Vocational qualification

In Thames Ditton

Price on request

Description

  • Type

    Vocational qualification

  • Location

    Thames ditton

Facilities

Location

Start date

Thames Ditton (Surrey)
See map
KT7 0JB

Start date

On request

About this course

Aside from the general entry requirements that the College requires, you need to achieve at least a GCSE C grade or above in English. If you have taken Media Studies GCSE at school, you need to achieve at least a C grade to study the Certificate or Diploma.

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Course programme

Exam Board:OCR

What is this course about?
The OCR National in Media is a vocational qualification designed to recognise the learner's skills, knowledge and understanding of the media sector. We run both the Diploma and Certificate Awards. The Diploma is the equivalent of 2 A levels and involves the completion of 12 units over two years. Learners on the Certificate Award complete 6 units over two years and the qualification is the equivalent of 1 A level.
In the first year you will study:
For the Diploma Award, you will complete 4 mandatory and 2 optional units. These units include; an Introduction to Media and Textual Analysis, Video Pre-production and Production, Media Marketing, Digital Photography and Desktop Publishing. Learners enrolling on the Certificate award complete three mandatory units.
In the second year you will study:
This year Diploma students will cover 6 optional units which include; Web Authoring, Animation, Talk Radio, TV Preproduction and Production. Students will also complete the Wider Key Skill, "Working with Others" at level 3. On the Certificate Award, you will complete a further mandatory and two optional units.
How is the course assessed?
All assessment is by coursework, there are no exams. These units are centre-assessed and externally moderated by OCR. Units are graded as Pass, Merit or Distinction and like A levels carry UCAS points.
Skills developed and areas of study
You will gain academic and practical skills. You will be taught how to critically analyse the media and learn about the practices and functions of the media industry. You will be taught practical skills for Desktop Publishing, Radio, Digital Photography, Web, Video and Animation work. You will learn how to research information effectively through the development of your independent learning skills. Work experience forms part of the course and is undertaken by all students.
Subject combination advice:
Although we allow Vocational Media students to combine with Film Studies, we would not necessarily advise this unless the learner has a firm commitment to pursuing a media related degree or employment.
What can the course lead to in terms of higher education and future careers?
Progression to further qualifications, such as HNDs or degrees in media related subjects, is a likely route. Alternatively, this qualification enables candidates to enter employment at a trainee level.
What are the formal entry requirements for this course?
Aside from the general entry requirements that the College requires, you need to achieve at least a GCSE C grade or above in English. If you have taken Media Studies GCSE at school, you need to achieve at least a C grade to study the Certificate or Diploma.
What extra support / enrichment activities are on offer?
The department usually offers a residential trip to a film festival and we have strong links with the London College of Communication and Southampton Solent University. We also have guest speakers visiting throughout the year come in to talk to students. We run workshops during Wider Skills Week to broaden practical skills. At the end of the second year we celebrate student achievement with the Esher Oscars and a post-Oscars party.
What are the main differences between Vocational and the A-level Media course?
The focus in Vocational Media for the learner is the acquisition of professional media skills which are theoretically underpinned and this is a 'hands on', practical course. The dominant learning paradigm is to "learn by doing". The sharpest contrast between the two courses lies in the assessment of work. In Vocational Media there are no exams as learner assessment is exclusively by coursework.

Media

Price on request