MA Film and Television: Placement and Training module

Information for students and employers about the Placement and Training module available to MA Film and Research Production students.

MA Film and Television: Research and Production students on-site filming on the Shetland Islands with Dr Chris Nunn
Sumna holding a camera to take photos on the University of Birmingham campus
MA Film and Television: Research and Production student Swetank adjusting a camera for filming

Contact information

Contact: Jemma Penny, Placement Co-ordinator
Email: j.j.saunders@bham.ac.uk
Telephone: +44 (0)121 414 5987

Information for students

Module description

The Placement and Training module offers valuable work experience opportunities to MA Film and Television students. It also provides the support you need to identify your personal strengths and develop CVs, cover letters and applications for roles in the media industry - ensuring you are best prepared for life and employment after graduation.

Our dedicated Placement Co-ordinator will work with you to identify suitable placement opportunities. This could include placements with broadcast television and independent production companies, freelance filmmakers and media projects on campus and with external organisations.

We have long-established links with a range of companies, but students are also welcome to source their own placements if they wish, within certain parameters.

Placement assessment

Feedback from your placement host/s (50%)
2,500-word reflexive essay (50%)

Submission dates for the placement essay usually fall in the summer, often a month or so before the dissertation deadline.

Find out more about the MA

Student frequently asked questions

How long will my placement be?

Placements on the MA Film and Television: Research and Production are up to 10 weeks in length, with a standard four days per week. This is a maximum and most are shorter - often around 4-6 weeks.

Some students will split their placement time across two or even three companies, depending on personal interests and what individual placement hosts are able to offer.

We aim to keep things flexible and be as responsive to industry as possible.

Is there a minimum placement length?

No. We understand that some students have ongoing commitments alongside the MA so if you only want to do one shorter placement, that’s absolutely fine and we may also be able to suggest opportunities that will be part-time.

The Placement Co-ordinator will work with all students on a 1:1 basis to identify which companies may best suit you in terms of timescale, as well as probable experience.

When will my placement happen?

Our main placement window is January to June for full-time students. The timings are rarely set in stone, as many placements are dependent on commissions and a busy production slate, but this does vary between companies and part-time students can occasionally take placements in the summer of their first year or autumn of their second year.

The MA Film and Television: Research and Production coursework deadlines are designed to enable you to effectively balance your other work around placements.

Can I choose which company I want to go to?

To an extent. The Placement Co-ordinator will discuss your interests with you and will make suggestions as to which companies you are likely to be suited to. As far as possible your preferences are taken into consideration.

I’ve never written a CV or had an interview before – is there support available?

Yes. In the first term of the MA Film and Television: Research and Production, the Placement Co-ordinator will work closely with all students to offer bespoke guidance on CVs, especially as conventions are a little different for the creative industries.

There will also be MA-specific workshops around interviews and general employability skills. Additional support will be available on request from the Placement Co-ordinator, other department staff, and the University’s Careers Network.

Can I arrange my own placement?

We always encourage students to be proactive, but we do ask that you discuss any ideas you have with the Placement Co-ordinator if you plan to approach a company the MA does not already have a link with, as we want to ensure the experience is on a par with what we would expect for a placement organised through the MA.

In order for a placement to count towards the module, it’s essential that the Placement Co-ordinator can liaise with the company directly to secure the necessary documentation.

I’m not sure if I want to do a placement – is this a problem?

No problem at all. We also offer a ‘Media Industries’ module, which still allows students to undertake research into an area of the industry, with support from the MA convenor and Placement Co-ordinator, but without undertaking the work experience element.

The Media Industries assessment consists of a short film and a 4,000-word written essay.

Will my placement be paid?

As these placements are embedded in the programme of study and count towards an academic module, there is no legal requirement for them to be paid roles and therefore most do not offer any salary or renumeration. Many companies do offer travel expenses, however, and we expect that any work done outside the agreed placement time is paid.

Please note: All placements are subject to a successful interview with the hosting company, who will be sent your CV for consideration by the Placement Co-ordinator.

For employers

The Placement and Training module is a valuable opportunity for organisations to benefit from fresh talent and ideas.

We are always keen to expand and diversify our range of placement partners, particularly within Birmingham and the West Midlands region. If you are interested in hosting an MA Film and Television student placement, please contact Jemma Penny for further information (j.j.saunders@bham.ac.uk).

We would expect that most placement tasks will be those associated with runner and/or researcher roles. Placement students can also undertake production duties to support filming; post-production editing; pre-production tasks and research; writing and development; activities related to audiovisual exhibition and distribution, etc.

We work closely with placement providers to ensure that both student and provider have a mutually beneficial placement experience.

How long can we host a student for?

Placements can be up to 10 weeks in length, at four days per week – this allows the student one weekday (Mondays are preferred) on which they can attend supervision meetings and other workshops on campus. Please be aware that 40 days is a hard maximum.

Lots of students like to split their placement time between two or three companies, enabling them to diversify their experiences. Shorter placements (e.g. 2, 4, 6 or 8 weeks) are very welcome. The Placement Co-ordinator will always advise you of any existing commitments when sending CVs for consideration.

What time of year do placements happen?

Our main placement window is from mid-January to June, but we occasionally have part-time students who are able to undertake a placement later in the summer, or in the autumn of their second year. Full-time students cannot undertake placements in the autumn term or in July and August.

Do we get to choose which students work with us?

The Placement Co-ordinator will send you CVs for consideration, and cover letters if requested, from students who have expressed a keen interest in your organisation. We would then expect interviews to take place at your workplace and a decision to be made as to which student(s) you would like to work with and when.

There is never any obligation to host a student following interview. All we ask is for some constructive feedback that the Placement Co-ordinator can communicate to the student and a firm decision either way to be made within one week, including the dates of the placement.

Can we have more than one student at a time?

Yes, as long as there is sufficient resource to appropriately support more than one student in your organisation, this is not a problem.

What are our responsibilities as a placement hosts?

Placement hosts have a duty of care to placement students, as with any employees. All placement arrangements are underpinned by a formal letter and learning agreement. These are drawn up by the Placement Co-ordinator and cover matters pertaining to insurance, health and safety, intellectual property and the placement objectives.

A risk assessment is also completed and we ask that this is signed off. The placement is a tripartite arrangement between the company, the student and the University.

You will be asked to complete a short feedback form at the end of each placement.

Do we need to pay placement students?

As the placements are an accredited part of an academic course, scaffolded with training and feedback from the host (as well as preparatory workshops on campus), there is no legal obligation to provide payment, but this is at the host’s discretion.

Travel expenses are similarly at the host’s discretion. We would expect that a contribution be made, especially in cases where placements are located outside of Birmingham, and that all costs are covered if working on a location away from the usual base.

Should a student be asked to continue working at a company beyond the dates specified in their placement agreement letter, we respectfully ask that they are paid at a level appropriate to their role, and at least at national minimum wage.

What skills do your students have?

All students commence the MA with different levels of experience and from a broad range of undergraduate backgrounds.

In the autumn term, they receive training in the basics of cameras, lighting, sound and editing, alongside research and development. This gives them a solid foundation on which to build further skills in a workplace environment during the placement.

Wherever possible, the Placement Co-ordinator will aim to match students’ skills and interests to a company’s output and requirements.

Our organisation needs a film to be produced – can your students help?

Potentially, but this will depend very much on the nature and length of the film, and on the support and training available from you. Generally, placements are intended to integrate students into a workplace. We can sometimes support self-contained film projects as well, in lieu of a pre-agreed amount of placement time and subject to the usual paperwork being completed.

We have a filming brief template [PDF, 44 KB] that we ask is completed and returned by anyone with a request of this nature in the first instance, so please email the Placement Co-ordinator if this is of interest, and guidelines can also be provided on request.

We need a runner for a day/have vacancies – can you recommend anyone?

Quite possibly! As well as our current cohort, we also maintain links with alumni, particularly those still living and working locally, so we are always happy to share paid opportunities with our network. Please get in touch.