Technical & Production Practice - Professional Diploma (Film & Photography)

L4 Level 4
Full Time
1 September 2025 — 19 June 2026
City Centre Campus, Cardiff

About this course

This 1-year technical diploma provides students with an in-depth introduction to the craft of lens-based media production and an insight into the media industry.

Students will learn skills in professional grade camera operation and postproduction software, work on industry led briefs, gain insight into various media companies and their operational structure and devise and develop their own media-based projects.

The course allows learners to work on briefs while focusing on their own personal professional development & areas of interest. Students can choose to specialise in either fiction or documentary film production.

Students will be required to self-manage their own projects, work collaboratively and engage with external clients and industry personnel.

Progression can be into industry employment, working as a freelancer or onto a university course.

This course is equivalent to the first year of a BA university programme and is worth 120 University credits. While it can enhance your portfolio and provide invaluable experience, it does not provide UCAS points and as such cannot be used to supplement UCAS requirements for university applications.

There are no course fees, so it is not eligible for student finance maintenance loans. Students must be able to support themselves financially throughout the course.

What you will study

Unit 1: Establishing principles of technical and production practice

Unit 2: Applied professional practice

Unit 3: Professional development project. Assessment is portfolio based.

Students will learn through a series of practical workshops, guest lectures from industry professionals and project-based assessments.  

You will have training in:

  • Adobe Creative Suite
  • Blackmagic 4K URSA & 6K Pocket cinema cameras
  • DaVinci Resolve
  • Studio lighting
  • Sound recording
  • Script writing and story development
  • Documentary filming techniques
  • Pre-production planning for media production
  • Set etiquette and production management
  • Health and Safety and Risk Assessment
  • Working with industry
  • Work shadowing opportunities @ Bad Wolf Studios*

    *Subject to availability

Course fee per year

Studio Fees: £65.00

Entry requirements

Recommended that applicants have 5 x GCSE at grade C or above, including English and 1 x A level at grade or equivalent Level 3 qualification.

A completed application form. Applicants will also need to submit a portfolio of work in Film/TV related material.

For example but not limited to: A showreel of previous work, samples of audio/visual work. Produced either in college or school. Samples of work produced independently i.e YouTube videos, short films, journalistic pieces written scripts or treatment ideas for audio/visual work.

Applicants will be invited to an interview, you must be 18+ years of age.

Important points

  • The College welcomes contact with parents/guardians of students who are under 18.
  • Additional support is available for students with learning difficulties and disabilities.
  • Cardiff and Vale College is committed to inclusion and values diversity. We are determined to promote equality of opportunity and to treat everyone fairly and with respect.
  • Cardiff and Vale College reserves the right to make changes to this course without prior notice.
  • Course fees are subject to change. Your fee will be confirmed prior to enrolment.
  • All courses are accurate at the time of upload or print.
  • Courses can only run if there are sufficient numbers.
  • Please note, if you choose three or more course choices, then you may be referred for a careers appointment first. This does not apply to A Level or GCSE choices.
Key information

Start date

1 September 2025

End date

19 June 2026

Time of day

Day Time

Full Time

18.5 hours per week

Location

City Centre Campus, Cardiff
Maps & directions

Course code

CDCC4F01
L4

Qualification

Technical & Production Practice - Professional Diploma (Film & Photography)

Career prospects & further study

56,000

The Creative industries is one of the fastest growing sectors with 56,000 people employed in Wales.

The course will provide learners with a portfolio of work that will enable them to apply for a university course on a range of pathways from film production to photography, media and marketing. Alternatively, students will have the skills to develop a freelance career or gain employment within the industry.  

Videos

Locations

City Centre Campus, Cardiff
City Centre Campus, Cardiff

City Centre Campus,

Dumballs Road,

Cardiff,

CF10 5FE