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What next for you? > MA/MSc Professional Media Practice – ‘Build your own MA’ > MA/MSc Professional Media Practice – ‘Build your own MA’

MA/MSc Professional Media Practice – ‘Build your own MA’

Expert, flexible and accredited professional development – tailored to the rapidly evolving needs of the media industry and delivered in association with the Skillset’s ‘Build Your Own MA’ programme.

Responding to rapidly evolving industry demands

In the fast moving creative industries, it is vital that professional skills are kept sharp and up-to-date. Ravensbourne’s Build Your Own MA modules enable creative industry professionals to stand out from the crowd in a competitive field to accelerate their careers.

“PACT is very pleased to support this innovation. The opportunity for staff and freelancers working for independent producers to access a flexible network to maintain and develop their skills and get a recognised qualification is exactly what is needed at a time when money and time pressures are at their greatest.”
John McVay, chief executive, PACT (Producers Alliance for Cinema & Television)

It’s what the industry wants

The Build Your Own MA is an innovative, flexible course designed specifically to work around the busy lives of people in the creative industries.

Each module is accredited at postgraduate level and may count towards an MA/MSc Professional Media Practice* through the national Skillset ‘Build Your Own MA’ programme.

(*this is subject to meeting the admissions criteria for the award.)

This new approach – flexible professional development combined with world-class postgraduate education – is a direct response to industry demand for continuous professional development that counts towards a recognised, accredited qualification.

“Build Your Own MA represents a true revolution in postgraduate education that marries the best of continuing professional development with the lasting recognition of a postgraduate qualification.

“This is the first time that such a large group of universities have agreed to recognise each others’ credits for an award. The Media Academies involved have shown that they are genuinely flexible in meeting the needs of a fast-changing industry whilst maintaining the integrity and rigour of their awards.”
Clive Jones, chairman, ITV Breakfast Ltd

The Build Your Own MA modules are designed to fit around work commitments and allow you to accrue gradually CPD credits that may count towards an accredited MA qualification at your own pace over a period of up to six years.

Ravensbourne has excellent links across the creative industries, which ensures course content is designed and delivered to meet the industry’s specific needs.

Tailored to your interests

Build Your Own MA modules can be mixed and matched with approved modules at other Skillset Media Academies, giving you the opportunity to create a qualification that is academically accredited and specifically tailored to your career requirements.

Programme structure

In order to obtain the MA/MSc Professional Media Practice, you will need to complete a total of 180 credits, of which 60 credits will be obtained through the submission of a Masters project or research paper.

The remaining 120 credits can be accrued by undertaking a wide range of short courses available at the 12 Skillset Media Academies.

All the media short courses offered as part of the Build Your Own MA scheme provide continuing professional development and offer postgraduate credits towards an award. Courses can be taken individually or in combination with a tailored selection of other courses across the Skillset Media Academy Network to achieve a recognised qualification, ranging from a Postgraduate Certificate to an MA/MSc in Professional Media Practice.

Ravensbourne modules

Enrolment deadlines and conditions
To apply, you need to complete the MA application form (the link to download a form is at the top of this page) and submit this to Ravensbourne’s admissions department (details are on the form).

The modules for the MA Professional Media Practice course will run twice a year: from October to December; and from April to June. The deadlines for the autumn modules is 31 July, and for the spring modules, the deadline is 31 January.

Modules will run subject to enrolment numbers. We will confirm if a module will run within one week of the deadline when full payment for the module will be due. Joining instructions and the start date will be supplied once payment has been received.

Who’s it for?

These modules are for professionals in the media industry who wish to develop their specialist knowledge and to engage with new opportunities presented by developments in technology, working practices and the expansion of cross platform media.

Where will it take you?

The course is designed to advance career development and also to add value to your business or professional practice by accrediting and acknowledging your abilities. It also provides an opportunity for you, as a media professional, to take a step back from your own business and reflect what is going on in the wider industry.

Where can I find out more?

A database of all of the courses that can contribute towards the Build Your Own MA programme, as well as more information about the scheme, is available at: www.skillset.org/build

Programme Specification

Click here for the full programme specification.

Teaching

The courses are delivered via a series of face- to-face practical sessions that are designed to fit around your existing work commitments. Each module will normally involve a two-day intensive learning session at Ravensbourne, which will usually take place on a Friday and Saturday, to ensure there is minimal disruption if you are working full-time.

In order to obtain sufficient credits for the training to count towards the Build Your Own MA programme, you will also need to carry out further online assignments and work-based projects.

Laptops

You are required to own or have access to a laptop from the beginning of your studies. Laptops are an essential tool to support personalised learning and give you access, when and where you want it, to many of the creative tools and educational resources you will encounter during your studies.
Laptops are used extensively in all of our courses. You will need one to access our network, and to research, communicate and collaborate during your studies.

Assessment

Ravensbourne offers a series of industry- led courses, which enable participants to accumulate credits in advanced study to achieve a Postgraduate Certificate, Postgraduate Diploma and, in due course, an MA or MSc.

In order to be awarded the MA/MSc in Professional Media Practice from Ravensbourne, learners must accrue a total of 180 credits, which must include a 60 credit major work-based project, a 30 credit research unit and a 10 credit career direction and development unit.

You can also accrue credits from modules undertaken at any of the other 12 participating Skillset Media Academies. In order to be awarded the final MA/MSc qualification from Ravensbourne, a minimum of 100 credits must have been accrued through courses studied at Ravensbourne.