Media Content Creation with Foundation Year

Unleash your creativity with Media Content Creation

Dive into the exciting world of media and build the skills to design impactful content strategies and produce engaging stories across industries and platforms. The digital landscape is bursting with opportunities, and content creation has become one of the fastest-growing career paths — whether you dream of becoming a social media influencer, YouTuber, podcaster, brand storyteller or have powerful stories to tell, this course will equip you with the tools, confidence and the skills to make your mark in the media world.

This course is all about hands-on experience, helping you build practical skills in content design while exploring a wide variety of formats to create original, engaging work that grabs and holds your audience’s attention. From bringing stories to life through visual storytelling and video editing to producing podcasts, traditional print based design and crafting social media campaigns, you’ll also discover how to leverage cutting-edge technology to take your ideas to the next level. It’s your chance to experiment, innovate, and make your mark in the ever-evolving media landscape.

The future of digital storytelling is yours to shape. 

Opportunities and experiences 

This programme offers an exciting mix of approaches to support your desire to create and deliver a multimedia approach to your content creation practice. You'll have the opportunity to work on live media briefs with both local and national employers, go on visits to explore studios and exhibitions, compete in high-profile competitions, and follow in the footsteps of our award-winning graduates.

Foundation Year - helping you to achieve more

Including a foundation year as part of your four-year study programme will give you a head start in your academic and professional life. The foundation year offers the chance to strengthen your skills, knowledge and confidence – with extensive support from our expert staff – before you advance to stage one of your honours degree. It could also be beneficial if you are planning a career change and want to get to grips with aspects of subjects which are new to you.

Our degrees with a foundation year are continuous, meaning that you won’t need to apply again once you have successfully completed the first year.

Boost your employability with a placement year

Take an optional placement year to put your skills into practice in a real-world setting. We’ll support you in finding a placement and throughout your time in industry. It’s a great way to gain valuable experience for your CV, build contacts, and explore career options before you graduate.

Please note that our modules are subject to change - we review the content of our courses regularly, making changes where necessary to improve your experience and graduate prospects.

Make the cutting-edge recording facilities, TV studio and edit suites your second home. Explore and experiment with digital practices within our digital labs as well as exploring and understand how the media industry’s function. Hone your skills by being on Assignment with our external media partners on professional briefs and commercial projects and be able to create potential award-winning content for entry into the annual Royal Television Society Awards.

Our focus is on professional practice and employability by developing not only your own unique creative practice, but also nurturing a ‘go get it’ attitude. We’ll help you develop your network of contacts that can help identify, support and grow your strengths to promote yourself in the media industries. You could develop and advance your career in areas such as Commercial Video, Documentary and Factual Production, non-Linear Narratives, Podcasting and the Audio Industries, Editorial design, Branding, Visual Communication, new media technologies and online design.

Contextual offers may apply to students who meet certain criteria.

*This is the fee for the Foundation Year. Subsequent UK fees are £9,535 per year. Subsequent International fees are £17,500 per year.

Further information about our fees and support you may be entitled to

Additional costs and optional extras

Additional information about your studies

Teaching hours

Like most universities, we operate extended teaching hours at the University of Derby, so contact time with your lecturers and tutors could be anytime between 9am and 9pm. Your timetable will usually be available on the website 24 hours after enrolment on to your course.

Course updates

The information provided on this page is correct at the time of publication but course content, costs and other individual course details do change from time to time and are updated as often as possible, so please do check these pages again when making your final decision to apply for a course. Any updated course details will also be confirmed to you at application, enrolment and in your offer letter.

If you are thinking about transferring onto this course (into the second year for example), you should contact the programme leader for the relevant course information as modules may vary from those shown on this page.