FdA Media Production

10 Aug 2026 - 31 Aug 2028

Course Leader Paul Appleby
Course Team Steven Higgins, Gwyneth Moore
Awarding Body University of South Wales
Teaching Institutions Coleg Gwent
Modes of Study Full Time, Part Time

Document Version

Version 3
Valid From 10 Aug 2026
Valid To 31 Aug 2028

QAA Benchmarks

N/A

Educational Aim

The course aims to produce students who, at the end of their FdA programme, will be able to enter the highly competitive media sector as ambitious, confident and entrepreneurial professionals; or will be able to progress to a third year top-up in media production thereby gaining a BA (Hons) in Media Production as a qualification. In other words, the course is aimed at students who want to make a career out of working in the highly creative media industry sector, whether straightaway, after completing this course or by entering into HE. The programme of study will also enable students to develop transferrable skills and enter the creative industries or related fields with poise and self-confidence. In short, the FdA Media Production degree will lead either directly to employment or to one of the specialist BA (Hons) courses we offer in the faculty. Specifically, the programme aims:

1. To provide students with an educational experience in which theory and practice are seen as integral and mutually informing in the process of ideas generation and production in the media sector

2. To develop in students an understanding of professional practices, production contexts and the relevant technical skills in media production

3. To develop general skills of working independently and in teams

4. To develop research and communication skills in oral, written and media based work5. To develop in students professional and academic codes and ethics for media theory and practice.

Learning Outcomes

A1 Have an informed, critical and creative understanding of the production and consumption of media in contemporary society
A2 Have a very clear sense of the history, theory and culture of media, whether it is radio, television or the internet; and integrate it with their practice in such a way that it demonstrates their awareness of the social, cultural, institutional and economic contexts of media production and consumption
A3 Be able to demonstrate the ability to explore and experiment with media in such a way that it demonstrates high levels of creative skill, imagination and innovation
B1 An ability to assimilate, analyse, research and critically evaluate a range of ideas and intellectual debates that surround the media world
B2 An ability to critically reflect on practice and situate their own work in the context of a globalised, fast-paced industry
B3 An ability to communicate clearly in both written and oral forms; and on many different platforms ranging from (but not limited to) radio, television and the world wide web
C1 The skills necessary to develop a strategy for marketing themselves to industry
C2 The skills necessary to be entrepreneurial
C3 A thorough understanding of the craft aspects of film making, their professional application and how these might translate into employability

Course Structure

Level 4 Modules

Module Code Module Id Module Title Module Status Credit Value Module Type
BJ1S29 MOD007892 Visual Story-telling Closed 20 core
BJ1S30 MOD007893 Aural Story-telling Closed 20 specified
BJ1S31 MOD007894 Digital Design Closed 20 specified
BJ1S32 MOD007895 Power and Responsibility: The Theory of Media Closed 20 specified
FH1S18P MOD012044 Creative Industries Practical Project Closed 20 specified
FV1S21P MOD012049 Study Skills Closed 20 specified

Level 5 Modules

Module Code Module Id Module Title Module Status Credit Value Module Type
BJ2S40 MOD007896 Documentary Project Running 20 core
BJ2S41 MOD007897 Drama Project Running 20 specified
BJ2S42 MOD007898 Media Theory in Practice Running 20 specified
FT2D01P MOD012055 Short Creative Industries Work Placement Closed 40 optional
FT2T01 MOD000829 Creative Industries Work Placement Closed 60 optional
FV2S35P MOD012062 Career Development Closed 20 optional

Teaching and Assessment

Learning and Teaching Methods

The general learning and teaching strategy derives from the aims and learning outcomes of the programme.  Its guiding principles are that the learning programme should be both stimulating and demanding, and should reflect:

  • A progressive development from a base of knowledge and understanding, to its application and integration in increasingly complex and professional contexts;

  • A progressive extension and refinement of student competencies with an increasing relative emphasis on intellectual/conceptual skills applied in a media industries context, and a continued concern with personal skills;

  • The integration of personal transferrable skills development within the creative media sector as they progress through the years

  • A development of student responsibility for, and independence in their own learning.

A balance is sought between the learning methods above.  The general approach to the Learning and Teaching process for all the modules involves a combination of the following:

Seminar

Tutorial

Project Supervision

Demonstration

Practical classes and workshops

Supervised time in studio/workshop

Fieldwork

External visits

Work based learning

Independent study

Directed study

Placement

Formative assessment – scheduled

Formative assessment – independent/peer/group

Students will be involved in four types of learning situations, as follows:

1.    Contact with the lecturer (supported hours)

2.    Working with peers in the realisation of a project (independent learning)

3.    Study outside class times as directed by the lecturer (directed learning)

4.    Study at their own initiative (independent learning)

 

Employer Engagement

Although there are as yet no formal agreements with employers in industry, the intention is to help students realise projects that are commissioned as ‘live’ projects for particular clients, especially in the Newport Gwent area. These projects may lead to either independent freelance work for students or actually eventually as jobs in the media departments of various clients. There will also be attempts to find industry professionals who can deliver master-classes.

Means of Assessment

Assessment forms an integral part of the learning process and will keep pace with the delivery of each module.  Assessment of student progress during each module is undertaken in two forms: formative, which provides guidance to students and summative, whereby a formal academic grade is given.

 

Assessment within the programme provides the following:

 

1.        Feedback so that students are able to judge how well they are developing and achieving module learning outcomes, and what they might need to do to improve (formative assessment);

2.        Testing of all learning outcomes both formatively and summatively;

3.       A record of results relating to progression through the programme and the achievement of awards of qualifications (summative assessment);

4.       Confirmation of the standard of achievement measured against external benchmarks.

 

Assessment will be used to gauge the level of learning through a combination of the following:

 

1. Diagnostic assessment, which predicts a student’s aptitude and preparedness for a module or programme of study and identifies possible learning problems;

2. Formative assessment, which gives students feedback on the progress they are making during their learning and signposts future action;

3. Summative assessment, which establishes what a student has achieved during or at the end of a module or their programme of study. It is the summative assessment, which certifies the level of achievement.

 

Specific strategies will include:

Portfolio

Oral assessment

Presentation

Critique

Project

Report

Essay

Dissertation

Self-reflective writing

Observational journal

Case study

Work placement

Research plan/proposal/project/log

 

Formative Assessment (not formally assessed)

Formative assessment can include diagnostic assessment.  It is guided by the need to provide students with developmental feedback and will be provided by means of the following:

 

1.       Spoken and written comments

2.       Regular feedback through seminar and tutorial activities

3.       Feedback on self-study tasks

4.       Peer evaluation

 

Throughout the modules tutors will encourage students to develop and pursue their ideas through tutorials, constructive feedback and formative assessments. Staff often use positive language, or critical comments to encourage students to progress their work and to develop resolutions to their ideas.  The language or indicative grades provided during formative feedback in no way imply that a particular summative grade will be given.

 

Summative Assessment

 

Summative assessment is guided by the need to measure student achievement in relation to the aims and objectives specified for the programme and the specified learning outcomes of the individual modules.  Specific module assessment requirements are set out in the ‘Assessment Requirements’ section within the module handbook.

 

Students will be given a module handbook with guidance notes for each summative assessment, which will inform them of:

 

1.        The module leader

2.        The assignment requirements, (and the assessment titles)

3.        The date on which the assignments are to be submitted

4.        Whether it is to be completed individually or a by group

5.        The learning outcomes to be assessed

6.        The form and size of the output required and whether there will be any penalty for under- or over-size

7.        The criteria by which work will be graded (Assessment Criteria)

8.        Any advice on sources of information, techniques, module content to be used

9.        Information about retrievals

 

Module outcomes will be summatively assessed in accordance with the qualification descriptions outlined in the QAA Framework for Higher Education Qualifications.

 

Learning Support

Coleg Gwent offers excellent learning support to its pupils, details of which can be found at http://www.coleggwent.ac.uk/support#.In essence, students are actively encouraged to seek help in order to realise and fulfil their full potential. Students could seek specialist help with literacy and numeracy either in class or on a one-to-one basis; there are personal tutors who help students move from school to college and induct them into their programme of study; and the college also offers support to care leavers, young carers and looked after children. Learning support is also routinely offered by the teaching faculty and the course leader. Coleg Gwent also provides a full range of counselling, support and guidance, in careers, health, mental wellbeing, disability and dyslexia and finance.

Course Exit Points

Award Criteria Final
Foundation Degree in Arts 240 credits of which at least 100 must be at Level 5 or above, 120 at Level 4 or above and no more than 20 at Level 3. Of the 240 credits, at least 60 credits must be derived from Level 5 work-based learning Final
Certificate of Higher Education 120 credits of which at least 100 must be at Level 4 or above and no more than 20 at Level 3 Exit

Progression Route

Progression onto Final Year of BA Media Production at USW or suitable equivalent course

Entry Requirements

Admission to the course is typically through the following qualifications:

Typically two merits and a pass at BTEC level 3 in a relevant subject, or the equivalent at A level.Applicants who lack formal qualifications will be interviewed and must demonstrate the ability to undertake studies at this level.

Inclusive Curriculum Statement

The University of South Wales operates a policy of inclusive learning, teaching and assessment to ensure that all students have an equal opportunity to fulfil their educational potential. Course teams will have considered ways of designing out any potentially disadvantageous element of courses during the course design process. However some specific needs may remain, details about how to apply to have your needs assessed can be found at: http://unilife.southwales.ac.uk/pages/3040-disability-and-dyslexia-service/

Addendum for Delivery at a Partner Institution

N/A

Methods Of Quality Standards

N/A

Quality Of Standards Indicators

N/A