Bachelor of Science (Hons) in Physical Geography with Placement Year

at Manchester Metropolitan University United Kingdom

Manchester has been identified as one of the major games industry hubs outside of London* (*source: 'A Map of the UK', Nesta, 2020). As home to organisations such as Gameopolis, the city is a driving force for building and coordinating the future of the games industry.

With our MSc in Computer Games Development, you’ll gain the skills required for an exciting career within this growing industry, both here in Manchester and beyond. You’ll learn the core essentials of programming for games and you’ll conduct playtesting sessions and user research to ensure that your games are fun, impactful, and that they effectively reach their target audience.

You will also complete a masters project. While you’ll have plenty of support along the way, it’s a solo research project designed to develop confidence, autonomy and self-sufficiency – qualities that can take you far in the workplace.

By the time you complete your masters, you’ll not only have the technical knowledge, you’ll also have gained key employability skills such as team working, communication, project management and negotiation skills. With the mentorship of passionate games-focused staff at Manchester Met, you will be able to build a refined and diverse portfolio, to help you work towards securing a job in the games industry.

Delivered in collaboration with leading industry professionals, including our partners for this MA, Comma Press, this course will equip you with the knowledge and skills for a variety of careers in publishing.

You will explore the complex anatomies and eco-systems of the publishing industry and its markets in the UK and internationally, as well as the trends, innovations, opportunities and challenges facing this rapidly changing profession.

Through the duration of the course, you will gain a working knowledge of the business of publishing, examining the structures of a range of organisational models, from major corporate brands to small independent outfits; and you will develop an understanding of the different stages, roles and skills involved in the publishing process, and the different publishing formats and platforms available.

We’ve designed our MSc Medical Microbiology to enable you to develop an advanced theoretical understanding, together with the practical techniques you’ll need to apply those theories in a research or clinical context.

On this master's in medical microbiology, you’ll gain a well-rounded understanding learning about analytical approaches and human disorders. To further your knowledge, you’ll take an in-depth look at human infectious diseases, developing the skills to understand, control and manage those diseases.

You’ll also complete an independent research project, building professional-level research skills. This is your opportunity to explore the issues that fascinate you – making the most of our extensive links with hospitals across Greater Manchester to conduct research in clinically relevant areas in a real-world context.

By the time you graduate, you should be equipped with the analytical techniques and diagnostic approaches required for practice at a specialist level.

Our course is accredited by the Institute of Biomedical Science (IBMS) which means our teaching is of a high standard and provides wide-ranging, research-informed education to ensure you develop the practical skills and experience that employers’ value. Please note, that although this MSc is accredited by the IBMS it does not fulfil the requirements to gaining registration with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) and does not provide the opportunity to complete the IBMS Registration Training Portfolio.

Film and media studies focuses on the in-depth exploration of both cinematic and media forms, from the established to the new and emergent, from TV to games.

Taught by a large team with a diverse range of interests, you’ll have access to cutting-edge research expertise and excellent resources in a department as dedicated to supporting students as it is to inspiring them.

Film units introduce you to the history of cinema and its many forms and genres. This course will broaden your horizons from Anglo-American film to world cinemas, and develop your skills as a critical interpreter of the cinematic text. Media units explore the development of media industries, forms and criticism, but focus particularly on current and emerging platforms and industries. In your final year you can explore your interests in depth by completing an independent project on a topic of your own choice, working with academics who are experts in their fields.

The creative industries sector in Manchester offers a broad range of opportunities in professions linked to film and media. The city is an excellent place to study this subject and to begin gaining experience and building your networks. We’ll help you to be ready for the world beyond university by giving you the opportunity to engage with external partners, and you may have the chance to study abroad as part of your course, or to spend a year on a placement in industry in Britain or abroad.

Placement options

You will have the opportunity to undertake a placement for your third year of study, returning to Manchester Met for your fourth year. The Department of English works closely with a number of local schools and voluntary organisations that give students the opportunity to gain experience in a range of areas, including youth work, education, creative workshopping and video production.

Drawing upon our internationally recognised research expertise in economic, social, political and cultural geography, our human geography course has been designed to let you understand the causes and potential solutions to some of the biggest challenges the world faces today. We’ll introduce you to theories and approaches to understand the relationship between society and space and help you make sense of geographical processes.

From past events to future developments and from local changes to global trends, you’ll build up a wide-ranging understanding of how our society interacts with our environment.

Study human geography at Manchester Met and you’ll get to grips with qualitative research techniques, not only learning the theories but also putting them into action – both in the city of Manchester and overseas. With a range of units on offer, you can follow specialist pathways in environmental sustainability and Geographical Information Systems through to your final year. If you take the four-year route for this program, you can spend a year either working on a placement or studying overseas before returning for your final year.

Mastering the science of blood – exploring its characteristics and disorders, and understanding how it’s transfused – impacts far beyond the laboratory.

We’ve designed our MSc Haematology and Transfusion Science course to enable you to develop an advanced theoretical understanding and the practical techniques you’ll need to apply those theories in a research or clinical context.

You’ll start by developing a well-rounded understanding of biomedical topics, learning about analytical techniques and human disorders. You’ll then look at a range of specialist units – offering an in-depth look at everything from blood cells and diseases of the blood, to blood groups, transfusion methods and immunological aspects of blood. From there, you'll be ready to tackle the issues that fascinate you, with an independent masters research project.

Whether you study full-time for a year or part-time for up to three, our haematology and transfusion science masters can open doors for your future. From furthering your career in a hospital laboratory or working in a research facility, continuing your studies or moving into teaching or management, be ready for a career full of impact.

Our course is accredited by the Institute of Biomedical Science (IBMS) which means our teaching is of a high standard and provides wide-ranging, research-informed education to ensure you develop the practical skills and experience that employers’ value.

Embark on our creative writing degree and from the very start you’ll study and practise the art and craft of writing in a wide range of established and new forms, from prose fiction and poetry, to screenwriting and writing for computer games. You'll also focus on how writers read texts, how we can learn from them and how to add your own voice into the ongoing conversation of literature.

You’ll learn from award-winning, leading poets, novelists and scriptwriters at the renowned Manchester Writing School – writers who know what it takes to turn a flash of inspiration into brilliant words on the page. The course also has a strong emphasis on professional development, and in our practical 'Beyond the Page' units you’ll look at professional practice in the literary industry and working in the cultural industry in general. In our workshops, you’ll study the formal aspects of creative writing as well as putting your own skills into practice.

If you choose the placement route, you will be able to spend the third year of your studies on an industry placement. A placement is a key element of the course as it allows you to apply university-based knowledge, skills and understanding to the real world of work. It also gives you an advantage when you begin looking for your first job upon graduating. You may also have the opportunity to spend a year expanding your horizons, either studying with one of our partner universities overseas, or working on a placement within the industry.

In today’s digital world there are more ways than ever to reach out to consumers.

Finding creative solutions to advertising challenges is a sought-after skill. It’s not only about crafting attention-grabbing images and slogans. Your campaigns need to be grounded in advertising theory.

This course will ensure you have the strategic knowledge to support your creative thinking. And, with a range of options for placements and internships, you’ll be well on your way to an exciting career.

A perfect mix
You’ll explore every element of the advertising spectrum, from traditional print-based materials to digital media.

This course blends commercial, theoretical and creative units to give you the edge when you start work. Although it’s academically challenging, the practical nature of the course means you’ll be ready to create effective campaigns in various formats and media.

Learn about today’s advertising challenges and discover how to build brands. Specialise further with one of our option units to develop the skills you need for a career you’re passionate about.

Real-world skills
Your lecturers have experienced advertising experts, sharing real examples to bring the theory to life. With our enviable network, we bring in some of the industry’s leading figures as guest lecturers.

Test your new knowledge on units like the live client brief. Or, spend a year in industry to gain vital experience with real-life projects. Blend your creative skills with strategic awareness to create campaigns that get results.

Optional internship year

If you choose to take the optional internship year, you will do this once you successfully complete your taught units. Internships take place over 36-48 weeks – you will be supported by our Placement Office, who have extensive contacts with local employers and over 25 years of experience of helping students to find placements.

The Placement Office advertise a variety of opportunities, support and advise on the application and recruitment process and continue to support you whilst you are away from the University.

The MA in Graphic Design & Art Direction program is designed for creative practitioners who wish to advance their knowledge, skills and specialism within the field of visual communication.

Each student will develop a practice-led investigation within this broader context, actively constructing a bespoke body of design knowledge which combines theory, practice, research, entrepreneurship and innovation from a wide range of creative activities.

They will be taught to question and expand their creative thinking and generic design process by developing their analytical skills; engaging in critical dialogues; work independently, collaboratively and interdisciplinary; experimenting in a range of directions before delivering professional and innovative outcomes to defined audiences with confidence. All creative activities are supported by strategic thinking, robust methodologies and informed by practice-led research.

Technology is disrupting almost every area of business and the COVID-19 pandemic has only served to accelerate the change.  As technology has increasingly become part of every business, data has become the new oil and businesses are striving to make the most of it in order to gain a competitive and lasting advantage.

But technology does not just happen on its own; it needs professionals to design, implement and manage technology systems.

Our BSc (Hons) Business Technology degree gives you the skills needed in a modern business environment. You’ll learn to identify business challenges, find technological solutions, manage technology projects and services, and analyse business data. This is an area that’s constantly evolving, so we’ll give you the tools to adapt to new ideas and new ways of working.

Discover your talents
With a wide range of topics, and the choice of optional units in other areas, you can really explore your interests. Business analysis, big data, app development, e-commerce, project management – whatever you want to specialise in, you’ll have the chance to develop a strong knowledge base.

As well as vital business skills such as global strategy and technology management, you’ll also learn about some of the biggest technologies of today. Cloud computing with AWS, enterprise resource planning with SAP, programming languages, and databases all feature on the course.

Develop in areas that are in demand
Many organizations are struggling to make the most of digital technology. They know it can transform their business, but they don’t know-how. We designed this program so you have the potential to support and eventually lead them through the digital transformation process.

There is also opportunity to specialize in routes with more emphasis on technology development, data analytics, project management and social media marketing, all of which continue to be in high demand in organizations.