HND Creative Practice

Start Date
Level
4
Course Course
P00615
Area
Media, Photography & Journalism
Campus
Hillsborough Campus

About this Course

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.

Key Units

Our level 5 Creative Practice course - addresses both the historical and contemporary context of creative practice within the photography, film making and graphic design specialisms. 

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 Sony 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. 

Although you are taught as one cohort, your qualification will be in a specific pathway, depending on the pathway which you select upon enrolment, as below:

  • Pearson BTEC Level 5 Higher National Diploma in Photography (2023) – 610/1803/X
  • Pearson BTEC Level 5 Higher National Diploma in Graphic Design (2023) – 610/1797/8
  • Pearson BTEC Level 5 Higher National Diploma in Film and Television (2023) – 610/1793/0

Key units

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 Higher National Certificate (or equivalent) qualification in either Photography, Film and Television or Graphic Design. 

Assessment

Assessment methods include:

  • Coursework
  • Presentations
  • Portfolios
  • Group Discussion

Where does this Lead

We aim to provide students with the experience, knowledge and confidence to function in their specialist pathway. For next steps we do offer the opportunity to apply to a top up to a full degree at Sheffield Hallam University.

Future Opportunities

This HND is designed to ensure that by the end of the year, students have the skill, knowledge and confidence to enter the workforce either as a member of salaried staff, or as a freelance professional across the visual and creative industries. 

Tell Me More

Trips and Visits

This Higher National Diploma further includes guest speakers, and 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
  • The Photography Show, Birmingham NEC

Further Information
Additional information about higher education at UC Sheffield can be found here

The Sheffield College is a registered provider with the Office for Students.

Fees
Annual fees for university level study at The Sheffield College can be found here.

Terms and Conditions
You can find details of our higher education policies, procedures and T&Cs here.

Extra Costs

Ad hoc visits occasionally incur costs, students are advised of these in advance and only where not mandatory.

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