The Foundation Degree in Creative Industries at Redbridge College is a new collaboration with the University of East London, and gives you the unique chance to study on a programme which is both academic and vocational, and is designed for students wishing to enter the Music or Media industries. As well as providing you with a strong grounding in Music or Media theory and academic perspectives, the programme also concentrates on the important practical elements involved in working in music or the media.
From the beginning of the programme you will be fully engaged in the running of one of two commercial ventures, a record label (Last Word Records) and a video production company (FX Studios). These companies will produce and release your work, and will also undertake commercial commissions for external clients. You will undertake a range of job roles within the companies such as Producer, Performer, Screenwriter, Director, Camera Operator, Video and Sound Engineer, and Distributor of Media and Music products.
Your job roles in both companies will reproduce those in industry, since the work you undertake within them will be entirely commercially orientated and driven, and will form a substantial part of their assessment. You will also undertake work placements for Fame TV, Time FM, The Recorder Group of Newspapers, the Marketing Departments of Redbridge College and Redbridge Council, and Pyro Radio. As a result of studying this programme, together with the option to complete your third and final year at the University of East London, you will be ideally placed to become a skilled and experienced practitioner in your chosen area.
Applicants will usually be 18 years of age and have an educational attainment equivalent to 120 UCAS tariff points at A2, i.e. at least two A levels (grade D), a pass at National Diploma or DD in a relevant AVCE.
Applicants whose first language is not English would be expected to have a minimum IELTS (International English Language Testing System) of 5.5 with no skill level below 5.0
Applicants have the opportunity to have their prior learning accredited wherever that learning may have taken place. This can be through formal programmes of study, learning that has taken place through work, caring, hobbies and many other activities. Providing you can provide secure evidence demonstrating that learning has taken place and is at the required level, you can claim credit that constitutes part of the entry requirements for a programme or for exemption from one or more modules. (UEL AEL Policy 2006).
In the first year of the programme's operation the Admission process will be handled by Redbridge College, and subsequently by UCAS. It is expected that you will have completed a relevant, vocational Level 3 qualification in a suitable field, and you will be expected at interview to demonstrate relevant skills at an appropriate level: for Music, this will involve an audition or a demonstration of sequencing skills; for Media, a portfolio evidencing appropriate film-making, scriptwriting or photography skills. While entry qualifications would usually be expected to be in a subject related to that for which they are applying, applicants For an explanation of qualifications, have a look at our IAG page on this site www.creativeway.org.uk/quals. qualified in other areas will be considered if sufficient aptitude and interest can be demonstrated.
Applicants with relevant industry experience (equivalent to at least one year full time) who do not satisfy the formal academic requirements noted above but are deemed suitable may be offered a place on the programme. These applicants will need to have worked within either the media or music industries, and to have gained a level of appropriate skills similar or higher to that offered by academically qualified candidates on entry to the Foundation Degree Programme.
Consideration of eligibility will include:
the meeting of entry requirements
the recommendation of the employer/supervisor
a commitment to completing programme requirements
evidence of a desire for professional development
a history of work in a relevant industry equivalent to at least one year's full time employment. For an explanation of qualifications, have a look at our IAG page on this site www.creativeway.org.uk/quals.
A Progression Agreement is a formal arrangement between two or more
education providers. It spells out what a learner needs to do to be
considered for a place on a named programme of study. Progression Agreements
may vary in the conditions they specify but they all aim to give guaranteed
pathways into higher education.
Advice on courses and careers:-
The Creative Way IAG team provides a specialist service for anyone
interested in finding out about courses and careers in the creative and
cultural industries. We can provide information direct to Students,
Parents/ Carers, Tutors and Careers Advisers via email, phone or organised
workshops and 1 to 1 sessions.
To find out more, visit our IAG page on this site on
http://www.creativeway.org.uk/IAG Or contact one of our career advisers: Matt Ball 07889 001764
m.ball@uel.ac.uk or Sarah
Comerford 07515 051509
s.comerford@uel.ac.uk