Undergraduate

BA(Hons) Digital Content Creation

  • Duration

    3 years

  • Cost

    £9,275 p.a.

  • Course code

    W212

  • Institution code

    H18

DCC_BANNER_JAN

Navigate the evolving content landscape and gain in-demands skills. Become an adaptable creative who can lead with big ideas.

Overview


Creators who can hold an audience's attention online are in high demand. On this course you will combine creative and technical skills in digital content production with the strategic skills to research audiences, develop content strategies, and plan marketing campaigns that meet organisational objectives.

Alongside production skills, you’ll develop professional capabilities in interpreting client briefs, communicating ideas, managing projects, and collaborating with clients and colleagues, preparing you for roles across content production, digital marketing, social media, and creative communications, as well as freelance practice.

UP AND COMING 1

FACILITIES + KIT INCLUDE

  • Digital studios and professional editing facilities
  • Video and photography studios
  • Adobe Creative Suite
  • Canon XA70 camera
  • Sony ZV-1 cameras
  • DJI Ronin gimbal
  • DJI Osmo 360

CAREER PATHS INCLUDE

  • Content Creator
  • Digital Marketer
  • Social Media Manager
  • Content Strategist
  • Video Editor
  • Videographer
  • Creative Freelancer
  • Motion Designer

INDUSTRY CONNECTIONS INCLUDE

  • Straight 8
  • Film Supply’s EditFest
  • Rural Media
  • The Courtyard Cinema
  • Arts & Heritage
  • Open Sky
  • Aelfleda Clackson

Why study Digital Content Creation at HCA


  1. Master marketing and making skills. You’ll combine creative and technical skills in digital content production with the strategic skills to research audiences, develop content strategies, and plan marketing campaigns that meet organisational objectives.
  2. Collaborate with other students across creative courses, developing professional capabilities in interpreting client briefs, communicating ideas, managing projects preparing you for roles across content production, digital marketing, social media, and creative communications, as well as freelance practice.
  3. Build three years of real experience as you study, you’ll leave with a portfolio of highly employable skills and the project work to show for it.

What you will learn

Through hands-on projects, you will build the key technical skills needed to produce great content and deliver it strategically to the right audiences. You will learn and grow your expertise in editing, cameras, lighting, sound, design and copywriting. In the second semester, you will develop key digital marketing skills, understanding audiences, data analytics and algorithms.

Selected projects:

  • You will be assigned a real student band, collaborating with them to strategically design content for their online channels.
  • Participate in Film Supply’s EditFest, using world-class stock footage to sharpen your editing skills, creating a title sequence, trailer or advert.
  • Collaborate with Performing Arts, Music and Photography courses to create an entry for the prestigious Straight 8 competition, all shot on a roll of Super 8. 
  • Your Practice in Culture module will equip you with the skills to make critical and ethical judgements about the work you encounter and produce.

In year two you continue to develop your skills by applying them to industry projects. You will explore storytelling in a variety of formats, in brand narrative, documentary and entertainment media. You will learn A/B testing, deeper data analysis and how to use Google Ads to drive traffic to a destination, building skills for advertising and e-commerce.

You will create your own online portfolio and undertake work experience with real clients.

Selected projects:

  • You will have the opportunity to produce your own narrativised entertainment content, exploring emerging formats such as the vertical micro-drama.
  • You will undertake a freelance work placement with an external partner.
  • You will create a content strategy for a brand campaign, figuring out how to make the biggest impact across multiple platforms over time.

You will specialise and identify your career aims, culminating in a project of your own design and a degree show screening of your work. In your final year, you will create the portfolio work that launches you into your next step, whether that’s employment, freelancing or further study.

Selected Projects:

  • You will undertake a Major Project (Practice 6), creating the portfolio pieces that cement your specialist knowledge and help launch your chosen career.
  • You will have the opportunity to enter the D&AD New Blood Awards, taking on industry-written projects with major brands.
  • You will undertake a research project (PIC3) that builds expertise in a chosen area.

After completing year 1 of DCC it has opened up so many creative paths I hadn’t considered before. I’ve learned to tell stories in new ways and gained valuable experience through briefs and collaborative work. I’ve felt like I've grown so much this first year, not just as a creator, but as a professional. The course pushes you to explore, experiment, and actually make things happen.

James - 1st year BA(Hons) Digital Content Creation student

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Meet the course leader

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Meet the team

Teaching, learning and assessment

You will learn through a wide variety of creative projects, developing digital content for real live briefs and engaging in exciting personal ventures.

Our teaching methods include workshops, seminars, lectures, masterclasses, guest talks, and one-on-one mentorship. With high contact time with tutors and access to knowledgeable technicians, you’ll receive exceptional guidance and support.

You will engage in an academic approach to your practice, offering new critical perspectives and exploring how content creation functions in contemporary culture. A research-informed practice will help you explore your creative potential in greater depth.

The study structure combines directed and self-directed learning, allowing you to explore and experiment, ensuring you gain both structured knowledge and the freedom to develop your unique creative voice.

This course will immerse you in live projects from real clients right from the start. You will tackle a wide range of dynamic briefs on local, national, and international scales. These collaborations will allow you to see your work in action, gain valuable client feedback, and refine your professional skills.

Ethical practice in content creation is a key focus. You'll collaborate with charities and community interest groups, offering valuable work experience and a chance to make a positive impact on the world around you.

You’ll benefit from talks and masterclasses by leading content creators and industry professionals. These experts will provide insights and guidance, helping to bridge the gap between study and employment. Graduating from this course opens a wide range of employment possibilities, whether freelance or in-house, helping your studies seamlessly transition into your career. 

Affinity - Creative Cities report

Your kind of place, your kind of people

This year Hereford was placed #6 in a list of the top UK cities to be a creative. Part of a trend identified in the report that saw smaller cities becomingly increasingly in-demand for creatives, Hereford was ranked alongside 50 cities were against three: access to creative spaces, access to professional opportunities and affordability.

Read more here

Applying to HCA

  • Minimum age 18. 
  • UCAS Points: Applicants applying for September 2027 entry and beyond, should have achieved 96 – 112 UCAS Tariff Points or more. However, whilst qualifications are important, our offers are not solely based on academic results. We may make offers based on other evidence of talent and suitability for the course – for more details about UCAS Tariffs tariff explanation and advice on the UCAS website. We expect all applicants to have examples of their current creative work available for submission on request.  
  • Mature students: Applications from mature students with relevant experience will also be considered. 

If you are unsure or have any questions, please contact us at registry@hca.ac.uk and we can offer further advice on HCA and the UWTSD awarding body requirements. 

You can apply to HCA by making us one of your options on your UCAS application. In some cases, such as with current students, student transfers and top-ups, we also accept direct applications. 

We receive a high number of application all our subject areas so we recommend that you make your application as early as possible.

You can find out out everything you need about the application process using the link below. If you have any questions, just email registry@hca.ac.uk. 

As soon as you apply, our Registry team will be in touch to let you know they have received your application. At this point they will also send out information on portfolios or auditions.

Portfolios and auditions are a chance for you to showcase yourself in a different way. They give us an idea of what excites you about the subject, and what you might want to explore further on the course. 

We will send out guidance on how to submit your portfolio, or book and audition date, and if you have any questions you will always be able to reach out to us for assistance or clarification.

After submitting your portfolio online, your work will be reviewed by a course lead, and you will receive personal feedback alongside your offer.

Studying is an investment in yourself, and in your future. It’s important to understand the financial support that is available to you, and to be clear about any fees or funding associated with the course you want to study.

Follow the link below to visit our Fees and Funding pages. These pages are designed to help you plan for your future, so you can start your course with confidence in your financial situation.

Everyone’s personal circumstances are different. If you can’t find the information you need, our Student Finance team can offer additional advice.

More information

Your degree

All undergraduate degrees at HCA are validated by University of Wales Trinity St David.

You can view a detailed breakdown of the course content in the Key Information Document.

This can be downloaded below.

How to apply

Everything you need to know about applying to HCA - and starting the next stage of your journey as an artist

Apply now

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