Radio bursaries

The BBC's studios in Cardiff

The BBC's studios in Cardiff

22 June 2007

Friday 22 June, 2007
BBC bursaries offered to budding radio stars

BBC Wales is offering two bursaries to help meet the cost of tuition fees on a new MA Radio Production course at the UWA.

Interviews for the bursaries – one in Welsh and one in English - will be held in Cardiff on 18 July, and all students who have been accepted on the factual radio production course by the university will be invited to attend.

The two students awarded the BBC bursaries will also spend a week's work placement with either Radio Cymru or Radio Wales.

“This is a fantastic opportunity either for graduates or for people already working in the industry who want to develop skills in factual radio production, said Degree Scheme Co-ordinator Esther Prytherch, who worked for the BBC for 15 years before joining the university.

Launched in September 2006, Aberystwyth's MA in factual radio production is the only course of its kind in Wales and one of only a handful across the UK. It’s a professional practice course which aims to equip students with the skills needed to work in the radio industry in the 21st century.

The teaching team at Aberystwyth also includes Ceri Wyn Richards, a former Executive Producer and Editor of BBC Radio Cymru who is now the Managing Director of Torpedo Ltd – an independent radio and television production company based in Llantrisant near Cardiff.

“As an independent radio producer, I was aware of the lack of training provision in Wales,” said Ceri. “I had a vision for a university course offering occupational skills in factual radio production and worked with the University of Wales, Aberystwyth to turn that vision into reality. This course forges closer links between industry and academia, and the hope is that graduates leaving Aberystwyth will be well-equipped for the world of factual radio production.”

The MA is based at the university’s Department of Theatre, Film and Television Studies in the Parry-Williams building, which also houses one of the BBC’s regional studios.
 
For more information, contact Esther Prytherch by email esp@aber.ac.uk or by phone 01970 628464.