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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

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

Please select your student status to view fees and apply
  • UK Student
  • International Student

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.

Award: Level 5 diploma

Starting: Sep 2025

  • Mode
  • Duration
  • Fees

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.

Award: Level 5 diploma

Starting: Sep 2025

  • Mode
  • Duration
  • Fees

Access to computer equipment 

You will require use of a laptop, and most students do prefer to have their own. However, you can borrow a laptop from the university or use one of our shared computer rooms. 

Printing 

You will receive £5 print credit in each year of your course, available after enrolment. 

Access to Microsoft Office 365 

Every student at the University can download a free copy of Microsoft Office 365 to use whilst at university and for 18 months after graduation. 

Key software 

You will be able to download SPSS and Nvivo to your home computer to support with your studies and research. 

Key subscriptions 

Subscriptions to key journals and websites are available through our library. 

Free Adobe Creative Cloud licence 

Students studying on this course can request a free licence to install the entire suite of applications on up to two personal devices. 

Microsoft Certifications (optional) 

The exams required to gain Microsoft Office (MOS), Microsoft Technical Certification (MTC) and Microsoft Technical Associate (MTA) certifications are currently free for our students. We also provide free self-paced resources and access to practice exams via dedicated Moodle pages.  

Excess printing (optional) 

Once you have spent your £5 credit, additional printing on campus costs from 5p per sheet. 

Accommodation and living costs (optional)

The cost of accommodation and other living costs are not included within your course fees. More information on the cost of accommodation can be found in our accommodation pages.

Course in Depth

Modules

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 Sophie

Jay 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 Jay

Becky 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 Becky

Robert 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...

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Dr 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

Enquiries