BA (Hons) Wildlife Media

Program Overview

The BA (Hons) Wildlife Media at the University of Cumbria is a three-year program that combines wildlife knowledge with technical expertise in photography and filmmaking. Students develop fieldcraft and naturalist skills, learn documentary and non-fiction practices, and explore the application of media in conservation. The program prepares graduates for careers as wildlife photographers, filmmakers, nature writers, conservation educators, and media producers.

Program Outline

Degree Overview:

The BA (Hons) Wildlife Media is a three-year, full-time degree program offered by the University of Cumbria. The program is designed for students who are passionate about wildlife and the natural world, and who are interested in photography and filmmaking. The program will combine your interest with technical expertise and scientific knowledge. You'll learn the fieldcraft and naturalist skills to identify and track wildlife, together with the lens craft expertise to create sophisticated wildlife photography and film.

Outline:

• Year One
• Media Craft Skills:
Develop a working knowledge of a range of key technical skills in the media production making process.
• Developing Photography Practice: An introduction to, and the experience of using, technical photographic processes to illustrate natural history.
• Cultural Contexts: An introduction to the cultural, historical and social contexts in which creative work from a range of disciplines will be considered.
• Naturalist Skills: An introduction to the relevant natural history based skills required for a career in wildlife media production.
• Communicating the Natural World: Develop skills as a communicator conveying key conservation messages and engender positive change and activism.
• Collaborative Brief: Work with other students to explore and practice the skills involved in creative collaboration.
• Year Two
• Documentary:
Develop a critical understanding of documentary and non-fiction practice whilst developing an informed perspective on the genre.
• Interpreting Animal Behaviour for Media: Learn to interpret the animal behaviour you will encounter in practice.
• Wildlife Photography: Develop the principles of independent practice in wildlife photography through self-initiated project work with an individual approach looking at the natural world.
• Natural History Filmmaking: Prepare to research, plan and execute a natural history documentary.
• Professional Development: Review career attributes, ambitions, and trajectory within the context of an evolving ‘professional development portfolio’.
• Theory & Research Methods: Prepare to undertake and successfully complete a Research Project.
• Year Three
• Graduate Project:
Use practical and conceptual skills developed throughout the programme to complete a final year project.
• Minor Project: An opportunity to bring together the various theoretical and practical skills learnt to produce a self-directed practical piece.
• The Application of Media in Conservation: Explore the ways in which to deliver conservation-based theory and how this can be applied to media.
• Festival and Exhibition: Perfect the skills necessary to identify and successfully engage with the media industries post-graduation.
• Research Project: An investigation into a relevant research topic towards submission of a research output.

Assessment:

Throughout your degree, you will take part in a range of summative and formative assessments to monitor your progress, receive feedback on your work, and equip you with the skills you need to work within a brief. Additionally, you will be asked to demonstrate your ability to critically deconstruct and evaluate. A wide range of authentic assessment types are used in order to develop a full range of work-related skills e.g. photographic displays, short films, websites, magazine articles, portfolios etc.

Teaching:

At the University of Cumbria, they bring theory into practice through a stimulating and diverse learning environment. Facilitated by their expert practitioner, students will focus on developing skills ready for a career in wildlife media, whether working freelance or within an organisation. The Wildlife Media programs will be taught through a range of methods. These include:

• Lectures and Seminars - encouraging further reading and discussion about select topics.
• Workshops - develop practical skills like photo or video editing in the classroom.
• Field trips and Expeditions - take your skills into the field.
Explore a new environment and find inspiration for future projects. Learn more about nature and how wildlife, nature, and humans interact through real-world examples.
• Self-Directed Research - explore a topic of your choice, developing your theoretical understanding of media practices to support your practical work.

Careers:

The program will prepare students for a variety of careers in the wildlife media industry, including:

• Wildlife Photographer
• Wildlife Filmmaker
• Nature Writer
• Conservation Educator
• Media Producer

Other:

The program includes regular field trips and visits to the biodiverse World Heritage Site in which the University is located. The program also has strong links to employers locally, nationally, and globally, including Cumbria Wildlife Trust, RSPB, WWT, SSSI’s, and AONB. Students will develop a portfolio of work to display during public showcases, including online gallery exhibitions and the Vallum Gallery on campus.

Extra Details

The program is taught through a blended learning delivery style. The University of Cumbria also offers an Integrated Foundation Year for students who do not meet the minimum entry requirements for Year 1 of the program.

Tuition Fees and Payment Information:

• Tuition Fees
2024 - 2025 £9,250 - UK £13,575 - International
• The figures above don't include accommodation and living costs.
• Tuition fees are set annually and are subject to review each year.
The University may therefore raise tuition fees in the second or subsequent years of a course, in line with inflation and/or the maximum permitted by law or Government policy. Students will be notified of any changes as soon as possible.