Visit Report from Anglia Ruskin University

I recently went to visit Anglia Ruskin University, which is my old stomping ground, to see what’s changed since I graduated from there several years ago.

I met with Dr. Sarah Barrow, Head of Department who talked to me about the exciting developments at the Cambridge Campus that will benefit prospective film and media students.
Anglia has numerous campus’ and centres in the Anglia region, the media courses are taught at the Cambridge campus which is currently undergoing a refurbishment programme to incorporate state-of-the-art facilities, this should be complete for the 2010-2011 academic year.

The new facilities will include a digital performance lab that media students will have access to.
Existing facilities available to the media students are as follows:
* Excellent access to camera and editing equipment.
* Around 50 edit suites with Final Cut Pro and DVD Studio Pro
* Two dedicated digital ICT suites with access to Quark Express, InDesign, Flash etc and dedicated technical support
* On-line booking for production equipment and edit suites
* Instant access to expert technical advice
* An impressive selection of cameras including HD Panasonic 41 cameras, JVC Pro HD camera and a range of additional equipment including 6 portable lighting rigs, a range of dolly’s and tripods.
* A dedicated screening room with DVD, video and 16mm projection facilities
* Dedicated radio suite
* TV studio
* Dedicated screening facilities in the library
* Full range of DVDs, videos and media and film books

The choice of courses at Anglia include BA(Hons) Media Studies, BA (Hons) Film Studies and BA (Hons) Communication Studies. The key difference between media and communication studies is that media studies is focussed on the media and using the media whereas communication studies is about all communicative practices, it doesn’t have to apply to media but to everyday practices.

All of these courses work on a modular system and each module carries a certain amount of credits. You need to build up 60 credits per semester to total 120 credits per year. Every year there is at lease one compulsory module and then you can choose the rest from a selection, this is a great system which gives you the freedom to specialise in either theory or practice.

Anglia don’t usually require you to go for an interview so you don’t need to worry about preparing a portfolio in advance but they do think portfolios are important, so much so that there is time set aside for every student to begin to build up a portfolio of their work which showcases their skills. These portfolios are very useful interview tools for the graduates of Anglia Ruskin.

The department also has a module called ‘Working in Communication’, which gives students the opportunity to find work experience in the industry and make good industry links. Anglia students regularly work with organisations such as the BBC, the Fitzwilliam Museum and have helped to organise events such as the Cambridge Film Festival and the Strawberry Fair Film Festival.

Every Anglia Ruskin Student has a personal tutor and access to the full range of support available to them within the university, this includes: careers advice, finance support and advice, counselling, help with accommodation, access to a student adviser, help with essays etc.
There is an amazing choice of modules across the three years from ‘Media and Society’ in year one to ‘Technoculture’ in year three. A 15 credit module will usually add up to 2 hours contact time and a 30 credit module has 3 hours contact time. Modules usually consist of a lecture followed by a smaller seminar resulting in a range of activities to complete; these can include essays, reports, portfolios, presentations and major projects.

This department is staffed with very experienced lecturers who are experts in their field and fully qualified technical people who are also on hand to help. It is an extremely supportive and creative environment.

Follow this link to find out more information about the courses on offer and upcoming Open Days.
http://www.anglia.ac.uk/ruskin/en/home/prospectus/ugft/p300.html