Certificate IV in Screen Media Online delivery

Overview

Whether it’s YouTube content creation, smartphone filmmaking or animation, the Certificate IV in Screen Media will help you discover your talent. You’ll learn successful approaches to smartphone filmmaking and content creation for social media and how being resourceful can help you create content on a shoestring budget. Learn the art of writing and pitching, storyboarding, as well as audio, video, and animation production. Classes are delivered fully synchronously online from the comfort of your home.

This course is also delivered in a blended on-campus/online mode, full-time over a 12-month period: Certificate IV in Screen and Media.

Get a copy of our course guide

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

Got questions about a course?

Don’t miss our Study Expo – the best place to chat with academics and teaching staff for answers to all your Swinburne questions, from entry requirements to graduation outcomes.

Learn more

Skills you’ll learn

Screen writing and pitching
Drawing and storyboarding
Smartphone sound recording and sound design
Cinematography and smartphone video production
Visual effects and 2D animation
Editing and post-production process

Your career opportunities

Social media content creator
Smartphone filmmaker and cinematographer
Sound recordist and sound designer
2D animation and special effects developer
Vision editor
Production assistant

Location options

Online

Further education

Why Swinburne?

The course is taught by award winning screen writers, cinematographers, directors, sound designers, editors, as well as animators.

Sources

"The Certificate IV in Screen and Media showed me the level of skill it takes to make high quality content. During pre-production I was taught how to use my own ideas and turn them into scripts and by the end of the year I turned those scripts into films. I thoroughly enjoyed my time studying this course and would highly recommend it to anyone interested in learning about all aspects of filmmaking.”

Lukas Yannoutsos , Certificate IV in Screen and Media Online

Admissions

Entry into this program is based on an applicant’s study and/or relevant work history, with a minimum Year 11 completion (or equivalent). Some additional criteria may also apply.

Applicants without formal qualifications but with significant relevant work experience are welcome to apply.

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 online studies, you are required to purchase or access the following equipment and technologies.

A Mobile Phone with at least Full HD 1920x1080p video recording capabilities, 4K preferred.
Headphone with microphone
Webcam or inbuilt Camera to access “Collaborate Ultra” within our online CANVAS leaning management system
Internet access
External Hard Drive (1TB minimum) for back up of your project work
All software such as Adobe Creative Cloud will be provided to all Swinburne Students

Computer recommendations: Laptop or Desktop (Win or Mac)

Component	Minimum Performance
GPU	4GB VRAM or more
CPU	4 Cores or more
RAM	16GB or more

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.

Certificate IV in Screen and Media

Discover more (Certificate IV in Screen and Media)
Certificate IV in Professional Writing and Editing

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

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

Course structure

This course will be suited to students who wish to develop their skills and knowledge in smartphone filmmaking and content creation for social media. Delivered fully online, the Certificate IV in Screen and Media consists of 13 units (4 core and 9 elective units) delivered part-time over 18 months (three semesters). Each semester is delivered over a period of 2 full days a week with both day and evening classes designed to provide flexible learning.

The Certificate IV in Screen and Media Online is specifically designed for a learner cohort with no or limited media experience. It aims to provide students with broad fundamental skills and knowledge of the screen and media industry, preparing students for entry level industry positions or higher-level qualifications.

Core units

Elective units

Certificate IV

Course hours are estimated and may change based on study mode, unit choice, credits, or enrolment adjustments, total indicative nominal hours: 735

Your units

Stage 1

Units of study	Unit code
Elective units
Produce drawings to communicate ideas Elective unit	CUAACD311
Create 2D digital animations Elective unit	CUAANM301
Produce innovative video art Elective unit	CUADIG416
Write extended stories Elective unit	CUAWRT402

Stage 2

Units of study	Unit code
Core units
Develop personal work priorities Core unit	BSBPEF402
Work effectively in the creative arts industry Core unit	CUAIND311
Apply work health and safety practices Core unit	CUAWHS312
Elective units
Create digital visual effects Elective unit	CUAANM412
Record sounds Elective unit	CUASOU405

Stage 3

Units of study	Unit code
Core units
Develop and implement own self-care plan in the creative industries Core unit	CUAMWB401
Elective units
Shoot material for screen productions Elective unit	CUACAM311
Generate design solutions Elective unit	CUADES411
Perform basic vision and sound editing Elective unit	CUAPOS211

2025 fees

Full fee* ($AUD)

$11,700

Skills first government-subsidised place* ($AUD)

$5,570

Concession rate* ($AUD)

$1,030

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

Concessions rates for vocational students

If you’re enrolling in a Certificate IV-level program or below, are eligible for a government-subsidised training place and hold a valid concession card, you may be eligible for a concession of 80 per cent off the published fee of your unit(s) tuition – which means you’ll only be charged 20 per cent of the published fee.

Learn more about concession rates

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

CUA41220

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

CUA41220

Apply directly

Start dates

Location

Last date to apply

Start dates

August intake

Online

30-July-2025

04-August-2025

Start dates

Location

Start dates

August intake

Online

04-August-2025

Upcoming events

Swinburne Study Expo (Wantirna)

28-May-2025

Swinburne Study Expo (Hawthorn)

05-June-2025

Swinburne Study Expo (Croydon)

11-June-2025

Overview

Entry requirements

Study structure

Fees & Scholarships

How to apply

Overview

Got questions about a course?

Skills you’ll learn

Your career opportunities

Location options

Further education

Why Swinburne?

Admission requirements

Need to undertake an English assessment for entry?

Stage 1

Stage 2

Stage 3

Fees are estimates only

Fees are estimates only