OCR Level 3 Cambridge Technicals in Digital Media

Programme outline 

This is a vocational qualification designed to provide students with the practical skills and knowledge required for the digital media industry. It is equivalent to A Levels and carries UCAS Tarif points for university progression.  It focuses on industry-relevant skills, spanning pre-production, planning, and content creation (moving image, audio, interactive) The course is delivered through a mix of externally examined and internally assessed units. Key Skills Covered: Research, target audience analysis, storyboarding, scriptwriting, camera techniques, editing, sound production, and pitching. 

Qualification Structure 

The suite consists of five varied sizes of qualifications, allowing for flexible study programmes:  

Certificate 
Extended Certificate 
Foundation Diploma 
Diploma 
Extended Diploma 

Core Mandatory Units 

Most pathways include these primary mandatory units:  

Unit 1: Media products and audiences (Examined) – Understanding media institutions, ownership models, and audience research. 

Unit 2: Pre-production and planning (Examined) – Covering legal, ethical, and regulatory requirements (e.g., W3C, copyright). 

Unit 3: Create a media product (Internally assessed) – Hands-on creation from planning through to post-production. 

Specialist Pathways (Diplomas Only) 

Larger qualifications (Foundation Diploma and above) allow students to specialise in specific areas:  

Digital Content for Interactive Media: Focuses on game design, social media marketing, and web development. 

Moving Image and Audio Production: Focuses on TV, short film production, and radio.  

Entry Requirements: 

Students looking for a practical, work-related qualification 

Students looking to go into further/higher education 

Typically requires GCSEs at grade 4 or above in Maths and English or working towards this. 

Desirable - Level 2 qualification in a relevant subject. 

Progression 

This is a vocational qualification designed for learners aged 16+ to develop practical skills, knowledge, and understanding for the media industry. It is structured to provide clear progression routes into higher education (media-related degrees), apprenticeships, or direct employment within the sector. 

Equivalent in A levels 

Certificate -1 AS Level 

Extended Certificate - 1 A Level 

Foundation Diploma -1.5 A Levels 

Diploma - 2 A Levels