Digital Media Design
W280If you want to create the next gaming sensation, design an innovative advertising campaign or craft immersive virtual reality experiences, then this degree is for you. You'll build a portfolio of digital skills to prepare you for the constantly evolving digital design industry.
Course overview
Our Digital Media Design course emphasises the industry's practical side, ensuring you are well-prepared for the real world. We want you to be an imaginative and technically skilled designer who can efficiently work collaboratively with fantastic design-thinking solutions.
The course spans three enriching years and revolves around our well-equipped Digital Design Studio. Immerse yourself in an educational journey that bridges the gap between academia and the professional world. Our curriculum meticulously mirrors industry practices, ensuring you're at the helm of real-world design projects from day one, fostering hands-on, practical experience that bolsters your employability. With our cutting-edge technology resources, mixed and virtual reality headsets, 3D prototyping facilities, and our fully equipped Digital Design Lab, you'll propel your skills into the future. You will also have the opportunity to attend occasional field trips during your studies.
As you progress through your degree, you won't just study theory; you will engage in live client projects, continually expanding your online portfolio. Live briefs, simulations, role play and case studies will be used to recreate workplace conditions. This multifaceted experience spans diverse sectors, including print, web, app, animation, advertising, user experience and much more, to broaden your horizons and skill set.
Additionally, we offer opportunities to access high-profile industry placements that provide invaluable exposure and networking opportunities, setting the stage for your successful career. In your final year, you have the option to complete a dissertation, undertake a consultancy project or work placement, or launch a start-up. By the time you graduate, you will have a portfolio which will shine as a testament to your capabilities.
A Personal Development Plan (PDP) is embedded into each year of study and will enhance your academic, personal and professional growth. Your PDP will set your agreed goals which could be developing your soft skills such as communication, teamwork and leadership; creating a roadmap to support your career aspirations, for example identifying internships and work experience; or planning out your opportunities for networking. Your PDP ensures you will receive continuous support tailored to your individual needs to enhance both your academic performance and career readiness.
What you need to know
Course start date
September
Location
On campus
Course length
- 3 years full-time
Apply
W280
Typical offer
104 - 120 points
Fees
From £9,250 pa
Course features
- Collaborate on live client projects, harness cutting-edge technology and build your professional portfolio throughout your degree
- Industry practices are at the heart of our curriculum, preparing you for a successful career by building an impressive portfolio to share with future employers
- Dive deep into the latest technologies and techniques, becoming a technically astute designer who thrives in team environments
- Our industry-standard Digital Design Studio, equipped with Adobe and Certiport certifications, is your playground for innovation and skills development
Course details
Our aim is to shape 'confident learners' by enabling you to develop the skills needed to excel in your studies here and as well as onto further studies or the employment market.
You are taught primarily through a combination of lectures and seminars, allowing opportunities to discuss and develop your understanding of topics covered in lectures in smaller groups.
In addition to the formally scheduled contact time such as lectures and seminars etc.), you are encouraged to access academic support from staff within the course team and the wide range of services available to you within the University.
Independent Learning
Over the duration of your course, you will be expected to develop independent and critical learning, progressively building confidence and expertise through independent and collaborative research, problem-solving and analysis with the support of staff. You take responsibility for your own learning and are encouraged to make use of the wide range of available learning resources available.
Overall Workload
Your overall workload consists of class contact hours, independent learning and assessment activity.
While your actual contact hours may depend on the optional modules you select, the following information gives an indication of how much time you will need to allocate to different activities at each level of the course.
Year 1 (Level 4): Timetabled teaching and learning activity*
Teaching, learning and assessment: 288 hours
Independent learning: 912 hours
Year 2 (Level 5): Timetabled teaching and learning activity*
Teaching, learning and assessment: 288 hours
Independent learning: 912 hours
Year 3 (Level 6): Timetabled teaching and learning activity*
Teaching, learning and assessment: 240 hours
Independent learning: 888 hours
Placement: 72 hours
*Please note these are indicative hours for the course.
The Digital Media programmes are studio-based courses providing a working environment which mirrors industry practice whilst also affording good contact with peers and tutors doing studio based one-to-one teaching. The programme team are strongly in favour of learning by doing, so all modules are underpinned by practical project work. This not only provides you with an opportunity to practice newly-acquired skills and understanding but also an 'on task' means of assessing progress and the successful completion of modules.
Key features of the student experience are:
Opportunities to learn industry software, to gain certification from the major software companies such as Adobe, Apple and Autodesk.
Planning and exhibiting work in their own degree show 'TransMedia' to invited companies and have their own portfolio website.
Students are expected to attend digital media conferences/expo's such as Apps World, Eurogamer and Streaming Media to gain knowledge and experience of future technology and make important industry connections.
Teaching Hours
All class based teaching takes places between 9am – 6pm, Monday to Friday during term time. Wednesday afternoons are kept free from timetabled teaching for personal study time and for sports clubs and societies to train, meet and play matches. There may be some occasional learning opportunities (for example, an evening guest lecturer or performance) that take places outside of these hours for which you will be given forewarning.
Assessment
Our validated courses may adopt a range of means of assessing your learning. An indicative, and not necessarily comprehensive, list of assessment types you might encounter includes essays, portfolios, supervised independent work, presentations, written exams, or practical performances.
We ensure all students have an equal opportunity to achieve module learning outcomes. As such, where appropriate and necessary, students with recognised disabilities may have alternative assignments set that continue to test how successfully they have met the module's learning outcomes. Further details on assessment types used on the course you are interested in can be found on the course page, by attending an Open Day or Open Evening, or contacting our teaching staff.
Percentage of the course assessed by coursework
The assessment balance between examination and coursework depends to some extent on the optional modules you choose. The approximate percentage of the course assessed by different assessment modes is as follows:
Year 1 (Level 4)*:
54% coursework
46% practical assessment
Year 2 (Level 5)*:
89% coursework
11% practical assessment
Year 3 (Level 6)*:
67% coursework
33% practical assessment
*Please note these are indicative percentages and modes for the programme.
Modules
Please note the modules listed are correct at the time of publishing. The University cannot guarantee the availability of all modules listed and modules may be subject to change. The University will notify applicants of any changes made to the core modules listed. For further information please refer to winchester.ac.uk/termsandconditions
Modules
This module serves as a gateway to key design concepts and theories, empowering you to become a proficient design practitioner. Engage with self-learning materials that illuminate the effective use of essential design industry software. Through a series of stimulating tasks and exercises, you will develop and demonstrate your competence in design theories, software proficiency, and application skills, culminating in the creation of your own compelling portfolio website. With a focus on Design Thinking, User Experience (UX), User Interface (UI), and the practice of digitizing assets, you will unlock the secrets to crafting captivating multimedia content.
Are you ready to explore your creativity and work towards making an impact in the world of digital design? In this module, you'll embark on a journey exploring three captivating project briefs centered around interactive media and design for portable devices. You will also have the opportunity to collaborate with a multi-disciplined group of peers to craft innovative solutions for each project. As you delve deeper into the module, you’ll continue to work on the evolution of your own personal web presence, which will serve as a gateway to your specialism of Digital Media Design (DMD). Your individual website won't just showcase your work; it will become your professional digital portfolio, demonstrating your unique ideas, the development process behind them, and why they stand out in the industry.
It's time to explore and develop the full potential of your creative discipline by selecting an exciting competition or prestigious award to pursue. Through an immersive blend of online resources and expert-guided tutorials, we'll empower you to transform your chosen brief/award/competition into a outcome that answers the brief. Explore essential theories and cutting-edge software, equipping yourself with the tools to bring your ideas to life. Dive deep into the art of individual research and development, mastering the skills of sifting, evaluating, and refining your unique concepts. With a strong emphasis on the power of writing and sketching, you'll learn to present design proposals with confidence, while providing compelling reasoning and annotations for your creative decisions.
Whatever a student’s future career, there are certain professional skills that are required in the workplace. This module provides opportunities to acquire and apply essential skills for academic success, while also developing digital skills that are a prerequisite for a successful career. Students will practice, and build confidence in wide ranging skills, as part of their transition into higher education. By establishing and pursuing a personal development plan, students develop a set of personal qualities such as self-awareness, confidence and resilience; and professional skills such as communication, teamwork, risk management, coaching and feedback. Whilst students learn to construct outstanding CVs and professional LinkedIn profiles, this module also aims to raise students’ digital skills competencies. The module will cover the general Microsoft Office suite and specific digital skills of particular relevance to the discipline that the student is studying. This module is taught as a mix of lectures, practitioner guest lectures, hands-on skills seminars and computer lab sessions.
Modules
Embark on a transformative journey through our immersive module, "Mastering Design Skills for Creative Excellence." This module is designed to empower students in exploring, enhancing, and specialising in the software skills vital to their chosen areas of expertise. With a unique blend of UX principles and Design Thinking, students will dive into individual software-based tasks, enabling them to tailor their specialisation and elevate their professional profile. In the first semester, students will experiment with their discipline focus, either delving deeper into their core practice or venturing into new horizons, expanding their creative repertoire. Furthermore, the individual or group-based mini projects will serve a dual purpose, contributing to their Social Media campaign posts aimed at promoting your skills in the Mastering Design Skills for Creative Excellence module in the second semester.
In "Your Digital Influence: Strategic Self-Promotion" students embark on a social media campaign designed to showcase their skills and captivate a growing audience. By crafting compelling posts tailored to their specialized fields of study, students will establish an impressive online presence, bolstering their personal brand and attracting followers to both their chosen social media profile and mandatory LinkedIn profile. This individual project not only allows students to showcase their talents but also demonstrate their exceptional task management abilities to a wide-ranging audience. The ultimate goal? Garnering attention for their upcoming appearance at the annual Transmedia Exhibition.
In this module, students will engage in two collaborative client projects, one per semester, designed to introduce them to the user-focused and practical principles within their chosen specialist field of study. These projects will encompass diverse target audiences and contrasting objectives, enabling students to develop a discerning understanding of end-user needs and the technical requirements of the final product. The emphasis is on client-centered work, promoting collaborative teamwork across different disciplines.
In this module, Designing for Sustainable Cities and Communities, you will delve into the world of sustainable design and tackle one of the live RSA projects. You will have the opportunity to align your passion with your chosen area of expertise, pushing boundaries and shaping the future. Immerse yourself in the diverse range of RSA projects, carefully crafted to challenge and inspire you. Each project caters to distinct target audiences, ensuring you develop a critical mindset towards end users and their unique technical requirements. This individual project empowers you to specialize and enhance your skills while employing the principles of UX (User Experience) and Design Thinking for the greater good.
More information about this module will be available soon.
This module enables students to develop their understanding and competence in using diverse research methods for academic and professional purposes. Students will explore a variety of research approaches and will develop practical qualitative and quantitative research skills including defining and scoping a project; designing an effective and manageable research protocol; collecting data and using appropriate analysis methods. In addition, students will develop an appreciation of ethical implications of the research process to facilitate responsible research practice. Secondly this module aims to introduce students to the key stages required to complete an applied project from concept to delivery. Students will be taught how to manage a project and contribute effectively as a member of a project team, using ideas generation techniques and problem-solving skills to develop innovative solutions to business problems. This module contributes to the students continued professional development as students will gain key insights into how to perform technical process improvement tasks in a range of environments to solve business problems.
Modules
Enhance your creative potential with our Mastering Professional Design Software module. Dive into the world of industry-standard design software relevant to your discipline and gain a deep understanding of the key technologies that drive it. Through engaging self-learning materials and hands-on exercises, you'll develop and showcase your proficiency with these powerful software tools. Get ready to enhance your projects and elevate your portfolio to new heights. In addition - earn accredited software certifications (via CEDI) to bolster your portfolio and help make your CV stand out from the crowd
This module forms an important opportunity at Level 6, by taking charge of your learning journey at with our Designing for Impact: Working with your Creative Potential module. This transformative experience is your opportunity to collaborate with an industry partner of your choice and make a real impact through a client project (or several). Together with your tutors and industry professionals, you'll shape and define your own unique set of learning goals, tailored to your passions and aspirations.
Ignite your career prospects with a captivating professional portfolio that goes beyond a mere CV. In this module, you'll delve into the art of curating a standout portfolio that showcases your finest achievements and projects. Discover a range of software tools for creating both online and printed portfolios. Embrace the critical mindset required to select and explain your work effectively. Further enhance your creativity through workshops and simulated scenarios, learning how to present your portfolio with confidence and finesse. Gain invaluable insights for showcasing your work at the End of Year Exhibition, 'Transmedia Showcase.’
Embark on a journey of discovery and innovation as you dive deep into your industry. In this module, you'll unleash your creativity by undertaking a major practical project fueled by extensive research. Through a captivating case study, you'll explore and analyse key industry practices, uncovering the hidden gems that will shape your own project. As you prepare to enter the industry, you'll identify emerging trends and untapped opportunities within your chosen discipline, setting the stage for your future success. Get ready to elevate your skills and ignite your passion as you take the first steps towards a rewarding career in your chosen discipline
More information about this module will be available soon.
Optional Modules
Capstone Project - Dissertation
Capstone Project - Placement for Good
Capstone Project - Consultancy Project
Capstone Project - Start Up For Good
This module provides an exciting opportunity for students to draw on their learning across their programme, and work towards turning their pre commercial idea into a successful, sustainable, business enterprise, supported by a nine-month tenure within the Winchester Hatchery Incubator Programme.
The purpose of this module is to enable students to work with our team of enterprise and innovation experts to develop a viable start up business that has sustainability values at its’ core. The aim is to register the company within the period and launch the business.
By successfully completing this module students will gain a deeper understanding of what constitutes credible and ethical innovation research and have an invaluable insight into entrepreneurship.
Note: Access to this opportunity is via a selection process and is limited, subject to resource availability.
Entry requirements
Our offers are typically made using UCAS tariff points to allow you to include a range of level 3 qualifications and as a guide, the requirements for this course are equivalent to:
- A-Levels: BCC-BBB from 3 A Levels or equivalent grade combinations (e.g. BBB is comparable to ABC in terms of tariff points)
- BTEC/CTEC: MMM-DMM from BTEC or Cambridge Technical (CTEC) qualifications
- International Baccalaureate: To include a minimum of 2 Higher Level certificates at grade H4
- T Level: Pass (C or above on the core) in a T Level
Additionally, we accept tariff points achieved for many other qualifications, such as the Access to Higher Education Diploma, Scottish Highers, UAL Diploma/Extended Diploma and WJEC Applied Certificate/Diploma, to name a few. We also accept tariff points from smaller level 3 qualifications, up to a maximum of 32, from qualifications like the Extended Project (EP/EPQ), music or dance qualifications. To find out more about UCAS tariff points, including what your qualifications are worth, please visit UCAS.
In addition to level 3 study, the following GCSE’s are required:
GCSE English Language at grade 4 or C, or higher. Functional Skills at level 2 is accepted as an alternative, however Key Skills qualifications are not. If you hold another qualification, please get in touch and we will advise further.
If you will be over the age of 21 years of age at the beginning of your undergraduate study, you will be considered as a mature student. This means our offer may be different and any work or life experiences you have will be considered together with any qualifications you hold. UCAS have further information about studying as a mature student on the UCAS website which may be of interest.
If English is not your first language, a formal English language test will most likely be required and you will need to achieve the following:
- IELTS Academic at 5.5 overall with a minimum of 5.5 in all four components (for year 1 entry)
- We also accept other English language qualifications, such as IELTS Indicator, Pearson PTE Academic, Cambridge C1 Advanced and TOEFL iBT
If you are living outside of the UK or Europe, you can find out more about how to join this course by emailing our International Recruitment Team at International@winchester.ac.uk or calling +44 (0)1962 827023.
2025 Course Tuition Fees
| UK / Channel Islands / Isle of Man / Republic of Ireland |
International |
|
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | £9,250 | £16,700 |
| Year 2 | £9,250 | £16,700 |
| Year 3 | £9,250 | £16,700 |
| Total | £27,750 | £50,100 |
| Optional Sandwich Year* | £1,850 | £3,340 |
| Total with Sandwich Year | £29,600 | £53,440 |
Additional tuition fee information
If you are a UK student starting your degree in September 2025, the first year will cost you £9,250**. Based on this fee level, the indicative fees for a three-year degree would be £27,750 for UK students.
Remember, you don’t have to pay any of this upfront if you are able to get a tuition fee loan from the UK Government to cover the full cost of your fees each year.
UK Part-Time fees are calculated on a pro rata basis of the full-time fee for a 120 credit course. The fee for a single credit is £77.08 and a 15 credit module is £1,156. Part-time students can take up to a maximum 90 credits per year, so the maximum fee in a given year will be the government permitted maximum fee of £6,935.
International part-time fees are calculated on a pro rata basis of the full-time fee for a 120 credit course. The fee for a single credit is £139.14 and a 15 credit module is £2,087.
* Please note that not all courses offer an optional sandwich year.
**The University of Winchester will charge the maximum approved tuition fee per year.
Additional costs
As one of our students all of your teaching and assessments are included in your tuition fees, including, lectures/guest lectures and tutorials, seminars, laboratory sessions and specialist teaching facilities. You will also have access to a wide range of student support and IT services.
There might be additional costs you may encounter whilst studying. The following highlights the mandatory and optional costs for this course:
Optional
Coach trips
Students have the option to attend occasional coach trips to Exhibitions in London, usually 1 per year, possibly 2. (max total of 6 for the degree). It is sometimes possible to get use of the University minibus, however students will may need to pay a deposit for this. Indicative cost is £5 per trip.
Adobe ACA Certification
Students have the option to take a full online exam in Adobe certification during their degree. They can take up to 5 different exams over the duration of their course. Indicative cost is £30 per exam.
Printed portfolio
Students have the option to purchase an Extended Professional Portfolio in the second semester of their final year. Indicative cost is £30-40.
SCHOLARSHIPS, BURSARIES AND AWARDS
We have a variety of scholarship and bursaries available to support you financially with the cost of your course. To see if you’re eligible, please see our Scholarships and Awards.
CAREER PROSPECTS
Your career prospects are diverse, spanning graphic design, illustration, 3D visualisation, game design, computer-aided design, motion graphics, web design, app design, advertising, social media, heritage interpretation design, user experience design, and sustainable design.
For those with entrepreneurial aspirations, this course equips you to start your design company as a creative technologist and entrepreneur. You will have the knowledge to brand, market, and promote your venture through web and social media, making a lasting impact in the digital world.
Pre-approved for a Masters
If you study a Bachelor Honours degrees with us, you will be pre-approved to start a Masters degree at Winchester. To be eligible, you will need to apply by the end of March in the final year of your degree and meet the entry requirements of your chosen Masters degree.
OUR CAREERS SERVICE
"We get to engage with real clients when we make these projects."
