Creative Media Practice - Level 3 National Extended Diploma

Essentials

Duration: 2 Years Full-time
Start date: 2nd September 2024
End date: 5th June 2026
Information Event: Yes

Course fee: FREE (Eligibility criteria may apply)

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The creative industries in N Ireland are emerging as one of the fastest growing and increasingly important sectors of our economy.  This Level 3 BTEC Extended Diploma in Creative Media Practice is an established and award winning course that will allow you to progress to a career in the media industries, in one of the following specialist areas:

• Digital Video Production
• Digital Graphic Design
• Broadcast Journalism
• Content Production for Digital Radio
• Web Design and Development

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Course Content

Students will learn:

• Digital Photography Skills, including setting up and configuring DSLR camera equipment
• Digital Video Production using industry standard hardware and software
• Digital Graphic Design following the latest design trends
• Production for Digital Radio which includes making stingers, idents, adverts and jingles
• Web Design and Development using HTML, CSS and JS
• Factual Programme Production (Documentary film making)

​If you are accepted onto this course without a Grade C or above in Maths and/or English you will be required to complete the relevant Essential Skills qualification. This will be a compulsory part of your timetable.

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Course Aims

This course is delivered by industry professionals and qualified teacher/lecturers with their finger on the pulse of innovative and current trends. This course is well resourced, with students having access to industry standard hardware such as Canon DSLR’s, Camera lenses, lighting equipment, PC’s and a dedicated Apple iMac lab, all utilising the latest Adobe Creative Cloud software package.

Students will learn the technical and creative skills required to work within the digital media industry. Students create a strong portfolio over the two years of study that showcases their skillset which will prepare them for higher education or employment. Our students become skilled in hardware & software through working on group projects that simulate real world projects.

The course is perfect for anyone who has a passion for digital media and using technology for creative purposes. Examples of software used: Adobe Photoshop, After Effects, Premiere Pro, Audition, Illustrator and In-design, XD and Sketch. This is an exciting, highly creative course with many success stories, including Royal Television Society and Colleges NI BEST awards.

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Special Features

As well as studying the exciting range of topics that makes up the course content, you will also get the opportunity to work on a range of live projects. In the past, we have produced promotional videos for clients including Northern Trust, Rotary International as well as promotional material for our college. You will also work on exciting cross-curricular projects designing and promoting brands following industry standard practices. This will include web and graphic design, bespoke to each art & design client and working on community projects to design and create website content using photography and graphics solutions, just like the professionals do.

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Course Update

Please note from September 2025, all Ballymena courses are planned to move to the new Ballymena campus at Farm Lodge.

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Applicants should have at least 4 GCSE's at Grade C or above or other relevant qualifications.

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Former students have gone on to work for BBC Radio Ulster, Sixteen South Animation, and a variety of independent production companies. Our students have progressed to one of the UK’s TV training colleges, Ravensbourne, London as well as Media City, Salford. Other students progress into related areas like film-making, journalism, marketing, PR, publishing and multimedia.

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