Media & Communication
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Course overview
Start your creative media journey and discover how to tell stories through your own unique lens.
This engaging one-year course gives you a solid introduction to Scotland’s vibrant media, photography and communications industries. You’ll learn by doing — creating films, analysing media, developing campaigns, writing creatively, and producing photography projects using industry-standard tools and techniques.
Delivered by experienced lecturers in a friendly and supportive environment, the course blends practical tasks with creative exploration. You’ll experiment with film, photography, advertising, digital content and communication skills, while building confidence and discovering where your interests lie.
Whether you’re a school leaver, an adult returning to study, or someone eager to express ideas visually, this course is a great first step into the creative industries and a strong foundation for further study.
This course is ideal for:
- Creative individuals interested in media, photography, writing, or digital storytelling
- Beginners who want to learn digital photography and content creation
- School leavers or adults exploring a career in the creative industries
- Learners who enjoy hands-on, project-based work
- Those looking to develop communication, teamwork and digital skills
What you will learn
You’ll gain a strong foundation in media, photography and communication skills used across today’s creative industries.
Your learning will include:
- Understanding Media – Explore how film, TV and digital platforms influence society and shape audiences.
- Film Analysis – Study visual storytelling and develop the ability to break down how films communicate meaning.
- Digital Media Production – Plan, shoot and edit content for real-world use across platforms.
- Advertising & Marketing – Discover how creative campaigns are developed and how media influences behaviour.
- Creative & Professional Writing – Write scripts, articles and promotional pieces for different audiences.
- Communication Skills – Build confidence in presenting, working with others, and using digital tools effectively.
- Photography Techniques – Learn exposure, lighting, camera operation and composition, creating portraits and landscapes.
- Post-Production Skills – Use Adobe Photoshop and traditional darkroom processes to refine your images.
By the end of the course, you’ll have a varied creative portfolio that reflects your interests, abilities and growing artistic voice.
Entry requirements
✅ Four National 4 (or equivalent) qualifications.
✅ National 4 English is desirable
✅ A genuine interest in film, photography, advertising, or creative writing.
✅ Mature learners with relevant work or life experience are encouraged to apply — enthusiasm and creativity are highly valued.
✅ You may also be invited to attend an interview as part of the selection process.
ℹ️ For this course, if English is not your first language
- you need to have SQA ESOL National 5 (or equivalent, click here to see equivalent qualifications)
- If you do not have a formal ESOL qualification but your language skills meet this level, you should apply for your course and then contact our Admissions team to organise an internal language assessment here at the College.
Mature learners with experience in other employment areas will be considered.
Career Opportunities
This course is a strong starting point for careers such as:
🎬 Film or Video Production
📰 Journalism or Content Creation
📢 Advertising & Digital Marketing
🎧 Broadcasting or Social Media
✏️ Creative or Copywriting
📸 Freelance Photography
📰 Press or Media Photography
🩺 Medical or Scientific Photography Assistant
🏢 Photographic Studio or Lab Assistant
It also provides a useful skills base for wider creative and communication-based roles.
Future prospects
After completing this course, you can progress to:
- NQ Level 6 Media & Communication
- NQ Level 6 Photography
- Courses in Digital Design, Marketing, Film & TV, Visual Communication, or broader Art & Design pathways
- Employment or freelance opportunities in photography, media content creation or creative support roles