Careers Brief - Multimedia FdA

Overview

The Foundation degree in Multimedia offers opportunities for progression onto Honours degree programmes and direct job entry.

The last few years have seen a rapid expansion in growth and subsequent demand for trained practitioners within the interactive digital media industries, with ongoing development in technology and its applications.

As a multimedia designer or developer, you could be involved in the design of many forms of interactive media. You could be working on the development, production and management of web and other internet-based products and systems, CD-ROMs and DVD authoring, interactive and networked art, interactive TV and games design.

Job opportunities exist in a variety of sectors, including e-commerce, education, entertainment and global communications. You could be working for a large organisation, based within the IT or marketing or public relations department; within an advertising, publishing, communications, marketing or software company; a specialised multimedia production studio, or working as a freelance professional.

Use the web links below for information on career entry, job profiles and job hunting.

There are no set entry requirements for a career in digital or interactive media. However, employers are looking for an ability to learn, some relevant experience and transferable skills. A relevant degree course is the most useful training route, to demonstrate you have the right skills and produce work to show evidence of your ability.

Employers are looking for a multi-skilled practitioner with creativity and artistic flair, as well as a methodical approach and attention to detail and familiarity with relevant software. Success in your course will have given you the opportunity to demonstrate your ability to apply technical knowledge and principles.

Also to have developed the key transferable skills and competencies which recruiters look for, such as: being adaptable and a quick learner; effective communicating; team working, in addition to working on your own initiative; analysing information and problem solving; multi-tasking and the ability to work to deadlines.

Further Study

Go to HE Courses for information on the one-year full-time BA (Hons) Media Production (Top-Up), designed as a direct progression for this course.

Other institutions offering related Top-up honours degrees:

The Arts Institute at Bournemouth; University of Bradford; University of Brighton ; Buckinghamshire New University; Cornwall College; University of Derby; East Lancashire Institute of Higher Education at Blackburn College ;

Grimsby Institute of Further and Higher Education; Hereford College of Arts; University of Hertfordshire; University of Huddersfield ; Leeds College of Art & Design; Leeds Metropolitan University ; London South Bank University ;

Manchester College of Arts & Technology; Napier University, Edinburgh ; New College Nottingham ; Ravensbourne College of Design & Communication; Sheffield Hallam University; University of Wolverhampton.

To search for other honours degree courses, use www.ucas.com/ (the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service for the UK ). Use the university/college links for course details. Entry point would depend on your grades, experience and overlap between courses.

You will need to use UCAS (see link above) 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 www.direct.gov.uk/uni/ for information on student support.

Go to the main section on Further Study of this Guide for more information and help.

Resources

www.skillset.org/careers/

The Sector Skills Council for the Creative Media providing a specialist careers information, advice and guidance service for broadcast, film, video, interactive media, photo imaging and publishing

www.prospects.ac.uk/

Graduate Prospects is the careers website for higher education students in the UK:

Drop down 'Communities' and click on 'Publishing, media and marketing'
Drop down 'jobs & work' and click on 'What jobs would suit me?' for Prospects Planner

www.get.hobsons.co.uk/

Hobsons publication - Graduate Employment and Training

http://targetjobs.co.uk/graduate-jobs/

GTI publication - Graduate jobs and careers intelligence

www.kent.ac.uk/careers/multimedia.htm

University of Kent Careers Service - 'What can I do with a degree in multimedia?'

www.bima.co.uk/

British Interactive Media Association

www.bcs.org/

The British Computer Society - click on 'Careers'

www.learndirect-advice.co.uk/helpwithyourcareer/jobprofiles

Learn Direct Careers Advice