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Introduction
Why choose this course?
On this course, you’ll specialise in either film, music or digital media production.
Focusing on film, you’ll study how contemporary and classic feature films are produced and consumed. You’ll learn also how to unpick their meaning and understand them in their historical context.
If you choose music, you’ll look at the way creating music has changed over the decades. We’ll also show you how to research music distribution and audiences.
With digital media production, you’ll examine documentaries, shorts and television shows, then you’ll have a go. You’ll research and produce your own short film based on what you’ve learnt.
Whichever route you pick, you’ll also develop skills in research and critical practice. You might compose a piece of film music or make a video. This is where you’ll have the chance to collaborate with students in different fields.
You’ll complete your course with your dissertation or your final creative project. Some students do a written dissertation or video essay, while others focus on a creative project such as a short documentary or video installation.
Overview
Considering a career in the creative industries? There’s never been a better time, with this sector contributing over £13 million to the UK’s economy every hour.
Whether your interest is in film, music or digital media production, our MA Creative Industries course is designed to meet the high demand for those with specialist creative skills. We even have our very own student-led creative agency, Brookes Creative, where you can gain invaluable hands-on experience.
But applying your expertise to real challenges doesn’t end there. In the Optional Work Placement module, you could work on a real assignment for a local business or organisation. For example, creating public awareness videos for Thames Valley Police, or making publicity films and social media for our local independent cinema.
One in eight UK businesses are in the creative industries, which means there are endless career opportunities. Throughout the course you’ll be building on your interests and strengths, while discovering what it takes to stand out from the crowd and impress potential employers after you graduate.
Modules
Film students will focus on the production and consumption of narrative feature films in both contemporary and historical periods. You will learn how to analyse recent and classic films in their industrial context, to engage with film curatorship and festival programming, and to as consider the rich microhistories of cinemagoing and spectatorship.
Music students will investigate how and where music is produced and the ways that it is consumed. You will analyse a range of venues.The ways that music is consumed have radically changed in recent decades, and you will therefore learn tools to research all the contemporary facets of music distribution, music gatekeepers and music audiences.
Digital Media Production students will examine a range of media including documentary feature films, shorts and television shows. You will have the opportunity to approach the documentary form both in terms of theory and practice, by researching and producing a short film taken from real life.
Compulsory modules
Dissertation or Creative Project (30 credits)
Your final project may be either a written dissertation, a video essay or a creative
project (e.g. short documentary, artists video installation).
Professional Experience (30 credits)
This module gives you the opportunity to plan and carry out a work placement or live
project in the creative industries.
Research Skills & Methods
This module gives you the vital skills in research which you will need for all other assignments.
Optional modules
Digital Media Production
Digital Transformations in Film, Media & Media Journalism (30 credits)
You will trace the development of media journalism through recent decades of digital
transformation and develop skills in feature writing, web journalism and podcasting.
Cultures of Documentary Production (30 credits)
You will have the opportunity to approach the documentary form both in terms of theory
and practice, by researching and producing a short film taken from real life.
Film
Modes of Film Production (30 credits)
You will focus on the production of narrative feature films in both contemporary and
historical periods, and learn how to analyse recent and classic films in their industrial
context.
Film Exhibition, Programming and Audiences (30 credits)
You will engage with film curatorship and festival programming, and consider the rich
microhistories of cinemagoing and spectatorship.
Music
Sites of Music Production (30 credits)
You will investigate how and where music is produced by learning how to analyse a
range of different music venues.
Modes of Music Consumption (30 credits)
You will learn tools to research all the contemporary facets of music distribution, music
gatekeepers and music audiences.
Work Placement
Optional modules
Professional Experience
This module gives you the opportunity to plan and carry out a work placement or live project in the creative industries.
Final Project
Compulsory modules
Dissertation or Creative Project
Your final project may be either a written dissertation, a video essay or a creative project (e.g. short documentary, artists video installation).
Research
Academics in the School of Arts are part of The Creative Industries Research and Innovation Network which brings together researchers, professionals, and local communities to share expertise and build social change.
All School of Arts staff are active researchers publishing widely on subjects such as:
 Film music
 Opera
 Sound Art
 Film audiences
 Immersive Documentary
 Queer Theory.
Entry Criteria
ENTRY REQUIRED DOCUMENTS
Home Office Share Code
For EU students only.
IF no Qualification
Please provide CV with at least 2 years of work experience, and employee reference letter.
Specific entry requirements
Applicants should hold an undergraduate degree at 2:1 or higher in any subject. All students will be required to attend an interview to discuss their application, this may be either in person or online. In addition, a portfolio of written or creative work may be requested from students without an academic background in the arts and/or humanities.
APEL applications will be encouraged for students with extensive professional experience. International applicants are required to achieve an IELTS score of 6.5 overall, with 6.0 in reading and writing and 5.5 in listening and speaking.
Our standard entry requirement is three A-levels or equivalent qualifications. In some cases, courses have specific required subjects and additional GCSE requirements. In addition to A-levels, we accept a wide range of other qualifications including:
 the Welsh Baccalaureate
 the Access to Higher Education Diploma
 a BTEC National Certificate, Diploma or Extended Diploma at a good standard and in a relevant subject
 the International Baccalaureate Diploma
 the European Baccalaureate Diploma
 Scottish qualifications – five subjects in SCE with two at Higher level or one at Advanced Higher level, or three subjects in Scottish Highers or two at Advanced Higher level
 a recognised foundation course
 T-levels*.
 * T-levels are a relatively new qualification but are already included in the UCAS tariff. We welcome prospective students who are taking this qualification to apply. For some programmes with specific required subjects, particular subject areas or occupational specialisms may be required.
Selection process
By interview
English language requirements
If English is not your first language you will need to satisfy the university's English language requirements for this course:
 minimum 6.5 (with a minimum of 6.0 in reading and writing and 5.5 in listening and speaking)
 if you have completed your undergraduate degree in the UK (at least one full year of study) you will automatically meet our English language requirements.
If English is not your first language then you will need to show that your English language skills are at a high enough level to succeed in your studies.
The entry requirement for your course will be expressed as an IELTS level and refers to the IELTS Academic version of this test. We are now also accepting the IELTS Indicator test, you can find out more about the test on the IELTS Indication site. The University however does accept a wide range of additional English language qualifications, which can be found below.
The university’s English language requirements in IELTS levels are as follows:
Course IELTS level
All other undergraduate courses 6.0 overall with 6.0 in reading and writing, 5.5 in listening and speaking
Law, Architecture, Interior Architecture, English Literature (including combined honours), English Literature and Creative Writing 6.5 overall with 6.0 in reading and writing, 5.5 in listening and speaking
Health and Social Care courses 6.5 or 7.0 overall with 6.5 or 7.0 in all components (see individual entries for course details)
Nutrition BSc (Hons) 6.5 overall with a minimum of 6.0 in each component
Built Environment Foundation,
Computing Foundation,
Engineering Foundation 6.0 with 6.0 in reading and writing, 5.5 in listening and speaking
International Foundation Business and Technology,
International Foundation Arts, Humanities and Law 5.5 overall with 5.5 in all skills
International Foundation Diploma 5.0 overall with 5.0 in all skills
If you need a student visa you must take an IELTS for UKVI test.
International Foundation Diploma (Extended pathway) 4.5 overall with 4.5 in all skills
If you need a student visa you must take an IELTS for UKVI test.
Assessment
ASSESSMENT METHODS
1. INTERNAL ENGLISH TEST if you don't have an English accredited certificate
2. Academic Interview
Assessment
Assessment tasks may include written research assignments, video essays, group projects and reflective logbooks of experiential learning. Feedback is crucial for students development and most assignments build in opportunities for you to discuss your work (e.g. research seminars, proposals, idea pitching sessions).
Learning and teaching
The MA in Creative Industries is taught through a mixture of class-based activities (e.g. seminars, guest speakers), experiential learning (e.g. live projects) and independent study supported by expert supervision (e.g. dissertation or creative project).
Career Opportunities
After you’ve completed your MA in Creative industries, you’ll have the skills and knowledge to work and progress in one of the many creative and media industries.
You could pursue a career in cinema programming or marketing, for example, or film making or animation. Or if you want to gain your PhD, our research training means you’ll be ready for further study and an academic career.
Our creative agency has great links with local creative businesses, and the work you do in your final live project could help you make the decision on your future direction. It could be in:
 media production
 arts administration
 teaching and research
 digital marketing
 publishing and journalism.
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