Video Shoot and Sound
Undergraduate
HND
Creative and Digital Media
Salford School of Arts, Media and Creative Technology
Attendance
Full-time
Part-time
Course
Two year
Four year
Next enrolment
September 2023
In a nutshell
This two-year course trains you to become a digital media creative whilst also developing the required skills for delivering and distributing video content across platforms including business, government and the charity sector.
This course focuses on mastering the software and hardware you need in order to be an indispensable team member in this fast-growing field as well as developing your creative abilities and understanding.
The course will teach you how to create digital media content for broadcast media (e.g. BBC, ITV, Channel 4) and how to create and technically deliver content for streaming platforms – e.g Netflix and YouTube.
This programme is subject to approval.
You will:
- Learn how to produce content, create stories and put ideas together to develop digital and creative content
- Edit video, using industry standard software
- Develop immersive content
- Learn the skills necessary to develop a small business and run your affairs as a freelancer
All about the course
This course has been designed by media industry content developers and producers. Modules that make up the programme have been developed as new learning experiences bespoke to the course, which will give you a concentrated two-year experience to prepare you for employment or top-up study.
The structure below reflects a two year route. Modules may include:
Year one
In this module you will learn how to create a video including how to use a camera, how to light a scene, how to focus and how to record sound to a professional standard.
Mobile, Media and Marketing
This module covers:
- Contemporary marketing in a mobile-first world:
- Anticipating, understanding and fulfilling customer needs and desires
- Creating and curating social media content to engage audiences
Video Editing
In this module you will learn how to edit the video you have shot so that it becomes a finished, polished and professional product that you could distribute on social media. You will develop digital edit skills with a focus on short form editing via traditional and contemporary editing and post-production processes.
Video Creation and Edit for Social and Digital Media
This module brings the creating and editing skills you have been learning together, and gives you the opportunity to practise a complete shoot and edit to a professional standard.
Extended Reality for Entertainment and Immersive Storytelling
This module introduces you to the use of virtual and augmented reality tools from a producer’s perspective, rather than a coding perspective.
Client Communications
This module will show you how to communicate with and nurture relationships with clients. This will include how to understand, articulate and interpret live briefs and projects and progress to delivering appropriately constructed and designed content to a deadline.
Year two
New Software and Technologies
This module will offer you a useful introduction to advertising technologies and social listening tools (such as Hootsuite) for social impact tracking, plus the basics of digital marketing analytics and ad buying through tools such as Facebook Ads Manager.
End-to-End Content Creation
On this module you will have the chance to take the creation of an advertising video through its entire journey. This brings together for you all the skills you have so far acquired in video conception and creation, from analysing the market and the audience, to creating and delivering the right video to the client, to distributing it
Planning and Pre-production
This module covers the basics of what you will need to do, as industry professionals, before a shoot in order to make sure it is properly put together. This covers topics from insurance, cast management and risk assessment to health, safety and budgeting.
Professional Development
This module will develop your organisational, entrepreneurial, networking and presentation skills. You will develop team working and leadership knowledge and understanding to allow you to position yourself positively in the external global marketplace.
Final Major Project
This module takes you right out into the real world of production. It provides you with the opportunity to showcase your creative and digital media skills through engagement with, and delivery of, a live industry brief.
Please note that it may not be possible to deliver the full list of options every year as this will depend on factors such as how many students choose a particular option. Exact modules may also vary in order to keep content current. When accepting your offer of a place to study on this programme, you should be aware that not all optional modules will be running each year. Your tutor will be able to advise you as to the available options on or before the start of the programme. Whilst the University tries to ensure that you are able to undertake your preferred options, it cannot guarantee this.
Be part of a creative, supportive community
This HND in Creative and Digital Media course is delivered by the Salford School of Arts, Media, and Creative Technology. Our focus is to ensure that you have the skills you need to pursue your dreams, and we encourage our students, past and present, to collaborate with each other and achieve great things.
Whatever you choose to study with us, you’ll be mentored and supported by experts. And once you graduate, it won’t end there, you’ll join a thriving alumni network across Greater Manchester and beyond,
MEDIACITY FACILITIES
Our MediaCity facilities are industry-standard, so much so that they are used by our industry partners themselves.
These are some of the facilities used to support teaching and learning in our Creative Technology and Broadcast Media programme areas:
TV studios - our TV studios have been used by the BBC for a variety of broadcasts, such as the Olympics and Christmas music concerts, and they’re equipped with the same audio-visual systems used by ITV and Sky too.
The studios have green screen facilities as well as basic props so you can design and build sets for a range of projects.
Green screen facilities - these allow you to create effects such as those you see on weather reports and incorporate a camera system and 3D graphics software.
Audio production - we’ve got all the hardware and software you need to make sure you’ll know just how to create, edit, mix and master audio for film and television. Our main studios feature Avid S6 consoles – a similar set-up to those at our MediaCity neighbours, such as Dock10 and ITV.
Fabrication lab - in this space you can produce physical prototypes using a variety of cutting-edge technology (3D printers, laser cutting, etc)
Digital Lab - this lab is equipped with the latest technology for motion capture and the development of immersive digital experiences.
Stop-frame studio – we have animation booths equipped with industry-standard lighting, grip, software and cameras and learn just what it takes to make your ideas and storyboards a reality.
Computer Suites and Editing Studios – our computer suites are equipped with the latest industry-standard software. You’ll learn from our experienced demonstrators, who’ll teach you the skills needed to turn your concepts into a reality.
Equipment stores - cameras, lighting kits and mics – they’re all essential to media production. But don’t worry, you won’t need to spend thousands of pounds to get the set-up you need – we have a fully equipped equipment store available for you to use and take out industry-standard kit.
What about after uni?
Graduates can go straight into industry, working for a wide range of employers in various roles.
A typical employer might be Channel 4, or one of the production companies that produce content for that channel. Alternatively, you might work for the marketing department of an e-commerce company, or for a sports team, or public sector body. You might also consider a role within the hundreds of advertising, marketing, and production agencies which serve the industry.
In the North there is a substantial and growing market which includes media companies such as the BBC, ITV, Channel 4, and Lime Pictures, as well as online companies like Rental Cars, The Hut Group, AO.com, Money Supermarket, Beauty Bay, AutoTrader, Missguided, BooHoo, and other organisations including Manchester United, Liverpool FC and Manchester City.
Graduates of the programme could also find roles in government, large organisations including the police, or major charities, who are all strongly represented in the region.
Career Links
We have industry links with a range of media organisations, including Channel 4, ITV, BBC Sport and The Hut Group.
What you need to know
As an applicant for this course, you will:
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be an enthusiast for digital media content, and curious about how it is created, measured and used to bring about success for broadcasters, production companies, sports teams, government and charities.
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know who the major broadcasters are and what their video-on-demand sites (like iPlayer and ITV Player) do.
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have a good working knowledge of social media platforms like YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, TikTok and any other social platforms people are using. You might also know something about big ecommerce sites like Amazon, MyProtein and PrettyLittleThing.
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possibly have experimented with making videos or podcasts already and seen the potential of them.
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be aware of TV shows and podcasts and already have a set of favourites you could discuss – thinking about what makes them good, which target audience they are focusing on, and what challenges might have been involved in producing them.
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be curious to know about how to shoot and edit video, how to look at social media analytics, how to work out which channel to use, and how to create content that resonates with very different target audiences.
Sgn-up to an Open Day or attend a campus tour. Our supportive course enquiries team can help you with any general questions you may have. You can also explore all of our Creative Digital Media and Gaming, and our Film TV and Radio courses.
Standard entry requirements
GCSE
English Language at grade C/level 4 or above (or equivalent) is required. Maths at grade C/4 or above (or equivalent) is preferred but not essential.
You must fulfil our GCSE entry requirements as well as one of the requirements listed below
UCAS tariff points
72 points
A Level
72 points
BTEC Extended Diploma
MMP
Scottish Highers
72 points
Irish Leaving Certificate
72 points
For International students
English language requirements
If you are an international student and not from a majority English speaking country, you will need IELTS 6.0 with no element below 5.5. We accept qualifications from all around the world. Find your country to see a full list of entry requirements.
We also accept a range of other English language qualifications
Alternative entry requirements
Salford Alternative Entry Scheme (SAES)
We welcome applications from students who may not meet the stated entry criteria but who can demonstrate their ability to pursue the course successfully. Once we have received your application we will assess it and recommend it for SAES if you are an eligible candidate.
There are two different routes through the Salford Alternative Entry Scheme and applicants will be directed to the one appropriate for their course. Assessment will either be through a review of prior learning or through a formal test.
How much?
| Type of study | Year | Fees |
|---|---|---|
| Full-time home | 2023/24 | £8,250per year |
| Full-time international | 2023/24 | £15,120per year |
Additional costs
You should also consider further costs which may include books, stationery, printing, binding and general subsistence on trips and visits.