Creative Digital Media Production Higher National Diploma (HND)

Course overview

Our HND in Digital Creative Media Production has been developed in collaboration with employers in an ambition to meet the needs of the growing demands of the industry, a Higher Technical Qualification provides the opportunity to gain the proper training, knowledge, and skills to be successful in the workplace. Studying for the HND in Digital Creative Media at Barnsley College, you will access state-of-the-art facilities that align with the industry. Complete with specialist facilities, high tech specifications and modern settings, you will study a broad range of computing topics that prepare you for your next steps. 

This course builds on the units you studied in the Level 4 Higher National Certificate. By progressing onto or joining us on the Level 5 Higher National Diploma, it allows you to specialise by committing to specific career paths and progression routes directed towards degree level study. 

Using Canon branded filming equipment and Rhode digital audio recording equipment we have the full set up for filming on the go and can be ready for different environments of filming. Portable lighting equipment, photography and TV studies along side audio recording studios and creative spaces. Running the latest Adobe Creative Cloud software for all editing needs in film and audio.

For games, we have both Unity and Unreal engine on a range of different level machines designed specifically for level design, modelling and games testing and creation. High refresh rate monitors and gaming industry peripherals to complete the set when designing your work.

Course content

At Barnsley College, you have the opportunity to specialise in the Film or Games Development pathway, both of which have been aligned to the industry standards: 

 Common units 

• Unit 36 – Collaborative Project
  • Set by Pearson this is a group based project within your chosen pathway of either games or film, you will create a product in your area for this unit as a team.
• Unit 37 – Personal Professional Practice
  • This unit involves researching and presenting your findings on the creative media industry focusing on professional job roles within a chosen pathway.

 Film Pathway 

• Unit 50 – Sound for Media (Both Film and Games)
  • You will study sound design and structure within your chosen pathway and learn how to apply post editing techniques within in sound to enhance your products and complete a project.
• Unit 56 – Documentary (Film Pathway)
  • You will be tasked with an area of current real-world scenarios to choose from and address as a short running investigate documentary covering those issues and global challenges.
• Unit 67 – Script and Screen Writing (Films Pathway)
  • Combining planning and ideas from other units within the course you will develop and create an industry standard script with all evidence of planning structure and formatting, using industry relative software and script writing applications.
• Unit 68 – Narrative (Both Film and Games)
  • Prepare a structure and story design for your chosen pathway you will develop characters, backgrounds, environments and story structures applying different theories from within media to justify your story’s structure and design.
• Unit 83 – Advance Film Practice
  • Taking your knowledge from the previous unit at level 4 you will further advance your skills by creating a short film in this unit submitting a portfolio of evidence upon completion of the unit.

 Games Pathway 

• Unit 44 – Advance Game Development Studies (Games Pathway)
  • Taking your knowledge from the previous unit at level 4 you will further advance your skills in games development by creating a project based around an idea within games and presenting and pitching your proposal, development stages of the project and product and evaluation.
• Unit 50 – Sound for Media (Both Film and Games)
  • You will study sound design and structure within your chosen pathway and learn how to apply post editing techniques within in sound to enhance your products and complete a project.
• Unit 61 – Advanced 3D (Games Pathway)
  • Taking your knowledge from the previous unit at level 4 you will further advance your skills using software such as MAYA, Blender and 3Dsmax you will create a new portfolio of work in 3D designs and models.
• Unit 68 – Narrative (Both Film and Games)
  • Prepare a structure and story design for your chosen pathway you will develop characters, backgrounds, environments and story structures applying different theories from within media to justify your story’s structure and design.
• Unit 75 – Environment and Level Design (Games Pathway)
  • Continuing your development of 3D and games design you will apply new skills to create challenging and defined level structure within games, from concept to planning and design and peer games testing and reports.