Advanced Diploma of Screen and Media - Film and Television

Overview

The Advanced Diploma of Screen and Media - Film and Television teaches students to produce creative media content with an emphasis on conceptual and technical production techniques. With a focus on industry practice; units cover production, planning, advanced cinematography, editing, visual effects, scriptwriting and directing.

Upon successful course completion students will be issued with the award qualification title – CUA60620 Advanced Diploma of Screen and Media.

Get a copy of our course guide

This is a nationally approved vocational course that is recognised throughout Australia.

Are you in high school?

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Skills you’ll learn

Cinematography
Editing
Visual Effects
Directing
Scriptwriting

Your career opportunities

Editor
Camera Operator
1st Assistant Director Production Designer
Production designer
Sound Recordist

Further education

Key codes

International student visa

International students in Australia who hold student visas are required to study full-time and on campus. Courses that are taught entirely online are only available to international students studying outside Australia or those in Australia who are not on a student visa. Online courses are not available to international students in Australia who hold a student visa.

Hawthorn VTAC code

3400278064

Location options

Hawthorn

Professional accreditations

Maggie's Experience at Swinburne

Maggies completed the Advanced Diploma of Screen and Media - Film and Television at Swinburne. Learn more about the experience.

Admissions

Successful completion of relevant diploma level qualification. Applicants with 18 months full-time relevant industry experience can provide a CV and submit a portfolio of work demonstrating evidence of the following skills/knowledge:

preproduction for screen and media, concept development and script writing
stages of production in the screen and media industry including WH&S industry practices
sound knowledge of HD camera and related equipment
sound production and sound recording
video recording and editing.

Applicants need to have completed CUAPPR515 - Maintain Safe Creative Practice (or equivalent unit)

Applicants that do not hold CUAPPR515 - Maintain Safe Creative Practice (or equivalent unit) must undertake this unit from the Diploma of Screen & Media - Animation in order to successfully complete the Advanced Diploma qualifications.

Successful completion of Australian Year 12, or equivalent overseas qualification.

Assess your eligibility for entry to Swinburne

Other requirements

Technical Requirements

To engage fully in your studies, you are required to purchase or access the following equipment and technologies.

Computer
Headphone with microphone
Camera through a computer connected to the internet to use “Collaborate Ultra” within the CANVAS Learning Management System
Internet access
External Hard Drive (1TB minimum)

When purchasing or accessing a computer we highly recommend the below specifications are considered either Apple Macintosh or Windows PC.

Computer recommendations:

Component	Minimum Performance	Top Performance
GPU	1080p: 4GB VRAM or 4K: 8GB VRAM	6K-8K: 20GB VRAM
CPU	4 Cores	18 Cores
RAM	HD: 16GB 4K: 32GB	6K-8K: 64GB
Internal Storage	1TB SSD	4TD: SSD

Admission requirements

Meeting the minimum entry requirements for the course does not guarantee an offer of a place. See admission requirements for general information about the admission process.

English language requirements

Satisfactory completion of one of the following:

IELTS overall band of 6.0 (Academic Module) with no individual band below 6.0
Swinburne’s English for Academic Purposes (EAP 5 Advanced level) with overall 65%, all skills 65% or above
or equivalent measures available at English language requirements.

Need to undertake an English assessment for entry?

A prerequisite for many courses, the Pearson Test of English (PTE Academic) can now be done at our Hawthorn campus.

Book your Pearson Test of English

Credit transfer

Credit transfer is the recognition of academic credits gained through formal study (i.e. units of competency) completed either at another institute or in another qualification. The total amount of credit will vary from individual to individual, based on the unit/s that have been successfully completed.

Learn more about credit

Recognition of prior learning

Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) is the process of transferring the skills and knowledge that you have acquired over your lifetime (irrespective of how they were obtained) against the requirements of the unit.

RPL is an assessment process that requires you to provide evidence that demonstrates how you meet the requirements of the unit/s. The amount and types of evidence you will need to provide will depend on the unit requirements.

Learn more about RPL

Finding your fit

At Swinburne, we recognise that not one size fits all. If this course doesn’t meet all your study criteria, check out these alternatives.

Advanced Diploma of Screen and Media - Animation

Discover more (Advanced Diploma of Screen and Media - Animation)
Certificate IV in Screen and Media

Discover more (Certificate IV in Screen and Media)
Diploma of Screen and Media - Film and Television

Discover more (Diploma of Screen and Media - Film and Television)

Course structure

Students must complete the four core and twelve elective units listed.

Core units

Elective units

Advanced Diploma

Course hours are estimated and may change based on study mode, unit choice, credits, or enrolment adjustments, total indicative nominal hours: 1010

Your units

Advanced Diploma of Screen and Media (Film and Television)

Units of study	Unit code
Core units
Work professionally in the creative arts industry Core unit	CUAIND611
Establish and maintain safe creative practice Core unit	CUAPPR515
Engage in the business of creative practice Core unit	CUAPPR613
Evolve ideas for professional creative work Core unit	CUAPPR615
Elective units
Design specifications for animation and digital visual effects Elective unit	CUAANM513
Direct cinematography for screen productions Elective unit	CUACAM611
Direct performers for screen productions Elective unit	CUADRT512
Establish creative vision for screen productions Elective unit	CUADRT611
Direct screen production crews Elective unit	CUADRT613
Develop lighting designs Elective unit	CUALGT514
Perform primary and secondary colour correction Elective unit	CUAPOS512
Collaborate in professional creative projects Elective unit	CUAPPR612
Extend expertise in a specialised art form to professional level Elective unit	CUAPPR616
Extend cultural research expertise Elective unit	CUARES612
Manage production of sound designs Elective unit	CUASOU611
Edit scripts Elective unit	CUAWRT602

2025 fees

Full fee* ($AUD)

$18,450

Skills first government-subsidised place* ($AUD)

$12,280

2025 fees

Fees are estimates only

Fees published on this page are estimates only and are subject to change depending on individual circumstances at the time of enrolment. The above fees apply for units studied in 2025 only and may change for units studied in future years. There may be additional costs related to learning material and equipment.

Fees are estimates only

The indicative course fees shown apply to international students for the relevant year, based on a standard study load per year. Fees are assessed according to actual study load each semester, with variations to study load resulting in tuition fee adjustments. These fees generally include the Student Services and Amenities Fee (SSAF) and are subject to annual review. Enrolled students will receive reasonable notice of any fee changes before payment is due.

Skills first government-subsidised place

This training is delivered with Victorian and Commonwealth Government funding. To qualify for a government-subsidised place, you must meet various eligibility criteria. The course you’ve applied for must also be offering government-subsidised places. Swinburne will determine your eligibility by conducting a full assessment of your eligibility during the course application process.

Learn more about Skills first government subsidies

How do I pay my fees?

You can pay your Swinburne fees in person, via credit card, BPAY, or at Australia Post. Check to see if loans and employer sponsored training are also available.

Find out more about fees

International students need to pay tuition fees up-front by the relevant due date. You can find the due dates on your Statement of Account.

To pay your fees:

log in to My Financials
check your Australian bank account details are correct
check your Statement of Account to see how much you owe
pay using your preferred payment method.

Learn more about paying your fees

Eligibility for VET student loans (VSL)

If you apply for a VET Student Loan, Swinburne must first verify your identity. If you are eligible, we will provide your enrolment information to the government so you can complete the application within their eCAF system.

The VET Student Loan amount for this course is capped. You must start repaying this loan once you earn above the compulsory repayment threshold.

Learn more about VET student loans

Concessions rates for vocational students

Concession rates for Diploma and Advanced Diploma programs are also available if you self-identify as being of Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander descent and qualify for a government-subsidised training place under the Indigenous Completions Initiative.

The eligibility criteria are set by the Victorian Government and assessed by Swinburne in accordance with government directives, which are subject to change at any time.

Learn more about concession rates

Student services and amenities fee

This funding serves to improve the student experience at Swinburne. You may use many or just some of the services and amenities that the fee provides.

From 1 January 2024, all courses at the Diploma level and higher will contribute to the Student Services and Amenities fee.

Please refer to the Student Services Amenities Fee page for more information.

This funding serves to improve the student experience at Swinburne. You may use many or just some of the services and amenities that the fee provides.

This amenities fee is included within your annual tuition fee listed above. The fee shown is the capped amount for 2025.

Please refer to the Student Services Amenities Fee page for more information.

SSAF fee* ($AUD)

$365.00

SSAF fee* ($AUD)

$365.00

Learn more about SSAF

Scholarships

Scholarship applications for 2025 are open. Scholarships at Swinburne are about providing opportunity, promoting equity and recognising excellence and achievement. We want you to reach your potential and achieve your life and career goals.

Our handy guide will assist you to gather documents for your application.

Learn more about scholarships

When you apply for a Swinburne course, we automatically consider you for an international scholarship of up to 30 per cent off your course fees – no separate application required! Just apply for your Swinburne course of choice and when we review your course application, we will also assess you for an international scholarship.

Learn more about scholarships

Apply through an agent

Most international students use an education agent to help them through the application process. Swinburne has agents all over the world that can help you with your application to study. Search for a Swinburne representative in your country. If your country is not listed, please contact us.

Representatives and agents

CUA60620

Search for agents

Apply directly

Ready to take on a new challenge and reach your academic goals? If you already know which course you want to study and understand the entry requirements, what are you waiting for? Apply online! Remember, you cannot apply direct if you have an active VTAC application.

Course code

CUA60620

Apply directly

Apply through VTAC

International students currently studying Year 12 in Australia must apply through VTAC. VTAC is the central office that administers the application processes for places in tertiary courses, scholarships and the Special Entry Access Scheme at universities, TAFEs and independent tertiary colleges in Victoria.

VTAC is the central office that administers the application processes for places in tertiary courses, scholarships and the Special Entry Access Scheme at universities, TAFEs and independent tertiary colleges in Victoria.

Apply through VTAC

Start dates

Location

Last date to apply

Start dates

Location

Start dates

Upcoming events

A Day in the Life of a Swinburne Student | Creative

08-April-2025

A Day in the Life of a Swinburne Student | STEM, Aviation & Health

09-April-2025

A Day in the Life of a Swinburne Student | Social Impact and Innovation

10-April-2025

- Film and television
Swinburne students land dream jobs at the ABC following internships

After completing internships at the ABC, two graduates of the Advanced Diploma of Screen and Media – Film and Television are thriving in permanent roles

Read more (Swinburne students land dream jobs at the ABC following internships)

Friday 09 April 2021
- Film and television
Blackmagic Design partners with Swinburne to broadcast Pause Fest 2020

A team of Swinburne VET graduates led the filming, live broadcast and editing of Pause Fest 2020

Read more (Blackmagic Design partners with Swinburne to broadcast Pause Fest 2020)

Monday 06 April 2020

Overview

Entry requirements

Study structure

Fees & Scholarships

How to apply

Overview

Are you in high school?

Skills you’ll learn

Your career opportunities

Further education

Key codes

International student visa

Location options

Professional accreditations

Australian Cinematographers Society (ACS)

Australian Directors Guild (ADG)

Australian Screen Editors Guild (ASE)

Screen Producers Association of Australia (SPAA)

Maggie's Experience at Swinburne

Admission requirements

Need to undertake an English assessment for entry?

Advanced Diploma of Screen and Media (Film and Television)

Fees are estimates only

Fees are estimates only

SSAF fee* ($AUD)

SSAF fee* ($AUD)