Media Skills BA (Hons) top-up

Why choose this course?

Do you want to fast track to a BA (Hons) degree? If you have a foundation degree in Media Skills (or equivalent), this one-year course is just right for you. It'll help you develop advanced practical skills in media and communications.

You'll work on exciting, creative projects. One of the main characteristics of this course is the integration of theory and practice. Students have developed social media strategies, filmed promotional videos and produced video essays, documentaries, websites and podcasts.

You'll work on a major piece of independent research as a practice-based dissertation, and to further develop professional skills necessary for employment, you'll organise a middle of the year symposium and present your work in progress.

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Attendance UCAS code Year of entry
1 year full time P302 2023

For 2023 entry please ensure your application is submitted before the UCAS January deadline 2023 as this course may not be in a position to consider applications submitted after this date.

Location Penrhyn Road
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Reasons to choose Kingston

  • This course prepares you for a career in the creative sector and media production. You'll have opportunities to undertake work placements and attend bespoke career and employability events for working in the Creative Industries.
  • You'll develop transferable skills such as writing, presenting, researching, teamworking and communication, relevant to a wide range of careers in media and beyond.
  • You'll have access to the latest digital equipment, such as specialist film and media labs, a film studio, audio recording facility, green screen, TV studio and Mac labs.

Career opportunities

We work closely with the Careers and Employability Team to embed skills in our curriculum and help students to shape their career. Recent graduates work as social media managers, account executives, digital journalists, copywriters, web editors and video producers. Employers include Barcoff studios, Apple, the BBC, Saatchi Gallery, Discovery Channel, Google Play and Winkreactive.

The Art School Experience

As part of Kingston School of Art, students on this course benefit from joining a creative community where collaborative working and critical practice are encouraged.

Our workshops and studios are open to all disciplines, enabling students and staff to work together, share ideas and explore multi-disciplinary making.

Explore our world-class facilities
Two students collaborate on a design project.

What you will study

You can choose from a range of modules to suit your interests. Popular modules include:

  • Media Research Project
  • Television Production
  • Issues in Media and Culture with a variety of strands

You also have the option to choose the module Professional Communication Skills where you will be able to select a workplace option to have the opportunity to experience working practices.

Modules

The year is made up of four modules each worth 30 credit points. Typically a student must complete 120 credits.

Top-up year

Core modules

Media Research Project

30 credits

This module integrates multidisciplinary creative practices, theories of media and communication and research methods while undertaking an extended piece of writing or practice-based research. In the process, you will become more aware of theoretical debates, review research strategies, analyse the findings, synthesise research, develop a coherent, structured argument and draw conclusions.

It fosters a deeper understanding of what it is to be a researcher and creative practitioner in the media industries and professions, in the arts and social sciences, media arts and technology, digital humanities and cultural studies. It is pretty much up to you! You come up with a topic that really interests you and start researching.

As well as attending the seminars, this module is about working independently and discussing your work with your supervisors so they can guide your research. In addition students will work together to organise a symposium and present their work. In doing so, they will develop their critical analytical and transferable professional skills.

Optional modules

Issues in Contemporary Media and Culture

30 credits

This module provides you mini module strands. You will be able to choose two of these strands, one in each TB, where we will explore together issues related to contemporary media and culture. This module seeks to synthesise and draw together your understanding of theoretical and contextual approaches to the interpretation of media and culture. Furthermore, this module will enable you to apply your understanding of theory as well as practice, to analysis of contemporary issues, practices and debates which we will be reviewing in module strands.

Marketing and Communication in Publishing

30 credits

This module considers the various individuals and communities (colleagues, shareholders, retailers, distributors, agents, customers and other stakeholders) involved in the business of content sale and delivery, and how to disseminate information and influence behaviour in order to promote effective marketing and sales.

The module will enable students to understand marketing and sales principles, and develop associated skills in applying them to meet the demands of modern publishing.

Box Set Television Drama

30 credits

Drama has always been a key TV genre - and with the rise of streaming platforms like Netflix, Amazon we can binge-watch more than ever. In Boxset Drama, we'll explore how a successful series is created – and how to pitch one.

Professional Communication Skills

30 credits

This module covers a broad range of topics to engage students in different genres of communication to develop both spoken and written skills necessary for employability. The topics, drawn from sociolinguistics, stylistics and discourse analysis, include analysing interaction in the professional setting, copy-editing, writing to a specific brief and presenting a professional brief. Through interactive lectures, guest talks, personal tutorials, and a workplace option where students have the opportunity to experience working practices, students are encouraged to develop skills and reflect on their own practices as a way of gaining an understanding of communication matters in real life and work contexts. The module's focus on professional interactional and writing skills as well as its links to Kingston's KU Talent activities and events guides students in planning their careers and developing their employability skills.

Television Production

30 credits

This is a practical module designed to enable students to experience and work in a professionally-focused industry environment, and develop television production skills such as multi-camera operation, sound, mixing and teleprompting. Students will learn how to work and operate a professional broadcast studio as well as developing TV production skills. In addition, students will build on and reinforce employability skills such as problem-solving, time management and dependability sought by employers looking to fill graduate positions. Students will be encouraged to reflect on their professional practice and critically evaluate their teaching and learning contributions.

Please note

Optional modules only run if there is enough demand. If we have an insufficient number of students interested in an optional module, that module will not be offered for this course.

Entry requirements

Typical offer 2023

Successful completion of Foundation Degree in Media Skills or BTEC Level 5 HND Diploma in a media-related subject.

Additional requirements

Entry on to this course does not require an interview, entrance test, audition or portfolio.

International

All non-UK applicants must meet our English Language requirements. For this course it is Academic IELTS of 6.5 overall, with no element below 5.5.

Make sure you read our full guidance about English language requirements, which includes details of other qualifications we consider.

Applicants who do not meet the English language requirements could be eligible to join our pre-sessional English language course.

Applicants from recognised majority English-speaking countries (MESCs) do not need to meet these requirements.

Country-specific information

You will find more information on country-specific entry requirements in the International section of our website.

Find your country:

Typical offer and UCAS points explained

Like most universities, we use the UCAS Tariff point system for our course entry requirements.

Find out more about UCAS Tariff points and see how A-level, AS level, BTEC Diploma and T-level qualifications translate to the points system.

Teaching and assessment

Our top-up programme recognises and enhances the practical nature of media skills (or equivalent) courses. As a top-up student you will be assigned a personal tutor to support the transition to our programme.

Guided independent study (self-managed time)

When not attending timetabled sessions, you will be expected to continue learning independently through self-study. This typically will involve reading journal articles and books, working on individual and group projects, undertaking preparing coursework assignments and presentations, and preparing for final assignments. Your independent learning is supported by a range of excellent facilities including online resources, the library and CANVAS, the online virtual learning platform.

Academic support

Our academic support team here at Kingston University provides help in a range of areas.

Dedicated personal tutor

When you arrive, we'll introduce you to your personal tutor. This is the member of academic staff who will provide academic guidance, be a support throughout your time at Kingston and who will show you how to make the best use of all the help and resources that we offer at Kingston University.

Your workload

18% of your time is spent in scheduled learning and teaching.

Type of learning and teaching

Type of learning and teaching
  • Scheduled learning and teaching: 220 hours
  • Guided independent study (self-managed time): 980 hours

How you will be assessed

You will be able to work on a major piece of independent research as a practice-based dissertation, and to further develop professional skills necessary for employment, you will organise a middle of the year symposium and present your work in progress.

Type of assessment

Top-up year

Top-up year
  • Coursework: 70%
  • Practical exam: 30%

Feedback summary

We aim to provide feedback on assessments within 20 working days.

Your timetable

Your individualised timetable is normally available to students within 48 hours of enrolment. Whilst we make every effort to ensure timetables are as student-friendly as possible, scheduled learning and teaching can take place on any day of the week between 9am and 6pm. For undergraduate students, Wednesday afternoons are normally reserved for sports and cultural activities, but there may be occasions when this is not possible. Timetables for part-time students will depend on the modules selected.

Who teaches this course?

Many of the teaching team are media practitioners and theorists who bring their professional and academic expertise into the classroom: they will help you to develop your skills, networks and gain access to industry contacts. Their expertise and knowledge is closely matched to the content of the modules on this course.

Academic teaching is supported by visiting speakers, industry professionals and guest lecturers who enhance your learning.

Dr María Mencía

Dr Landé Pratt

Course fees and funding

2023/24 fees for this course

The tuition fee you pay depends on whether you are assessed as a ‘Home' (UK) or ‘International' student. In 2023/24 the fees for this course are:

 Fee category Amount
Home (UK students) £9,250*
International £15,800

This fee applies to students studying for the BSc (Hons) or BA (Hons) top-up in the 2023/24 academic year.

* For full time programmes of a duration of more than one academic year, the published fee is an annual fee, payable each year, for the duration of the programme. Your annual tuition fees cover your first attempt at all of the modules necessary to complete that academic year. A re-study of any modules will incur additional charges calculated by the number of credits. Home tuition fees may be subject to annual increases but will not increase by more than the fee caps as prescribed by the Office for Students or such other replacing body. Full time taught International fees are subject to an annual increase and are published in advance for the full duration of the programme.

Eligible UK students can apply to the Government for a tuition loan, which is paid direct to the University. This has a low interest rate which is charged from the time the first part of the loan is paid to the University until you have repaid it.

Need to know more?

Our fees and funding section provides information and advice on money matters.

2022/23 fees for this course

The tuition fee you pay depends on whether you are assessed as a ‘Home' (UK) or ‘International' student. In 2022/23 the fees for this course are:

 Fee category Amount
Home (UK students) £9,250*
International £15,400

This fee applies to students studying for the BSc (Hons) or BA (Hons) top-up in the 2022/23 academic year.

* For full time programmes of a duration of more than one academic year, the published fee is an annual fee, payable each year, for the duration of the programme. Your annual tuition fees cover your first attempt at all of the modules necessary to complete that academic year. A re-study of any modules will incur additional charges calculated by the number of credits. Home tuition fees may be subject to annual increases but will not increase by more than the fee caps as prescribed by the Office for Students or such other replacing body. Full time taught International fees are subject to an annual increase and are published in advance for the full duration of the programme.

Eligible UK students can apply to the Government for a tuition loan, which is paid direct to the University. This has a low interest rate which is charged from the time the first part of the loan is paid to the University until you have repaid it.

Need to know more?

Our fees and funding section provides information and advice on money matters.

Additional costs

Depending on the programme of study, there may be extra costs which are not covered by tuition fees, which students will need to consider when planning their studies.

Tuition fees cover the cost of your teaching, assessment and operating University facilities such as the library, IT equipment and other support services. Accommodation and living costs are not included in our fees. 

Textbooks

Our libraries are a valuable resource with an extensive collection of books and journals as well as first-class facilities and IT equipment. You may prefer to, or be required to, buy your own copy of key textbooks.

Computer equipment

There are open-access networked computers available across the University, plus laptops available to loan. You may find it useful to have your own PC, laptop or tablet which you can use around campus and in halls of residences.

Free WiFi is available on each of the campuses.

Printing

In the majority of cases coursework can be submitted online. There may be instances when you will be required to submit work in a printed format. Printing and photocopying costs are not included in your tuition fees.

Travel

Travel costs are not included but we do have a free intersite bus service which links the campuses and halls of residence.

For this course you will be 

  • involved in processes of making, as means of exploration, experimentation, and understanding your practice, by using a diverse range of media and materials
  • required to purchase your own copy of books, for required reading
  • required to produce physical artefacts for assessment 
  • able to participate in optional study visits and/or field trips

However, over and above this you may incur extra costs associated with your studies, which you will need to plan for. 

In order to help you budget, the information below indicates what activities and materials are not covered by your tuition fees 

  • personal laptops and other personal devices 
  • personal copies of books 
  • optional study visits and field trips (and any associated visa costs)
  • printing costs
  • your own chosen materials and equipment
  • costs of participating at external events, exhibitions, performances etc.

The costs vary every year and with every student, according to the intentions for the type of work they wish to make. Attainment at assessment is not dependent upon the costs of materials chosen.

Note for EU students: UK withdrawal from the European Union

The Government has recently announced that new students from the European Union and Swiss Nationals starting their course after August 2021 will no longer be eligible for a student loan in England for Undergraduate or Postgraduate studies from the 2021/22 academic year. This decision only applies to new EU students starting after 2021/22. If you are an existing/continuing EU student, you will continue to be funded until you graduate or withdraw from your course.

Need to know more?

Our undergraduate fees and funding section provides information and advice on money matters.

Additional costs

Depending on the programme of study, there may be extra costs that are not covered by tuition fees which students will need to consider when planning their studies. Tuition fees cover the cost of your teaching, assessment and operating University facilities such as the library, access to shared IT equipment and other support services. Accommodation and living costs are not included in our fees. 

Where a course has additional expenses, we make every effort to highlight them. These may include optional field trips, materials (e.g. art, design, engineering), security checks such as DBS, uniforms, specialist clothing or professional memberships.

Textbooks

Our libraries are a valuable resource with an extensive collection of books and journals as well as first-class facilities and IT equipment. You may prefer to buy your own copy of key textbooks, this can cost between £50 and £250 per year.

Computer equipment

There are open-access networked computers available across the University, plus laptops available to loan. You may find it useful to have your own PC, laptop or tablet which you can use around campus and in halls of residences. Free WiFi is available on each of the campuses. You may wish to purchase your own computer, which can cost from £100 to £3,000 depending on your course requirements.

Photocopying and printing

In the majority of cases written coursework can be submitted online. There may be instances when you will be required to submit work in a printed format. Printing, binding and photocopying costs are not included in your tuition fees, this may cost up to £100 per year.

Travel

Travel costs are not included in your tuition fees but we do have a free intersite bus service which links the campuses, Surbiton train station, Kingston upon Thames train station, Norbiton train station and halls of residence.

Field trips

There may be optional study visits and field trips. These range from £25 for local trips to various costs for international trips.

External shows and exhibitions

There may be costs for participating at external shows and exhibitions. You could incur travel costs which will vary according to the location.

Facilities

The campus at Penrhyn Road is a hive of activity, housing the main student restaurant, the learning resources centre (LRC), and a host of teaching rooms and lecture theatres.

At the heart of the campus is the John Galsworthy building, a six-storey complex that brings together lecture theatres, flexible teaching space and information technology suites around a landscaped courtyard.

More about facilities at Penrhyn Road campus

After you graduate

The focus of this course is to prepare you for a career in the creative sector and media production, however, you will also develop transferable skills (eg writing, presenting, researching) relevant to a wide range of careers.

Our graduates have followed careers in a wide range of sectors and media industries, working at local, national and international level (eg BBC, Discovery Channel).

Examples of recent graduate destinations

Types of jobs

  • Account executive
  • Copywriter
  • Digital account executive
  • Film maker
  • Lead reporter
  • Market analyst and IT support
  • TV presenter
  • Video producer
  • Web content editor
  • Writer

Employers

  • Amazing Media
  • Apple
  • BBC
  • Birmingham Art Galleries
  • British Waterways
  • Cyntergy
  • French Radio London
  • New Frontiers
  • Purple PR
  • Type 4 U

Employability preparation at Kingston University

In addition to building expertise in your own discipline, our courses will also help you to develop key transferable skills that you'll need for professional life or further study once you graduate. 

As well as a range of careers and employability activities at Kingston, we also offer you the chance to apply and develop your skills in live contexts as an integral part of your course. Opportunities include:

  • placements;
  • working or studying abroad;
  • volunteering;
  • peer mentoring roles; and
  • internship opportunities within and outside the University.

In your final year, you'll get the opportunity to complete a major 'capstone' project where you can apply the knowledge and skills you have acquired to a range of real issues in different contexts. This is a great way to learn and is a valuable bridge to employment or further research at masters level.

Key information set

The scrolling banner(s) below display some key factual data about this course (including different course combinations or delivery modes of this course where relevant).

Course changes and regulations

The information on this page reflects the currently intended course structure and module details. To improve your student experience and the quality of your degree, we may review and change the material information of this course. Course changes explained.

Programme Specifications for the course are published ahead of each academic year.

Regulations governing this course can be found on our website.