FDA Creative Media Production Foundation degree at City College Plymouth
FDA Creative Media Production at City College Plymouth. You'll develop specialist knowledge through optional pathways, complete an independent project and build professional skills alongside technical abilities, preparing you for either employment or progression to a degree-level qualification.
About this course
FDA Creative Media Production is a Foundation degree (FDA) at City College Plymouth, based in Kings Road. It runs 2 years, studied full-time.
For Design, and creative and performing arts graduates from this provider, 75% were in work or further study 15 months after graduating, 25% in highly skilled roles, typical earnings around £21,500. (HESA Graduate Outcomes / LEO, via Discover Uni.)
For the typical curriculum, specialisations, career paths and graduate earnings for Art & Design, see the sections below.
Course evidence score
The arithmetic mean of the official measures available for this course: NSS satisfaction, graduate activity and continuation.
Stronger evidence Published sample: 470. Cohort 2021-22. Graduate Outcomes work or further study 75% (2021-23; Discover Uni snapshot 2026-06-21)
Published threshold met Discover Uni suppresses continuation data below its publication threshold. Cohort 2021-23. Continuation 60% (2021-23; Discover Uni snapshot 2026-06-21)
Curriculum & modules
Real modules published for this course, grouped only where the source gives a year, stage or level.
First year 6 modules
- Introduction to visual studies
Module details
You will focus on the history and development of the film, television and wider media industry, considering both technological advancements that have driven it forward and also the ways in which audiences read, interpret and understand a wide variety of media texts.
- Interactive media
Module details
You will be introduced to the core elements that make up interactive media. Ranging from photography and graphic design to journalism, you will be able to focus on a chosen area for development and will work individually and collaboratively to create exciting interactive products.
- Media, culture and society
Module details
You will focus on developing an understanding of the cultural and social theories relating to media production and consumption. Concepts such as genre and reception theory, alongside emerging conversations about social media, will be discussed and examined in order to inform experimental work which questions how individuals interact with content.
- Digital editing for the moving image
Module details
This module introduces you to a range of post-production considerations, exploring the theoretical and practical elements to create meaning and storytelling.
- Marketing and advertising
Module details
You will focus on developing a structured understanding of the principles of project management and marketing in the 21st century; alongside the exploration of self-promotion and brand identity in an ever-changing industry.
- Convergent media production
Module details
Utilising the skills you have developed from the other modules, this final project module will provide the opportunity to put your skills to the test. You will create a media product of your own design, which focuses on the entire production process, with the consideration of marketing and distributing your product across a range of media platforms.
Second year 6 modules
- Advanced visual studies
Module details
The focus is on deepening your understanding of the history and development of the media industry. Source material will be questioned and theories will be tested as you consider alternative forms, subcultures and the anti-mainstream.
- Advanced interactive media practice
Module details
Building on work from the first year, you will hone your graphic design skills as you create near professional interactive design artefacts across a variety of scenarios.
- Media futures
Module details
What does the media landscape look like now? What will it look like in five, ten or 15 years time? With a focus on industry analysis, future developments, and new and emerging technology and platforms, you will use cutting-edge technology to create work which explores the notion of exponential change and what that means for the way society interacts with new media.
- Sound and film
Module details
This module introduces you to the principles of sound design, and you will explore the theoretical and practical elements to create meaning with sound.
- Motion graphics for film and television
Module details
You will gain an understanding of the principles of creating graphics and titles for a variety of moving image projects. You will develop and create your own work in this area, using industry standard software and equipment.
- Practical production
Module details
Utilising the skills you have developed from the other modules, this second year final project will put your creative practices to the test. You will research, design and deliver a media project which focuses on demonstrating effective and professional production processes, alongside considerations for marketing and distributing your product across a range of media platforms. With a focus on advanced production and time management, as well as the creativity of ideas, this module seeks to prepare
Source: provider course page. Modules can change; required/optional status, credits, descriptions and assessment are shown only when explicitly published.
Course in depth
What this course covers, who it suits and where it leads.
What you'll study
You'll study creative media production through a structured progression from foundational skills to independent practice. Year 1 typically covers visual studies and design principles, colour, composition and form across media, alongside materials and processes (print, textiles, digital fabrication) and contextual studies in art and design history. Year 2 moves into sustained studio practice, digital and emerging media tools, and real-world briefs with live deadlines. A course like this normally allows specialisation in areas such as graphic design, illustration, fine art, fashion and textiles, or UX and digital work. Your second year culminates in a degree show, a self-directed final project that you'll publicly exhibit, alongside developing a professional portfolio and industry positioning.
Who it's for
You're suited to this course if you're drawn to visual storytelling, technical problem-solving, or collaborative creative work. You'll thrive if you can balance independent thinking with feedback from tutors and peers, and you're comfortable learning by doing, experimenting with tools and ideas, then reflecting on what works. The course appeals to those considering a career in media production or related creative fields, or exploring whether further study is right for them.
Careers & job market
Across Art & Design courses nationally, 87% of graduates are in work or further study within 15 months. Among those working, 55% are in highly skilled roles. National earnings data shows starting salaries of £22,000–£27,000, rising to £20,825–£29,400 after five years. Many graduates either enter creative industries directly or progress to degree-level study; the foundation structure gives you a chance to test your direction before committing to a longer programme.
University & format
This Foundation degree is studied full-time over 2 years at City College Plymouth, a higher education college located on Kings Road. Teaching is delivered in English. The course is delivered by a recognised UK degree-awarding body and holds Gold in the Office for Students' Teaching Excellence Framework (2023).
Applicant information
The next application dates for this course, followed by facts the provider publishes.
- 2027 entryCompleted applications can be submitted
Your application needs a reference before you can send it.
- 2026 entryFinal date for 2026 applications
Applications must reach UCAS by 18:00 UK time.
- 2026 entryLast day to add a Clearing choice
Check that this course still has a vacancy before adding it.
- 2027 entryEqual-consideration deadline
18:00 UK time for most undergraduate courses.
Show 5 later dates
- 2027 entryUCAS Extra opens
Applicants who used all five choices and hold no offer may be able to add another choice.
- 2027 entryLast day applications go directly to providers
Applications received after 18:00 UK time are entered into Clearing.
- 2027 entryClearing opens
Eligible applicants can see vacancies and release themselves into Clearing.
- 2027 entryFinal date for 2027 applications
Applications must reach UCAS by 18:00 UK time.
- 2027 entryLast day to add a Clearing choice
Check that this course still has a vacancy before adding it.
Entry & how to get in
Who gets in
What recently admitted students actually held, official admissions data, not a stated requirement.
Qualifications held on entry
| Qualification | Share |
|---|---|
| A-levels or equivalent | 65% |
| an Access course | 20% |
| a Baccalaureate | 5% |
| No / unknown prior qualifications | 5% |
Entry & your chances
An honest read from the official entry data, plus your personal match.
Entry is set by the university and based on your offer. Use your predicted grades to see how you compare, then check the university's stated requirements.
How to apply
Undergraduate applications go through UCAS. Here’s what matters for this course, the right deadline, the grades to aim for, and the steps in order.
- 1Register on UCAS Hub
Create your UCAS application and add this course (code M007). One application covers up to five choices.
- 2Write your personal statement
A single statement covers all your choices, so keep it broad enough for similar courses while showing genuine interest in this subject.
- 3Submit by 13 January 2027, 18:00 UK time
UCAS equal-consideration deadline for most undergraduate courses. Source: UCAS 2027 dates.
- 4Reply to your offers
When decisions are in, pick a firm (first) choice and an insurance (back-up) choice with slightly lower grades.
- 5Results day & confirmation
On results day (mid-August) your place is confirmed if you meet the offer. Just missed? Talk to the university, or find a place through Clearing.
Fees & funding
What this course costs and how UK student finance covers it.
Tuition per year
Provider fee page (England 2026/27 cap where not stated).
Check fees at City College Plymouth →For students who normally live in England
2026/27 Student Finance England figures. Maintenance support is means-tested and this two-point view is not an entitlement calculator. The course total uses its published length and home fee where both are available; a missing full-time fee uses the clearly labelled England-cap scenario, while part-time fees and unknown lengths are never guessed. Use the official calculator. Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland use separate systems: SAAS, Student Finance Wales, and Student Finance NI.
Starting on or after 1 January 2027?
The Lifelong Learning Entitlement is a separate system. A new learner’s tuition entitlement is currently stated as £39,160 (about 480 credits at 2026/27 fee levels), subject to prior study and eligibility. Check the official LLE guide.
Paying for it
- Tuition Fee Loan: can cover eligible tuition up to the applicable limit and is paid straight to the provider.
- Maintenance Loan: up to £10,830/yr away from home outside London (England, 2026/27), means-tested on household income.
- Repayment: 9% of income above £25,000, nothing below it; written off after 40 years.
- Earn alongside: most students work part-time in term, part-time roles on the StudySmarter job board.
England figures shown; Scotland, Wales & NI run their own schemes, check gov.uk.
Scholarships & bursaries you could qualify for
That does not mean no funding exists. Check the university directory for current amounts, eligibility and application dates.
We only display a named award when its provider source identifies the award and who it is for.
Still deciding what to study?
StudyKit brings course choice, applications and funding together in one place, with a personal AI assistant. Find what really fits you and start your UCAS application step by step.
Careers & earnings
What Art & Design graduates actually earn, from real outcome data, 15 months, 3 years and 5 years after graduating.
Graduate earnings: this course
| When | Median | Typical range | Graduates |
|---|---|---|---|
| 15 months after | £21,500 | £17,000 – £26,000 | 470 |
| 3 years after | £17,000 | £10,000 – £19,500 | 20 |
| 5 years after | £16,000 | £10,500 – £21,500 | 20 |
Nominal earnings for graduates of this course/subject at this provider. Stronger evidence. Published sample: 470. Cohort 2021-22.
Graduate outcomes, 15 months on: this course
- 1Graduate roleFirst role after the degree · 0–2 yrs
- 2Specialist / PractitionerWorking in art & design · 2–5 yrs
- 3Senior / LeadLeading work and people · 5–10 yrs
- 4Head of / ExpertSenior leadership or deep expertise · 10+ yrs
How pay grows: this course vs Art & Design nationally
National figures for Art & Design graduates, HESA Graduate Outcomes (15 months) and the Longitudinal Education Outcomes (LEO) dataset (3 & 5 years). These are national, not university-specific; actual pay varies by employer, region, role and experience. Different cohorts, so the bars are not one group over time.
Work out your pay
Headline figures hide a lot. Calculate realistic take-home pay for this field by role, region and experience, then check your CV before you apply.
What happened to 100 students?
Choose an outcome to translate the published percentage into a simple 100-person view. Each dot represents one percentage point, not an individual tracked student.
were in work or further study
15 months after graduation
Source: Discover Uni, using Graduate Outcomes and continuation data. Cohorts: 2021-23. Stronger evidence. Published sample: 470. Cohort 2021-22. Each tab is a separate published measure; categories can overlap and should not be added together.
Value compared with similar courses
How this course’s 5-year median earnings compare with Art & Design courses at the same study level.
Compared with 1,698 courses with compatible official earnings data. This is a course-value comparison, not a quality ranking.
UK occupations graduates enter
Published graduate destinations, joined conservatively to UK SOC 2020, ONS pay and Skills England demand.
- Artistic, literary and media occupationsSOC 2020 341 · 20% of published destinations · ASHE median £33,824
- Elementary occupationsSOC 2020 9 · 20% of published destinations · ASHE median £19,087
Discover Uni JOBLIST/JOBTYPE; ONS ASHE 2025 provisional, all employee jobs; Skills England Occupations in Demand 2025. SOC is shown only for an exact normalised label match; demand is shown only at exact four-digit SOC. Published sample: 45; response rate: 60%. Pay describes the occupation across workers, not a guaranteed graduate salary.
Is FDA Creative Media Production worth it?
Weigh it carefully. On these figures graduates of FDA Creative Media Production earn close to non-graduate pay, so on cost alone the course is slow to pay off.
Cumulative earnings vs. going straight to work at 18, counting tuition and 2 years of wages given up while studying. The model remains below break even after 30 years. This is a simplified gross-earnings comparison, not a forecast of cash loan repayments.
Model: this course’s own median graduate earnings (Graduate Outcomes / LEO) above the £24,000 non-graduate baseline (ONS), net of £7,680/yr over 2 years (published course home fee). Eligible England-domiciled students can apply for a Tuition Fee Loan; repayments are 9% only on income above the threshold, with anything left written off after 40 years. That makes the cash flow different from conventional commercial debt. Opportunity cost assumes £18,000 gross earnings forgone in each study year; figures are nominal and exclude tax, living costs, investment returns and loan interest. A simplified estimate. Earnings and actual fees vary by graduate, provider, fee status and UK nation.
Job market & outlook
How Art & Design graduates fare in the labour market, and how AI is reshaping the work.
How AI is changing the work
AI doesn't replace the profession, it shifts it: routine tasks get automated, while judgement, working with people and using AI well become more valuable.
What AI takes off your plate
- Routine information gathering
- First-draft writing and summaries
- Standard analysis and admin
- Repetitive processing tasks
More human than ever
- Judgement and original thinking
- Working with and leading people
- Owning and sense-checking AI output
- Ethics and accountability
The strongest graduates pair subject depth with the ability to use AI tools critically.
Roles & employers
Where Art & Design graduates typically go, indicative destinations from graduate career data. Each role links to live openings on the StudySmarter job board.
Roles graduates go into
Where they work
- Design studios & agencies
- In-house brand teams
- Games & media companies
- Freelance & self-employed
Jobs after this course
Current roles from the StudySmarter job board that suit Art & Design graduates.
Fine Art TechnicianFirst Choice StaffPharmacy Technician – Brand New State-of-the-Art HospitalCompass AssociatesArtificial Intelligence Engineering ManagerMBN SolutionsArtificial Intelligence EngineerExperis UKDelivery Driver (Part Time 24 hours) - AndoverOcado LogisticsCompliance Business PartnerNashrock Insurance RecruitmentIs this course right for you?
The essentials UK applicants ask about: finance, outcomes, entry and quality.
Student finance
Published home tuition is £7,680/year for this course. If you normally live in England, eligible students can apply for a Tuition Fee Loan, plus a Maintenance Loan for living costs. Under Plan 5 you repay 9% of income above £25,000, nothing below that, and the balance is written off after 40 years.
Where graduates go
75% were in work or further study 15 months after graduating, with a median salary of £21,500. See the full breakdown in Careers & earnings above.
Official-data snapshot
Averaging the official measures published for it, this course scores 6.8 out of 10: in work or study 75% · continued 60%.
Who studies here and in this subject?
Provider- and UK subject-level context.
Design, and creative and performing arts across the UK
HESA student record 2024/25. Counts are rounded.
Local crime-data context
A neutral snapshot around the published teaching location.
Around Kings Road
2,047 street-level reports returned within roughly one mile across 2026-04 to 2026-06.
Police.uk street-level API. Approximate locations, not confined to campus. England, Wales and Northern Ireland; not Scotland.
Is Art & Design right for you?
Tick what applies to you and see how good a fit it is.
International students
What applying to City College Plymouth from outside the UK involves: fees, English, visa, funding and living costs.
Tuition fees
International tuition is set per course by City College Plymouth; international fees are typically £12,000–£30,000/year for classroom subjects and higher for lab/clinical ones. You’re not eligible for UK Tuition Fee or Maintenance Loans, so plan for fees plus living costs upfront.
English language
Most UK undergraduate courses ask for around IELTS 6.0–6.5 (no band below 5.5–6.0), or an accepted equivalent. If you’re just short, most universities run a pre-sessional English course that counts towards the requirement.
Student visa
You’ll usually need a Student visa (Student Route). After you accept an offer the university issues a CAS; you then show funds for fees plus about £1,023–£1,334/month living costs and pay the Immigration Health Surcharge for NHS access.
Scholarships & funding
Many universities offer international/global scholarships (often £2,000–£6,000/yr), check City College Plymouth’s funding pages.
Living costs
Budget roughly £1,100–£1,400/month outside London and £1,400–£1,800/month in London for rent, food and travel; the figure also matters for your visa.
Working while you study
A Student visa usually allows up to 20 hours/week in term time and full-time in holidays, useful alongside study, though not something to rely on for fees.
Visa rules and fees change. Always confirm the current requirements with City College Plymouth and gov.uk before you apply.
Related courses
More at City College Plymouth
Common questions
What are the entry requirements?
What do graduates go on to do?
What will it cost me?
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