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Digital Media Production

MSc

Start dates: September 2024 / September 2025

Full time: 12 months

Part time: 24 months

Location: Headington

Department(s): School of Arts

Overview
Course details
Careers
Entry requirements
How to apply
Tuition fees

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Overview

Digital media is a huge part of our lives. It entertains. Informs. Inspires. Join us at Oxford Brookes to learn the ins and outs of making powerful work that speaks to audiences everywhere.

You’ll find everything you need to practise your video production skills, whether you want to get involved in future blockbusters or TV dramas. Want to explore a career in broadcast TV? You’ll love our fully functional TV studio. Or perhaps game production is more your thing? We have industry-standard software including Unity – as well as close links with many media software developers who visit us regularly.

Our MSc Digital Media Production at Oxford Brookes is like a test run for a real production environment. You’ll get hands-on experience with all the latest equipment and software that the professionals use. Expert instruction from tutors working in the industry. And live projects where you can apply your skills alongside your fellow students.

Attend an open day or webinar Ask a question Order a prospectus

Student using motion capture equipment

Why Oxford Brookes University?

  • Hands-on experience
    Being an MSc, this course is more technical than many MA courses elsewhere.
  • Professional staff 
    You’ll learn from experts who have worked in the industry, including a TV journalist who is a reporter for GMB and TalkTV.
  • Full range of kit
    Access everything you need, from software to cameras, motion capture equipment to a screening room.
  • Study in a great location
    Oxford has many thriving professional studios, as well as easy access to London.
     
  • Join a vibrant community
    Meet other creatives at the Brookes Film Society or Documentary Club.

Course details

Course structure

Over 1 year (full time) or 2 years (part time), you’ll explore a range of modules that cover all the skills you need for a career in media production. As you progress through the course, you’ll build a portfolio of work geared towards your interest in anything from games to documentaries.

The specialist Newsroom Operation module will feel like you’ve stepped straight into a production environment. Test out roles from news package producer to studio director. Explore the whole process, from covering stories through to final broadcast.

In your final project, you’ll create a piece of media or practical piece of work that puts all your skills to the test. You could even work alongside a commercial organisation as part of your project. We’ll support you throughout the process to help you achieve your best.

Student working with sound production software

Learning and teaching

We use a range of teaching and learning methods, including:

  • lectures
  • directed reading
  • workshops
  • presentations
  • seminars
  • practical work
  • project work.

There will be a weekly three-hour teaching block over a 12 week period. You will need to set aside 200 hours of study. There will be 36 hours of staff contact. 

Your learning will draw on the diverse professional backgrounds, experience and knowledge of academics and visiting lecturers from industry.

Assessment

Each course module is assessed individually, generally on the quality of written or design work, and to some extent on verbal presentations.

Assessment methods may include:

  • essays
  • seminar papers
  • class tests
  • project work
  • design and oral presentations
  • workshops
  • simulations
  • practical exercises.

Study modules

Taught modules

Compulsory modules

  • Modelling and Animation Techniques (20 credits)

  • Video Production (40 credits)

    This module is intended to give you an understanding of, and the ability to apply the skills required for sound and video recording, including the techniques used to design, author and produce electronic media. This includes pre-production planning, production phase involving industry standard tools for recording and post-production using the latest techniques.

  • Newsroom Operation (20 credits)

    This module covers the entire workflow for a broadcast TV newsroom from an original news story, through the write-up, planning and capturing footage, to editing and broadcasting. Using a fully operational newsroom, you will gain an understanding of the creative and technical processes involved in TV production.

  • Interactive Media (20 credits)

    This module provides you with an understanding of the processes and practices needed to generate and manipulate digital media. You will develop a portfolio of work in either web, game design or mobile applications.

  • Professional Media Production (20 credits)

    This module provides you with a comprehensive understanding of management techniques relevant to video/multimedia production. Working in teams, you will acquire the knowledge required to plan, organise, finance, produce and evaluate media materials for external customers.

  • Research and Study Methods

    This module is designed to introduce you to the research and study methods that will underpin work carried out for your dissertation. The module, delivered in a seminar style, will provide you with research skills, planning techniques, progress management and review, and ability to use ICT support materials. You will be given guidance on the analysis and technical presentation of research material.

Final project

Compulsory modules

  • Research and Dissertation (60 credits)

    The dissertation is a research and development project comprising of a major practical project supported by a 5,000 word dissertation on a topic closely related to your course of study. Some students produce a short video or an animation as part of their project. The work may be undertaken in close co-operation with a research, industrial or commercial organisation.

Please note: As our courses are reviewed regularly as part of our quality assurance framework, the modules you can choose from may vary from those shown here. The structure of the course may also mean some modules are not available to you.

Research

We focus on user-inspired original research with real-world applications. Our research centres provide a focus for research and a bank of expertise across the creative industries. They allow us to foster relationships with outside agencies and other academic institutions. And facilitate debate and promote interdisciplinary research within the University.

Research in this area is primarily practice-led. Working alongside staff, you'll get the opportunity to engage professionally with a range of organisations and businesses on:

  • feature films
  • computer games
  • augmented reality projects
  • music videos
  • broadcast TV.

Project work and current areas of interest include:

  • performance motion capture for feature films and the computer games industry
  • post production, visual effects and colour grading for broadcast television and feature films
  • character modelling for animation and computer gaming
  • animatronics and physical special effects
  • virtual and augmented reality and its synergies with the visual arts.

Careers

Nearly all the students who join the MSc Digital Media Production want to go straight into a career in film, TV, news, or games. You’ll have all the technical skills to get started. Typically, graduates will need some industry experience before moving into creative roles.

Our students have gone on to work on national programmes and blockbuster films, with roles including:
  • VFX specialist
  • motion capture technician
  • senior editor.
With your technical knowledge and creative mindset, you’ll quickly be able to prove yourself and become a success.

Our Staff

Ms Gillian Kelly

Gillian has been a television news reporter and producer for 19 years, and is currently freelance. she now works a variety of roles, mainly for the national news. She teaches TV news, journalism, Avid, camera work and filming, live studio operation, digital media, professional practice and script writing.

Read more about Gillian

Dr Pete Turner

I lecture on and research in contemporary horror film, film marketing via social media and specifically focus on the found footage horror phenomenon. I'm passionate about sharing my knowledge and enthusiasm with students on this course.

Read more about Pete
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Ms Gillian Kelly

Gillian has been a television news reporter and producer for 19 years, and is currently freelance. she now works a variety of roles, mainly for the national news. She teaches TV news, journalism, Avid, camera work and filming, live studio operation, digital media, professional practice and script writing.

Read more about Gillian

Dr Pete Turner

I lecture on and research in contemporary horror film, film marketing via social media and specifically focus on the found footage horror phenomenon. I'm passionate about sharing my knowledge and enthusiasm with students on this course.

Read more about Pete

Related courses

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Entry requirements

International qualifications and equivalences

How to apply

Application process


Apply now

Tuition fees

Please see the fees note
Home (UK) full time
£8,700
Home (UK) part time
£4,350
International full time
£16,300
Home (UK) full time
£9,150
Home (UK) part time
£4,575
International full time
£17,150

Questions about fees?

Contact Student Finance on:

financefees@brookes.ac.uk

Tuition fees

2023 / 24
Home (UK) full time
£8,700
Home (UK) part time
£4,350
International full time
£16,300
2024 / 25
Home (UK) full time
£9,150
Home (UK) part time
£4,575
International full time
£17,150

Questions about fees?

Contact Student Finance on:

+44 (0)1865 534400

financefees@brookes.ac.uk

Fees quoted are for the first year only. If you are studying a course that lasts longer than one year, your fees will increase each year.

The following factors will be taken into account by the University when it is setting the annual fees: inflationary measures such as the retail price indices, projected increases in University costs, changes in the level of funding received from Government sources, admissions statistics and access considerations including the availability of student support.

How and when to pay

Tuition fee instalments for the semester are due by the Monday of week 1 of each semester. Students are not liable for full fees for that semester if they leave before week 4. If the leaving date is after week 4, full fees for the semester are payable.

  • For information on payment methods please see our Make a Payment page.
  • For information about refunds please visit our Refund policy page

Additional costs

Please be aware that some courses will involve some additional costs that are not covered by your fees. Specific additional costs for this course are detailed below.

Funding your studies

Financial support and scholarships

Featured funding opportunities available for this course.

Full-Time UK Faculty Scholarship Part-Time UK Faculty Scholarship Postgraduate Master's Loan - England

All financial support and scholarships

View all funding opportunities for this course

Programme changes:
On rare occasions we may need to make changes to our course programmes after they have been published on the website. For more information, please visit our changes to programmes page.