Diploma of Screen Media

The Diploma of Screen Media provides pathways into further study or employment.

Upon completion of the course, you are eligible to gain direct entry into Trimester 3 of the Bachelor of Screen Media degree. The course provides you with 60 credit points of the 180 credit points required for the Bachelor of Screen Media qualification.

Alternatively, it will qualify you for a wider range of entry-level assistant and junior roles in the screen media and creative industries, such as junior cinematographer, assistant director, assistant motion graphics designer, VFX assistance, and creative producer.

Building on the Undergraduate Certificate you’ll undertake a deeper exploration of cinematographic techniques, including advanced lighting, dynamic camera movements and visual composition. You’ll examine the relationship between images, design and refine your ability to craft compelling imagery through technical and creative decisions. You’ll be encouraged to develop creative projects that challenge and push the boundaries of moving image expression.

In meeting the challenges of the new media reality, you’ll learn to embrace AI to enhance both your creative production and theoretical learning and, to use it both ethically and creatively, from navigating AI bias to representation in storytelling.

This innovative course will start to build your skills, adaptability and confidence in the exciting and fast evolving world of digital media creation.

The Diploma of Screen Media is an accredited higher education qualification in visual media completed over two trimesters, or six months of full-time study. You’ll work through cinematographic technique, moving image projects and the practical use of AI in creative production, either on campus or online. Your diploma earns 60 of the 180 credit points required for the Bachelor of Screen Media. Eligible students may be able to use FEE-HELP for all or part of their tuition fees, subject to current eligibility requirements.

We designed the Diploma of Screen Media for people who want to build practical screen media skills through a focused diploma-level qualification. It suits you if you’ve completed our Undergraduate Certificate of Screen Media and want to go further, since the diploma continues directly from that course. This diploma also suits career changers and school leavers who want to develop capabilities relevant to junior and assistant-level pathways, or explore the field before deciding on further study.

You’ll learn advanced cinematographic technique and how to apply AI to your creative work. Our subjects cover:

• Advanced lighting

• Dynamic camera movements

• Visual composition

• The relationship between images and design

• Using AI ethically and creatively in your production and theoretical work

• Recognising AI bias and questioning representation in storytelling

You’ll apply all of it to your own moving image projects, where we encourage you to experiment with your own approach.

You can study the Diploma of Screen Media at PSC’s campus in South Melbourne, Victoria, or online from anywhere in Australia. Our campus at 37-47 Thistlethwaite Street is a short trip from the city centre, where you’ll work directly with lecturers and course equipment. Online students complete the same accredited qualification, with learning activities delivered through the online format.

You’ll learn to light a scene, move a camera deliberately and compose a shot that holds attention. Our lecturers will train you in those skills and guide you through your projects from the start, so you practise them on real projects. You’ll also study how images and design work together, so you can control what a shot communicates. You’ll also explore how AI tools can support contemporary creative production, with attention to their ethical and practical use.

Yes, you’ll work on your own creative projects across the two trimesters, working with advanced lighting, camera movement and visual composition as you go. We encourage you to experiment on those projects, so your work shows both your technical skills and creative interests. You’ll finish with a body of work that can support applications for junior and assistant-level opportunities.

Yes. Completing the Diploma of Screen Media makes you eligible for direct entry into Trimester 3 of the Bachelor of Screen Media, with 60 of the 180 credit points that degree requires already behind you. You’d start the degree partway through the first year, so completing the diploma shortens the time required to complete the full bachelor’s.

The Diploma of Screen Media may suit you if you want to build practical screen production skills and prepare for junior or assistant-level opportunities in the creative industries. You can also use the diploma as a pathway into the Bachelor of Screen Media, with eligible credit carrying into the degree.