MA in Creative Industries

Program Overview

Oxford Brookes University's MA in Creative Industries offers specialization tracks in Film, Music, or Digital Media Production, preparing students with practical and critical thinking skills in a dynamic field. Through experiential learning and research opportunities, it equips graduates for diverse creative careers, including filmmaking, arts administration, digital marketing, publishing, or journalism.

Program Outline

Degree Overview:

This MA in Creative Industries at Oxford Brookes University caters to individuals interested in pursuing careers within the creative industries, a sector contributing over £13 million per hour to the UK economy. The program aims to provide students with the specialist creative skills needed to thrive in this competitive field. Key objectives include:

• Equipping students with the practical skills and knowledge required for success in creative industries.
• Providing opportunities to gain hands-on experience through Brookes Creative, a student-led creative agency.
• Enabling students to apply their expertise to real-world challenges through optional work placements with local businesses and organizations.
• Fostering the development of research and critical practice skills, allowing students to hone their interests and strengths.
• Preparing graduates for diverse career opportunities across various creative sectors.

Outline:

Course Structure:

Students can specialize in one of three areas: Film, Music, or Digital Media Production.

• Film: Focuses on the production and consumption of narrative feature films, both contemporary and historical.
It examines film curatorship, festival programming, and the history of cinemagoing and spectatorship.
• Music: Investigates the production and consumption of music across various venues and platforms.
It analyzes music distribution, gatekeepers, and audiences within the context of contemporary changes in music consumption.
• Digital Media Production: Examines documentary feature films, shorts, and television shows.
Students have the opportunity to research and produce their own short films based on real-life experiences.

Modules:

Compulsory Modules:

• Dissertation or Creative Project: Students can choose to complete either a written dissertation, a video essay, or a creative project such as a short documentary or video installation.
• Professional Experience: This module provides the opportunity for a work placement or live project within the creative industries.
• Research Skills & Methods: Equips students with the fundamental research skills essential for other assignments.

Optional Modules:

• Digital Media Production:
• Digital Transformations in Film, Media & Media Journalism:
Examines the evolution of media journalism through digital transformations and equips students with skills in feature writing, web journalism, and podcasting.
• Cultures of Documentary Production: Explores the documentary form through theory and practice, enabling students to research and produce a short film based on real-life events.
• Film:
• Modes of Film Production:
Focuses on the production of narrative feature films, both contemporary and historical, analyzing films in their industrial context.
• Film Exhibition, Programming and Audiences: Explores film curatorship, festival programming, and the rich microhistories of cinemagoing and spectatorship.
• Music:
• Sites of Music Production:
Analyzes different music venues and investigates how and where music is produced.
• Modes of Music Consumption: Equips students with tools to research music distribution, music gatekeepers, and music audiences.

Learning and Teaching:

The MA in Creative Industries is delivered through a blend of:

• Class-based activities: Seminars, guest speakers.
• Experiential learning: Live projects.
• Independent study: Supported by expert supervision for dissertation or creative projects.

Assessment:

Assessment tasks may include:

• Written research assignments.
• Video essays.
• Group projects.
• Reflective logbooks of experiential learning.
Feedback plays a crucial role in student development, with most assignments incorporating opportunities for discussion (research seminars, proposals, idea pitching sessions).

Field Trips:

MA students in the School of Arts have participated in field trips to international locations, including Rome and Milan.

Teaching:

Faculty:

• Dr. Alexandra Trott: Teaches topics on art theory and practice, covering Modern, Postmodern, and Contemporary art.
• Dr. James Cateridge: Teaches undergraduate modules on the film industry, national cinemas, film festivals, and exhibition.
His postgraduate teaching focuses on industrial studies and film cultures.

Unique Approaches:

• Collaboration: The program fosters a collaborative environment, allowing film students to work alongside music students on final projects.
• Partnerships with Local Businesses: Oxford Brookes has partnerships with organizations like Oxford Contemporary Music and The Ultimate Picture Palace, providing opportunities for students to work on real-life projects.

Careers:

Upon completion of the MA in Creative Industries, graduates are equipped with the skills and knowledge to succeed in various creative and media industries. Potential career paths include:

• Cinema programming and marketing.
• Filmmaking and animation.
• Arts administration.
• Teaching and research.
• Digital marketing.
• Publishing and journalism.

Other:

• The program is designed to meet the growing demands for specialist skills in the creative industries.
• The School of Arts features The Creative Industries Research and Innovation Network, which brings together researchers, professionals, and local communities to share expertise and foster social change.
• The School of Arts staff are active researchers publishing on subjects such as film music, opera, sound art, film audiences, immersive documentary, and queer theory.

Tuition fees for this course are as follows: 2023 / 24 Home (UK) full time: £8,700 Home (UK) part time: £4,350 International full time: £16,500 2024 / 25 Home (UK) full time: £9,150 Home (UK) part time: £4,575 International full time: £17,350 Tuition fee instalments for the semester are due by the Monday of week 1 of each semester. If the leaving date is after week 4, full fees for the semester are payable.