Course Description
Digital Film Communications
Duration
This is a Full-time one-year course, which runs from September to May. Exact details of the timetable will be given out to students during the induction process prior to class commencement in September.
Overview
***Starting September 2025 *** This course is an excellent foundation for Film and Television degrees in; IADT (National Film School), DCU,, TU Dublin, and other Higher Education Institutes and Universities. Students will acquire practical skills in both Film and Television Production, including single-camera production, non-linear-editing (NLE) for film and video. Radio Podcasting and Research skills will enhance their production skills with sound and content creation.
Students on this course will be based using the Adobe Creative Cloud NLE systems. Digital Photography will compliment their production skills and visual storytelling and through the study of Media Analysis, students gain knowledge of how the relationship between the producer, the financing, and the audience impact one another. These skills will be evidenced in a portfolio of work including Film, Podcasting and Photography. This portfolio of work may be used for progression applications to degree programmes elsewhere.
Entry Requirements
One of the following:
- Leaving Certificate (LC Established, LCVP, LCA) or equivalent
- A Full Level 4 QQI Award (or equivalent)
- For mature applicants (aged 21 or over) – appropriate experience will be considered in lieu of formal qualifications. Note: Mature applicants may be entitled to VTOS funding. For details about VTOS, please contact the college.
- Applicants whose first language is not English require level B2 competency on the CEFR language framework. Applicants may be required to undergo English language testing to establish their language competency.
Certification
- Level 5 QQI Award Film and Television Production (5M18519)
Special Features
This course is supported by FIT, which offers students the opportunity to acquire essential skills to gain employment. Students are given training in job interview techniques and CV preparation.
Free Full Suit of Adobe Creative Cloud Software for all students on this course for one year to facilitate portfolio and assessment work. Training in Adobe Premiere Pro, Adobe Audition and Adobe Lightroom within course subjects.
All DFEi students are provided with an M365 account, which gives them access to the tools and resources needed to deliver assessment work while attending their course. M365 Apps include Word, PowerPoint, Excel, Outlook and OneDrive.
Graduates of this course will have a portfolio of Text, Video and Radio/Podcast and Photography material.
Work Experience
Students will be required to undertake a period of work placement in an organisation connected to their vocational area during the academic year. Work Experience is mandatory for all of our full-time Level 5 courses. Students are required to source their own work placement but will be assisted in this by the work experience teacher. The work placement is usually for a period of 10 days or a minimum of 60 hours. Students usually find the work experience element of the course to be invaluable and should bear in mind that a successful work placement can sometimes lead to further opportunities.
Additional Information
Assessment
Assessment techniques will be used to assess the knowledge and skills that students will have achieved on successful completion of modules:
- Student Record
- Collection of Work
- Assignments
- Examination (Written)
- Project
- Skills Demonstration
A full major award is granted on passing the relevant eight components. On successful completion of each component, you will be awarded a pass, a merit or a distinction grade. See www.qqi.ie for more details
Visit our youtube podcast channel here
Progression Opportunities
DFEi: Graduates may progress to the Level 6 QQI Advanced Certificate in Television and Digital Film at DFEi.
Elsewhere: Graduates are eligible to apply through the CAO and/or the Higher Education Links Scheme for entry to year one of a range of higher certificate and degree programmes, at Universities, Institutes of Technology and Technological Universities using their full QQI Level 5 major award. Places are not guaranteed in these Institutes and are subject to students meeting certain criteria. It is the student’s responsibility to consult with the relevant HEI for information on the admissions process and any specific entry requirements. Students may also refer to the individual HEI prospectus or may also refer to the QQI FET section of the CAO website. www.cao.ie
Examples of CAO progression opportunities are listed below.
This course has a strong record of progression with graduates going on to study Media at DCU, TU Dublin and IADT.
Progression Examples
BA Film – National Film School (DL843)
BA Television – National Film School (DL844)
BA New Media Studies (DL837)
BA English and Media Studies (DL849)
Film (Joint International programme) (DL856)
BA Photography and Visual Media (DL833)
Dún Laoghaire Institute of Art, Design and Technology – www.iadt.ie
BA Media Production and Digital Arts (TU982)
Technological University Dublin (Tallaght) – www.tud.ie
BA in Film and Television Production (DK864)
BA Creative Media (DK863, DK769)
Dundalk Institute of Technology – www.dkit.ie
BSc TV and Media Production (SE208, SE212)
South East Technological University (Carlow Campus) – www.Setu.ie
Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in Film and Documentary ( AU615)
Atlantic Technological University – Galway City
BA Media Studies (MH109)
BA Arts (MH101)
BA Pscyhology (MH106)
Bachelor of Social Science (MH107)
Maynooth University – www.nuimaynooth.ie
BA Film and Broadcasting (TU983)
BA Photography (Portfolio) (TU976)
Technological University Dublin (City) – www.tud.ie
BA Communication Studies (DC131)
BSc Multimedia (DC133)
Dublin City University – www.dcu.ie
BA Arts Journalism (GY119)
BA Arts (Film and Digital Media) (GY127)
BA Arts Global Media (GY135)
Galway University – www.nuigalway.ie
Career Paths
Graduates usually choose to advance to further studies, while others have gained employment as freelance or staff journalists, writing or editing content for online and print publications. They may also pursue careers as content creators for website and social media clients.
| College | Dun Laoghaire Further Education Institute |
| Course Location | Dun Laoghaire, Dublin |
| Location Postcode | Co. Dublin |
| Course Category | Journalism, Media |
| Course Type | Classroom Based |
| Course Qualification | Level 5 Certificate |
| Awarding Body | QQI |
| Awarding Body Details | Level 5 QQI Award Journalism |
| Course Start Date | 15th September 2025 |
| Course End Date | 30th May 2025 |
| Course Duration | One year full time |
| Course Time | This is a Full time one year course, which runs from September to May. |
| Course Fee | 50.00 |
| Entry Requirements | One of the following: • Leaving Certificate (LC Established, LCVP, LCA) or equivalent • A Full Level 4 QQI Award (or Equivalent) • For Mature applicants (aged 21 or over) - appropriate experience will be considered in lieu of formal qualifications are welcome. Note: Mature applicants may be entitled to VTOS funding. For details about VTOS, please contact the college. . Applicants whose first language is not English require level B2 competency on the CEFR language framework. Applicants may be required to undergo English language testing to establish their language competency. |
| Carear Path | Graduates usually choose to advance to further studies, while others have gained employment as freelance or staff journalists, writing or editing content for online and print publications. They may also pursue careers as content creators for website and social media clients. |
| Phone | 012809676 |
| Course Code | 5M2464 |
Course Provider
Dun Laoghaire Further Education Institute
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Dun Laoghaire Further Education Institute
Dún Laoghaire, Dun Laoghaire, Dublin
Republic of Ireland
