BA (Hons) Digital Content Creation

• 96 UCAS points. We accept a full range of qualifications that carry UCAS points, including A-levels, BTECs and T levels. Please see our guide to the UCAS Tariff for examples of how to achieve these points. For most courses, we are also able to consider non-tariffable qualifications.
• Any subjects are acceptable at Level 3. Subjects that support you in showcasing either creative OR technical skills relevant to the study of digital content creation are preferred. Creative subjects such as media, film, art and design, graphic design, photography or fine art are welcomed. Alternatively, technical subjects such as information technology, computing, digital production, design and development can be a great starting point for this degree. We accept qualifications from across the UCAS Tariff, so if you're unsure if the subjects you're studying are suitable or want help choosing appropriate subjects at Level 3, please get in touch. We'll be happy to advise you.
• You should also have five GCSEs at grade C or above or grade 4 to 9 (or equivalent), including English and Mathematics.
• You'll be required to attend an interview and provide a portfolio of appropriate work. Typically, portfolios centre on one of the following areas: art, design, media, sculpture, photography, video editing, film, web design, games, computing-based or technical projects. We'll also take any previous work or experience into account when we consider your application.
• The quality of a portfolio will be judged alongside traditional UCAS point bearing qualifications to determine the success of an application. Therefore, we give special consideration to applicants without the above qualifications who have a strong portfolio.
• If English isn’t your first language, you’ll also need IELTS 6.0 with no less than 5.5 in any band (or equivalent). We also accept a range of other English language qualifications – please visit our English Language Requirements web page for more details.

Where changes are made to material information contained in this course description or a decision is taken to suspend a course between the offer of admissions and enrolment, we will inform applicants at the earliest possible opportunity and will outline the various options available to the applicant.

As the University of Bolton is well-established as a provider of education across the spectrum of design, media, and creative technologies, we're ideally placed to offer degree-level studies in digital content creation.

Entertainment and technology are co-evolving, with changes in one driving innovation in the other. The exponential growth in new media platforms, including social media, has led to changes in how media content is created and shared. Audiences demand high-quality, innovative digital content on phones, tablets, and audio formats such as podcasts. Our BA (Hons) Digital Content Creation offers you skills in digital storytelling, developed through a vibrant mix of training in traditional media production, graphics and user experience design. As a graduate of this forward-thinking degree, you'll be ready to create digital content for the myriad of public and private sector organisations looking to interact with clients and service users creatively through online and digital spaces.

During the course, you can also expect to develop a wide range of technical, professional and interpersonal skills, such as attention to detail, teamwork, communication, time management, problem-solving and lifelong learning. Overall, you'll be well-prepared for a career in the creative industries, working for an employer, on commission, as an independent artist producing your own work.

What can I do with this qualification?

Exciting opportunities are available with big brands, advertising agencies, and organisations of all sizes that need moving images for their websites, social media platforms and promotional adverts. They want people who can create engaging digital content using their excellent storytelling skills, sound knowledge of the production process and workflow, and deep understanding of design and graphics. As a graduate of this course, you'll possess impressive technical prowess in digital content creation, alongside the design and communication skills needed to get the message across to the intended audience.

After graduation, you'll be well placed to seek roles such as digital content creator, videographer, digital designer, digital copywriter, and creative director/producer. You'll likely also find opportunities in social media content creation and strategy, as well as in advertising, brand management and digital campaign management. Depending on your interests, you might also pursue roles in art direction and website design.

You'll also be ready to progress to postgraduate-level studies to develop your expertise and professional practice further. The University of Bolton offers a range of master's degrees in the arts, creative technologies and business fields that could enhance your career prospects and job satisfaction.

Alternative career options

Graduates can use the qualification as a stepping-stone into a range of other careers. For some of these roles, relevant experience and/or postgraduate study may be required. They include:

• Communications and marketing
• Film production
• Journalism
• Theatre production skills
• Creative design
• Teaching
• Publishing
• Visual effects
• Games design
• Arts administration
• Research and development
• Public relations

Important note regarding tuition fees for the 2023-2024 academic year: EU nationals who meet residency requirements (have settled or pre-settled status) may be eligible for 'Home' fee status. If you do not meet these residency requirements, overseas fees will apply. Irish citizens living in the UK or Ireland will be eligible for 'Home' fee status under the Common Travel Area arrangement. Please read the student finance for EU students web page on www.gov.uk for information.

The fees for a student's course of study will be set for the normal duration of that course subject only to inflationary increases – measured by the Consumer Price Index (CPI) recorded in March each year to take effect for subsequent start dates.

For 2023-2024 entry, the maximum government approved undergraduate tuition fee for UK students is £9,250 per year. The University is able to charge this fee subject to an approved Access and Participation Plan for 2023-2024 and its current rating in the Teaching Excellence Framework.

Bursaries

Click here for more information about the scholarships and bursaries available to University of Bolton students.

Much of the work involved in this course centres on practical projects. You'll be expected to create different types of content, as well as write essays, presentations and pitches. Some online course activities are student-generated and controlled to resemble the creative industries’ practices you're likely to encounter.

We emphasise group work, activity-based assignments, workshops, demonstrations, projects and guided independent study. Some modules are delivered in a more conventional way through classes, lectures and presentations. You'll be taught by tutors who have extensive industry experience and by specialist guest lecturers.

You'll also be expected to devote a significant amount of time to independent study, and our online resources will assist you with this. Assignments will require time outside of lessons to complete. Work-based learning is a vital element of the course. The completion of industry briefs and professional quality work helps to ensure you are ready for employment when you graduate.

There are no examinations. All assessment is through coursework. You can expect formative evaluation to help you learn and develop your knowledge and skills and summative assessment on which you'll be graded. Your summative assessment briefs will contain tasks such as creating digitial content for a range of platforms and screen media, writing essays and reports, writing scripts and outlines, giving presentations and pitches, carrying out practical exercises and working on client-led projects/live briefs.

Modules

The modules listed below may be a mixture of compulsory and optional. You may not have the opportunity to study all the modules shown as part of the course.

• Creating Content
• Production Skills 1
• Digital Cultures
• Writing for Digital Media
• Creating Impact
• Production Skills 2
• Digital Storytelling
• Trends, Data, Strategy
• Client Commission
• New Directions in Digital Culture
• Creative Technologies
• Studio Practice
• Major Project
• Professional Portfolio

Assessment methods

Learning activities

Disclaimer

The university will use all reasonable endeavours to deliver your course as described in its published material and the programme specification for the academic year in which you begin your course. The university considers changes to courses very carefully and the university will minimise any changes. Please be aware that our courses are subject to review on an ongoing basis and changes may be necessary due to legitimate staffing, financial, regulatory and academic reasons. The content of course modules and mode of associated assessments may be updated on an annual basis. This is to ensure that all modules are up-to-date and responsive to employment and sector needs. The published course material and the programme specification contain indicative ‘optional modules’ that may be subject to change due to circumstances outside of our control. For this reason, we cannot guarantee to run any specific optional module.