Creative and Digital Media - Access to Higher Education Diploma

If you would like to study creative or digital media at university but left school without the qualifications you need, then this Access to HE course could be for you. Each year, over 20,000 Access to HE students apply for a degree course at a UK university; if you go on to complete a relevant degree at university, your Advanced Learner Loan will be written off by Student Finance England.

This course will help you get the qualifications you need to study creative and digital media, or a related course, at university.

You will learn study skills such as note-taking, essay writing, reading and research, preparation for exams and oral presentation.

You will be supported throughout the course by a personal tutor who will also give you guidance in applying for Higher Education courses.

Topics covered can include:

• Digital editing for moving image
• Digital sound and image capture
• Digital special effects
• Media and popular culture
• Reportage photography project
• Digital images - manipulation and output
• Digital animation
• Individual project - process and realisation

You will need:

• To be aged 19 or older
• GCSE English and Maths at grade 4 or above (or A*-C); however, you will be considered for the course if you have one GCSE at grade A*-C in Maths or English with the offer of GCSE classes in addition to the course.

All applicants must have an interview to confirm that the course is suitable for them.

This course is assessed through coursework assignments, tests and examinations throughout the course, which are set and marked by your teachers and externally moderated by OCN London.

Assessment is continuous over the whole year and is based on several set pieces of work such as essays, projects, presentations and tests.

Adults - Access to Higher Education

If you will be aged 19 to 23 prior to the start date of your course, and do not already have a full Level 3 qualification, you may be eligible for a Level 3 entitlement, in which case your study with us will be free. Otherwise, you will have to pay the fees yourself or apply for an Advanced Learner Loan.

Please see here for the documents you will need to show us.

Some courses will have other associated costs, such as for specialist materials and trips. Many of our students are eligible for financial support, see here for details.

If you are aged 19-24 and this is your first Level 3 course, you may be eligible for free tuition. 

If you are 24 years or older you will need to apply for an Advanced Learner Loan. Student Finance England will ‘write off’ any outstanding Advanced Learner Loan balances you owe for an Access to HE course once you complete a higher education course. This means you do not have to repay it if you complete your University degree course. 

Once you have completed your Access to HE course, you can progress to a Higher Education degree at a university or college. 

You should check requirements for specific degree courses - different Higher Education institutions may have different entry requirements for similar courses.

Clare started off her career as a commercial painter, painting murals, frescoes and ‘Trompe’L’Oeil’ paintings. Commissions included Europe, The Middle East and The US. She started teaching Contextual Studies in Creative Media, and Art and Design. She then taught A Level Media Theory and is currently teaching Humanities (African and Caribbean studies) at Access Level, Study Skills also at Access Level (commercial and academic writing for Creative and Digital Media) and Art A Level and Art History.

She previously worked as Programme Leader for Broadcasting and Journalism at the University of West London for 8 years, where she was awarded an HEFA (Higher Education Fellowship Award) from the University of West London. She also has a BA in Combined Arts from Brighton University and a CELTA from the British Council Bogota.

Her industry experience includes presenting work for Channel 4, Channel 5, Sky, BBC, Carlton, and ITV. Film and documentary work for Channel 4, which includes an Award-winning documentary focusing on adoption called ‘The Colour of Love’, ‘Mission Divine’- a film based in India, and several ‘Travelogue’ films.

Appearances on Radio 4,5, LBC as well as being a freelance journalist, commissioned by The Guardian, The Observer, The Sunday and Financial Times, The Voice, The New Nation, Red Magazine, Marie Claire, Cosmopolitan, and a stint as editor for ‘Pride’ magazine.

Valentina joined Westminster Kingsway College in 2015, teaching Creative Media across the Digital Media department. In September 2023 they became the course leader of the Access to HE Creative Media course. 

After completing their Diploma in Photography at Riccardo Bauer School of Photography of Milan, Valentina moved to New York to progress their portfolio. This was a significant turning point – Valentina discovered their passion for teaching, whilst working as a teacher assistant at the International Center of Photography, Upon returning to Italy, Valentina's home country, they worked for a variety of commissions including Grazia Neri Photo Pres Agency, Universal Music, Milano Film Festival and Pirelli P Zero Photo.

In 2006 Valentina moved to London to start a Master's course in Documentary Photography at London College of Communication. From 2010 to 2014 they directed Fotosynthesis C.I.C., a non-profit organisation that uses participatory photography for positive social change.

In 2014 Valentina undertook a Postgraduate Certificate in Education at the University of Greenwich. Valentina is currently working on an ongoing documentary project about an Irish traveller community based in East London.

At Westminster Kingsway College they have been able to continue nurturing and developing her passion for teaching Creative Media, as a way to empower and give a voice to people.

The teachers listed may change, these shown are an example of the teachers who teach on these programmes.

If you would like to study creative or digital media at university but left school without the qualifications you need, then this Access to HE course could be for you. Each year, over 20,000 Access to HE students apply for a degree course at a UK university; if you go on to complete a relevant degree at university, your Advanced Learner Loan will be written off by Student Finance England.

This course will help you get the qualifications you need to study creative and digital media, or a related course, at university.

You will learn study skills such as note-taking, essay writing, reading and research, preparation for exams and oral presentation.

You will be supported throughout the course by a personal tutor who will also give you guidance in applying for Higher Education courses.

Topics covered can include:

• Digital editing for moving image
• Digital sound and image capture
• Digital special effects
• Media and popular culture
• Reportage photography project
• Digital images - manipulation and output
• Digital animation
• Individual project - process and realisation

You will need:

• To be aged 19 or older
• GCSE English and Maths at grade 4 or above (or A*-C); however, you will be considered for the course if you have one GCSE at grade A*-C in Maths or English with the offer of GCSE classes in addition to the course.

All applicants must have an interview to confirm that the course is suitable for them.

This course is assessed through coursework assignments, tests and examinations throughout the course, which are set and marked by your teachers and externally moderated by OCN London.

Assessment is continuous over the whole year and is based on several set pieces of work such as essays, projects, presentations and tests.

Adults - Access to Higher Education

If you will be aged 19 to 23 prior to the start date of your course, and do not already have a full Level 3 qualification, you may be eligible for a Level 3 entitlement, in which case your study with us will be free. Otherwise, you will have to pay the fees yourself or apply for an Advanced Learner Loan.

Please see here for the documents you will need to show us.

Some courses will have other associated costs, such as for specialist materials and trips. Many of our students are eligible for financial support, see here for details.

If you are aged 19-24 and this is your first Level 3 course, you may be eligible for free tuition. 

If you are 24 years or older you will need to apply for an Advanced Learner Loan. Student Finance England will ‘write off’ any outstanding Advanced Learner Loan balances you owe for an Access to HE course once you complete a higher education course. This means you do not have to repay it if you complete your University degree course. 

Once you have completed your Access to HE course, you can progress to a Higher Education degree at a university or college. 

You should check requirements for specific degree courses - different Higher Education institutions may have different entry requirements for similar courses.