Creative Practice

Our Higher national diploma level 5 course addresses both the historical and contemporary context of creative practice within the photography, film making and graphic design specialisms. Further, this course prepares you for working in the industry either in a staff or freelance capacity. Tutors will guide you on how to become exceptional practitioners, by learning key technical skills, developing their own unique style, understanding key aspects of the industry and becoming confident and independent. We endeavour to ensure that our students are prepared for the realities of the contemporary creative industries workplace.

Taught by our highly experienced, industry expert tutors and lecturers, you will utilise the industry standard facilities we have at our Hillsborough Campus, which includes; Mac suites, Wacom tablets, large studios with state-of-the-art Prophoto equipment, TV studio, green screens, DSLR and Medium format stills cameras and Panasonic film cameras.

Our smaller cohorts ensure that you receive significant and essential one-to-one time with your tutors. This enables you to produce a high level of academic work, be creative and gain independence across this essential year of study. Alongside studio and classroom lectures, workshops, seminars and critique sessions, there will be opportunities for external workshops, industry visits, visiting lecturers and guest speakers from across the creative industries.

This Higher National Diploma further includes essential visits to galleries and industry each semester. Visits can include but are not limited to: Sheffield Galleries, Bradford Science & Media Museum, The Tate, Open Eye & Another Place in Liverpool, Media City, Manchester and The Photography Show, Birmingham NEC. Units that you will study (by pathway) include:

B1: Personal Professional Development (170 GLH – 45 credits)

B1.1 Develop and apply contextual knowledge to inform personal progression. B1.2 Develop and apply professional approaches to creative problem solving to support personal progression. B1.3 Develop and apply technical knowledge and skill to support personal progression. B1.4 Develop and apply professional knowledge, behaviours and practices to support personal progression. B1.5 Develop and apply professional communication skills to support personal progression.

B2: Professional Project (310 GLH – 75 credits)

B2.1 Apply contextual knowledge to inform a response to a professional brief. B2.2 Apply creative problem-solving skills in the development of ideas, proposals and final project outcomes. B2.3 Use technical knowledge and skills to produce professional outcomes. B2.4 Demonstrate professional knowledge, behaviours and project management skills. B2.5 Present project development and outcomes demonstrating professional communication skills

Entry requirements

Level 4 HNC (Or equivalent) qualification in either Photography, Film and Television or Graphic Design.