
Diploma in Creative Computing - Level 5 diploma *
Currently viewing course to start in 2025/26 Entry.
Creative Computing is designed to meet the growing industry demand for technically proficient, innovative, adaptable graduates. The course enhances key industry-valued skills to boost employment opportunities. If you're eager to explore cutting-edge technologies, elevate your skills, and stand out in your field, Creative Computing is for you....
- Level Top-Up Pathways
- Study mode Full Time
- Award Level 5 diploma
- Start date September 2025
- Location City Centre
This course is:
Open to International Students
Overview
Creative Computing is designed to meet the growing industry demand for technically proficient, innovative, adaptable graduates. The course enhances key industry-valued skills to boost employment opportunities. If you're eager to explore cutting-edge technologies, elevate your skills, and stand out in your field, Creative Computing is for you.
This unique one-year programme is open to all BCU students who have successfully completed the second year of their undergraduate degree. After completing Creative Computing, you’ll rejoin the final year of your degree, applying your newly acquired skills to elevate your studies and make a greater impact.
Delivered in partnership with staff from arts, computing, games and user experience, the course offers a balanced curriculum, allowing you to develop your creative and technical ability to become a creative problem solver who can reimagine possibilities, explore original ideas and exceed expectations.
Alongside the university’s internationally leading academics in immersive technologies, AI, inclusive technologies and accessibility, you will have access to state-of-the art facilities, such as creative studios, workshops, and high spec computer labs.
Discover how the fusion of art and technology is shaping the future of entertainment, education, healthcare and beyond by leveraging cutting-edge technologies such as generative AI, wearables, robotics, augmented/virtual reality and smart devices.
You will adopt industry practices and standards through hands-on project modules. Creating practical solutions that address current industry demands, culminating in a showcase of your work at our annual Innovation Festival, where industry guests will experience your products firsthand.
Collaborating in interdisciplinary teams will give you the opportunity to strengthen your communication, teamwork, critical thinking, leadership, and time management skills, key abilities highly valued in industry.
If you're eager to be at the cutting edge of art and technology, shaping the future to meet industry needs, then unleash your potential at Creative Computing.
What's covered in this course?
- Blend artistic vision with technological expertise to drive efficiency, enhance user experiences and unlock new possibilities across various sectors.
- Immerse yourself in the latest technologies, such as, wearables, robotics, augmented/virtual reality and smart devices to gain the edge in a rapidly evolving world.
- Apply human centred design processes for conceiving and designing inspiring and engaging user experiences.
- Collaborate in multidisciplinary teams to strengthen your communication, teamwork, critical thinking, leadership, and time management skills, key abilities highly valued in industry.
- Learn to harness the power of generative AI to drive innovation and automate processes with precision and creativity.
Technology permeates all facets of society. Understanding the capabilities and opportunities it brings to industry will be a key driver for growth going forward.
Sandeep Chahil – Senior Lecturer in Digital Media Computing
Why Choose Us?
- The course will provide you with access to our state-of-the-art facilities, such as creative studios, workshops, and high spec computer labs. Within these spaces you will develop exciting creative projects incorporating the latest technology, such as wearables, virtual/augmented reality and robotics.
- This unique one-year diploma is open to students from any discipline, empowering you to blend creative and technical skills to elevate your degree. Gain in-demand expertise that enhances your field of study and sets you apart in a competitive landscape.
- Tackle real-world industry challenges by applying your creative and technical expertise. This course equips you with the skills to identify pressing issues and innovate practical solutions that make a meaningful impact in today’s organisations.
- You will have the opportunity to collaborate on projects with students from other disciplines and to showcase your work at our annual Innovation Festival, where industry guests will experience your products firsthand.
Fees & How to Apply
UK students
Annual and modular tuition fees shown are applicable to the first year of study. The University reserves the right to increase fees for subsequent years of study in line with increases in inflation (capped at 5%) or to reflect changes in Government funding policies or changes agreed by Parliament.
International students
Annual and modular tuition fees shown are applicable to the first year of study. The University reserves the right to increase fees for subsequent years of study in line with increases in inflation (capped at 5%) or to reflect changes in Government funding policies or changes agreed by Parliament.
Course in Depth
Modules
This module introduces students to fundamental processes for conceiving and designing inspiring and engaging experiences for innovative digital applications, including: Design Thinking, systems-based design, design management, creative disruption, and design communication. Through a structured, collaborative, and hands-on approach to the design process, students will work in interdisciplinary teams to research, plan, ideate, and iterate an original concept around a selected broad design provocation.
The module provides practical experience in planning, designing, and conducting usability studies. You will learn how to capture user feedback effectively and incorporate key findings back into the design process to iterate and refine your prototypes. Emphasis is placed on an iterative workflow, enabling you to continuously improve designs in response to real-world challenges
This module introduces students to the fundamentals of creative coding practices as a means of bringing interactive digital experiences to life. Emphasising experimentation, play, and problem-solving through code, the module encourages students to approach programming as a flexible and expressive medium for exploring ideas and prototyping functionality.
This module introduces you to the design and development of immersive experiences by combining practical exploration of immersive technologies with fundamentals in interaction design concepts. Throughout the module, you will explore the unique design approaches and technological features specific to immersive platforms, including Virtual Reality (VR), Augmented Reality (AR), and Mixed Reality (MR).
This module explores the use of artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) in creative practices and technologies. Rather than focusing on technical implementation or programming AI models, students will critically engage with the possibilities, limitations, and implications of applying AI within creative contexts—ranging from art and design to music, media, coding, and interactive experiences.
Working both independently and in groups you will explore mini robotics, Arduino and creative coding and explore how these devices can interact, using software and sensors. You will explore both soft circuits – for wearable and haptic devices with Adafruit micro controllers - and hard circuits with Arduino controllers to communicate with other devices, as well as experimenting with projection mapping and TouchDesigner software.
Facilities & Staff
The course is supported with a wide range of cutting-edge facilities within the City Centre Campus. Our project spaces enable a collaborative atmosphere where students can cultivate teamwork and creativity, crucial for successful product design.
Alongside specialist spaces, such as the Maker Lab which contains 3D printers for rapid prototyping. We also have a dedicated motion capture (Mocap) lab, alongside which we provide resources like Oculus Quest, HTC Vive, and Microsoft HoloLens, enabling students to develop and test pioneering VR and AR experiences.
We also have many open access areas where students can study together and even hire out laptops for use in these spaces and others within the university.
Within the University there are many internationally recognised research teams giving you the opportunity to collaborate with them on exciting interdisciplinary projects.
Our staff
Sophie Hedderwick
Lecturer of Creative Technologies
Sophie is a multimedia artist/researcher, completing a practice research PhD at BCU, funded by M3C/AHRC. She has worked as a performer, textile designer and media artist, and her practice is a synthesis of the body, technology, and movement. Sophie designs and makes interactive and sensory installations, using photography, film, VR, and haptic...
More about SophieJay Patel
Senior Lecturer
Jay has been involved with the delivery of ERDF projects. Since the successful completion of these projects he has moved into teaching. He currently delivers a variety of modules such as Audio Visual Technology, Moving Image Technology and Mathematics for Media.
More about JayBecky Spittle
Throughout her doctoral studies, she has had her research included in top publication venues, namely IEEE International Symposium of Mixed and Augmented Reality (ISMAR) and IEEE Transactions on Visualization and Computer Graphics (TVCG). She has also been a key member of influential projects. Most recently, she was a facilitator during a series of...
More about BeckyRobert Sharl
Senior Lecturer
Robert Sharl is a Senior Lecturer in Visual Communications at Birmingham City University’s Faculty of Art, Design and Media. He is also Deputy Director for the MA in Visual Communication, and Course Coordinator for the University’s partner course in Visual Communications at the School for Higher and Professional Education (SHAPE) in Hong...
More about RobertDr Maite Frutos-Pascual
Lecturer in Digital Media Technology
Dr Maite Frutos-Pascual specialises in Human Computer Interaction (HCI), usability, user analysis, interactive systems and sensor data analysis and integration.
More about Maite