module specification

SM6082 - Media Industry Careers (2025/26)

Module specification Module approved to run in 2025/26
Module title Media Industry Careers
Module level Honours (06)
Credit rating for module 15
School School of Computing and Digital Media
Total study hours 150
 
30 hours Assessment Preparation / Delivery
84 hours Guided independent study
36 hours Scheduled learning & teaching activities
Assessment components
Type Weighting Qualifying mark Description
Coursework 100%   Career Plan with Industry Analysis (3000 words)
Running in 2025/26

(Please note that module timeslots are subject to change)
Period Campus Day Time Module Leader
Autumn semester North Wednesday Afternoon

Module summary

This module represents core self-development activities: career planning, promotion of student work, and portfolio. It provides practical guidance for students in how to position themselves and their work with reference to their career goals and builds on student work in Level 5 Media Industry Roles module on personal promotional activity.
The module will include analysis of current trends and the changing media landscape, with a focus on diversity and representation across the industries, as well as encouraging engagement with local film and media organisations and activities.
Student research will inform the development of a career plan and the design of the portfolio of work (including show reel where relevant). Students will design the presentation of their work to prospective employers or funders in various formats including: CV, covering letter, website – format to be determined through the student’s research.

This module aims:
• to afford students the opportunity to realise the career-potential of their accumulated skills, subject knowledge and understanding. The skills will include identifying and researching career opportunities, mapping the requirements and benefits of the career against their own skills and motivations and then learning about and producing the evidence that will enable them to exploit that opportunity.

• to increase students’ understanding of the interrelationship between their practice and the contexts of their profession in the creative economy, and ‘market’ for their skills.

• to empower, enabling the graduate to exploit capacity and potential to shape the job and their professional field so that they may both contribute to and create social benefit from their career.

Syllabus

Researching a career destination, including a specialist focus on a relevant career path. (LO1, LO2)

Self promotion and networking activities (e.g. competitions and festivals; their importance and significance to the film and media industries). (LO2, LO3. LO4)

Writing proposals and application forms. (LO2, LO3)

Writing a skills matrix. (LO1)

Film Marketing. (LO3)

Funding opportunities and how to apply for funding. (LO1)

Presentation of personal and professional qualifications and attributes (LO1, LO4)

Building and promoting a graduate show and exhibiting work. (LO3)

Balance of independent study and scheduled teaching activity

The learning and teaching strategy is to place the emphasis on learning through research. Students are expected to undertake an active role in researching their potential careers, their industry sector and developing the promotion of their own work and practice. The research is then analysed, so the student learns to make informed choices and to extend knowledge.
Module material will be placed on WebLearn which may also be used for discussions, notifications, to link to relevant research sources, potential employers, and professional networks.

Students will come in contact with a number of experts (through student visits and visiting professionals) and are encouraged to use these as opportunities to learn about their profession and their field. The development of CVs offers the opportunity for students to demonstrate their professional and personal development.

Teaching methods will also include lectures, seminars, demonstrations, workshops and group tutorials which students are required to attend.

Learning outcomes

On completion of this module, students should be able to demonstrate their:

1. Knowledge and analytic understanding of the requirements and benefits of a range of careers in context of the character and conditions of the creative economies.

2. Knowledge and understanding of professional codes and standards in the film and creative industries.

3. Knowledge of and practised skills in relevant marketing and promotional techniques.

4. Understanding of the importance of self-promotion and networking in pursuing a media career.

Bibliography