BA in Film & Creative Media

  • Overview
  • Course Content
  • Structure
  • Career Opportunities
  • Fees
  • Next Steps

Film

Overview

The Bachelor of Arts in Film and Creative Media programme is designed to equip students with the knowledge, technical abilities, and research skills needed to conceptualise, execute, and assess creative projects. These projects aim to bring ideas to fruition and develop original events, products, and experiences for specific audiences.

The programme is structured in three stages: fundamental, developmental, and competent, focusing on enhancing graduate skills and knowledge. Learning modules are systematically organised into six pillars: Audio Production, Visual Production, Writing and Creation, Theory and Context, Post Production, and Creative Professional Practice.


Objectives 

The programme objectives are as follows:

  • Help learners relate communication technologies with narrative possibilities and a perspective on telling stories to defined audiences.

  • Assist learners to competently realise projects using audio and video software, camera equipment, and storytelling devices that create meaning for a defined audience or client.

  • Develop learners' knowledge of the theoretical and methodological skills necessary for producing a creative portfolio of work.

  • Provide learners with an understanding of the processes underlying creativity and innovation.

  • Place the learners' understandings of film and creative media within its cultural context.

  • Enable students to operate within creative workplaces cognisant of professional practices and industry codes of behaviour.

 

Delivery

All learners are expected to attend in person in class.

Minimum Entry Requirements

To be eligible for the Bachelor of Arts in Film and Creative Media programme, applicants must meet the following minimum entry requirements:

  • Leaving Certificate: 5 O6/H7s (including English or another language).

  • FETAC: A full Level 5 award (8 modules).

  • A-Levels/GCSE: Four GCSEs at grade C (including English or another language) plus one A-level at grade C or higher.

  • BTEC: A National Diploma in a related field.

  • Mature Applicants: Assessed on age, work experience, and education (23 years old by Jan 1st of entry year).

  • International Applicants: Must demonstrate English proficiency (B2 or above on CEFRL, e.g., IELTS/Cambridge Certificate, dated within two years)

All applicants, including EU and non-EU, apply directly to the Admissions Office, with non-EU applicants residing outside Ireland/EU applying to the International Admissions Office.

 

Year 1

Year 2

Year 3

Multimedia 1

Multimedia 2

The Art of Successful Writing

Media, Composition, and The New

Introduction to the Creative Media Industries

Introduction to Film Studies 1

Introduction to Film Studies 2

Thinking Culture & Creativity

Creative Event Production

Digital Film Production

Sound Production

Storytelling in the Digital Age

Audio Technology & Techniques

Audio Editing, Mixing and Cross Collaboration in Media

Principles: Light, Camera, Photography

Digital Photography

Video Editing Fundamentals

Video Editing Competency

The Moving Image 1

The Moving Image 2

Media & Identity 1

Media & Identity 2

Professional Practice: The Creative Workplace

Writing for Screen Media

Audio for Podcasting, Performance & Radio

Cinematography 1

Cinematography 2

Scriptwriting and Development 1

Scriptwriting and Development 2

VFX Fundamentals

VFX Competency

Exploring Popular Culture

Project Management for Creative Media Outputs

Audio for Film & Screen

Contemporary Film and Television

Creative Projects Portfolio


Teaching and Assessment

The curriculum of the BA in Film and Creative Media is structured into three stages (Developmental, Competent, Advanced) and six pillars: Creative Professional Practice, Writing and Creation, Theory and Context, Audio Production, Visual Production, and Post Production.

Teaching emphasises the link between theory and practice, often in studio settings. It also incorporates blended learning, combining face-to-face sessions with online activities, including a "flipped classroom" approach.

Assessment is 100% continuous, without proctored exams, to promote ongoing learning. Both formative (assessment for learning) and summative (assessment of learning) methods are used, with a focus on feedback and real-world application.

Structure

The programme structure is divided into three stages:

  • Fundamental Stage (Stage 1): Focuses on foundational film and media techniques, including multimedia tools, sound and digital film production, and writing skills for media and film.

  • Developmental Stage (Stage 2): Deepens audio and visual techniques, introduces specialized editing software, and explores experimental scenarios in professional practice.

  • Competent Stage (Stage 3/Award Stage): Empowers learners with greater autonomy in audio and visual techniques, culminating in a "Creative Projects Portfolio," and includes advanced modules in cinematography, VFX, scriptwriting, and project management.

The curriculum is built upon six "Pillars of Learning": Creative Professional Practice, Writing and Creation, Theory and Context, Audio Production, Visual Production, and Post Production, each contributing a specific number of ECTS credits.

Career Opportunities

Graduates of the Bachelor of Arts in Film and Creative Media programme are prepared for various employment and artistic opportunities within the creative industries, leveraging their creativity and acquired skills for clients or audiences. The programme is specifically tailored for aspiring content creators, artists, and filmmakers, as well as those already in the creative industries seeking to transition into content creation roles.

Career opportunities are likely to be found in more structured, supervised technical roles such as:

  • Managing social media content

  • Copywriting

  • Content production within a team

  • Serving as crew members in larger productions

The programme addresses training needs within the film and creative media industry, across several key sectors including:

  • Film, TV, and Animation

  • Independent Live Action Production

  • Social Media Content Creation

  • In-House (i.e., Broadcaster) Production

  • Animation

  • Post-Production and VFX

  • Distribution

  • Cinema Exhibition

  • TV Broadcasting

  • Video on Demand

Fees

The fees for Full-time BA in Film & Creative Media programme are €6,045 per annum for EU students.

International Fees

EU Fees

You can also contact our admissions team who will also be able to advise on the payment options available to you.

Fees quoted cover the annual cost of tuition, registration and examinations and are EU fees only.Non-EU students please refer to the International section of the website.Please note also that tax relief is available on fees for Irish income tax payers at the standard rate of 20% on all fees exceeding €3,000 and up to €7,000.

All QQI accredited programmes of education and training of 3 months or longer duration offered by Dublin Business School (DBS) are covered by arrangements under section 65 (4) (b) of the Qualifications and Quality Assurance (Education and Training) Act 2012 whereby in the event that DBS ceases to provide the programme, for any reason, after learners have started on that programme, Kaplan Inc., as guarantor, will refund the moneys most recently paid by or for the learner.   More details are included in the terms and conditions of learner admission to DBS (https://www.dbs.ie/terms-and-conditions) and on programme handbooks provided at induction.

Next Steps

Before making an application please ensure you are aware of all our entry requirements.

School Leaver Applicants

Application for first year full-time QQI programmes in the college is through the CAO System. The CAO system applies only to applications for first year admissions to undergraduate full-time day programmes described in the prospectus, which have a CAO Course code www.cao.ie.  

Application forms and the CAO Handbook are both supplied by the Central Applications Office (CAO), Tower House, Eglinton Street, Galway or from your Career Guidance Counsellor.

Mature Applicants

If you are over 23 years of age on the 1st of January on the year of admission and do not meet the minimum entry requirements, you may apply as a Mature Student. Mature students should apply directly to the Admissions Office at Dublin Business School. Mature students are assessed on the basis of age, work experience, general education standard, motivation and commitment to the programme for which they are applying. Please forward documentation such as any relevant transcripts, a CV or any other related documentation to the Admissions Office. Proof of age such as a copy of driver’s licence or passport must also be submitted. 

Transfer Students

Students holding a relevant Certificate, Diploma or other relevant third level qualification may qualify for entry to the second or third year of degree programme. Transfer applications to the second or third year full-time programmes are to be made directly to the college. Students should send copies of their examination transcripts and other relevant documentation along with their application form (available from the School / College) to the Admissions Office at Dublin Business School.   

EU Citizens

A European (EU) Application is one made by a person: 
(a) who is permanently a resident in one of the member states of the European Union and/or 
(b) who will have received full-time second level education, for three of the five years immediately before the date of proposed admission, in member states.

Non-EU Applicants

Non - EU applicants should contact directly the International Admissions Office at Dublin Business School.

Application fee to CAO

Early applicants to CAO can benefit from a reduced fee of €30 for early online applications. There is a standard application fee of €45 made payable to CAO on submitting your CAO application form or online application to www.cao.ie before the normal closing date. Late applicants will be charged €90 for paper applications and €60 for online applications.

 
Categories:
  • International
  • Media & Journalism
  • Full-time Degrees/ Certificates
  • Full-Time
  • Arts
  • 7

Course overview

Awarding Body: 
Quality & Qualifications Ireland (QQI)
QQI AWARD LOGO (1)
Award: Ordinary Bachelor Degree
NFQ Level:
Level 7
Award Title:
BA in Film & Creative Media
Award Type: Major
Duration: 3 Years
CAO Code: DB576
Next Intake:
September 2026

Contact Us

Email: admissions@dbs.ie
Phone: 01 417 7500
Opening times:
Monday to Friday
8:45am to 5:15pm