Study at PSC

This practical media course provides an excellent foundation for a wide variety of careers in the creative media sector. You will focus on moving image and audio production, and you will develop technical skills in cinematography, sound, and editing. You'll oversee industry-style projects from research to post-production stages, providing you with a solid preparation for higher education, apprenticeships or employment.

The Digital Media vocational qualification leads to a Diploma equivalent to two A levels and is ideal for those seeking a creative, practical course and an exciting career in the media industry. Designed in collaboration with experts spanning the breadth of the creative media sector, the Cambridge Technical Diploma focuses on the skills, knowledge and understanding that today's universities and employers demand. You will manage industry style practical projects from proposal to post production stages (in music video, short film, TV, digital marketing and radio), building a substantial portfolio across a range of media forms, applying cinematography, sound and editing techniques that you will learn through our extensive training programme.  Other skills that you will develop include working in a team, communication, adaptability and evaluation. You will gain knowledge of the theoretical principles that underpin practical work through the study of social media and globalisation, pre-production processes and learn about media products, industry and audiences. You will be assessed on this knowledge through external exams.

• Year 1:
  Unit 1: (External exam) Media products and audiences
• Unit 2: (External exam) Pre-production and planning
• Unit 3: TV production
• Unit 20: Advertising/marketing production

Year 2:

• Unit 5-16-18: Short film production (sound and cinematography)
• Unit 6: (External exam) Social media and globalisation
• Unit 14: Radio production

The units are completed with a combination of study approaches including classroom teaching, research projects and practical (TV, film, music video, marketing, radio) work completed independently and in production groups. You will have extensive practical training in camera, audio and editing techniques and you will work on industry-style scenarios with the opportunity to put theory into practice.

You will be assessed through a combination of external examinations (3 units) and coursework (8 units).  The diploma offers the opportunity to re-sit the examinations if required.  Coursework portfolios will include research, analysis, pre-production, production work (film, TV, Music Video, Marketing, Radio) and evaluation.  The final outcome will be in the form of a double distinction*, distinction, merit or pass grades following the success in all the required units and will carry UCAS points.

You will finish the course with a professional digital show-reel designed to impress and potential employer in creative industries and/or gain you access onto a degree course at higher education or media related apprenticeship. Our students have achieved much success on degree courses such as Film and TV Production, Filmmaking, Creative Media and Marketing. Careers possibilities include TV, film production, advertising, PR, marketing, runners, assistant camera operator, assistant lighting person, freelance crew, promoters (festivals, music events), digital/social media marketing assistants. 

All students will be required to purchase their own SD card and an external hard drive is recommended for the purpose of storing practical work. All other specialist equipment and resources will be provided by the college and you will have free access to the Adobe suite in college and at home.

You will have the opportunity to find out from employers how the (technical and creative) skills and knowledge you will acquire will help you in the workplace.  During our Media and Film EXPO week you will attend talks by industry professionals and participate in masterclasses such as screenwriting, stop motion animation, movie makeup, running a production company, micro budget filmmaking and editing.  In addition, you will take part in our 48 hour filmmaking competition where you will collaboratively plan, storyboard, shoot and edit digital creative content in response to a buzzword. Subject to availability, there may also be an opportunity to undertake a work placement with an employer directly involved in the media sector.