So why study digital media?

Dr Shaun Murray - External Examiner for Ba (Hons) Digital Media

• How do I apply?

  Undergraduate courses

  To apply to one of our undergraduate courses you will need to make an application through UCAS.

• What is the deadline for applying?

  The deadline for all UCAS undergraduate courses is 15 January in the year you wish to commence studying. In practice, we may be able to accept late applications if places are still available. It's best to check with the Admissions team first. If you wish to take a gap year and apply for a deferred place, you need to apply a year early. For example, applications for 2018 entry must be made by 15 January 2018.

   

  If you are a UK/EU applicant and places are still available, then we may be able to accept late applications until the course becomes full. However, we do recommend you submit your application before the deadline to maximise your chances of gaining a place.

• What happens next after I've applied?

  We will let you know as soon as we've begun to process your application, usually by email and with a letter to your correspondence address.  The UCAS cycle opens in October each year. We are normally in a position to start considering applications in November, for entry the following September.

• What UCAS codes will I need?

  Fda in Digital Media at Bodmin College is a franchised provision. You will be paying your tuition fees to directly Falmouth University.

   

  The UCAS institution code for Falmouth University is F33.

  Fda Digital Media Course code is T348

• What do you mean by a Level 3 qualification?

  Levels of academic study in England, Northern Ireland and Wales are officially recognised through the Qualifications and Credit Framework (QCF). The National Academic Recognition Information Centre (NARIC) helps to compare International qualifications against these recognised standards as established as part of the Bologna Process.

   

  Examples of UK qualifications and levels:

   

  Level 3: A Levels, Extended (National) Diploma, Scottish Highers, International Baccalaureate

• Do I need a Foundation Diploma to apply for Fda Digital Media?

  We accept applicants straight from A Level if your portfolio is strong enough.

• Can I change my application to deferred entry once I've applied?

  While we welcome deferred entry at the time of application, once an offer has been made we can only defer your entry in exceptional circumstances. Your request will need to be put in writing and supporting evidence sent to Admissions. Please contact the Admissions team as soon as possible if you find yourself in this situation.

• Can I nominate someone else to handle my application?

  We will not discuss your application with anyone apart from you unless you formally ask us to. If you'd like someone else to handle your application on your behalf, please send a letter to the Admissions office with the details of your nominated contact.

• Can I reapply to Bodmin if I've been unsuccessful?

  While you can't reapply to the same course in the same admissions cycle, we would welcome another application from you next year. It is possible to apply to a different course at Falmouth in the same admissions year, if there are places available.

• I am returning to study after a break from education. How do I apply?

  You need to apply in the same way as other applicants. Undergraduate applicants must apply through UCAS. See 'how do I apply?' above.

• Is there a minimum or maximum age requirement for applying?

  All applicants apply in the same way, regardless of their age. Undergraduate applicants must apply using UCAS.

   

  There is no upper or lower age limit for students entering higher education. However, the recognised entry requirements for Bodmin's courses are unlikely to be achieved by most candidates below the age of 17. If a student is under the age of 18 on joining Bodmin, we will send you a form of consent, which will need to be signed by you and your parent or guardian. In the case of emergencies, a member of Bodmin staff may need to act in loco parentis (in place of a parent) and this is a requirement of an offer being made to someone under 18.

• Do I need a portfolio to apply to Bodmin?

  Yes, we will require a portfolio of work and sketchbooks to support it. Viewing your work is the best way for us to understand your creative thinking and to assess whether you would be able to thrive on FdA Digital Media.

   

  While we expect that you will have been developing your work prior to applying, you are not expected to submit a portfolio with your initial application.

   

  We will send you clear instructions once you've submitted an application.

• What makes a strong portfolio?

  Your portfolio says a lot about you. Even though there are no set rules for a successful portfolio, and each course has its own specific requirements, we can make some broad recommendations. It's our intention that you use these as a general guide to help you decide what to include, and what not to include. Make sure your portfolio is:

   

  Organised - arrange your work and know the contents of your portfolio - make sure you can find things quickly in an interview

   

  Relevant and current - include pieces that are relevant to the course you're applying to and select recent work - we're most interested in the work you are doing now, not work you made years ago

   

  Unique - stand out - show how you experiment with materials, processes, colour and different ways of ‘seeing', show the variety and breadth of your work and your technical ability

   

  Selective - go for quality rather than quantity and select your most interesting pieces, even if they're not ‘finished' - choose work that you feel strongest about, not just the work your tutor likes, to demonstrate your passion to us

   

  Open - show us how you think - include sketchbooks and workbooks to reveal your thought-processes and your ability to experiment, problem-solve and develop concepts.

• Where is Bodmin College?

  We are located in Cornwall, in the south west of England. We are approximately 4 hours by train from London, one hour from Exeter and about 45 minutes from Plymouth.

• Can I make a visit?

  Yes, we recommend you do. We encourage all prospective applicants to see our facilities first-hand and to meet our staff. There are two ways to do this: book a place on an open day or book a personal tour.

   

  Our open days are

   

  To book a personal tour please contact Mark Talbot, Course Leader: tm@bodmincollege.co.uk.

• What financial support is available ?

  UK

  UK undergraduate students are eligible for a tuition fee loan as long as you haven't been to university before. Exactly how much you can borrow, in the form of a living fee loan, will depend on your household income. Contact Student Finance England to find out more.

   

  Applications for government loans and grants for students from England need to be submitted on-line to Student Finance England. If you normally live in Northern Ireland, Scotland or Wales, you will need to apply to your regional finance team for your loan or grant: Student Finance NI, Student Awards Agency for Scotland (SAAS), or Student Finance Wales.

   

  EU applicants

  Full-time EU students can apply for a tuition fee loan from Student Finance England but any living expenses will need to be funded though the authorities in your home country. If you have been resident in the UK for three years or more before the start date of your proposed course, for reasons other than education, you may be eligible for a maintenance loan or maintenance grant from Student Finance England. Contact the EU customer services team for further advice and an application form.

   

• What other support is there for our students?

  We can provide free, confidential advice with any problem, large or small. Our partnership with Falmouth University means that the Falmouth University student union (FXU)  can also provide impartial support for a wide range of welfare, financial or academic issues.

   

  It's our aim for you to have the best possible experience at Bodmin, to make the most of your course and fulfil your potential. For more information on any of our services, please contact us.

• I've already got qualifications. Do I still need to submit samples of work?

  Yes you will. This is a course that requires pre-interview work. We are most interested in your creative ability and this cannot always be evidenced by qualifications alone.

• What do you mean by a reference?

  A reference is also known as a letter of recommendation. We would generally expect your reference to be written by an academic tutor who can attest to your suitability for study and to your enthusiasm for your chosen subject. However, if you're not currently in education, an employer can also write a reference or letter of recommendation for you.

• What if I already hold an equivalent qualification to the one I want to apply to?

  If you are a UK/EU resident applying to a course which is at an equivalent or lower level to a qualification that you already hold, you will be considered as ‘ELQ status' by the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE). This may mean that you will not be eligible for government student finance and you will have to fund your studies privately.

   

  For example, if you were to apply for FDa (Hons) Digital Media and you already held a BSc in Computer Science, you would be considered ELQ because both courses are at an equivalent level. An applicant with a postgraduate MA applying for a undergraduate foundation degree would also be classed as ELQ for funding purposes.

• Will a disability affect my application?

  We are committed to ensure that, wherever practical, students with disabilities are able to study with us through the support and facilities available. You should declare your disability when you apply so we are able to correctly assess how we can support you through the application process and beyond, if you were to become a student here. Your academic ability will be assessed by academic staff and we will assess the support we can offer you.

• What will I be expected to pay for as part of my course?

  

• What do I need to bring with me to interview?

  • Your portfolio, paper, printed or digital
  • Project work
  • Sketch books, digital or paper
  • A piece of writing (a personal study, a media essay etc.)

   

  Your portfolio should:

  • Demonstrate your ability to investigate ideas
  • Use a range of media
  • Show investigations and experimentation in media
  • Be organised and well presented

   

  Viewing your work is the best way for us to understand your creative thinking and to assess whether you would be able to thrive on FdA Digital Media.

• What will happen at my interview?

  You'll be interviewed individually with your portfolios and sketchbooks, by two academic members of staff

   

  At your interview you'll have a tour where you'll have the chance to ask any questions. Please prepare questions to ask too.

   

  You will normally receive a response from your interview through UCAS within 5 days.

• What will happen at my Telephone/Skype interview?

  We use the same requirements, as best as possible, to our in person interviews, so please look at these points to help you prepare. In Addition we would like to see a digital portfolio of your work .

   

  As soon as possible before your interview please send a link to your online portfolio. It is important that you also have access to this online portfolio during the interview so that we can discuss your work together.

   

  Your portfolio should contain project work, evidence of preparatory work (photographs of sketchbooks) and a piece of writing (a personal study, a media essay etc) The piece of writing can be emailed separately.

   

• How can I prepare for my interview?

  We would like to understand why you might wish to Digital Media at Bodmin. We would like to be able to see that you have some of the fundamental skills that that underpin this subject, your ability to think creatively and your visual language through the use of both traditional and digital technologies.

   

  We want to hear from you as a person. How you are motivated. The activities and the interests you have.

  Your the experiences that have led you to wish to study this subject.

  •Your portfolio, paper, printed or digital

  •Project work

  •Sketch books, digital or paper

  •A piece of writing (a personal study, a media essay etc.)

  Your portfolio should:

  •Demonstrate your ability to investigate ideas

  •Use a range of media

  •Show investigations and experimentation in media

  •Be organised and well presented

• What are we looking for in a successful applicant?

  We will be looking for applicants who show:

   

  • Enthusiasm and commitment to Digital Media.
  • Good communication skills.
  • Analytical skills in relation to digital media arts and design.
  • Ability in some of the following areas Photography, digital image manipulation, video, web, graphic design, digital arts.
  • Creativity and innovation.
  • An aptitude for using digital creative technologies in your work.
  • We will look for understanding of digital technologies and their creative use. We will also look for abstract thinking but only if it is applicable to your recent work/study.
  • We'll also look at your qualifications, personal statement and reference on your application.

• What are the indicative weekly study hours?

  FdA Digital Media is a full-time course; typically, students should expect to spend 35 - 40 hours per week on a combination of taught and self-directed study."

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