Creative Media Practice - Level 3 National Extended Diploma

Essentials

Duration: 2 Years Full-time
Start date: 4th September 2023
End date: 6th June 2025
Information event: Y

Course fee: FREE (See eligibility criteria)

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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
• Digital Audio Production
• Animation and Motion Graphics

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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
• Digital Audio Production and Editing - you will learn to record and edit audio for podcasts, interviews, animations and moving image products
• Animation and Motion Graphics using industry standard software programmes eg Adobe After Effects
• 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.

Our Level 3 students are currently working alongside 'Keep Northern Ireland Beautiful' to produce print and digital video promotional material on the environmental issue of ‘packaging’. As well as taking part in an international competition, these students have the opportunity to take part in an exchange programme with a college in Malta.

Become an Adobe Certified Professional (ACP)

During your time at the college, you will also study towards the industry recognised Adobe Certified Accreditation. Adobe products; including Photoshop, Illustrator, After Effects, InDesign, Animate, Dreamweaver and Premiere Pro, are essential software applications used daily within the Creative Industry. Upon successful completion of the two-year programme at Northern Regional College, you can graduate with a BTEC Level 3 Extended Diploma in Creative Media Practice AND become an Adobe Certified Professional (ACP). This is a fantastic opportunity for everyone seeking progression to higher education or employment within this exciting and ever-developing industry.

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Applicants should have at least 4 GCSE's at Grade C or above or other relevant qualifications. In circumstances where there are more applications for the course than there are places available, the College reserves the right to ask for higher grades.

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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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