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Our Creative Media degree offers a highly focused, multi-disciplinary, practice-based programme of study, that both challenges and develops those aspiring towards creative roles in the media industry.
  • Exciting study trips and opportunities for work experience in the media and creative industries.
  • Specialist pathways in film-making, web design, motion graphics, magazine design, digital art and many more.
  • Rose 26 places in the 2023 Complete University Guide
  • Study with media professionals and international and national experts in the creative media industries.

Why study Creative Media?

A commitment to the fundamental skills of creative problem solving sits at the heart of this degree, which aims to provide students with a creative toolkit which they can apply to a wide variety of careers.

With approximately one in five new jobs in London within the creative industries, Creative Media will provide you with a broad and thorough knowledge of a range of key practical techniques underpinned with theoretical understanding.

Designers and film-makers within a modern, global information economy understand that information flows seamlessly from page to screen, the screen transitions elegantly from fixed to mobile, and content must be effective whilst stationary or in motion.

Throughout the degree, you will develop a comprehensive set of transferable skills in a range of disciplines including photography, magazine design, motion graphics, film-making and many more. 

You will also be offered opportunities to channel your own personal passions and interests into your assessments to create beautiful and effective visuals whilst also communicating story and meaning in ways that can be widely understood.

Why St Mary's?

The course runs alongside our degrees in Film and Digital Production and Film and Screen Media and offers you the chance to experience a wide variety of modules before specialising in the discipline of your choice.

Our students benefit from an extremely accessible teaching staff, made up of research academics as well as industry professionals and we are located only a short train ride away from the heart of London's film and design industries.

While it is imperative that creativity is at the core of your student experience, you must also learn the art of compromise and negotiation, and as such we will focus on working with, and for, clients (from pitch through to delivery) throughout the programme. We believe that this core structure offers a perfect blend of simplicity and clarity that will enable you to establish yourself as a key player in the creative future.

Useful information

Course lead

Damian O'Byrne headshotDamian O'Byrne
Programme Lead for Communications, Film, Media, Marketing and Foundation Year

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Entry requirements

96-112UCAS points required

Check how many points your grades are worth

Calculate your total UCAS points

We will make you an offer if you are within the tariff band range and you meet subject-specific requirements (where applicable).

For undergraduate programmes we will take into account subjects studied at Level 3, your GCSEs (or equivalent) profile, relevant non-academic achievements outlined in your personal statement, references and your motivation for study.

International requirements

International students should check our country-specific pages for equivalents. If English is not your first language you will need to achieve an IELTS score of 6.0 overall with no less than 5.5 in any section (or equivalent).

UCAS Personal statement support

Create your UCAS personal statement through our online builder and we'll email you a copy of your completed version at the end.

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Course content

Year one

  •  Core
  •  Core
  •  Core
  •  Core
  •  Core
  •  Core

Year two

  •  Core
  •  Core
  •  Core
  •  Core
  •  Core
  •  Optional
  •  Optional
  •  Optional

Year three

  •  Core option
  •  Core option
  •  Core option
  •  Core option
  •  Core option
  •  Core option
  •  Optional
  •  Optional
  •  Optional
  •  Optional
  •  Optional

Please note: it is possible that a module listed on the website will not be able to run due to reasons beyond our control. For more information please refer to our course information disclaimer.

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Career opportunities

We believe that a degree in Creative Media offers you access to a wide range of careers in the creative industries, in areas including (but not limited to):

  • Magazine design
  • Interactive digital design
  • Motion graphics
  • Web design
  • Editing
  • Film production

In addition, the emphasis that Creative Media places upon issues of employability and professional practice will allow you to be equally comfortable within large and small organisations, or in a freelance environment.

The Careers Service has more information on careers and postgraduate study options available to Creative Media students who have started their studies at St Mary’s.

Work placements

You will be encouraged to undertake a number of extra-curricular work experience opportunities throughout your degree. These will likely be in a wide-range of local businesses and could include roles such as runners, editors, design assistants, marketing, camera operations and many more.

In addition, the Level 5 and 6 (years two and three) modules Entrepreneurship and Professionalism and The Enterprising Workplace will offer you key employability skills and, in the case of the latter, offer a formal and assessed work placement in an appropriate organisation.

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How the degree is taught

Teaching methods

You'll be taught on our beautiful and historic campus located in Twickenham, London.

Our Creative Media degree course approaches teaching and learning in an innovative, integrated and holistic manner. Modules are (wherever possible) centred around live briefs and involve you pitching to, and taking critique from your peers, tutors and clients.

You will work alongside other students across modules and programmes to complete creative design challenges under commercial conditions and develop extensive portfolios that will put you at the forefront of the highly competitive creative industries.

It is likely that the full cohort will be taught in all sessions so most class sizes will be around the 15-20 students. Some modules which are taught with other degrees  programmes, such as Digital Cultures, may well mean that classes expand to around 30 students.

Teaching breakdown

Learning on the course is made up through a combination of:

  • Contact time: 15%
  • Guided learning: 27%
  • Independent study: 58%

Independent study is a key feature of your degree and is crucial to furthering your knowledge.

You will receive your timetable a week before teaching is due to start at the latest.

Assessment methods

You will be assessed on this course through a variety of formative and summative assessments. Group and individual ‘crits’ (a traditional feature of a design education) are common and provide valuable formative feedback throughout the process of every practical module.

Assessments will vary from module to module and include essays, presentations, films, digital print design, blogs and many more. You are always encouraged to complete work within our studio spaces, as this creates a culture of peer feedback and support that plays a crucial role in your development as a designer.

In addition, our innovative ‘Challenge Day’ assessments are integrated throughout the practical modules on the programme. These involve students completing an assignment across the period of an eight hour ‘working day’. These assessments simulate the realities of a day in the creative industries and allow students to work in conditions more analogous with the professional world than traditional academic assignments.

Feedback

We adhere to the university’s policy of providing feedback on assessments within three weeks.

See how your final degree mark is calculated...

Compensated passes

Please refer to the information on compensated passes throughout your degree as outlined in the academic regulations.

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Facilities

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Fees and funding

2022/23 fees

  • Home: £9,250
  • International: £13,650

*Please note: these fees are annual and may increase in line with inflation each year subject to the Governments review of Higher Education Funding

Information about tuition fees, student loans and funding your studies can be found within our fees and funding section.

Additional costs

There are no additional required costs anticipated for students although some may choose to invest further in their degree by buying text books rather than using those in the library. Field trips will be subsided as much as possible (our two first year field trips are both currently free for students) to ensure that there are as few ‘hidden costs’ and additional financial burdens on students as possible.

In addition, given the print-based nature of some of the degree, it is anticipated that some students will choose to spend more money on getting their work professionally printed and bound. However, this will always remain entirely optional and any such additional investment will not result in academic gain.

Scholarships

A range of scholarships and bursaries are available to new undergraduate students. This includes:

Living costs

A guide to your living costs has been created by our Student Funding Team.

Accommodation costs vary depending on whether you opt for an en suite room and on-site catering. Take a look at our accommodation options and the prices you can expect to pay.

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Meet your lecturers

  • Damian O'Byrne
    Programme Lead for Communications, Film, Media, Marketing and Foundation Year
    •
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Further information


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Visit the campus

Upcoming open days

Attending an open day is a fantastic opportunity to get an insight into what life is like as a St Mary's student. During the day you'll have the chance to:

  • Speak to current students to hear about their experiences so far
  • Meet your future academics to put a name and a face to who you'll be learning from
  • Take a tour of the University and the on-campus accommodation options
  • Get involved with activities going on across campus as you explore new surroundings

Book your place now

Campus tours

There are plenty of opportunities for you to explore the campus, even if you can't make it to an Open Day. We run campus tours every Wednesday at 12pm. If you'd like to join us for one of these tours please register your place for your preferred day.

Virtual tour

We know that for it's important to you to see where you'll be living and studying before you make your decision. However, we also know that for many people it's not always easy to make it to the campus.

That's why we've developed a virtual tour of campus, allowing you to explore that facilities and the beautiful views that we have to offer.

Launch the virtual tour

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UCAS Application Timeline

1

UCAS Apply Opens

You will be able to register and begin your application, but won't yet be able to submit it.

May (year before entry)

Find out more about the application process
2

Completed applications can be submitted to UCAS

From September you'll be able to submit your UCAS application. Universities will start making decisions on applications.

September (year before entry)

Find out more about the application process
3

UCAS application deadline

You will need to submit your application by this date.

January 26th

Find out more about the application process
4

UCAS Extra opens

If you've used all five choices, but are not holding any offers, you might be able to add another choice.

Late February

Find out more about UCAS Extra
5

Replying to offers

Your deadline for replying to your offers depends on when you received all your decisions by. If you miss your deadline, UCAS will automatically decline all your offers

Spring/Summer

Find out more about the application process
6

Late applications are entered into Clearing

If your application is received after 30th June, it will be entered into Clearing.

30th June

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7

UCAS Extra application deadline

If you've used all five choices, but are not holding any offers, this will be your last chance to add an Extra choice.

Early July

Find out more about UCAS Extra
8

Clearing Opens

Clearing vacancies will be displayed in the UCAS search tool.

Early July

Find out more about Clearing
9

Clearing hotline opens

On A-Level results day, we open our Clearing hotline. If you're eligible to apply through Clearing, you'll be able to apply to us via phone.

Mid-August

Find out more about Clearing
10

Adjustment opens

If you've exceeded the conditions of your firm choice, you may be able to apply for an alternative course.

Mid-August

Find out more about the application process
11

Final application deadline

This is the final opportunity to apply for a course beginning in that year.

September

Find out more about Clearing
12

Clearing closes

This is your final chance to apply through Clearing. Please note: you will not be able to apply for Primary Education beyond mid-September.

October

Find out more about Clearing