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Please note: the duration of this course is one semester.
This innovative course focuses on performing and presenting in front of a camera in a variety of situations, including fictional drama and factual programming. It is designed for individuals who have found the need to develop this area of expertise in their professions and who may, or may not, have a background in acting and public speaking. This could include political figures, spokespersons, presenters, reporters, actors, and any others who may expect to be in the public eye.
The curriculum of this course is largely tailored to your individual needs. We will address your unique concerns and emphasise the development of performance through practice-based research. Your learning will be multi-faceted. You will experience different roles within a professional TV studio and theatre via technical workshops, and your progress will be archived for a final presentation of your professional show-reel. You will also be working in an exciting research environment supported by Research Institute of Media, Art and Design (RIMAD), which holds regular seminars and conferences in which students can be involved. Should you particularly enjoy the research elements of the course, you will have the opportunity to be directly involved or employed within the Research Informed Teaching (RIT) scheme to work on research projects in co-operation with our academic staff.
The PgCert in Performing Before the Camera maintains strong professional links. You will have the benefit of building invaluable contacts and experience with visits and seminars conducted by directors, actors and others working within television, film and other media/professional industries. In addition, our close location to London means you will have easy access to the UK's hub for the expansion of satellite and digital television.
This course opens up numerous career opportunities for postgraduates pursuing a professional career in acting and presenting for television/film and for those pursuing careers in journalism, politics and business who, in the course of their work, are frequently called upon to present themselves and their ideas before a camera.
During the course you will:
Areas of study you may cover on this course include:
Throughout the course, students will be encouraged to integrate assessment and the feedback from that assessment into their practice and critically evaluate their methodology and techniques, be it through their lecturer, peer or self-assessed work to progress and develop their approaches and value of their work. They will develop professional practice through the presentation of their work to camera, working within tight schedules and having to deliver on time.
Assessment is primarily performance based, in addition they must submit a written diary/report to demonstrate their research inquiry, plan, documentation of and ability to analyse their performance processes. For their final assessment they will produce an individual performance show-reel in a specified genre (i.e. interview, acting or presenting).
At all stages they will receive detailed relevant feedback on their work, both as an individual and on the role they perform within the group, which enables them to incorporate the elements of this into their work as they progress through their course. This is crucial to their academic and professional progression. Individual Lecturers offer the opportunity to discuss any feedback in more detail. As their skills and subject knowledge develop over the duration of the course, it is expected that they will develop increasingly critical responses to assessment and employ increasingly effective methods of peer and self-review.
To integrate informed and progressive teaching and learning of performing for the camera techniques. Throughout the course students will cover both fictional and non-fictional genres developing their professional and academic practice.
The pedagogic strategy employed on the course is based on a principle of personalised learning. Teaching will be mainly seminar based, with students taking responsibility for exploring different aspects of the curriculum and presenting their findings. Following CRe8 students will be encouraged to identify their strengths (actual and potential) when performing before the camera, as well as when research their practice in order to develop and transfer their understanding to their chosen futures.
The unit Working Before the Camera at the University of Bedfordshire is aimed to enable graduates and professionals to develop the necessary skills and knowledge for their chosen professions and to extend their career paths.
The unit Practice-based Research Methods for Performance to Camera is aimed to enable graduates and professionals to conduct a practice-based inquiry pertinent to their performing practice. To this end they will utilize a range of methods to document and develop their findings through self-evaluation and critical thinking, following the model of action research and the strategies of the reflective practitioner applied not only on their own work and performance, but also on others screen performances.
The course is designed to introduce material and approaches which will be new to students whatever their disciplinary background at undergraduate or professional level. It thus will encourage the students to develop research-informed work in innovative ways, following the QAA descriptor for a qualification at Masters (M) Level.
At institutional level, the University already has in place a range of easily accessible support structures for new and existing students. These include the Corporate Academic Advisory Service (CAAS), which offers confidential advice on all aspects of academic study. Other areas of University-wide student support include: Housing, Health, Counseling, Study Support, Special Needs/Disability Advice and a highly successful Careers Service.
During the PG Certificate course specific support will also be in place:
Students will receive an induction prior to the commencement of term. In addition to this, they will be introduced by individual unit leaders to each unit in the first session of that unit. This introduction will give them an outline of the structure of the unit, an overview of the ways they will be encouraged to develop their knowledge and skills, and signpost resources and materials to assist the process of their learning and success.
All students will have a Personal Tutor who will be one of their core academic team. This Personal Tutor will work with them throughout their degree, monitoring their academic progression and forming a constant point of contact for academic support and guidance. This support may extend to providing advice on careers and further academic study.
At all times throughout the course, students will have access to online support through both www.beds.ac.uk and via the BREO VLE (Virtual Learning Environment).
There will be Technical Support available for the operation of the studio spaces.
Team work in an integral ingredient in Working Before the Camera as it is of necessity a collaborative experience. The end result is dependent not only on the efforts of those before the camera but on the expertise of the creative and technical personnel behind it. Students working as a team will mount productions experiencing and acquiring knowledge of all these various roles. This promotes peer and self assessment practices and enables them to develop the communication and personal skills important in professional employment.
Members of the teaching team work within the industry. These links provide contacts with professionals who will be brought in to give talks and seminars (for example senior directors from the BBC, political, and/or media advisors, consultants in business and PR), giving the students opportunity to forge contacts and receive first hand advice and information.
Professional skills and values underpin the course and are an integral part of teaching and learning, Every student is assisted to develop the ability to evaluate effectively and reflect on their own and the work of others and understand the demands and requirements of employers.
Towards the end of the course students will produce a personal show-reel of their work in a genre or genres of their choice. This will enable them to show-case their talents and expertise to prospective employers and agents.
Career:
This course is aimed at recent graduates who wish to gain an educational advantage in their career. It will also be open to professionals wishing to develop their reflective practice and up-date their professional expertise in performing within the current professional requirements in front of a camera and/or in a TV studio. The course is more than a training course, by the end of it students will be able to apply the model of action research and the strategies of the reflective practitioner to their own and others screen performance, enabling them to continually evaluate and improve team and individual performance.
The course opens up numerous career opportunities for postgraduates pursuing a professional career in acting and presenting for television, or film. It would also benefit those pursing careers in journalism, politics, and business who in the course of their work are frequently called upon to appear and present themselves and their ideas before a camera.
A foundation degree will be of particular interest if you have completed a Modern Apprenticeship, vocational A levels, BTEC National or equivalent.
Foundation degrees are also particularly suitable if you want to qualify while working.
Many students studying for foundation degrees come to us through work-based routes so you can apply for a foundation degree even if you don’t have traditional academic qualifications.
We welcome applicants with relevant work experience.
We will consider you as an individual and take into account all elements of your application, not just your qualifications. We are looking for both breadth and depth in your current studies as well as enthusiasm for the subject you wish to study.
The general requirement is one of the following:
As a general guide, to apply for a place on an undergraduate course (BA/BSc) at the University you need to have completed your high school education and have the required English qualification.
We have students from all the European Union member countries so we are quick to make decisions on most qualifications.
(Please note that applicants on a full student visa are not eligible for part-time study)
We recommend that you apply directly to the University where possible, as this allows us to offer the quickest turnaround time for your application.
Please read the Direct application instructions before completing the course application form.
Application forms for accommodation in the student halls at Bedford campus and Luton campus are available in the Student life section
APL is available for international students applying for undergraduate (Bachelor degree) study. Please do not use this APL form to apply for postgraduate courses.
Use the APL form to tell us about any non-standard qualifications and/or work experience you have that you think should be taken into consideration with your application. `
The APL form should be submitted at the same time as the course application form.
We regret we are unable to process APL forms from students who have not submitted a formal course application form.
Return your completed application to:
University of Bedfordshire
International Admissions
Park Square
Luton
Bedfordshire
LU1 3JU
United Kingdom
T: +44 (0)1582 489326 (non-EU Students)
F: +44 (0)1582 743469
E: international-admissions@beds.ac.uk
The University of Bedfordshire is committed to ensuring that curricula across all courses are inclusive to all students. The Disability Advice Team is available to discuss any issues students may have and can provide services such as sign language interpreters, note takers, dyslexia screening/tuition and support with mobility on campus. They offer confidential advice and information about academic and personal issues, adjustments in examinations, applying for the Disabled Students Allowances (DSA) and buying suitable equipment.
All students concerned their studies may be affected by disability are encouraged to contact either their Course Leader for advice at whatever point in their course the need to do so becomes apparent.
Communication
To help with the development of this students will be expected to work with a group or a cast and communicate their ideas to their peers through performance or presentation. They will be expected to take direction.
Information Literacy
To help with the development of this students will need to research not only the sources they will find in their units bibliography but also additional sources as well as techniques they will be directed to during their study.
Research and Evaluation
To help with the development of this students will need to read the suggested texts and view performances, TV and film productions and use these sources to inform their practice. In their research diary/report they would reflect on their own performance critically evaluate their own work according to professional standards.
Creativity and Critical Thinking
To help with the development of this students will be encouraged to explore performance and presentation ideas and develop these to a high standard. They will need to develop directorial and editorial judgment.
The content and structure of the course is built around the requirements and demands of appearing before the camera in a professional capacity. The content is constantly updated to reflect new developments and changes in professional and technical practices.
Visits and talks with those currently working successfully within the industry enable students to develop an understanding of professional procedures, requirements and challenges.
The course team includes media trainers with experience of training actors, presenters, journalists, politicians, police etc. and have access to guest professionals from the BBC, TV, radio etc.
