Media BA (Hons) top-up
Study level: UndergraduateTop-up courses

With this course, we aim to develop your media skills across a range of platforms, including photography, television, film and visual communications.
Year of entry
Location
Coventry University (Coventry)
Study mode
Full-time
Part-time
Duration
1 year full-time
2 years part-time
Course code
P3TU
Start date
September 2023
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.

Joint Top Modern University for Career Prospects
Guardian University Guide 2021 and 2022
5 QS Stars for Teaching and Facilities
QS Stars University Ratings
Top 5 UK Student City (Coventry)
QS Best Student Cities Index 2023Why 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.
- If you have already completed two years of diploma study, this course offers the opportunity to ‘top up’ your qualifications to degree level. This course aims to 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 studios. You will 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.
- This is a third-year top-up course so you will have the opportunity to develop 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.
- 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 applying for professional experience, placement opportunities (subject to availability, a competitive application process and additional costs) and live professional projects. Students have previously been placed at Regional BBC, Creative City, Rolls-Royce and BBC32.
Media and Film Studies in the UK
The Guardian University Guide 2023
Coventry Degree Show 2023
The Coventry Degree Show is an annual event to celebrate and showcase our graduating students’ work.
Explore the work of our talented students

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.
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.

How you'll learn
We understand that everyone learns differently, so each of our courses will consist of structured teaching sessions, which can include:
- On campus lectures, seminars and workshops
- Group work
- Self-directed learning
- Work placement opportunities2.
If you would like more information, you can request information about teaching hours.
Part of university life is undertaking self-directed learning. During a typical week you will have time that allows you to work independently to apply the skills and knowledge you have learnt in taught or facilitated sessions to your projects or assignment briefs. This self-directed learning allows you to use your research skills, consolidate your knowledge or undertake collaborative group work.
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.

Entry requirements
Typical offer for 2023/24 entry.
Fees and funding
2023/24 Tuition fees
Student | Full-time | Part-time |
---|---|---|
UK, Ireland*, Channel Islands or Isle of Man | £9,250 per year | Request fee information |
EU | £9,250 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 fees3 and student loans visit our Undergraduate Finance page and see The University’s Tuition Fee and Refund Terms and Conditions.
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.
*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.
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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 government's 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 is home to superb facilities and our new Arts and Humanities building is planned to open in early 2023.
We also have a well-stocked Media Loan Shop so you can borrow an extensive range of specialist, professional equipment, including 4K and HD video cameras, DSLR cameras, tripods, audio equipment and lighting.

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.

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.

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 others 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:
- Media Management MA
- Film and Media Production MA
- Virtual and Augmented Reality MA
- Global Journalism and Public Relations MA
- Photography MA
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
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UK students
Full-time students applying to start in September 2023 can apply for this course through UCAS from September 6 2022.
Part-time students should apply directly to the university. Read our application pages to find out your next steps to apply.
If you'd like further support or more information about your course get in touch with us today.
Chat with our admissions team
Complete our contact form.
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International students
International codes:
AHU069Full-time students applying to start in September 2023 should apply directly to the university.
How to apply
Read our application pages to find out your next steps 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.
Chat with our admissions team.
Complete our contact form.
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Disclaimers
Coventry University together with Coventry University London Campus, 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 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 COVID and visa requirements. To ensure that you fully understand the 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 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.
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.
4Facilities
Due to COVID-19, some facilities (including some teaching and learning spaces) and some non-academic offerings (particularly in relation to international experiences), may vary from those advertised and may have reduced availability or restrictions on their use.
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 2023/24 contract can be found here. 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.
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