Film & Media (CertHE) Q+A

Last chance to join for September 2026!

Still have questions? Join our Film and Media Cert HE Q&A to learn more.

Monday 17th August 2026 | 6PM – 6:30PM

Sign Up Here

Are you passionate about filmmaking, media production and creative storytelling?

The Open College of the Arts (OCA), in collaboration with The Open University, is excited to launch our brand new Certificate of Higher Education (CertHE) in Film and Media Production.
Whether you’re an aspiring filmmaker or someone who simply loves the magic of cinema, this course will introduce you to the dynamic world of film and media production.

This course is designed for aspiring creatives looking to develop hands-on skills and begin to build a career in the dynamic, fast-paced film and media industry. Throughout the course, you will develop essential skills in filmmaking, media production and storytelling, learning how to communicate compelling stories through a variety of media. You will work alongside other passionate students, exchanging ideas and working together on exciting projects. The course offers you the choice to explore projects that align with your envisioned industry role, with opportunities to collaborate and learn from others who share your creative vision. 

You’ll develop key skills like communication, teamwork and problem-solving that are essential across many industries. As you develop your skills, you’ll be building a strong foundation for success in a variety of professional environments, preparing you for the next step in your film and media career.

 

Register Now!

Last Chance to Join for September 2026!

Any questions? Please watch our July 2026 Film and Media Production Cert HE Open Webinar Recording below.

Ready to sign up? Deadline to Register for September 2026 start is 12pm (BST) 19 August 2026. 

Whether you’re an aspiring filmmaker or someone who simply loves the magic of cinema, this course will introduce you to the dynamic world of film and media production.

 

Sign Up Here!

Open Day Webinar 2026

Keen to find out more about the course? Watch our latest webinar to be introduced to the programme team, course modules and more information.

All information is believed to be true at time of recording. If you have any questions, please email filmandmedia@oca.ac.uk

Open Days

Highlights

  • Gain a solid foundation in film and media production, from the techniques behind crafting a visual story to introducing the art of audio storytelling.
  • Work alongside fellow students who share your passion for film, creating projects that inspire and challenge your creativity.
  • Explore storytelling across mediums like film, TV and artistic projects, with a special focus on how film can be an art form in itself.
  • Learn about ethical practices and sustainability in the industry, giving you the tools to think critically about the work you produce.
  • Build your confidence to share your work, engage in constructive feedback, and showcase your work with your peers.
  • Access to live group sessions where you can share and critique work, technical and software tutorials and drop-ins with your tutors, all supported with additional online forum spaces, to chat with your tutors and peers.

 

Photo by dix sept

Course Structure

The CertHE Film and Media Production has four, 30-credit modules, which carry 100% weighing of a final summative projected-based assessment. The course is designed to suit both full and part-time study intensity.

  • This module introduces you to the fundamentals of visual language in film, focusing on how we can use visual language to communicate meaning. You will explore key concepts like composition, framing and colour, learning how to create your own impactful stories by applying visual language in your own work.

    Accessibility Guide

     

  • In this module, you will choose a brief in film, audio storytelling or animation, and work alongside your peers to share your work and offer constructive feedback. The focus will be on the importance of collaboration within the industry, learning how to problem-solve common production issues and understanding how sharing your work with others can drive creative projects forward.

    Accessibility Guide

     

  • This module is all about storytelling, how to find great stories and how to develop them, while thinking about the ethics behind what you create. You’ll have the chance to develop a story of your own, whether you want to write, direct or create something entirely unique, this module supports you to apply your storytelling skills in the way that suits you best.

    Accessibility Guide

     

  • In this final module, you’ll bring everything you’ve learned together in a major project. Working from a stimulus, you’ll develop something that reflects your envisioned role in the film and media industry. You’ll have the freedom to explore your creativity, applying your skills to produce work that’s personal to you. By the end, you’ll put together a showreel that celebrates your progress and showcases the work you’ve created during the course.

    Accessibility Guide

     

  • To fully engage with the CertHE in Film and Media Production, students will need access to a camera (a smartphone is fine) and a laptop or computer capable of uploading and editing footage. While we don’t expect students to invest in expensive filming equipment, there are some basic essential tools required to participate in the practical elements of the course.

     

Study Schedule

Study on the course is split across two semesters, in the Autumn and Spring.

Film and Media Cert HE Study Schedule for 26/27

Tuition Fees

The course tuition fee for students beginning September 2026 is £7,146 for UK based students. At this time, this course is only available to students who are residents in the UK. There are four 30-credit units. Please see the schedule of course payments below for full-time and part-time students.
    • UK | Full-time: £7,146, or a deposit of £2,142, followed by 9 monthly instalments of £556.
    • UK | Part-time: £7,146, or a deposit of £1,071 followed by 18 monthly instalments of £337.50

Our Students

Our students come from all walks of life and are all ages, from 18 to 92 across OCA.
Students come to us for their first qualification in higher education, career change, personal development, for the flexibility we offer whilst studying or the fact that all of our courses are 100% distance learning.
Our courses are adaptive, allowing you to shape your study around what you have going on. If you work full time, have caring responsibility, or have a disability for example OCA courses can work for you. OCA is an open access provider, so apart from having the ability to read and write in English, you don’t need any other formal qualifications or past experience to join.

 

Photo by Chris Montgomery

FAQs

  • Full time: 36 hours per week

    Part time: 18 hours per week

     

  • A timetable will be provided to students ahead of each term. Online tutorials may take place between Monday to Friday on various days and times.

     

  • Students take a varied approach to the course and so how to use specific software is not part of the curriculum.

     

  • Essential

    Smartphone: with a camera that is capable of recording 1080p at 24/25fps.

    LED light: could be camera mounted or freestanding. Those with a good range of colour temperature presets/effects are better.

    Tripod.

    Notebook.

    Internet connection.

    External hard drive: as you progress through your course, you might want to invest in external hard drives to store/transfer your work. Should you wish to do so, we recommend a USB 3 device with at least 2Tb of capacity.

    Laptop: you will need to have access to a laptop (PC or Mac) with a spec that enables you to run specialist video production software.

    PC Mac
    Operating System Windows 10 (64-bit) (Windows 11 recommended) Monterey V12.0 or later
    RAM 8GB minimum, 16GB recommended for HD media, 32GB or more for 4K and higher 8GB minimum, 16GB recommended for HD media, 32GB or more for 4K and higher
    CPU Intel 6th Gen or AMD Ryzen (Series 5 or above) Apple Silicon M1 or newer
    GPU Nvidia or AMD. Minimum 4GB (for HD and basic 4K) Minimum 6GB
    Storage 512GB SSD minimum 512 SSD minimum
    Display 1920 x 1080 1920 x 1080

     

    Suggested Investments

    The following resources are not requirements, only examples of other items that might be helpful to you on your course include:

    DSLR or mirrorless camera

    Lighting: on-camera or off-camera flash, softbox/diffuser, reflectors, spotlights

    Microphone:  boom pole microphone, wireless microphone, shotgun microphone, handheld microphone (with wind shield), lapel microphone

    Cables: HDMI, USB, XLR, MIDI

    Headphones: closed back, over ear with a frequency response of 5Hz – 22kHz

    Handheld video rig stabiliser

    Go Pro or Insta360

    Gimbal

    Camera drone

     

Register

 

 

  1. Register with OCA for the qualification you’d like to study.

    Submit the online enrolment form and select if you’re studying full-time or part-time.

  2. Arrange payment or secure funding.
    Self-funding 

    If you are funding your studies yourself you will need to make payment towards the course to complete registration. You can either pay in full, or by deposit and instalment.

    Part-time Tuition Fee Loan

    You’ll apply for a Part-Time Tuition Fee Loan even if you plan to study at a full-time equivalent rate of 120 credits per year. Part-time students study 60 credits per year. 

    You’ll have to set up a Student Finance online account, and you’ll need to provide details about your proof of residency and identity. It’ll help to have your passport details and National Insurance number on hand.

    The course details on Student Finance are: 

    OCA Certificate of Higher Education in Film and Media Production A57 | Undergraduate | Part-time | 1 yrs

    It can take Student Finance six weeks to finalise applications, so apply as early as possible to ensure your funding is in place in time to start your course. If you are studying the part-time mode you will need to apply for funding twice; once before you start your first year, and again before you start your second year. 

    At this time, the Film and Media Cert HE is not available for SAAS’ Part-Time Fee Grant. 

  3. Prepare for your studies 

    Ensure you have the essential tools and resources to get started on your course. If studying with a disability, this might mean securing support from Disabled Students Allowance. If you’re new to academic study, or you’ve been out of education for some time, you might also benefit brushing up on your academic English skills – check out a free resource here.

 

Submit your enrolment form

 

 

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