BTEC Media Production

BTECs are work related qualifications suitable for a wide range of students and are built to accommodate the needs of employers and to allow progression to university.

BTECs are recognised by colleges, universities, employers and professional bodies across the United Kingdom and in over 100 countries worldwide. BTECs have been around for 25 years and provide a practical, real-world approach to learning alongside a key theoretical background.

What is BTEC Media Production?

Media is a challenging and creative industry and it requires people with imagination and enthusiasm.

UCAS awards equal tariff points to Level 3 BTECs and A Levels in all sectors.  Both universities and employers recognise the value of a BTEC qualification. Many learners will progress from their level 3 BTEC on to undergraduate courses and some may even go straight into employment within the creative sector.

 

BTEC Media offers a number of key benefits over A Level qualifications. One of the most significant is the practical approach to learning that allows learners to apply their knowledge in real-life situations. During the course you will create short films, television and radio programmes and digital media products. Rather than studying for an exam, you can demonstrate your knowledge practically and you will find that assessment methods are varied giving you the best opportunities to succeed.

BTEC allows you to specialise in your area of learning and we encourage you to bring your passion and enthusiasm for the media studies into lessons. You will have a variety of assessment tasks, from creating presentations to writing scripts or editing video footage. The course is designed to replicate the workplace and if you are excited and engaged by the creative industries then the BTEC allows you to focus all of your energy into this single area of learning.

How is it assessed?

Students have to study 19 Units over two years. Each unit is awarded a Pass, Merit or Distinction grade.

These individual unit grades are then converted into an overall grade for the course. An example of a grade conversion might be:

The points would be converted into three overall grades. The candidate above would have achieved Distinction, Merit, Merit (DMM), which is the equivalent of 280 UCAS points or BBC at A Level.

(BTEC students Alara and Maher with the Editor of The New Statesman, Jason Cowley)

What do I need?

All we ask is that you demonstrate an enthusiasm for media. You will need to actively engage in lessons and you will be expected to complete both practical and written work. You are expected to work both individually and in small groups so communication is a vital skill for this course. You will need to engage with the creative industries both inside and outside of lessons and it is a good idea that you have access to a computer at home so that you can complete homework assignments.

After DLD

The wealth of practical and theoretical knowledge gained during the two years of study means that learners have a choice of what to do after DLD. They can continue to study media theory or production at Universities around the UK. Universities can offer a more specialised route of study, such as post-production or creative writing. Some learners even move directly into industry applying what they have learned about practical media production into the workplace. The variety of techniques gained during the course make our learners desirable to both Universities and employers alike.

Questions

Q: Do I need to have studied Media Studies at GCSE?

A: No.

Q: Do I need to own my own video camera?

A: No. We provide access to equipment.

Q: Can you go to University with a BTEC?

A: Of course, many learners progress to universit