BA (Hons) Digital Media Production Bachelor's degree at Sheffield Hallam University
BA (Hons) Digital Media Production at SHU. You'll design and produce work in these fields, combining core theory, research and methods, applied practice, specialist options, and professional skills development.
About this course
<p>Design and produce new media products in film, animation, interactive media, web, apps, VR, cross media and games.</p> From the provider’s course page.
BA (Hons) Digital Media Production is a Bachelor's degree (BA (Hons)) at SHU, based in City Campus. It runs 3 years, studied full-time.
For Design studies graduates from this provider, 90% were in work or further study 15 months after graduating, 58% in highly skilled roles, typical earnings around £24,000. (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.
Published threshold met NSS publication requires sufficient responses; small differences are not a rank. NSS mean of 7 published themes (Discover Uni snapshot 2026-06-21)
Moderate evidence Published sample: 45; avoid reading small differences as meaningful. Cohort 2022-23. Graduate Outcomes work or further study 90% (2022-23; Discover Uni snapshot 2026-06-21)
Published threshold met Discover Uni suppresses continuation data below its publication threshold. Cohort 2022-23. Continuation 75% (2022-23; 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.
Year 1 4 modules
- Content Creation And ProductionCompulsory40 credits
Module details
This module equips you with the team skills to create content for current and emerging online platforms. You will develop valuable skills associated with working in multidisciplinary project teams. These skills will be developed whilst undertaking an authentic learning and work experience project with an industry client. This will involve the design and development of a client project through a project-based learning approach in which you will produce enterprising solutions to the problems and c
Assessment: Coursework (100%)
- Creative Media FundamentalsCompulsory40 credits
Module details
This module provides a practical introduction to some of the primary professional tools and creative media platforms. You will develop a fundamental understanding of the nature and use of a range of creative media hardware and software tools. This will provide you with a solid foundation of creative media production skills which you will be able to draw on throughout your studies.
Assessment: Coursework (100%)
- Digital StorytellingCompulsory20 credits
Module details
This module introduces the principles of digital storytelling used in diverse professional contexts; including commercial, societal and educational. You will gain a practical understanding of how digital media platforms are used to communicate effectively on complex issues with diverse audiences. The module develops you as a multifaceted and ethical digital media professional, by enhancing your practical production knowledge with analytical, writing, and digital storytelling skills.
Assessment: Coursework (100%)
- User Experience Design (Ux)Compulsory20 credits
Module details
In this module you will consider User Experience Design and the role of the User Experience (UX) Designer. Applying themes and theories to your subject area, the module will introduce this important process and the key concepts within. You will develop your awareness of the importance of interactive design. You will also develop methods for researching and testing with audiences to design and deliver a meaningful user experience.
Assessment: Coursework (100%)
Year 2 5 modules
- Immersive TechnologiesCompulsory20 credits
Module details
Immersive digital platforms are used to inform, augment, enhance and create audience experiences in a variety of different contexts, including gaming, simulation, health, rehabilitation, heritage, sports, storytelling and narrative, art and more. The usage of immersive digital platforms ranges in scale from multi-platform, multi-user, site specific, digitally enhanced audience experiences, to single user augmented reality tools created for mobile platforms. In this module you develop a critical
Assessment: Coursework (100%)
- Interactive RealitiesCompulsory20 credits
Module details
This module introduces new methods and tools for creating interactive work outside the bounds of traditional screen media. You will be challenged to work in interdisciplinary groups to create an interactive artefact that responds to an industry-set brief. This module also prepares you for the sandwich placement year and future work experience opportunities.
Assessment: Coursework (100%)
- Photography And Video ProductionCompulsory40 credits
Module details
Photography and video production share the need for sound understanding of camera technologies and the production process using primarily digital workflows. You will build knowledge of the creative and technical requirements for successful storytelling and communication of ideas. The teaching will cover relevant theoretical and cultural contexts as it builds on audio-visual skills already acquired at level 4. A challenging brief will enable you to further develop their own creative vision while
Assessment: Coursework (100%)
- Working In Cultural, Media And Creative IndustriesCompulsory40 credits
Module details
The aim of this module is to take you through the design, production, marketing, live streaming and documentation of creative industries events. The module will be delivered through an enhanced applied project alongside an employer or organisation so you can appraise their own values and motivations in context of the world of work, considering inclusivity and industry sector values. You will be encouraged to bring your own specialist practical skills and knowledge from your subject area and appl
Assessment: Coursework (100%)
- Study Abroad - Creative IndustriesElective60 credits
Module details
This module is for undergraduate students to study abroad in their second year, Semester 2 (only for courses that offer this option). With this module, you can spend a semester at one of the University's approved partner institutions worldwide – from Europe to the Americas, Asia Australia or Canada. Study Abroad plays an important role in the University's commitment to an engaging, challenging, and thriving learning culture. It offers opportunities to experience other academic cultures and foste
Assessment: Coursework (100%)
Year 3 3 modules
- Undergraduate Sandwich Placement Applied Professional DiplomaCompulsory
Module details
The aim of this module is to enhance students' professional development through the completion of and reflection on meaningful work placement(s). A work placement will provide students with opportunities to experience the realities of professional employment and experience how their course can be applied within their chosen industry setting. The placement will: Allow student to apply the skills, theories and behaviours relevant and in addition to their course. Enable students to enhance their in
- Alternate RealitiesCompulsory20 credits
Module details
In this module you will focus on storytelling across mixed reality platforms. You will be part of a team-based project, based on a current industry theme, which will challenge you to apply your skills and creativity to craft an "Alternate Realities" artefact.
Assessment: Coursework (100%)
- Digital Media FuturesCompulsory40 credits
Module details
This module challenges you to develop the intellectual and practical skills to use novel technologies and techniques for manipulating and interacting with digital media. You will use a range of software tools to develop skills to explore new developments and methods. You will look at new and innovative applications of digital
Assessment: Coursework (100%)
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
This course invites you to design and produce new media products in film, animation, interactive media, web, apps, VR, cross media and games. A typical Art & Design degree like this progresses from foundational visual and conceptual work to specialist depth. You'll usually start with Visual Studies & Design Principles, Materials and Processes, and Contextual Studies, building your visual language and understanding of art and design history. In Year 2, you'll move into sustained Studio Practice, Digital & Emerging Media (including creative software, motion, 3D or interaction), and live briefs with real client deadlines. By Year 3, you'll specialise in depth, through options such as graphic design, illustration, fine art, fashion & textiles, or UX & digital, whilst developing your professional practice and portfolio. Your course culminates in a self-directed final major project, publicly exhibited in your degree show.
Who it's for
This course suits you if you're drawn to creative problem-solving and understand how storytelling, aesthetics and technology intersect. You should be comfortable working across multiple media formats and balancing conceptual thinking with hands-on production skills. If you enjoy experimentation, collaboration and iterative feedback, and you want to develop a portfolio of real work whilst studying, this environment will challenge and support you. You'll need curiosity about how audiences engage with digital and cross-platform content, and the discipline to see projects through from concept to completion.
Careers & job market
According to national Graduate Outcomes data for Art & Design, 87% of graduates were in work or further study 15 months after graduating. Of those working, 55% were in highly skilled roles or undertaking further study. National earnings data shows graduates starting at £22,000–£27,000 (15 months post-graduation), with ranges widening to £20,825–£29,400 by five years. Individual outcomes vary by career path, specialism and role. The University awards nationally recognised degrees.
University & format
The BA (Hons) Digital Media Production is studied full-time at Sheffield Hallam University, a UK university based at City Campus, Sheffield. The course runs for 3 years and is taught in English. Sheffield Hallam is a recognised UK degree-awarding body, and this degree meets the Office for Students' TEF 2023 Gold standard for teaching quality.
Student satisfaction
How students on this course answered the National Student Survey, by theme.
Share of students responding positively.
Published threshold met NSS publication requires sufficient responses; small differences are not a rank. NSS mean of 7 published themes (Discover Uni snapshot 2026-06-21)
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.
Provider-published requirement; check the linked course page before applying.
Placement year. Availability, selection and pay can vary.
See and book current events. Dates can fill or change.
Entry & how to get in
Who gets in
What recently admitted students actually held, official admissions data, not a stated requirement.
UCAS tariff of entrants
Grades are the A-level equivalent of each points band. Tap a band to check your own chances below.
Qualifications held on entry
| Qualification | Share |
|---|---|
| A-levels or equivalent | 75% |
| another higher-education qualification | 20% |
| Other | 5% |
Entry & your chances
An honest read from the official entry data, plus your personal match.
Accepted students came in with a broad spread of qualifications and UCAS points. If you're worried about grades, this course has historically taken a wide range, and contextual offers may apply.
Will you get in? Plot your grades
Pick your predicted A-levels and watch your UCAS points land on the real spread of students admitted to this course.
Each bar is the share of admitted students in that UCAS-points band (lower → higher). Grades show the A-level equivalent.
Based on the official admitted-student tariff distribution. Many universities make contextual (reduced-grade) offers, so a result below the range doesn’t rule you out.
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. 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 SHU →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 | £24,000 | £23,000 – £25,000 | 45 |
| 3 years after | £20,500 | £15,500 – £25,500 | 320 |
| 5 years after | £26,500 | £21,000 – £31,500 | 315 |
Nominal earnings for graduates of this course/subject at this provider. Moderate evidence. Published sample: 45; avoid reading small differences as meaningful. Cohort 2022-23.
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: 2022-23. Moderate evidence. Published sample: 45; avoid reading small differences as meaningful. Cohort 2022-23. 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.
- Web and Multimedia Design ProfessionalsSOC 2020 214 · 14% of published destinations · ASHE median £32,574
- Design occupationsSOC 2020 342 · 12% of published destinations · ASHE median £35,957
- Business and public service associate professionalsSOC 2020 35 · 12% of published destinations · ASHE median £38,760
- Sales occupationsSOC 2020 71 · 11% of published destinations · ASHE median £15,975
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: 215; response rate: 57%. Pay describes the occupation across workers, not a guaranteed graduate salary.
Is BA (Hons) Digital Media Production worth it?
Weigh it carefully. On these figures graduates of BA (Hons) Digital 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 3 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 £9,790/yr over 3 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 £9,790/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
90% were in work or further study 15 months after graduating, with a median salary of £24,000. See the full breakdown in Careers & earnings above.
Your entry chances
Use the UCAS points calculator above to see how your predicted grades compare with admitted students, and whether a contextual offer could apply.
Official-data snapshot
Averaging the official measures published for it, this course scores 8.2 out of 10: NSS 82.1% · in work or study 90% · continued 75%.
Who studies here and in this subject?
Provider- and UK subject-level context.
Sheffield Hallam University
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 City Campus
3,427 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 SHU from outside the UK involves: fees, English, visa, funding and living costs.
Tuition fees
International tuition is £18,000 / year for this course (from the provider’s fee page). 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 SHU’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 SHU and gov.uk before you apply.
Related courses
More at SHU
Common questions
How competitive is entry?
What are the entry requirements?
What do graduates go on to do?
What will it cost me?
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