Researching into University courses - BA (Hons) Fashion, Media and Marketing at PCA

Today I have been looking into different photography courses at different universities over the country. I have been looking at 4 different courses around the country but recently I have been looking into a course at college, Fashion, Media and Marketing. Right now, I don't know where I want to go and what I want to do but by researching into different places and courses I'm hoping that it will help me realise what I want to do in the future.

I have researched into the different things that you do in each year and how much tutor contact time you get.

In Year 1 at PCA I would:

Year 1

Introduction to Fashion Media and Marketing

This module will provide you with an essential introduction to our programme. Through the analysis of current industry activities, you will become familiar with the fundamental concepts and processes that underpin Fashion Media and Marketing. You will examine exciting examples of fashion marketing, trend, styling, image making and fashion reportage, before going on to propose your own strategies for live projects and collaborative assignments.

Photography, Concepts and Styling

Throughout this module you will explore photographic skills and techniques along with studio practice to a professional standard. You will plan and execute photographic shoots whilst considering the curation of fashion products, visual aesthetics and contemporary fashion narratives. You will be required to work individually and in groups develop your team building skills.

Editorial Practice for the Fashion Environment

This module introduces you to fashion journalism and editorial practice. Working with industry partners and publishers, you will interpret visual and contextual sources for written communications and broadcast media. You will develop your own ability to decode and translate the work of others for a specific audience or communication channel as well as investigating the ethical, cultural and societal aspects of the global fashion industry.

Fashion Visualisation and Communication

Visual communication is a key component of fashion promotion, and this module will introduce you to the industry's use of graphic design. You will interpret visual concepts from a wide range of sources and be introduced to the relevant software and programs that will allow you to create your own original designs for print and digital media. By the module's end, you will be able to use visual communication to reinforce research findings and strategic recommendations for a market specific audience.

Interdisciplinary Studies

Interdisciplinary Studies provides you with an opportunity to expand and develop skills and knowledge in fields beyond your immediate programme environment, in subject areas which are nonetheless relevant to your personal career aspirations, and which have the potential to develop new horizons and feedback into future modules. You will engage in an elective offered by a discipline outside of your own. Electives may include: drawing, costume accessories, live art, printmaking, curatorial practice, web design, interactive media, creative writing, studio or location photography, underwater imaging, film making, contemporary crafts, textiles, & fashion marketing and promotion.

Contexts of Practice 1

The aim of this module is to introduce you to key theories and will provide a range of critical approaches supporting the investigation, interpretation and analysis of contemporary fashion and fashion media. You will study a range of concepts that have shaped the way that we understand fashion in its wider historical and cultural contexts. You will develop core research and communication skills to help you to articulate and contextualise your understanding of the themes covered in this module. The knowledge gained in this module will support your creative practice by developing an understanding of the relationship between thinking and making.

In Year 2 at PCA I would:

Year 2

Fashion Communication and the Moving Image

You will explore the evolving use of the moving image as part of fashion communication throughout the course of this module. You will build on your own knowledge of visual culture, the fashion environment and theories in marketing and promotion to help you execute fashion relevant outcomes using film, animation or digital media. Specialist staff will support you as you acquire the new technical skills that will enable you to successfully realise your own artistic vision.

Fashion Media Marketing and Communication

This module further explores key theories in both marketing and communication and requires you to examine to the relationship between the two activities. Utilising various methods of research, you will examine consumer’s ever-shifting appetites and consider how this shapes their consumption of various media platforms. Responding to live project briefings from external agencies and industry partners, you will be required to formulate creative recommendations for promotional events, digital campaigns and retail environments.

Professional Practice within Fashion Media and Marketing Environment

You will build on the transferable skills you acquired during year one by continuing your own explorations of the fashion environment and by pursuing employment and entrepreneurial opportunities. This module will run all year and will consolidate your understanding of the level of professionalism, creativity and adaptability required to negotiate a career in Fashion Media and Marketing. It will also enable you to make informed proposals for your personalised pathways of study during your final year.

Contexts of Practice 2

This module extends and develops the themed ideas, concepts and critical discourses introduced in Contexts of Practice 1. You will attend core lectures and participate in a themed seminar series designed to deepen your understanding of fashion and fashion media in their wider contexts. This themed approach encourages you to make considered and appropriate links between your area of practice and wider contextual and interdisciplinary discourses. You will continue to develop critical approaches to research, which will inform your understanding of the relationship between context and practice. You will undertake a contextual research project that links the thematic focus of your particular seminar series to your area of creative practice, which culminates in an illustrated research project.

In Year 3 at PCA I would:

Year 3

Research and Experimentation

This module will stipulate the overarching direction and outline both quantitative and qualitative research methodologies that will provide a platform from which your own Creative and Professional Conclusion module may develop. It is a period of reflection on past creative outcomes and the success of their commercial application. The questioning of theories and experimentation in practical processes will allow you to plan your final project and negotiate a course towards its conclusion considering future career or learning aspirations, along with your elected contextual studies subject matter.

Creative and Professional Development

This module will enable you to use personal career ambitions to position yourselves for progression to employment, self-employment or to postgraduate study. It will provide multiple opportunities for you to assimilate previous industry experiences and research into both contextual subject matter and creative outcomes of the final year modules. The module will encourage consideration of audiences, end-users and relevant markets. Relationships with appropriate external agencies, individuals and professionals will be explored and interactions with the creative, commercial and cultural environments will be investigated.

Creative and Professional Conclusion

This module represents the culmination of your study on the programme and allows you to use all of the knowledge, skills and understanding acquired throughout the entirety of the course within a project that is the result of a self-initiated or self-selected brief. It will enable you to recognise and promote your own transferable skills as you progress to employment, self-employment or postgraduate study.

Contexts of Practice 3

This module provides you with two pathways. Each pathway supports the development of independent critical thinking and requires you to consider and contextualise your practice by situating it within a wider set of discourses and contexts. Pathway One is an opportunity to conduct a substantive piece of independent research, which is focused on an area related to your creative practice. Pathway Two is a practice-led research project, with critical commentary.

If I was to study this course at college then I would need to achieve at least 200 UCAS points. I haven't been able to find out the exact amount of tutor contact time but it says that its a part - time course so I would say I would have approximately 16 hours a week of tutor contact time. I have also been thinking about whether to get halls down in Plymouth or whether to carry on travelling down like I am now. At the moment I am quite happy to travel down everyday like I am now as I would still be able to live at home and save my money and would mean that =I could keep my job. If I was to move down to Plymouth however I could move into quite a few halls as they are all quite close to each other and are a maximum of about a 15/20 minute walk away from PCA.

I have been looking into The Old Dairy at Victoria Hall which is situated behind college which would mean that if I moved down to Plymouth and stayed at The Old Dairy then I could have a good lie in and would be very close to uni! I have also looked at prices and the most expensive room is sold out but the slightly cheaper room has limited availibility at a price of £138 a week which is about average.

After looking at this course I think that it could be quite a good possibility as i like how much you learn in each year but I will need to think about whether it is what I actually what I want to do in my future.