Television Production

MA / Postgraduate Diploma

The MA in Television Production is intended for those who have serious aspirations to work in the broadcasting, independent production, and corporate sectors of the television industry. This course is based at Warrington.

Campus Warrington
Course MA / Postgraduate Diploma
Length 1 Year Full-time
Start date September 2011

With the BBC's move to MediaCity in Salford, this is a time of potentially immense and significant change to the northern media landscape and this course aims to provide students with a range of creative, practical and critical skills that they can apply within and beyond the developing Television Industry.

 

Why study Television Production at Warrington?

Do you enjoy a diverse range of challenges, have a knack for writing, or a visual imagination; perhaps you tell a good story? If you look forward to meeting different kinds of people every day, travelling, working to deadlines, thinking on your feet, problem solving and you have a limitless capacity for ideas and infinite patience, then the MA in Television Production may be for you.

There are no clear or traditional career paths into the media and there is fierce competition to gain entry to what is seen as a glamorous career. Television is exciting and interesting, but also extremely hard work with no fixed pattern of working hours. An MA in Television Production isn't a passport into that world, but it is a start.


Features:

  • The University of Chester's Connect and Create Partnership with the BBC; the partnership offers a wealth of opportunities with a number of BBC departments, aiming to equip students with the necessary skills and expertise to develop a potential career in the media
  • Links with broadcasters and content providers of regional, national and international reputation
  • Guest lectures from industry professionals working at independent TV production companies and major broadcasters
  • Broadcast-standard equipment including tapeless cameras, Final Cut Pro editing suites and TV Studio
  • 24-hour access to all production equipment
  • Attendance at some significant Industry events
  • MA students have their own production/ research base with internet, phone and viewing facilities.

  • Opportunity to gain valuable paid work experience through the University's Hot Room. This innovative creative development means students can work on a variety of projects for external clients, from DVDs to websites. 

Next: Modules

Programme Structure:

Documentary Production

The 'fast track' element of this module equips students with the technical and practical skills needed to produce television programmes such as portable single camera operation and technique, sound recording, lighting and non-linear editing and creative post-production.

Students experience a number of practical production techniques associated with the basics of television production, developing their ability to integrate creativity with the practicalities of media production.


Researching and Producing Content

Students will develop a critical understanding of the conventions and techniques of broadcast programme research. This module engages with key issues related to researching and producing media content including idea generation and development, organisation, editorial decision-making, interviewing technique, the writing and presentation of proposals and treatments, and advanced technical production practices. Considerable emphasis is placed on understanding the current and future media landscape.


Representations, Reality and Factual Television

This module explores the role of factual television, particularly news, current affairs, documentary and factual entertainment, within media and society. This module engages with research methods and key theoretical approaches for analysing factual programming and is designed to enhance students' abilities to critically evaluate factual television programmes in terms of the political, cultural and economic environment in which they are produced.

Next: Assessment

Assessment is through group and individual practical work and written coursework. This includes both a short and a longer-form documentary programme, a 'portfolio of ideas' and, for candidates of the MA, a media-related 'extended project' / essay that is submitted at the conclusion of the course.

Next: Careers

The course has been devised to provide students with key and transferable skills and knowledge, so that they may be able to pursue a career in the creative media industries. Past students have gone on to work successfully across a range of specific media positions including roles as researchers, camera operators, production managers and directors.

Next: Entry requirements

Applicants for this course should normally have a good honours degree (minimum of second class honours or equivalent international qualification).

 

There may be circumstances where mature students and candidates with non-standard qualifications may be considered if they can evidence substantial professional or other relevant experience.  Informal enquiries are welcomed.

 


Beginning: Overview

Useful links

Who to contact

  • For admission enquiries

    Postgraduate Admissions

    University of Chester

    Parkgate Road

    Chester

    CH1 4BJ

    T:
    01244 512456
    postgrad@chester.ac.uk

  • For enquiries about course content

    Caroline Ford, Programme Leader
    T:
    01925 534670
    c.ford@chester.ac.uk