Media BA (Hons) top-up

Top-up courses

Student with a headset on in front of an autocue in the Media TV Tank

This course aims to develop your media skills across a range of platforms, including photography, television, film and visual communications.

Year of entry

2025-26 2026-27

Location

Coventry University (Coventry)

Study mode

Full-time

Duration

1 year full-time

Course code

P3TU

Start date

September 2025

How to apply

Book an Open Day

Download a prospectus

Course overview

This course will help you to understand the process of practical work, the theories that inform your work and the community of practice with which you will engage.

You will have access to dedicated media spaces, edit suites and industry-focused radio, photography and television studios⁴.
You will have access to industry-standard professional equipment via our Media Loan Shop⁴.

Rated Gold Overall

Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF) 2023

5 QS Stars for Teaching and Facilities

QS Stars University Ratings

Top 5 Student City in England (Coventry)

QS Best Student Cities Index 2025

Why you should study this course

If you have already completed two years of diploma study, this course offers the opportunity to ‘top up’ your qualifications to degree level.

You will have access to dedicated media spaces, edit suites and industry-focused radio, photography and television studios. You will also have access to high-standard professional media equipment via our Media Loan Shop, including prosumer media equipment (i.e. 4K and HD video cameras, DSLR cameras, tripods, audio equipment, lighting – Canon, JVC, Sony)⁴.
You will build on your existing skills, knowledge and understanding, in order to produce a professional portfolio that represents who you are as a creative media practitioner. You will produce a number of pieces of work and one final major project which brings these skills together, thus developing a portfolio of work that you can use when looking for work after graduation.
Overseas opportunities may also be available. In recent years our students have visited the Hong Kong Design Institute and worked with students there to create a pop-up degree show².
Help in applying for professional experience, placement opportunities and live professional projects is available. Students have previously been placed at Regional BBC, Creative City, Rolls-Royce and BBC Three². Placement and professional experience opportunities are subject to a competitive application process, availability and additional costs.

No.5

Media and Film Studies in the UK

The Guardian University Guide 2024

What you'll study

With this course, you will develop your media skills across a range of platforms, including photography, television, film and visual communications.

This final year course involves working with your peers as well as individually, to build up your portfolio, and working to produce a final project. To work towards becoming an all-round practitioner, you’ll also learn how to manage creative projects. Upon successful completion, you will have the skills and demonstrative ability to succeed in the job market and real world environments – which is the fundamental aim of the course.

Modules

Media in Context - 20 credits

The module will explore themes in media, offering you the opportunity to explore your own area of interest in more depth and engage with the body of knowledge in that area. The module will help you to contextualise your own work, and that of others within the wider media landscape.

Compulsory

Exploring Media Practice 1 – 20 credits

Media Project Research and Development – 10 credits

Academic English for the Arts – 10 credits

The aim of this module is to develop your academic English and communicative skills. The module offers you strategies for conceptualising, planning, drafting, revising and editing longer assignments such as final-year projects and dissertations. The module includes tasks that focus on teamwork and foster learner autonomy with the aim of improving your ability to communicate effectively in the academic and professional world of the arts.

Compulsory

Exploring Media Practice 2 – 20 credits

The Major Media Project – 40 credits

We regularly review our course content, to make it relevant and current for the benefit of our students. For these reasons, course modules may be updated.

I didn’t really expect I would be learning all these different things. I thought this would be more stressful, but course is both fun and interesting.
Hakim Najmi, Student (2022)

Student working in front of a bank of colourful screens

How you'll learn

We understand that everyone learns differently, so each of our courses will consist of structured teaching sessions.

Teaching contact hours

As a full-time undergraduate student, you will study modules totalling 120 credits each academic year. A typical 20 credit module requires a total of 200 hours study. This is made up of teaching contact hours, guided and independent study.

Teaching hours:

Teaching hours vary each semester, year of study and due to module selection. During your first year you can expect 15-18 teaching hours each week. You will also have the option to attend optional sessions including time with a progress coach or to meet with staff for advice and feedback. As you progress through your studies, teaching hours may reduce.

Guided and independent study:

Throughout your studies, you will be expected to spend time in guided and independent study to make up the required study hours per module. You'll be digging deeper into topics, review what you've learnt and complete assignments. This can be completed around your personal commitments. As you progress through your studies, you'll spend more time in independent study.

Online learning:

As an innovative university, we use different teaching methods including online tools and emerging technologies. So, some of your teaching hours and assessments may be delivered online.

Assessment

This course will be assessed using a variety of methods which could vary depending upon the module. Assessment methods may include:

reports
essays
practical coursework
presentations
individual assignments
group work elements.

The Coventry University assessment strategy aims to ensure that our courses are fairly assessed and allows us to monitor student progression towards achieving the intended learning outcomes.

International experience opportunities

Please note that all international experience opportunities may be subject to additional costs, competitive application, availability and meeting applicable visa and travel requirements are therefore not guaranteed².

Having more lectures helps me establish a critical framework for my creative work. Lots of examples of how to do things and how to structure assignments.
Yeonseo Lee , Student (2022)

Pair of hands holding a tablet displaying lots of apps

Entry requirements

Typical entry requirements:

Top-Up, third year only course. Requires HND or equivalent 2 years at HE Level study.

Level 5 Art and Design or Media qualification. (240 HND Credits - Merit Profile) and GCSE English at grade 4 / C or Functional Skills Level 2, or other equivalent Level 2 awards. Students entering onto this programme should have achieved 240 credits at levels 4 and 5 (Merit profile). You should possess a Higher Diploma, Higher National Diploma or the equivalent in a relevant subject such film and television, media production, photography, graphic design, animation or web design.

Portfolio

You may be required to attend a portfolio showcase, activity session or audition or submit a portfolio via email (as is appropriate to your course), either virtually or face-to-face, as is practical to arrange. Invites for these sessions will be sent directly to your contact email.

Each application will be considered on its merits.

Other qualifications and experience

Our students come from a variety of backgrounds, each with a unique story. We recognise a breadth of qualifications. If your qualifications differ from the above, contact our Admissions Team who will be happy to discuss your qualifications and routes into your chosen course.

Contextual offers and Fair Access Scheme

If you meet the criteria for our Fair Access Scheme, you could automatically receive a contextual offer that may be up to 24 UCAS points lower than our standard entry requirements. View the criteria for our Fair Access Scheme.

Select your region to find detailed information about entry requirements:

You can view our full list of country specific entry requirements on our Entry requirements page.

Alternatively, visit our International hub for further advice and guidance on finding in-country agents and representatives, joining our in-country events and how to apply.

Portfolio

You may be required to attend a portfolio showcase, activity session or audition or submit a portfolio via email (as is appropriate to your course), either virtually or face to face, as is practical to arrange. Invites for these sessions will be sent directly to your contact email.

Each application will be considered on its merits.

English language requirements

IELTS: 6.0 overall, with no component lower than 5.5.

If you don't meet the English language requirements, you can achieve the level you need by successfully completing a pre-sessional English programme before you start your course.

For more information on our approved English language tests visit our English language requirements page.

Fees and funding

Student	Full-time	Part-time
UK, Ireland*, Channel Islands or Isle of Man	£9,535 per year	Not available
EU	£9,535 per year with EU Support Bursary £19,850 per year without EU Support Bursary	Not available
International	£19,850 per year	Not available

For advice and guidance on tuition fees and student loans visit our Undergraduate Finance page and see The University’s Tuition Fee and Refund Terms and Conditions.

The University will charge the tuition fees that are stated in the above table for the first Academic Year of study. The University will review tuition fees each year. For UK (home) students, if Parliament permits an increase in tuition fees, the university may increase fees for each subsequent year of study in line with any such changes. Note that any increase is expected to be in line with inflation.

For international students, we may increase fees each year, but such increases will be no more than 5% above inflation. If you defer your course start date or have to extend your studies beyond the normal duration of the course (e.g. to repeat a year or resit examinations) the University reserves the right to charge you fees at a higher rate and/or in accordance with any legislative changes during the additional period of study.

We offer a range of International scholarships to students all over the world. For more information, visit our International Scholarships page.

Tuition fees cover the cost of your teaching, assessments, facilities and support services. There may be additional costs not covered by this fee such as accommodation and living costs, recommended reading books, stationery, printing and re-assessments should you need them. Find out what's included in your tuition costs.

The following are additional costs not included in the tuition fees:

Any optional overseas ﬁeld trips or visits: £400+ per trip.
Any costs associated with securing, attending or completing a placement (whether in the UK or abroad).

*Irish student fees

The rights of Irish residents to study in the UK are preserved under the Common Travel Area arrangement. If you are an Irish student and meet the residency criteria, you can study in England, pay the same level of tuition fees as English students and utilise the Tuition Fee Loan.

**EU Support Bursary

Following the UK's exit from the European Union, we are offering financial support to all eligible EU students who wish to study an undergraduate or a postgraduate degree with us full-time. This bursary will be used to offset the cost of your tuition fees to bring them in line with that of UK students. Students studying a degree with a foundation year with us are not eligible for the bursary.

How do you know if you need to pay UK or international tuition fees?

We carry out an initial fee status assessment based on the information you provide in your application. Your fee status determines your tuition fees, and what financial support and scholarships may be available to you. The rules about who pays UK (home) or international (overseas) fees for higher education courses in England are set by the Department for Education. The regulations identify all the different categories of student who can insist on paying the home rate. The regulations can be difficult to understand, so the UK Council for International Student Affairs (UKCISA) has provided fee status guidance to help you identify whether you are eligible to pay the home or overseas rate.

If you meet all the criteria required by any one category, including any residence requirements, your institution must charge you the home rate. You only need to find one category that you fit into.

Facilities

Coventry University has invested in superb arts facilities with Ellen Terry, Delia Derbyshire and The Tank forming your primary learning locations, all within a minute's walk of each other in the city centre. You will have access to purpose-built studios and a well-stocked Media Loan Shop. Kit is allocated on a first come first served basis via the booking system.

Facilities are subject to availability. Access to some facilities (including some teaching and learning spaces) may vary from those advertised and/or may have reduced availability or restrictions where the university is following public authority guidance, decisions or orders.

Two male students presenting in a TV studio to a camera in the foreground.

Television Studio

You’ll have access to our on-site television studio The Tank, offering specialist equipment such as large cameras, mixing facilities and fibre-optic wiring throughout.

Male student setting up a photography light in a studio.

Photography Suite

This specialist facility is available to media students to take and process photos in a professional environment. There is also support for printing, high-end scanning and film processing.

Exterior front of the Ellen Terry building.

Media Loan Shop

Our media loan shop provides you with access to the equipment and support you need to excel in your studies – from basic audio recorders to professional cameras and expert advice from our technicians.

Careers and opportunities

You will be treated as a professional from the moment that you arrive on the course.

During the course you will learn and develop the creative, technical and transferable skills you are likely to need to thrive as a professional when you graduate. These include creative skills and knowledge, entrepreneurial and management skills, critical skills, presentation and writing skills, as well as interpersonal and management skills.

Where our graduates work

Previous graduates have gone on to pursue careers in established roles within the media industries (camera operators, editors, etc.) or become freelance media producers. Others have undertaken the appropriate qualifications to become teachers in schools and colleges and some have gone on to work with community arts organisations or as arts administrators.

Further study

You can choose to continue your studies at Coventry University with courses such as:

You may be entitled to an alumni discount on your fees if you decide to extend your time with us by progressing from undergraduate to postgraduate study.

How to apply

View our courses on UCAS

Visit UCAS

UK students

Full-time students can apply for this course through UCAS. Read our application pages to find out your next steps to apply.

How to apply

Apply via UCAS

If this course has a part-time option you will need to apply directly to the university.

Apply via the portal

If you'd like further support or more information about your course get in touch with us today.

+44 (0)24 7765 2222

ukadmissions@coventry.ac.uk

Complete our contact form.

International students

International codes:
AHU069

How to apply

For further support for international applicants applying for an undergraduate degree view our International hub.

You can also download our International Guide which contains lots of useful information about our courses, accommodation, tips for travel and guidance on how to apply.

If you'd like further support or more information about your course get in touch with us today.

+44 (0)24 7765 2152

ioadmissions@coventry.ac.uk

Complete our contact form.

Disclaimers

Coventry University together with Coventry University London, Coventry University Wrocław, CU Coventry, CU London, CU Scarborough, and Coventry University Online come together to form part of the Coventry University Group (the University) with all degrees awarded by Coventry University.

¹Accreditations

The majority of our courses have been formally recognised by professional bodies, which means the courses have been reviewed and tested to ensure they reach a set standard. In some instances, studying on an accredited course can give you additional benefits such as exemptions from professional exams (subject to availability, fees may apply). Accreditations, partnerships, exemptions and memberships shall be renewed in accordance with the relevant bodies’ standard review process and subject to the university maintaining the same high standards of course delivery.

²UK and international opportunities

Please note that we are unable to guarantee any UK or international opportunities (whether required or optional) such as internships, work experience, field trips, conferences, placements or study abroad opportunities and that all such opportunities may be unpaid and/or subject to additional costs (which could include, but is not limited to, equipment, materials, bench fees, studio or facilities hire, travel, accommodation and visas), competitive application, availability and/or meeting any applicable travel, public authority guidance, decisions or orders and visa requirements. To ensure that you fully understand any visa requirements, please contact the International Office.

³Tuition fees

The University will charge the tuition fees that are stated in the above table for the first Academic Year of study. The University will review tuition fees each year. For UK (home) students, if Parliament permit an increase in tuition fees, the University may increase fees for each subsequent year of study in line with any such changes. Note that any increase is expected to be in line with inflation.

If you choose to study this course with a professional placement, the University will charge the tuition fees stated above for those on a placement during Academic Year 2025/26. The University will review professional placement tuition fees each year. For UK (home) students, the University may increase fees for each subsequent year of study, but such that it will be no more than 5% above inflation.

⁴Facilities

Student Contract

By accepting your offer of a place and enrolling with us, a Student Contract will be formed between you and the university. A copy of the current 2024/2025 contract is available on the website for information purposes however the 2025/2026 contract will apply for the 2025/2026 intake. The Contract details your rights and the obligations you will be bound by during your time as a student and contains the obligations that the university will owe to you. You should read the Contract before you accept an offer of a place and before you enrol at the university.