Key Info
Creative Media and Interaction Design Common Entry
This course may suit you if:
- You are interested in the digital audio and video art industry
- You are keen to know how digital technologies are used and how they can make a difference in people’s lives;
- You would like to combine highly technological skills with an artistic and creative endeavour
- You are interested in developing creative ideas into new interactive products;
- You enjoy learning about the latest advances that inform the digital arts domain
- You are interested in gaining technical expertise in digital media development, but want to integrate technical knowledge with social and design understanding
Why study Creative Media and Interaction Design at UL?
This programme allows you to take a variety of subjects centred on a human approach to computing technologies before deciding to choose a specific course. This route is designed to provide you with a gateway to better choice if you’re unsure which area you’d like to study. LM122 Creative Media and Interaction Design is a gateway from Semester 2 (Year 1) to a degree in either:
B.Sc. Music Media and Performance Technology
B.Sc. Digital Media Design
At UL, you get to try before you decide.
The BSc in Music, Media & Performance Technology develops the technical and creative skills required to be successful media practitioners in both the music, video and media industries. The aim of the programme is to equip students with the ability to make a significant contribution to the continuing development and growth of the media arts, media industries and more broadly across other sectors that use digital media technologies for creative applications.
The B.Sc. in Digital Media Design develops the technical, creative and analytical skills needed to be successful media practitioners in both the Irish and global digital media industries. The design of digital media for human use is a crucial skill in contemporary society: How to design the content and interaction for websites? How to improve the usability and usefulness of portable devices? How to design a new killer app for smartphones? How to create new ways to engage and connect people through the use of interactive technologies?
What you will Study
Each degree programme requires three years of study in addition to the one year for LM122. Creative Media and Interaction Design offers exposure to a variety of subjects relating to different areas of computing, art and interaction. Our well-equipped and modern laboratories will enable you to acquire the practical experience and skills, with confidence.
Subject areas covered in the first semester are;
Introduction to Digital Media
This module will introduce you to some of the seminal developments in technology and to provide a historical perspective on how these developments have impacted on human development.
Graphic Design
This module aims to introduce students to the principles behind graphic-design & animation and the practice of creating graphics and animations.
Media Programming 1
This module will familiarise media students with computer programming and make them aware of how it can be of benefit to them in their careers. You will learn how to write your own programs to create and manipulate images.
Sociology of Media
This module will give you a critical understanding of the mass media from a sociological viewpoint. It will introduce students to key aspects of the debate amongst social scientists about the workings and influence of the media. The course is structured upon an examination of these key areas as well as presenting examples of the various methodological approaches used by sociologists in their analysis of the mass media.
Technological Mathematics 1
This module will introduce the fundamental concepts of calculus and linear algebra, and help you to develop and integrate the basic mathematical skills relevant to technology.
You will follow a common first semester programme of study, and then you will specify your preference for either Music, Media and Performance Technology OR Digital Media Design. Access to your preferred course is unrestricted.
Entry Requirements
| CAO points history |
366
|
|---|---|
| Minimum grades |
Applicants are required to hold at the time of enrolment the established Leaving Certificate (or an approved equivalent) with a minimum of six subjects which must include: Two H5 (Higher Level) grades and Four O6 (Ordinary Level) grades or four H7 (Higher Level) grades. Subjects must include Mathematics, Irish or another language, and English. |
| Subject requirements |
In addition, applicants must hold a minimum grade O3/H7 in Mathematics. |
| Additional considerations |
A Special Mathematics Examination will be offered at UL following the Leaving Certificate results for those students who did not achieve the Mathematics requirement. We welcome applications from mature students. Mature applicants must apply through the Central Applications Office (CAO) by 1 February. Application information for mature student applicants (PDF) QQI EntryCertain QQI Awards are acceptable in fulfilling admission requirements for this programme. Visit the UL Undergraduate Admissions QQI site for a full list of modules. |
| Non-EU Entry Requirements |
Filters |
How to Apply
| Where are you applying from? | How to Apply |
|---|---|
| Ireland | Irish students must apply to UL via the CAO. More information can be found here. |
| The UK | Students who have completed their A-Levels can apply to UL via the CAO. More information can be found on the Academic Registry website. |
| The EU | EU students can apply to UL via the CAO. More information can be found on the Academic Registry website. |
| Non-EU country | If you are outside of the EU, you can apply for this degree here. |
Fees and Funding
Student course fees are broken into three components - Student contribution, Student Levy and Tuition Fees.
A number of illustrative examples of fees for this course based on the current fee levels have been set out in the tables below.
An explanation of the components, how to determine status and the criteria involved is provided below the examples as is a list of possible scholarships and funding available.
EU Students with Free fees status in receipt of a SUSI grant
| HEA pays | Tuition Fees | €4,262 |
| SUSI pays | Student contribution | €3,000 |
| Student pays | Student Levy | €96 |
| €7,358 |
EU Students with Free fees status not in receipt of a grant
| HEA pays | Tuition Fees | €4,262 |
| Student pays | Student contribution | €3,000 |
| Student pays | Student Levy | €96 |
| €7,358 |
Students with EU fee status not in receipt of a grant
| Student pays | Tuition Fees | €4,262 |
| Student pays | Student contribution | €3,000 |
| Student pays | Student Levy | €96 |
| €7,358 |
Non-EU Students
| Student pays | Tuition Fees | €17,104 |
| Student pays | Student Levy | €96 |
| €17,200 |
Student course fees are comprised of three components:
Student Contribution
Annual charge set by the government for all full-time third level students. All students are liable unless they have been approved for a grant by Student Universal Support Ireland (SUSI). Please refer to https://www.studentfinance.ie to determine your eligibility for a grant and for instructions on how to apply. The curent student contribution is set at €3000.
Student Levy
All students are liable to pay the Student Levy of €96. Please note the Student Levy is not covered by the SUSI Grant.
Tuition Fees
These are based on Residency, Citizenship, Course requirements.
Review the three groups of criteria to determine your fee status as follows
-
Residency
- You must have been living in an EU/EEA member state or Switzerland for at least 3 of the 5 years before starting your course
-
Citizenship
- You must be a citizen of an EU/EEA member state or Switzerland or have official refugee status
-
Course Requirements
(all must be met)
- You must be a first time full-time undergraduate (Exceptions are provided for students who hold a Level 6 or Level 7 qualification and are progressing to a Level 8 course in the same general area of study).
- You must be undertaking a full-time undergraduate course of at least 2 year’s duration
- You cannot be undertaking a repeat year of study at the same level unless evidence of exceptional circumstances eg serious illness is provided (in which case this condition may be waived)
Depending on how you meet these criteria your status will be one of the following -
- Free Fee Status: You satisfy all three categories (1, 2 and 3) and therefore are eligible for the Higher Education Authority’s Free Fees scheme.
- EU Fee Status: You satisfy the citizenship and/or residency criteria but fail to satisfy the course requirements and are liable to EU fees
- Non EU Fee Status: You do not meet either the citizenship or residency criteria and are therefore liable to Non EU fees.
More information about fees can be found on the Finance website
These scholarships are available for all courses
| Title | Award | Scholarships Available |
|---|---|---|
| All Ireland Scholarships - sponsored by J.P. McManus | €6,750 | 125 |
| Cooperative Education Award | 1 medal per faculty | |
| Elaine Fagan Scholarship | €5,000 | 5 |
| Financial Aid Fund | ||
| Higher Education Grants & VEC Grants | ||
| Paddy Dooley Rowing Scholarship | €2,500 | |
| Plassey Campus Centre Scholarship Programme | ||
| Provincial GAA Bursaries Scheme | €750 | |
| Stuart Mangan Scholarship | ||
| The Michael Hillery and Jacinta O’Brien Athletics Scholarship | Various benefits equating to over €7,000 in value | |
| UL Sports Scholarships | Varies depending on level of Scholarship | Multiple |
Your Future Career
The career opportunities will depend primarily on the BSc course chosen by you, typical areas are:
B.Sc. Music Media and Performance Technology
Multimedia Programmer-Artist; Software Developer for Digital Art Applications; Sound and Video Engineer; Video Editor; Audio- Visual Post Production; Radio and Television Broadcasting; Audio- Visual Artist; Researcher in Media, Music and Visuals
B.Sc. Digital Media Design
Interaction Designer; User Experience Designer; Web Designer; Social Media Specialist; User Interface Designer; Usability Specialist; Multimedia Developer; Multimedia Project Coordinator; Design Consultant; Interaction Design Researcher.
Both courses offer attractive postgraduate options, both nationally and internationally, leading to Masters and PhDs awards.