Social/Advertising Video
Postgraduate
MA
Digital Video Production and Marketing
Salford School of Arts, Media and Creative Technology
Attendance
Full-time
Course
One year
Next enrolment
September 2022
In a nutshell
Digital video is the driving force of the digital marketing and e-commerce businesses, which are large and growing employers of media graduates who have a knowledge of both the practical and theoretical side of how video content sells.
On this course you will gain a unique blend of the theory of digital marketing, analytics and e-commerce with practical experience of filmmaking and influencer marketing to be gained in producing and distributing actual content for brands.
By directly pointing your career at what is a vibrant, fast-growth job market, the University of Salford offers you a perfect and 2020-relevant skillset to directly design your career for current and future opportunities.
Find out more by signing up to an upcoming Open Day, or contact the programme leader: Sarah Hodgetts.
You can also find helpful stories on the course Instagram account, or explore all our Creative Digital Media and Gaming courses.
International students: Due to high volumes of applications and visa processing requirements we are currently not accepting any new applications to our master’s courses from international students. For courses starting in 2023-24, please keep checking our deadlines page to find out when we will start accepting applications.
You will:
- Experience a blend of theoretical and practical approaches to digital marketing and video production
- Dissect the key tenets of the role of a digital video marketing professional, moving on to apply these to real-life industry scenarios
- Study at MediaCity, one of the country's key digital and creative hubs
International
students accepted
All about the course
MA Digital Video Production & Marketing is a balanced course - half theoretical/analytical, and half practice-based. This balance reflects the nature of the career itself, where data-driven content is rooted in both creativity and analysis.
Each intensive module will tackle different aspects of either the analytical or practical side of the skillset.
Heavily informed by industry practice and professionals, students will dissect the key tenets of the role of a digital video marketing professional, moving on to apply these to real-life industry scenarios.
Problem-based learning and collaboration will be central to this programme, which mirrors industry practice. Students will develop their communication skills, and will develop and acquire new skills as each module progresses.
To complement the focus on analytics and practice-based learning, students will also develop autonomous learning skills through theoretical classwork, individual and group-based production practice and real-world industry experience.
Video – from Instagram to Amazon - is the new mainstream, for the millennial and post-millenial generations, in both their editorial enjoyment and retail use of technology. This course will therefore be conducted with strong industry engagement and visitors at its core. Guest speakers will be drawn in from major social providers within Manchester, such as The LADBible, one of the world’s major social video channels, and Money Supermarket, Auto Trader, AO.com, Missguided, Manchester United FC and other major users of social video.
Meanwhile the final trimester will be specifically built around a piece of industry work by the students, where they will be given the opportunity to work with a specific company and product. They will get to the heart of both its marketing analytics and its creative needs, in order to produce a well-planned piece of creative work. The process will directly replicate the actual job they would be doing in industry after leaving for digital video marketing jobs. Further, their wider study of marketing analytics will give them the basics of a toolkit which is directly used by technology driven media producers such as BBC iPlayer and Channel 4 within the north of England.
Just as in the real world, marketers and creatives need to collaborate, so that will be the case on this course.
Trimester one
Digital Marketing and Analytics
Trimester two
Creation of Video for E-commerce
Search and Social Media Marketing
Trimester three
Digital Video Production and Marketing in Practice
Please note that it may not be possible to deliver the full list of options every year as this will depend on factors such as how many students choose a particular option. Exact modules may also vary in order to keep content current. When accepting your offer of a place to study on this programme, you should be aware that not all optional modules will be running each year. Your tutor will be able to advise you as to the available options on or before the start of the programme. Whilst the University tries to ensure that you are able to undertake your preferred options, it cannot guarantee this.
BE A PART OF A CREATIVE, SUPPORTIVE COMMUNITY
All our Film, TV and Media courses are delivered by the Salford School of Arts, Media and Creative Technology.
Our focus is to ensure that you have the skills you need to pursue your dreams, and we encourage our students, past and present, to collaborate with each other and achieve great things.
Each year - through the Create Student Awards – our School rewards the incredible achievements and successes of our final year and postgraduate students.
Whatever you choose to study with us, you’ll be mentored and supported by experts. And once you graduate, it won’t end there. You’ll join a thriving alumni network across Greater Manchester and beyond, meaning you’ll be supported professionally and personally whenever you need it.
MEDIACITYUK FACILITIES
The three video modules in the MA in Digital Video Production and Marketing is based at the MediaCity campus. Students working on site have access to TV, digital video and podcast-recording studio space. The two digital marketing modules are taught within the Business School at Salford University’s main campus, where students will also have access to facilities in New Adelphi Building including
Our MediaCity facilities are industry-standard, so much so that they are used by our industry partners themselves. You’ll learn from our experienced tutors and demonstrators, who’ll teach you how to use our facilities. These include:
TV studios - our TV studios have been used by the BBC for a variety of broadcasts, such as the Olympics and Christmas music concerts, and they’re equipped with the same audio-visual systems used by ITV and Sky too.
The studios have green screen facilities as well as basic props so you can design and build sets for a range of projects.
Green screen facilities - these allow you to create effects such as those you see on weather reports and incorporates a camera system and 3D graphics software.
Audio production - we’ve got all the hardware and software you need to make sure you’ll know just how to create, edit, mix and master audio for film and television. Our main studios feature Avid S6 consoles – a similar set up to those at our MediaCity neighbours, such as Dock10 and ITV.
MakerSpace - bring your designs to life using 3D scanners and printers, power tools and a range of art and craft materials.
Stop-frame studio – we have animation booths equipped with industry-standard lighting, grip, software and cameras and learn just what it takes to make your ideas and storyboards a reality.
Computer Suites and Editing Studios – our computer suites are equipped with the latest industry-standard software. You’ll learn from our experienced demonstrators, who’ll teach you the skills needed to turn your concepts into a reality.
Equipment stores - cameras, lighting kits and mics – they’re all essential to media production. But don’t worry, you won’t need to spend thousands of pounds to get the set-up you need – we have a fully equipped equipment store available for you to use and take out industry-standard kit.
Explore our Creative Digital Media and Gaming facilities at the University of Salford.
MEET THE MEDIACITYUK TEACHING STAFF
Are you looking to learn more about the background of our tutors and demonstrators, or put a face to a name?
Find out who'll work with you throughout your academic journey at the University of Salford.
Explore the Creative Digital Media and Gaming faculty at the University of Salford
What about after uni?
Students will receive direct induction into a vibrant and growing industry. As this list of the top e-commerce companies in the North demonstrates, the industry is particularly strong in this region - https://www.prolificnorth.co.uk/news/top-50s/2018/07/prolific-north-top-100-ecommerce-companies-north-2018
There is strong, double digit growth in this market at the moment, much of it at the expense of linear TV advertising, which declined in 2018 by over 10%. E-commerce as a whole is a $2.3 trillion industry this year, enjoying double digit growth. Students will gain valuable overview and insight into the field.
Already in Manchester there are hundreds of jobs in the field of e-commerce-driven content, since Manchester is a strong hub for e-commerce as a whole. Channel 4 have stated that they are creating their Digital Production Unit in Leeds, with a thrust towards social and digital content. The Hut Group are creating an e-commerce content production centre in Manchester. BBC Sport and BBC iPlayer are both on site at MediaCity.
Career Links
This course is designed to put students into direct contact with companies that are pioneering this new form of video output. That can include the traditional media employers – BBC, Channel 4 – as they pivot to new forms of output. It can also be new fast-growth digital players like The Hut Group, BooHoo.com and other fast-fashion companies, major charities, and major commercial companies like AO.com.
The course will strive to put students into the contemporary forefront of the field, both regionally in the North West, and globally.
What you need to know
This course is for committed video or marketing practitioners who wish to develop their personal practice to a higher, professional level. Whilst it focuses on delivering a core skillset, equally it actively encourages the pursuit of individual agendas for study and for personal choice of marketing projects to study and shoot. All students joining this course need to demonstrate a commitment to an ongoing career as a practicing digital marketeer and/or video producer.
Applicants will be invited to interview, and you will need to demonstrate evidence of engagement with and/or work in the digital video production, advertising, TV or digital marketing spheres.
Standard entry requirements
Standard entry requirements
A relevant undergraduate degree, normally at 2:1 or above, and supporting portfolio of practice.
Applicants with an undergraduate degree of 2:2 will be considered where a high quality portfolio of practice is presented.
International students
If you are an international student and not from a majority English speaking country, you will need IELTS 6.5 with no element below 5.5. We accept qualifications from all around the world. Find your country to see a full list of entry requirements.
We also accept a range of other English language qualifications. If you do not have the English language requirements, you could take our Pre-Sessional English course.
Alternative entry requirements
Accreditation of Prior Learning (APL)
We welcome applications from students who may not have formal/traditional entry criteria but who have relevant experience or the ability to pursue the course successfully.
The Accreditation of Prior Learning (APL) process could help you to make your work and life experience count. The APL process can be used for entry onto courses or to give you exemptions from parts of your course.
Two forms of APL may be used for entry: the Accreditation of Prior Certificated Learning (APCL) or the Accreditation of Prior Experiential Learning (APEL).
How much?
| Type of study | Year | Fees |
|---|---|---|
| Full-time home | 2022/23 | £8,280per year |
| Full-time international | 2022/23 | £15,345per year |
| Full-time home | 2023/24 | £8,550per year |
| Full-time international | 2023/24 | £15750per year |
Additional costs
You should also consider further costs which may include books, stationery, printing, binding and general subsistence on trips and visits.
Scholarships for international students
We have a range of attractive scholarships for international students. This includes:
Global Gold Excellence Scholarship - automatic discount of £3,500 for eligible students with a first-class degree.
Global Silver Excellence Scholarship - automatic discount of £3,000 for eligible students with at least a lower second-class degree (2:2).