Film & Creative Media
The BA in Film and Creative Media (Level 7, 180 ECTS) combines traditional communication and media production skills such as photography and video production, project management and professional practice, with technical training in multimedia production, processes and design.
| Award Name | Degree - Ordinary Bachelor (Level 7 NFQ) |
|---|---|
| NFQ Classification | Major |
| Awarding Body | QQI |
| NFQ Level | Level 7 NFQ |
| Award Name | NFQ Classification | Awarding Body | NFQ Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| Degree - Ordinary Bachelor (Level 7 NFQ) | Major | QQI | Level 7 NFQ |
Duration
3 years
Specific Subjects or course requirements
5 O6/H7 to include English or another language.
Leaving Certificate General Entry Requirements
Selection of CAO applicants will be made on the basis of points. Your points will be calculated by adding together the points scored in the best of six subjects in a single sitting of the Leaving Certificate. The results of two sittings at Leaving Certificate (or equivalent examination) can be combined for the purposes of meeting the subject requirements for minimum entry. DBS currently awards bonus points for Honours maths students. Please note that bonus points will only apply where Mathematics is counted as one of the best six subjects for the applicant.
Leaving Certificate Vocational Progamme LCVP
Distinction 66
Merit 46
Pass 28
Points Calculation Grid
Applicants can use their link module for points allocation as one of their six subjects for the purpose of calculating points and it will therefore count as a passing subject.
QQI FET Applicants General Information
Minimum entry requirements for graduates of FETAC awards is a full FETAC award at Level 5 on the NFQ and which includes a Distinction grade in at least three modules. A full FETAC award normally consists of eight modules. A record of achievement/component certificate does not meet minimum entry standards. FETAC Level 5 awards will be accepted in any discipline. Further details can be obtained from the Admissions Office.
Careers / Further progression
Career Opportunities
Graduates of BA in Film and Creative Media will be able to work in supervised technical positions or acting as crew- members for a larger production. This programme is designed for content creators, artists and filmmakers or those who aspire to enter these roles. It will be of interest to employees in the creative industries and allied fields interested in moving to a content creator role.
In addition, many graduates can operate as freelance, project or portfolio- based workers. A range of employment opportunities is possible in areas such as:
• Film, TV, and Animation
• Independent Live Action Production
• Social Media content creation
• In-House (i.e., broadcaster) Production
• Animation
• Post-Production and VFX
• Distribution
• Cinema Exhibition
• TV Broadcasting, and
• Video on Demand
Graduates of this programme may also progress to the final year of the Level 8 programmes the BA in (Hons) Film & Creative Media.
Further information
Students who are applying to programmes as mature applicants will be required to be over the age of 23 as on 1st January in the year of entry. Mature students may apply through the CAO or directly to the college. They are not required to do both. Mature students are assessed on basis of age, educational standard and work experience to date.
All applicants presenting other qualifications should contact the Admissions Office directly to discuss their eligibility criteria.
Please note DBS is an independent college and therefore fees apply.
Entry 2024
Early online application (discounted): Fee €30 Closing Date: 20 January 2024 at 5pm
Normal online application: Fee €45 Closing Date: 1 February 2024 at 5pm
Late online application - restrictions apply (see page 3 2024 CAO Handbook): Fee: €60 Closing Date: 1 May 2024 at 5pm
Change of Mind - restrictions apply (see page 3 2024 CAO Handbook): Fee: Nil Closing Date: 1 July 2024 at 5pm
Exceptional online late application (see page 34 of the 2024 CAO Handbook): Fee €60 Closing Date: 22 July 2024 at 5pm
Be sure to complete any action well in advance of closing dates. You should avoid making an application close to a closing date. No extensions to closing dates will be allowed and all application fees are non-refundable.
LATE APPLICATIONS
Late Applications are those which are received after 5pm on 1 February 2024. The closing date for late applications is 5pm on 1 May 2024, subject to the restrictions listed on page 3 of the 2024 CAO Handbook. The online facility for late applications opens on the 5 March 2024 at 12:00 noon - a fee of €60 applies.
Exceptional Late Applications (Exception to the timetable)
The exceptional closing date of 22 July at 5pm applies only to applicants who are registered as an undergraduate student on 1 May 2024 in any year in any one of the participating HEIs (subject to the exclusions listed below). In order to avail of the Exceptional Late Application facility you must have entered the HEI through the CAO system. This is an exceptional late closing date and all steps must be completed by 5pm on 22 July. No changes may be made after this date.
If you did not enter your current course through the CAO system, you must first contact the Admissions Office of the HEI to which you wish to apply and they will inform you if you may submit an application direct to the institution.
Exclusions:
You may submit a late application only for entry to courses other than your existing course. If you wish to repeat the year in the same course you must arrange this within your HEI.
Mary Immaculate College Limerick, Marino Institute of Education, Trinity College Dublin, University of Limerick and Maynooth University have special procedures in place in the case of current or previous students who wish to apply for entry to another course in the same HEI. Such applicants must contact their Admissions Office to determine the application procedure. However, if you are a student in another HEI and you wish to apply to any of these five HEIs, you should apply through CAO.
Refer to page 34 of the 2024 CAO Handbook on how to make an Exceptional Late Application.
Restrictions
As a CAO applicant you may experience one or more of the following restrictions based on your course choices, your category of application, or restrictions imposed by the HEIs that you wish to apply to. Please read the section on 'Restrictions' on page 3 of the 2024 CAO Handbook carefully. This section includes information on:
General Restrictions
1. Making a late application
2. Making changes to your course choices
Restricted Courses
3. Applying for a restricted course
Mature Applicants
4. Mature applicants
Supplementary Admissions Routes
5. Applying for DARE and/or HEAR
Overview
What is Film & Creative Media?
Given the ever-increasing demand for creative content creation using film and creative media across all areas of enterprise, coupled with technological transformations there exists a growing demand for employees who have filmmaking, storytelling, audio, project management and production skills and competencies. This programme will prepare students for the challenges of our society and of our evolving technologies in the future of work while developing the work-ready skills. This programme is designed to appeal to students seeking to gain critical exposure to creative media and film practices as well as gain work experience and applied learning for a future career in the creative media sector.
Aims and Objectives
The BA in Film and Creative Media (Level 7, 180 ECTS) combines traditional communication and media production skills such as photography and video production, project management and professional practice, with technical training in multimedia production, processes and design. It’s a 3 year programme emphasising experimentation and creativity, teamwork and collaboration, design and innovation in developing student’s practical skills. Students will also be able to develop key transferable skills applicable to a broad range of artistic, commercial, industrial and public sector environments.
In addition, graduates will present Creative Portfolio which will be exhibited at the annual end of year DBS Arts Week Creative Showcase event providing students with an opportunity to network and connect with the industry.
Objectives:
• Help students relate communication technologies with narrative possibilities and a perspective on telling stories to defined audiences.
• Assist students to competently realise projects using audio and video software, camera equipment and storytelling devices that create meaning to a defined audience or client.
• Develop students’ knowledge of the theoretical and methodological skills necessary for producing a creative portfolio of work
• Provide students with an understanding of the processes underlying creativity and innovation.
• Place the students understandings of film and creative media within its cultural context
• Enable students to operate within creative workplaces cognisant of professional practices and industry codes of behaviour.
Programme Structure
Year 1 is the Fundamental stage. It provides the students with foundational knowledge and an understanding of general and basic film and media techniques, ideas and concepts. Year 2 is the Developmental stage. It will allow the students to gain more experience in visual and audio techniques.
Year 3 is the Competent stage. At the final year students will act more autonomously in using audio and visual techniques in the creation of a Creative Projects Portfolio.
Year 1 (Core Modules)
• Digital Film Production
• New Media Writing
• Multimedia Tools
• Investigating the Creative Media Industry
• Film, Cinema and Screen Today
• Creativity & Design in Practice
• Sound Production
• Storytelling in the Digital Age
Year 2 (Core Modules)
• Professional Practice: The Creative Workplace
• Audio Tech & Techniques
• Software 1: Professional Editing Platforms
• Principles: Light, Camera, Photography
• Writing for the Screen Media
• Media & Identity
• The Moving Image
Year 3 (Core Modules)
• Camerawork
• Audio for Podcasting, Performance & Radio
• Audio for Film & Screen
• Creative Projects
• Professional Practice: Project Management
• Scriptwriting and Development
• Software 2: Animation, Titles and Publishing
• Exploring Popular Culture
• Contemporary Film and Television
Teaching and Assessment The BA in Film and Creative Media provides a flexible, multimodal, active, peer-led, experiential and reflective learning environment for students. Modules will be delivered in a hybrid mode through a mix of guest lectures, workshops, study- tours, case studies, seminars, tutoring, laboratory/practical sessions, work- based learning, simulation activities, video role plays and much more. This will be facilitated by teaching styles and methods adopted and by placing greater emphasis on practically focused assessment.
The assessment methods will range from media artifacts, essays, blogs, reports, presentations, in-class tests to photo-essays. The assessment will be 100% continuous assessment.
T: +353 (0) 1 4177500
E: admissions@dbs.ie