Get practical training in TV and radio. Pitch to industry professionals and go live on air in our award-winning radio station. Join a course which best prepares you for a career in the industry.
Overview
There’s never been a better time to get into content creation – we’re watching, listening, making and broadcasting more media than ever before. This course will give you the practical skills to join this expanding industry and make engaging content for TV, radio, podcasts, social and online.
Taught by experienced experts, using fantastic facilities, you’ll develop and pitch ideas to industry practitioners and undertake placements to build your network. Our students have taken advantage of our relationships with BBC, Capital FM, Sunderland AFC, Tyne Tees Television, Made in Tyne and Wear, and various production companies as well as our very own internationally award-winning Spark Sunderland.
Graduate with a degree that shows off your specialism. In your final year you can choose from: BA (Hons) Media Production, BA (Hons) Media Production (TV) or BA (Hons) Media Production (Radio).
Why us?
- Acclaimed independent production company Fulwell 73 – makers of Netflix show ‘Sunderland ‘Til I Die’ – has launched a new regional office in our David Puttnam Media Centre. Get direct experience and insight into a leading production company and how it operates. Read more about Fulwell 73's new regional office, Fulwell North.
- Our Media and Film Studies courses are 11th in the UK (Guardian University Guide, 2023)
- Inspirational graduate stories including BAFTA winners and Royal Television Society award-winners; Amazon Prime Original producers, E4 voice talent and BBC Radio 1 presenters, including Jordan North
- Get involved with our internationally award-winning community radio station Spark Sunderland, which broadcasts 24 hours a day, 365 days a year
- Access to our equipment store where you can borrow industry-standard technology throughout your course, and even after you graduate, to help you get your feet off the ground
- Gain an industry standard certificate to speed your way into work with the BECTU Creative Industries Safety Passport confirming you have undertaken health and safety training and are safe to work on set
- Paid work placements available with ITV and Lime Pictures
Course structure
This is a practical-based course with a 70/30 split. The majority of teaching and assessment is based on skills, coursework and content creation, often in groups. The rest may be presentations, essays, critical evaluations, self-review and reports.
The first year is all about building your skills. You’ll be introduced to the studios, the equipment, relevant software and the various roles within TV and radio. This prepares you to concentrate on content creation in the second year, while you explore roles and specialisms. By your final year, you’re ready to delve into the discipline you love, take on your preferred role, pitching and developing proposals and delivering a finished piece to professional standards.
Work experience is an integral part of the course, and throughout your time with us, you'll be encouraged to continuously liaise with the TV and radio industry about work experience placements and industry-ran masterclasses.
Part-time study
If you study this course on a part-time basis, you will typically complete 40-80 credits in a year, rather than the 120 credits of full-time students. All modules are taught during the daytime and you will be studying alongside full-time students.
Facilities
The David Puttnam Media Centre is a thriving place to study and experience media. Rub shoulders with BBC Newcastle and Tyne & Wear TV, who are both based here. Volunteer with award-winning radio station, Spark Sunderland, write for one of our suite of websites or edit Spark Magazine in our mediaHUB. Get hands on in TV and radio studios, journalism and digital editing suites. Learn from experts in this centre of excellence for training.
Career ready
This degree prepares you for careers in TV, radio, video and new media industries. Your training in communication, teamwork and creativity will be highly relevant to roles in many different businesses and in the public sector.
Career destinations
Recent graduates from Sunderland have gained jobs with employers such as the BBC, Radio 1, Channel 4, Sky TV, Capital North East, I Daniel Blake, MTV and professional production companies.
You could also choose to continue your studies with a Masters degree at the University of Sunderland, such as MA Radio, Audio and Podcasting or MA Media Production (Film and Television).
Work experience
We actively encourage you to gain relevant work experience while at university. In every year of your course, you'll be guided and encouraged to gain meaningful experience that will fit around your studies.
You'll undertake a number of practice modules throughout your course, which can include live briefs from clients from outside the University. Get the opportunity to gain production experience with independent production company Fulwell 73 and build up a portfolio of work to show future employers.
External links
We frequently invite guest speakers to run workshops and masterclasses, allowing you to relate your learning to real-life experience. Recently this has included our visiting professors Dr Alex Connock, Fellow in Marketing at Oxford University; Emmy award winner David Quantick; and Nick Smith Executive Vice President at All3Media.
We encourage you to take part in competitions; our students have won awards from organisations such as the Royal Television Society.
Throughout your studies, you’ll be guided and supported by our experts. All of whom are working or researching in media. You’ll study alongside scriptwriters, film makers, radio producers, presenters and independent film producers who will share their experience and encourage you to build your network.
Join our award winners
Our staff and students consistently win big at the Royal Television Awards.
RTS winners 2020
- Comedy and Entertainment: 72
- Drama: Quite By Chance
- Factual: Two Monkeys
- Craft - Production Design: Quite by Chance
- Craft - Camera: 72
- Craft - Editing: Freedom
RTS winners 2019
- Comedy and Entertainment: Rebel Rebel
- Factual: NEPK – North East Parkour
- Craft - Editing: NEPK – North East Parkour
Creative Industries Week
Creative Industries Week gives everyone in the Faculty of Arts and Creative Industries the opportunity to participate in a range of projects, workshops, talks, industry visits and career events. This exciting week encourages interdisciplinary working, broadens your experience to build your confidence and helps develop your career path.
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