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Media Practice (Certificate of Higher Education)

Our flexible, multidisciplinary Media Practice Certificate of Higher Education brings together the perspectives of film, media, journalism, screenwriting and public relations, allowing you to combine the varied elements of creative media practice.

A key objective of this is to develop your understanding of media culture so that you can put your own work, and the work of others, into its industrial, political and social context.

This course is your opportunity to learn about cutting-edge academic perspectives, while also developing skills and knowledge in applied media practice. It will help you develop a broad understanding of the media culture suited to our twenty-first-century context.

Highlights

  • We offer an extensive portfolio of internationally respected courses that engage with the latest ideas and techniques in media and cultural theory, arts policy and management, film and television studies, journalism, creative marketing and digital media.
  • Acquire up-to-date skills and knowledge from experienced industry practitioners at the heart of London's global media industry.
  • We are also affiliated with a number of research centres and networks, including Birkbeck Interdisciplinary Research in Media and Culture (BIRMAC), the Birkbeck Institute for the Moving Image (BIMI) and the Vasari Research Centre for Art and Technology.
  • Make yourself at home in our Bloomsbury campus, which includes facilities such as the award-winning Birkbeck Cinema, computer labs equipped with  editing, print layout and web design software packages, and The Newsroom, home to Lamp and Owl, Birkbeck’s magazine produced by and for students.

Progression to degrees at Birkbeck

Successfully completing the following modules on this course can give you entry into Year 2 of part-time BA degree courses at Birkbeck:

  • BA Film and Media: Screenwriting; Introduction to Journalism Practice
  • BA Journalism and Media: Introduction to Journalism Practice

If you are offered a place on one of these degrees, you may apply for retrospective credit for the modules and may be offered retrospective credit for your other Level 4 and Level 5 option modules, at the discretion of the BA course director.

Course structure

To gain the Certificate of Higher Education you must register on and successfully complete individual modules worth a total of 120 credit points, consisting of:

  • three Level 4 modules (90 credits)
  • one Level 5 module (30 credits).

There are no compulsory modules or pathways, as this course is designed to allow you flexible learning across modes of media.

Module groups

You can take these modules as part of this certificate, or as standalone short courses.

  • Entry Requirements

    Entry requirements

    None. However, all modules are taught at university level and you should be able to read, write and speak English fluently. If you need help, we offer a range of academic English and language development modules.

    Visa requirements

    If you are not from the UK and you do not already have residency here, you may need to apply for a visa.

    The visa you apply for varies according to the length of your course:

    • Courses of more than six months' duration: Student visa
    • Courses of less than six months' duration: Standard Visitor visa

    International students who require a Student visa should apply for our full-time courses as these qualify for Student visa sponsorship. If you are living in the UK on a Student visa, you will not be eligible to enrol as a student on Birkbeck's part-time courses (with the exception of some modules).

    For full information, read our visa information for international students page.

    Please also visit the international section of our website to find out more about relevant requirements by country.

  • Fees

    Fees

    Fees are payable per module and vary depending on the course. Please click on the Course Structure tab and then click on the title of individual modules to see the fees for each module. The overall cost of the certificate will depend on the modules you choose.

    Please note: if you intend to study this certificate part-time and fund your studies via a student loan, this may affect your entitlement for future full-time funding. Find out more about funding your studies with a student loan.

  • Teaching and assessment

    Teaching

    Teaching is in small groups.

    Assessment

    100% coursework.

  • Careers and employability

    Careers and employability

    Graduates can pursue careers with media agencies, museums and galleries, arts administration and teaching. Possible professions include:

    • programme researcher (broadcasting/film/video)
    • museum/gallery curator
    • arts administrator
    • higher education lecturer.

    We offer a comprehensive careers service - Careers and Enterprise - your career partner during your time at Birkbeck and beyond. At every stage of your career journey, we empower you to take ownership of your future, helping you to make the connection between your experience, education and future ambitions.

  • How to apply

    How to apply

    This is a modular enrolment certificate, so you will need to enrol onto individual modules (rather than onto the entire programme of study). Please view the Course Structure and then click on the title of individual modules to see class dates and times and to enrol.