[matthewoingram]

Hi,

I'm just coming to the end of Year 12 now and am in the process of making my university course choices. I've decided on the five following courses:

1) BSc TV and Film Production - York
2) BA TV and Film Production - Westminster
3) BA Journalism, Media and Cultural Studies - Cardiff
4) BA TV and Radio - Salford
5) BA Film and Television Studies - Royal Holloway

What do we think? Good calls? And what about employment?

Any help would be very much appreciated!

[MeGusta]

Lol read the question wrong, yeah don't do those courses. Better to do History or an English based course.

[yothi5]

Surely it's better to do a degree in English Lit or History at a good uni and get a job in television/media when you graduate?!

[ClarissaJJ]

I'd say your choices are pretty decent if your looking to further study Media. Tbh your choices really depend on whether you want the Practical side of Media or the Theoretical side or something slightly in between.

I can't offer much advice as the only uni's i've really studied out of your list are Westminster and Royal Holloway.
If you wanted the more practical side then out of your list I would suggest:
BA TV and Radio - Salford
BSc TV and Film Production - York
BA Media Arts - Royal Holloway (This is the course i'll be doing as its split between practical and theory, the BA Film and TV Studies at RHU is just theory)

BA TV and Film Production - Westminster: Westminster I hear is a good university but i think its heavily focused on the theory side of media but there is an element of practical in there.

Another thing to think about when studying media is if the university your going to will help with a work experience placement in your chosen profession. With media thats kind of importent because I hear that you need to build up contacts. Im sure that with most of the courses you suggested you can enter any of these careers: Documentary, Journalist, Video editor, Cameraman, Sound Editor, Scriptwriter, Director, Producer etc

Hope that I've helped a little bit I mostly know this stuff cos i spent an entire year and a half searching for good course lol

[Transcendence]

(Original post by matthewoingram)
Hi,

I'm just coming to the end of Year 12 now and am in the process of making my university course choices. I've decided on the five following courses:

1) BSc TV and Film Production - York
2) BA TV and Film Production - Westminster
3) BA Journalism, Media and Cultural Studies - Cardiff
4) BA TV and Radio - Salford
5) BA Film and Television Studies - Royal Holloway

What do we think? Good calls? And what about employment?

Any help would be very much appreciated!

Erm... Just... Lol...

Good luck with those, I'm sure you will do REALLY well...

[matthewoingram]

(Original post by Transcendence)
Erm... Just... Lol...

Good luck with those, I'm sure you will do REALLY well...

Erm... Just... Thanks for the Lols... They were REALLY appreciated...

But do you know what I'd prefer more?? Some DECENT and CONSTRUCTIVE advice...

[RibenaRockstar]

I would suggest doing a more general degree in anything, and then a postgrad course.
My dad did that, Geography at Swansea and then a Year Broadcast Journalism at City. You'll never know when that extra knowledge from your undergrad course might come in helpful - like Hugh Dennis on that geology programme.

[Transcendence]

(Original post by matthewoingram)
Erm... Just... Thanks for the Lols... They were REALLY appreciated...

But do you know what I'd prefer more?? Some DECENT and CONSTRUCTIVE advice...

Ok: avoid anything to do with media or any other poorly regarded subject. Go for the traditional subjects I.e. maths, science, etc.

[matthewoingram]

Thanks for all your advice!

[Jedders]

Don't let these people put you off. Do a BA and then an MA? What kind of laughable advice is that? You can get into the Film/TV industry without a degree, so why would you need to go and spend 20 grand per year for an MA. If you have loads of money and time to waste then by all means go for it.

You need to be more specific and decide what it is you want to do. Do you want to work as a camera operator? writer? director? producer? etc..

The usual advice is to get a job as a runner and work your way up. If you can do this go for it but it's easier said than done when you have little experience and no contacts. Go to university, learn and master your craft. Get as many contacts as possible and tonnes of experience for your CV and showreel.

If you're looking for a career where you can submit a CV and easily get a high paying job then you're looking at the wrong industry. Be prepared to work freelance and do plenty of odd jobs. You need to love what you do.


I don't reccomend doing Film STUDIES, you're better off doing English Lit like some other people said if you want to focus more on the theory side of things. I don't really know much about those courses except Westminister. that's probably the best one on your list.

[Funtry]

(Original post by matthewoingram)
Hi,

I'm just coming to the end of Year 12 now and am in the process of making my university course choices. I've decided on the five following courses:

1) BSc TV and Film Production - York
2) BA TV and Film Production - Westminster
3) BA Journalism, Media and Cultural Studies - Cardiff
4) BA TV and Radio - Salford
5) BA Film and Television Studies - Royal Holloway

What do we think? Good calls? And what about employment?

Any help would be very much appreciated!

It's your life, do what you want. Sounds very interesting to be honest! You only really get one proper shot at an undergrad degree, choose what you want to do, not what someone on TSR tells you to do . I like chemistry, so I'm doing chemistry, but that's my choice. A lot of R1 producers have degree's in radio (Beccy off of the Scott Mills show and Gary Pounder being two I can think of now), as well as Chris from the Scott Mills show. Do student radio, that'd be helpful though

[Mishmashmoo]

Okay right. I think I'm in a good position to advise you on this because by looking at those course choices I was in a very similar frame of mind to you when I was just finishing year 11.

I really wanted to go into the film industry and become a director, cinematographer or producer. I have a passion for film and I don't think I've ever found any other hobby more satisfying. I started making films and this carried on from around mid year 11 and all the way through college and I plan to carry on making films. I won 3 awards for my films this year and this has fuelled my passion even further.

HOWEVER, I would not advise doing these university courses. I originally planned to study similar things or go to film school because I thought "why would I do anything else, It's what I love". But the truth of the matter is that these degrees are not going to get you anywhere in the field of work you are clearly looking to go into. The film industry is oversubscribed and there are way too many students looking for employment with similar qualifications that really amount to nothing. A good portfolio is much more valuable. There are many ways into the film industry but this path is definitely not the best.

My advise would be to take a seemingly academic subject for your degree that you are also INTERESTED in. Don't do it just for the sake of it, you have to be interested in it or you will probably do badly. Having an academic background and combining that with a good portfolio will give you the edge in this area of work. For example I am going to study Philosophy, Politics and Economics next year. I love these subjects but my overall goal would be a job in the film industry. The general outlook on these degrees are bad, people do not respect them. I did film for A level and although it's not an easy A level, everyone thinks it is and it just reflects badly on the student as if they picked it as a cop out subject because they couldn't handle "real" subjects. This doesn't reflect my views but it's the view of everyone else and that's what counts, especially when you're looking for a job or a university placement. My brother in-law has a high paying job in the film industry and often lectures at the National Film and Television school and he took economics. He gave me this advice to do something academic to set me apart from the pack and then possibly go to film school or just go out and get a crew together, make a film and get noticed. These degrees are not proof of any skill in the film industry.

My film A level has been very minimal in teaching me how to actually make films. Sure I've learnt some stuff but it's the same as taking an English lit A level and expecting to come out of it being a brilliant writer. I haven't studied it at degree but I imagine it's of similar use. Teach yourself, go out and be practical and make some films, but for gods sake don't take any of these courses. You will screw yourself over in the long term and just become another one of masses. These degrees do not do what they say on the tin, a common misconception is this is a gateway into the film industry. Sure, you may get lucky and it may lead to something but 9/10 you will end up being a boom bitch for someone else and you won't be able to get a decent job in any other field of work because your degree is too specific.

Sorry for going on but It's you're future and I've gone through a similar process so I thought I'd save you the time and angst.

[me_]

(Original post by matthewoingram)
Hi,

I'm just coming to the end of Year 12 now and am in the process of making my university course choices. I've decided on the five following courses:

1) BSc TV and Film Production - York
2) BA TV and Film Production - Westminster
3) BA Journalism, Media and Cultural Studies - Cardiff
4) BA TV and Radio - Salford
5) BA Film and Television Studies - Royal Holloway

What do we think? Good calls? And what about employment?

Any help would be very much appreciated!

All is fine but Westminster? Really? There are a lot better universities out there to choose...