BA (Hons) Wildlife Media

Tuition Fee

GBP 14,900

Per year

Start Date

2025-09-01

Medium of studying

On campus

Duration

36 months

Program Facts

About Program

About University

Admission Requirements

Ambassadors

Gallery

Easy Apply

Program Facts

Program Details

Degree

Bachelors

Major

Wildlife Management | Emergency Management

Area of study

Health

Education type

On campus

Timing

Full time

Course Language

English

Tuition Fee

Average International Tuition Fee

GBP 14,900

Intakes

Program start date	Application deadline
2025-09-01	-
2026-09-01	-

About Program

Program Overview

Course Overview

This wildlife media degree course combines your interest in wildlife and the natural world 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.

Key Details

Recruiting to: UK / RoI / Settled in UK, EU / EEA / International
Course Location: Carlisle - Brampton Road
Institute: Institute of Education, Arts and Society
UCAS Code: CW36
Delivery Style: Blended Learning
Course Duration: Full-time: 3 Years
Study Options: Integrated Foundation Year
Course Start Point: September
Award: BA (Hons)

Minimum Entry Requirements

104-112 UCAS Tariff Points
A-levels: BCC-BBC
T-levels: P (C+) – M
Access to HE: 15 Credits at Distinction & 30 at Merit
CACHE Technical Level 3 and Level 3 Extended Diploma: C - B
OCR Cambridge Technical & Edexcel/Pearson BTEC Level 3 (National) Extended Diploma: MMM-DMM
Scottish Highers: BBBC - BBBA
Irish LC Highers: B1, B2x3 – B1x3, B2

Tuition Fees

2025 - 2026: £9,535 (UK), £14,900 (International)
2024 - 2025: £9,250 (UK), £13,575 (International)

What Our Students Say...

"Cumbria is also a great location for wildlife, and I was looking forward to exploring so many interesting places right on my doorstep." - Nathan Greening
"For my final major project, I had a lot of creative freedom." - Lydia Hollingdale
"I knew instantly that this three-year undergraduate degree would be perfect for me and lead me, one day, to becoming a professional wildlife photographer and filmmaker – my dream career." - Alexandros Leontiades

Course Structure

What You Will Learn

On our course, you'll learn to create polished, professional wildlife documentaries charting the relationship between humans and the natural world. Capture the stories of animals across different environments when you explore bushcraft and wildlife survival skills. Immerse yourself in their world and capture your experience using top-quality photographic and filming equipment.

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.

Teaching & Assessment

How You Will Learn

At the University of Cumbria, we bring theory into practice through a stimulating and diverse learning environment. Facilitated by our expert practitioner, students will focus on developing skills ready for a career in wildlife media, whether working freelance or within an organisation.

Our Wildlife Media programmes 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.

How You Will Be Assessed

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.

Additional Costs

There will be some additional costs. For example, all students will need to purchase stationery and may wish to purchase some text books. Extra costs may also be applicable to cover field trips, membership fees etc. although such features are usually options within the course.

Books and Journals: Most core text books are available via the University's library, however students may wish to buy copies of any texts used to support your learning on your course. This could cost between £50 - £100 per year.
Stationery: Students should budget for stationery and consumables for your own personal use. This should include notebooks, pens and pencils for taking notes in class and/or in the field. Students should also budget for the purchase of USB pen drives, as well as occasional printing and photocopying costs incurred in the preparation or submission of coursework. Whilst you will choose how much you need, expect to pay around £30 - £40 per year for these items.

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:
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:
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:
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.
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
The figures above don't include accommodation and living costs.
Tuition fees are set annually and are subject to review each year.