Creative Media, Production and Technology Level 3

Develop your creative voice while learning how ideas move from initial research and planning through to production, editing and presentation.

Over two years, you will work on increasingly ambitious media projects that challenge you to experiment with different approaches, solve creative problems and make confident decisions about your own work.

You will explore:

• Creative idea development
• Research and responding to creative briefs
• Media production techniques
• Capturing and editing media content
• Planning creative projects and productions
• Production workflows
• Creative problem solving
• Developing technical skills
• Presenting work to different audiences
• Reviewing and evaluating your own work
• Managing creative projects and deadlines
• Building a professional creative portfolio

During the early stages of the programme, you will explore a range of creative and technical approaches while developing your core production skills. As your experience grows, you will have greater freedom to identify your strengths, develop areas of particular interest and produce more substantial independent work.

Projects will give you opportunities to understand the complete creative process, from researching an idea and developing a concept through to production, post-production, presentation and evaluation.

Across the two years, you will take increasing responsibility for your own creative direction, organisation and decision making. You will learn how to explain and defend your creative choices, respond constructively to feedback and present finished work professionally.

Alongside your creative and technical skills, you will develop wider abilities such as communication, teamwork, organisation, problem solving, time management and independent learning.

You will normally need:

• Five GCSEs at grade 4 or above, including English and Maths
• Or an appropriate Level 2 vocational qualification, together with equivalent English and Maths qualifications

If you have not yet achieved grade 4 in GCSE English and/or Maths, you will continue to study these alongside your main programme.

You will get the most from this programme if you:

• Have a genuine interest in media and the creative industries
• Enjoy developing and experimenting with original ideas
• Have some basic experience of capturing or editing media content
• Are willing to learn new creative and technical techniques
• Can communicate your ideas to other people
• Are prepared to research and develop ideas before creating your final work
• Can organise your time and manage deadlines
• Are willing to work independently as well as collaboratively
• Can listen to feedback and use it to improve your work
• Want to develop a strong professional creative portfolio

You do not need to arrive as an expert in production software or equipment. Curiosity, creativity and a willingness to experiment and develop your skills are particularly important.

UAL Level 3 Extended Diploma in Creative Media Production and Technology

After completing the Extended Diploma, you can progress into higher education, an apprenticeship, specialist training, employment or freelance work within the creative industries.

Possible higher education routes include:

• Media production
• Film and television production
• Digital media
• Photography
• Animation
• Post-production
• Sound or audio production
• Graphic and digital design
• Advertising and communications
• Other creative degree programmes

You could also progress into:

• A creative or digital apprenticeship
• A media production apprenticeship
• Film and television production
• Video production
• Digital content creation
• Editing and post-production
• Social media and digital marketing
• Creative production roles
• Freelance creative work

Your portfolio will be an important part of your progression and can help you identify which area of the creative industries suits you best.

For example:

• If you enjoy filming and editing, you could explore film, television or video production
• If you are particularly interested in visual communication, you could move towards graphic or digital design
• If you enjoy creating content for audiences, you could explore social media, advertising, marketing or communications
• If you enjoy the technical side of production, you could specialise further in editing, post-production, sound or other production roles

The breadth of the programme allows you to explore different areas before developing a stronger specialism as your skills and interests become clearer.

Assessment is entirely coursework-based and focuses on the creative projects you complete throughout the programme.

Assessment may include:

• Practical media projects
• Project-based assignments
• Written tasks
• Observations
• Short tests
• Research and planning
• Evaluation of your creative work
• Presentations of your ideas and outcomes

Projects are designed to reflect the way creative work develops in the media industry, from researching and planning an idea through to production, refinement and evaluation.

As you progress through the programme, projects will give you increasing opportunities to work independently, develop your own creative direction and demonstrate the skills you have built across the two years.

Your tutors will provide feedback throughout your projects to help you strengthen your ideas, improve your technical skills and take greater ownership of your creative development.

English and Maths, where studied alongside your programme, are assessed separately and may include exams.

Independent work is an important part of this programme because creative projects often continue beyond your timetabled sessions.

You may need to:

• Research ideas and creative influences
• Develop concepts for projects
• Plan productions
• Prepare for recordings or practical sessions
• Edit and refine media content
• Complete written and reflective work
• Organise project files and evidence
• Develop your portfolio
• Respond to tutor feedback

At Level 3, you will be expected to manage your time effectively and take increasing responsibility for moving your projects forward between sessions.

As you progress through the two years, you will be expected to work with greater independence and manage increasingly substantial creative projects.

As part of your wider study programme, you will have opportunities to take part in work experience and activities that help you understand how the creative media industry operates.

Depending on the opportunities available during your programme, you may:

• Work on projects inspired by real creative briefs
• Meet media and creative professionals
• Hear from guest speakers about different careers
• Take part in employer-led projects or activities
• Develop content for realistic audiences
• Explore different roles within media production
• Gain work experience with a suitable creative organisation

These experiences will help you connect your creative and technical skills with professional practice while building the portfolio, confidence and workplace behaviours needed for higher education, an apprenticeship or employment.

• All full-time students are asked to contribute £15 towards the College Subscription Fund
• Optional trips, exhibitions, screenings, visits or other creative activities may have additional travel or entry costs, and you will be given information in advance
• You may choose to purchase additional storage, equipment or creative resources to support your own projects, although details of anything essential will be provided before enrolment