Careers Brief - Radio Production FdA
Overview
The Foundation degree in Radio Production offers you the opportunity of transferring into 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 area. You will need good communication and research skills and apart from 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.
Use the links below to find out more.
Further Study
Top-up degrees are designed as a progression from a Foundation degree to qualify with an Honours degree.
Top-up courses are offered at Bournemouth University 'Radio Production' and New College Nottingham 'Digital Media Design'.
Direct entry into the 2nd or final year of a relevant honours degree course would be considered on an individual basis.
To search for honours degree courses in Radio or Media Production (including radio), use www.ucas.com/search (the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service for the UK). Use the university/college links for course details. Entry point could depend on your grades, experience and overlap between courses.
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 www.aimhigher.ac.uk 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 Audio Visual Industries providing a specialist careers information, advice and guidance service - click on 'Radio' for information on the industry. Check out 'Radio jobs - Production (Content)' and 'Tips for entering radio'. Free information and advice service by email or phone. One-to-one guidance for graduates and new entrants from experienced working industry freelancers for a small fee.
www.radiocentre.org
RadioCentre (the UK Commercial Radio Stations) - click on 'TRAINING' and look at 'Working in Radio' for jobs, advice on how to get into radio, courses, getting a work placement and links
www.radioacademy.org
The Radio Academy - go to 'careers in radio'
www.bbc.co.uk/jobs
'Getting into the BBC', 'Work Experience' and 'Media Careers Information Days'
www.bbc.co.uk/radio
Links to all BBC Radio sites
www.mediauk.com
Media UK - free online media directory, including unpaid/paid jobs
www.internet-today.co.uk/radiomag
The RADIO magazine website - free including news and jobs
www.prospects.ac.uk
Graduate Prospects is the careers site for higher education students in the UK:
- Drop down 'Careers advice' and click on 'Use your qualification; for 'Your Foundation degree...what next?'
- Also click on 'Options with your subject' - click on 'Media/Communication Studies'
- Drop down 'Jobs & work' to 'Explore job sectors'
- Drop down 'My Prospects' and click on 'What jobs would suit me?' for Prospects Planner
jobseekers.direct.gov.uk
Careers database and links to jobs nationally. Search by either clicking on 'careers' and 'choosing a category' or typing in job title.
www.learndirect-advice.co.uk/helpwithyourcareer/jobprofiles
Learn Direct - national learning advice
www.connexions-direct.com/jobs4u
Jobs4U Careers Database - click on 'Job Families & Articles' or Quick Search by typing in job title
www.bectu.org.uk/about
BECTU is the independent union for those working in broadcasting, film, theatre, entertainment, leisure, interactive media and allied areas - offering a range of services and benefits to members
www.studentradio.org.uk
Student Radio Association
www.hbauk.co.uk/public
The Hospital Broadcasting Association
www.womeninradio.org.uk
Women's Radio Group
