Careers Brief - Radio Production FdA
Overview
The Foundation degree in Radio Production offers you the opportunity of both transferring onto an Honours degree programme and direct job entry.
Employment within the radio industry has remained at a fairly constant level, despite changes and developments in the industry. There has been an expansion in commercial radio, gaining half the listening audience and developments in digital audio broadcasting.
Radio is a highly competitive career field. You will need to show evidence of good communication and research skills and both enthusiasm and commitment. Relevant training and whatever work experience you can get, will improve your chances.
You could be working within the BBC local and national networks, commercial radio, independent production companies or freelance.
Go to the website links below to find out more.
Further Study
You will be able to apply for a top-up degree. Top-up degrees are designed as a direct progression from Foundation degree to achieve an Ordinary or Honours degree, though entry may be selective.
Alternatively, you could transfer onto a related Honours degree. Entry point would depend on your grades, experience and overlap between courses but could be the final year.
Go to http://onlineservices.bournemouth.ac.uk/courses/ for information on the BA (Hons) Radio Production Top-up course at Bournemouth University.
Other institutions offering related Top-ups include:
University for the Creative Arts 'Broadcast Media'; University of Sunderland 'Radio'
To search degree courses go to www.ucas.com/ (UCAS - Universities and Colleges Admissions Service for the UK). Use the university/college links for course details.
You will need to use UCAS to apply for courses. Contact the Course Tutor of your chosen course to find out your position, before you make your formal application.
Find out how much this will cost you. Where is the funding coming from? Go to the university/college website for information on costs and finance and to www.direct.gov.uk/uni/ for additional help with student support.
With a good Honours degree (First or 2.1), you may progress onto an appropriate higher level Masters and/or PhD doctorate. This could be to develop your area of study to a more in-depth practical and/or academic level or to gain other specialist training.
For information on postgraduate study and finance, go to the national online directory at www.prospects.ac.uk/study.htm .
Go to the main section on Further Study of this Guide for more information and help.
Useful Links
The Sector Skills Council for the Creative Media - Careers section
RadioCentre (UK Commercial Radio Stations)
Drop down sub-heading 'Training' for How to 'Get into Radio'
The Radio Academy dedicated to the encouragement, recognition and promotion of excellence in UK broadcasting and audio production
Drop down sub-headings 'Knowledge Bank' + 'News'
Work experience placements
The Guardian news online - key source for current media news and jobs
Media UK - online media directory
Click on sub-heading 'radio'
www.guidance-research.org/future-trends/media/
Warwick Institute for Employment Research - 'Audio-visual industries' for 'radio'
www.prospects.ac.uk/starting_out.htm
Graduate Prospects - national careers website for HE students studying in the UK:
Drop down 'Jobs' and click on 'Types of jobs' for 'Media and broadcasting'
Drop down 'Jobs' and click on 'What jobs would suit me?' to use Prospects Planner
http://careersadvice.direct.gov.uk/helpwithyourcareer/jobprofiles/
Government Careers Advice service
http://jobseekers.direct.gov.uk/
Government Careers database and links to jobs nationally. Search by either clicking on side-heading 'Careers' and choose a category or type in job title.
www.connexions-direct.com/jobs4u
Jobs4U Careers Database - click on sub-heading 'Job Families & Articles' or Advanced Search by typing in job title
BECTU - The Media & Entertainment Union
Student Radio Association
HBA - Hospital Broadcasting Association
Women's Radio Group
The Radio Magazine
Broadcast - leading magazine for the broadcast industry
Go to the Job Applications section of this Careers Guide for additional help and advice with making applications.
