Degree type: BA (Hons)
UCAS Code: WW26 BA/VCMD
Duration: 4 years (full-time)
How to Apply
Why choose this course?
Studying this course means being part of the acclaimed Institute of Arts, Media and Computer Games. You will study in White Space, our innovative learning and teaching space, alongside artists, designers, animators and audio specialists.
This course will help you become a professional media designer able to produce high quality visual/graphic designs, video and audio media content and to contribute to studio teams that create innovative on and off-line digital media solutions.
Professional media design requires individuals who have expert knowledge drawn from a wide range of subjects. They need to produce static and moving image content for a range of interfaces and platforms that engage through visual appeal, and intuitive and innovative forms of interaction.
You need to understand the professional and contextual issues surrounding the practice in order to achieve creative and innovative solutions for a continually changing media environment. During the course, you will work on projects that involve planning, development and management of a range of media design solutions. You will work both individually and in teams to learn the communication and negotiation skills valued highly by the media industry. You will be encouraged to be creative, innovative, to challenge existing views and develop new solutions.
You will graduate with highly valued expertise and professional skills sought after by an ever-increasing range of businesses. You will have a deep knowledge of the subject area together with problem solving and communications skills that will allow you to work effectively with clients and software developers, and to continue to develop throughout your career.
In year one, you are introduced to the fundamentals of visual design and media content production alongside software application development. This is the year where academic practices and attitudes to study are established.
The second year focuses on professional skills and practices and your technical and procedural skills reach an advanced level. Attitudes to how these skills can be deployed in support of creativity and innovation are established and communications skills are developed through group project work.
At the end of year three, you will be eligible to graduate with a BA degree. This year prepares you for employment by developing skills that combine theory, practice and communications in relation to media design. You will become a confident design practitioner and develop a mature visual style through sustained personal effort over a range of projects.
In the fourth (Honours) year you will undertake a significant design project, individually, or in a cross-discipline group. You will explore a particular cultural, entertainment or communications context and be expected to demonstrate understanding of the contextual factors that inform design practices by applying your skills and knowledge in the production of a design solution.
How you learn
You will spend around 15 hours per week in lectures, tutorials and practical activities, with the remainder of your time spent in self-directed learning. Lectures present key concepts, theories and techniques. Tutorials and practical activities increase your understanding of the subject and allow you to develop competency in technological and theoretical work.
You will actively participate in discussion groups and critique sessions. You will be given support in developing a portfolio that will showcase your work and provide a valuable means of demonstrating your abilities to clients or potential employers.
How you are assessed
In the first two years, your work will be assessed entirely through coursework. In the later years of the course assessment is by a mixture of written work and coursework including design solutions, media products and project reports.
Higher BBBB; A Level CCD; ILC (H) BBBC; UCAS Tariff 240 points*
*See UCAS Tariff Guidance below
Essential subjects: Art, or Art and Design, or Graphic Communication, and an appropriate portfolio.
Advanced entry (year 2 or 3)
Applicants for direct entry to second or third year will be considered on an individual basis. An HND in Visual Communication (or equivalent) will normally be considered for year 3 entry.
UCAS Tariff Guidance
Although there is no limit to the number of points that you can accumulate, for entry to Abertay you must have qualifications at an appropriate level (SCQF 6/NQF 3); you cannot count the same or similar qualifications twice; Standard Grades, Intermediate 2s, GCSEs and key/core skills cannot be counted; and D grades at SQA Higher and Advanced Higher are not counted.
Applicants who have taken either SQA Highers or A Levels must offer at least three Highers or two A Levels for degree entry (or two Highers or one A Level for DipHE entry). If you have studied a subject at two different levels, the most advanced will be taken into consideration; e.g. if you studied both Higher Biology and Advanced Higher Biology, then only the Advanced Higher will be counted.
Overseas/EU
All applicants are required to provide certified proof of competence in English Language and the University's minimum requirements are listed here
Mature
Applications from mature students are assessed on the same criteria used for school leavers, e.g. SQA Highers or GCE A Levels, where relevant school leaving qualifications exist. For those without standard entry qualifications, consideration is given to experience gained as well as professional qualifications and other forms of learning that could provide evidence of ability to benefit from a particular course.
The successful completion of approved access courses (such as those offered by Dundee College in association with the universities of Abertay, Dundee and St Andrews) provides significant evidence of ability to benefit from study at Abertay.
For further advice on minimum qualifications please use our Ask a Question section. If you are currently at college, please also refer to our Coming from college page.
What our students say
"Drawing and sketchbooks are where I work out, invent and communicate my ideas."
Amy
"I enjoy the challenge of creating new ways of visualising for new media."
Mari
"The opportunity to work on live projects has given me invaluable experience."
Jon
Your future
Job opportunities for media designers include online and offline interactive design for production industries like TV/radio broadcasting, newspapers and publishing, entertainment, gaming and telecommunications.
Digital media is spreading to include almost every facet of modern life, so employment opportunities are increasing constantly. Typical job titles include Media Designer, Web/Multimedia Designer, Video/Audio Producer, Post-production Designer, Art Director, Creative Director, New Media Project Manager.
| Fee Category | September 2012 Fees |
Scholarships & Bursaries |
| Scottish and other EU students |
The 2012 fee will be announced Apply to the Student Awards Agency |
Other forms of support |
| English, Welsh and Northern Irish students |
£7000 per year (max. amount payable You can apply for financial assistance, |
Bursaries & Scholarships |
| Overseas (non EU) students |
£9975 per year. Fees may be subject to annual increase. |
Overseas Scholarships |
Fees shown are payable annually, and may be subject to increase each year.
