Foundation Degree (FdA) Media Production & Technologies

Unit information

For every 10 credits, students should engage with around 100 notional hours of learning. This will be approximately 30% direct learning contact and 70% independent student learning.

The course consists of the following modules:

Year 1 (Level 4)

Contextual Studies
This module is aimed at introducing students to key media theories and their relevance to the study and production of media. This module also embeds foundational academic skills, including research, referencing, and academic writing, preparing students for further study and professional practice.

Employability Based Learning 1
This module aims to enhance students' employability by developing their creative and technical skills through real-world video production projects for local businesses. It provides students with the opportunity to collaborate with industry partners, apply video production techniques, and reflect on their professional growth. Students will gain practical experience while building a portfolio of work to showcase to potential employers

Essential Technical Skills
This module equips students with the essential technical skills required for professional media production and event management. It focuses on practical application, developing proficiency in lighting, sound, and camera operation. It also develops an understanding of workplace ethics, communication, and collaboration, enabling students to produce high-quality media content and live events.

Introduction to Audio Editing & Production
This module aims to provide students with a foundational knowledge of practice and skills in audio production and editing. Through theoretical exploration and hands-on practice, students will learn key concepts in audio theory, recording, mixing, and post-production. Students will develop technical competence using Digital Audio Workstations (DAWs) and sound equipment, and critically reflect on their production processes.

Introduction to Video Editing
This module aims to develop students’ understanding of the editing process and how it is applied within the media industry.

Multi-Camera Production
This module will enable the student to develop knowledge and skills in multi-camera operations and productions, to work to plan and produce a multi-camera production to a specified brief. This module will cover practical aspects of a studio-based production, developing on the knowledge and understanding of various video and AV-IP based protocols, industry terminology and practices.

Video Project
This module aims to provide students with the opportunity to conceptualise, plan, develop, and execute a video project, through the integration of storytelling, technical execution, and creative production processes. Students will develop a comprehensive understanding of pre-production, production, and post-production workflows, enabling them to create a professional product.

Year 2 (Level 5)

Audio Technologies & Sound Design
This module aims to deepen students’ understanding of advanced audio technologies and sound design practices, building on foundational audio production knowledge. Students will explore creative and technical techniques for sound manipulation, immersive audio design, and advanced post-production workflows. The module will focus on the role of sound in various contexts, such as film, television, games, music, and immersive media.

Digital & Graphic Design
This module introduces students to the principles and practices of digital and graphic design, emphasising design as a tool for clear and impactful communication. Students will develop skills in creative software, typography, and branding, applying industry-standard tools and theoretical frameworks to create engaging visual solutions that support effective communication across digital and print media.

Employability Based Learning 2
This module is intended to allow students to gain skills and develop frameworks to reflect critically on learning and work-based experiences. Through the undertaking and documentation of a work placement, students will enhance their employability through the development of vocationally relevant skills and self-awareness.

Major Project
This module enables students to draw on their academic, technical, and creative experiences to deliver a significant, self-directed media project. Through collaborative and independent work, students will develop and demonstrate expertise in their chosen specialism whilst enhancing professional skills in project management, collaboration, and industry engagement. This module will prepare students for higher-level study or entry into the media industry, with a focus on delivering a project that aligns with professional standards and showcases their individual and collective capabilities.

Journalism & Cultural Studies
This module aims to explore the intersection between journalism and cultural studies, examining the historical evolution of journalism, its role in shaping public discourse, and its relationship with cultural production. Undertaking a study of the changing landscape of journalism, students will develop analytical and reflective skills essential for understanding contemporary media practices.

Media Industry Research Project
This module aims to create a platform for students to investigate and refine a particular skill within the creative media field. Students are expected to identify, explore, and complete a creative media related project that will support them in their future endeavours.