, annotated bibliographies, brief reports or short critical analyses)
• diaries
• photographic essays
• the production of electronic media
• commentaries
• presentations.

Assessments is also test skills and qualities such as confidence in the presentation of written and oral arguments.

In the Media Practices and Production and Media Communications pathways, other forms of assignment of a practical nature, such as filming, editing, working with music and sound and journalistic writing will be used.

Links with industry

This course continues to develop its strong links with industry through its alumni and the teaching staff's own contacts. Industry live projects, competitions and professional bodies are a key feature of this course, giving you the opportunity to be exposed to current practices within industry.

You will be actively encouraged and supported to undertake work experience placements, which usually take place during holiday times, outside of term time.

Creative industries in Nottingham

Nottingham has a thriving creative arts scene which feeds the local creative industries. Many successful TV production, digital design and marketing agencies have chosen to base themselves (outside of London) in Nottingham.

The creative industries in Nottingham include organisations like:

• Nottingham Contemporary
• Broadway Cinema and Media Centre
• Antenna Media Centre
• GameCity
• LeftLion.

Course Leader: Dr Steve Jones

Where will I study?

You will study this course on NTU's Clifton campus.

View the full course specification
Please note that course specifications may be subject to change Media Production: Video Projects

The videos featured on this page are all examples of student project work. Produced by Year Two Media students they are based on a student communications brief from the NTU Environment Team. You can find more 'Eco videos' produced by Media students on the NTU YouTube channel.

Media laboratories and equipment

We have specialist media laboratories at Clifton campus to develop multimedia production skills. Equipment includes:

• HDV camcorders
• tripods
• lighting kit
• cameras
• voice recorders
• iMacs
• FinalCut software
• turntables
• sound equipment.

This equipment is supported by technical staff and is available as free hire for student project work.

The Centre for Broadcasting and Journalism at the City site also provides multimedia facilities such as sound recording studios,TV studio and gallery.

Books and library resources

In our library you will have access to an extensive and diverse range of books including those on your reading list. The library also stocks periodicals that focus on Creative Writing forums.

Clifton campus has its own Blackwell's Bookshop which stocks relevant academic texts plus a wide range of bestselling novels.

IT resources

Our IT resource rooms and PC clusters are distributed across Clifton campus, with PCs providing access to:

• Microsoft Office
• email
• web browsing
• networked file storage
• high-speed online printing services (with a free printing allowance for each student). Resource rooms are available 24 hours a day.

Societies and student media

Current students from the School of Arts and Humanities run societies for like-minded students to join including the Languages and Linguistics society and Debating society.

Nottingham Trent University also has award-winning student TV and radio stations that many media students get involved with.
Find out more about student societies at the Student Union website. Or check out:

• Fly FM
• Trent TV.