BA(Hons) Media Production

3 Years On Campus Bachelors Program

University of the West of England

Program Overview

The BA (Hons) Media Production at UWE Bristol prepares you to become a confident, adaptable media professional, capable of producing creative projects across audio, video, digital and interactive platforms. Throughout the course, you’ll blend hands-on creative practice with research, strategy and critical thinking — giving you both the artistic and analytical tools needed to thrive in today’s fast-moving media industry.

Curriculum Structure

Year 1
Your first year lays the creative and theoretical foundation. You’ll explore how media works — culturally, socially and technically — through modules such as Understanding Media, Introduction to Media Production, Audio and Storytelling, and Creative Contexts. It’s your first step into the production world, learning to think like a media maker while gaining practical skills in sound and storytelling.

Year 2
The second year focuses on applied practice and industry context. Modules like Video Production, Participatory and Interactive Media, Media Industries, and Creative Futures help you deepen your understanding of how media is created, funded and shared. You’ll experiment with new formats, sharpen your production techniques, and develop an insight into the business side of the industry.

Year 3
In your final year, you’ll take full creative control through a major project — either a Media Production Project or a Dissertation. You’ll also study modules such as Live Studio Production and Specialist Media, with the option to branch into areas like Digital Marketing & Content Production or Sound, Image, Space. This is your chance to produce a signature piece of work that reflects your interests and professional goals, ready to showcase to audiences or industry professionals.

(You can also opt for a sandwich year — spending a year in the media industry to gain hands-on professional experience.)

Focus Areas

Audio & Storytelling
Video & Live Production
Interactive and Participatory Media
Media Strategy & Distribution
Critical & Cultural Contexts

Learning Outcomes

By the end of the course, you’ll be able to:

Demonstrate creative and technical excellence across multiple media forms.
Apply research, theory and critical thinking to solve real-world media challenges.
Produce original, ethical and audience-focused media projects.
Adapt and grow as a professional in the ever-evolving digital landscape.

Professional Alignment

While not formally accredited by an external body, the programme follows the UK’s Communication, Media, Film and Cultural Studies subject benchmarks. It is strongly industry-focused, featuring placements, live briefs and studio-based learning — all designed to reflect real professional practice.

Reputation & Employability

UWE Bristol’s media programmes enjoy high student satisfaction — with 100% of BA Media Production students rating academic support positively in recent surveys. According to Discover Uni data, media studies graduates from UWE earn an average of £19,500 three years after graduation, showing steady early-career growth and employability across creative industries.

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

Here’s how experiential learning is built right into the BA (Hons) Media Production course at UWE Bristol — you won’t just learn the theory; you’ll be creating, collaborating, and producing real media from day one. The course is all about hands-on experience, using professional equipment, tackling real projects, and developing the creative confidence to thrive in the media industry.

Real-World, Practical Learning

From your first year, you’ll be working in industry-standard studios and labs — shooting, editing, designing, and producing content across film, audio, online, and broadcast platforms. The course is designed to blend learning with doing, so you’ll work on live briefs, placements, and collaborations with real media organisations in Bristol’s thriving creative scene.

What You’ll Experience

Award-winning Film Studios at Bower Ashton – including spaces for production, animation, sound recording, colour grading, editing, and photography.
Full post-production suites equipped with specialist software like Final Cut Pro, Avid Media Composer, and Adobe Premiere Pro.
Broadcast radio studios and newsroom facilities, featuring green screens, fixed cameras, sound mixing, and dubbing suites.
Professional-grade equipment – high-end cameras, lighting rigs, and location kits used by media professionals.
Integration with the Digital Cultures Research Centre and the Pervasive Media Studio, where you’ll engage with new ideas, technologies, and creative innovation.
Live industry briefs and masterclasses delivered by working professionals from across media and journalism.
Internships and placements with Bristol-based media organisations such as Bristol Post, Bristol 24/7, UJIMA Radio, and TechSPARK — with opportunities for paid internships through UWE’s partnerships.
Optional sandwich (placement) year, giving you the chance to spend a full year working in industry to gain immersive, real-world experience.
Final-year modules like Live Studio Production and the Creative Research Project, where you’ll lead and deliver a major media production.
Collaboration with Hub Radio, UWE’s own student-run radio station — a real broadcasting platform where you can create and share your work.
Access to UWE’s libraries, media collections, and specialist equipment, supporting your projects, research, and creative growth.

With all these opportunities, you won’t just study media production — you’ll live it. You’ll graduate with the skills, experience, and professional mindset to step straight into the creative industries.

Progression & Future Opportunities

Future Progression & Opportunities

Graduates from this programme go on to build exciting careers across the digital and media industries. Many find themselves working as content producers, broadcast assistants, social media managers or multimedia journalists — roles where creativity, technology, and storytelling meet. You’ll graduate with the versatile skills that employers in these fast-growing sectors are looking for.

Looking ahead

University services that help you get employed

At UWE Bristol, you’ll have plenty of support to prepare for your next step:

Careers and Enterprise Service – offering one-to-one career coaching, CV and portfolio reviews, mock interviews, and employer networking events.
Placement & Internship Office – helping you secure a sandwich-year placement or short internship with a professional media organisation.
Alumni Network & Industry Mentoring – connecting you with UWE graduates already thriving in the media industry, who can share insights and open doors to opportunities.

Employment outcomes & salary insights

Three years after graduating, UWE media graduates report average earnings of around £19,500.
After five years, that average rises to approximately £23,500.
Across all disciplines, 91% of UWE graduates are in work or further study within 15 months of completing their degree.
For this specific course, around 70% of graduates are employed or combining work and study within 15 months.

University–industry partnerships

UWE has strong ties with Bristol’s thriving creative scene. Students often collaborate with local outlets such as Bristol Post, Bristol 24/7, UJIMA Radio, and TechSPARK, gaining valuable hands-on experience through live briefs and placements.

Your final-year work is also showcased at the university’s degree show, where talent scouts and industry professionals come to discover new creative talent.

The programme’s close connection with the Digital Cultures Research Centre and the Pervasive Media Studio gives you access to cutting-edge technology and collaborative projects that bridge the gap between media theory and real-world innovation.

Long-term value of your degree

A BA (Hons) from UWE Bristol is well-regarded across the UK and internationally, offering a respected credential within both academic and creative industries.

More than that, your hands-on portfolio — developed through placements, live projects and creative briefs — will demonstrate your real-world capability to employers, giving you a competitive edge in a field that values creativity and practical skill.

Graduation outcomes

You’ll graduate as a versatile media professional, ready to produce content across multiple formats — video, audio, online, interactive and broadcast — while understanding the social, cultural, and theoretical context behind your work.

Typical roles include:

Digital Media Producer
Broadcast or Production Assistant
Social Media / Digital Content Manager
Podcast & Audio Producer

Many graduates also choose to freelance or launch their own creative studios or media agencies.

Further academic progression

If you’re keen to continue your studies, there are several great options:

Progress to UWE’s MA Journalism or MA Journalism (Audio Docs & Podcasts) to refine your storytelling and documentary production skills.
Explore related master’s degrees in Digital Media, Media & Communications, Interactive Media, or Film and Documentary Studies to develop a deeper specialism.
Pursue an MPhil or PhD in Media Studies, focusing on emerging areas like media technologies, audience behaviour, or new media innovation.
Enhance your career versatility with postgraduate diplomas or certifications in media management, digital strategy, or creative entrepreneurship, combining creative expertise with business insight.