Rockschool music qualifications are tailor-made for the contemporary musician.
Creative Digital Media
RSL’s Creative Digital Media qualifications prepare learners for their entry into this world and arm them with the knowledge and skills to successfully navigate this exciting and ever-evolving industry.
RSL VQ already operates in over 600 schools and colleges globally and these new Creative Digital Media qualifications build on the successful model of unit choice, up-to-date assessment practice, and rely on industry professionals for the creation and review of all content.
Vocational Qualifications
Creative Digital Media
Run qualifications which lead to larger cohorts, greater engagement amongst students and industry relevant learning and assessment across Creative Digital Media.
Designed by industry professionals, and updated to match developments in the fast-moving sector, our Creative Digital Media qualifications span a range of sizes at Levels 1-3. With pathways in Interactive Digital Media, Games Design and Social Media and hundreds of units covering a range of industry specialisms, these qualifications give your learners the opportunity to develop and apply their practical skills within an industry-relevant context.
The value of the creative industries to the UK has grown at nearly twice the rate of the economy since 2010 – at the end of 2018, it was valued at £105.5 billion. This increase has been driven in part by a boom in the computer services sub-sector, including video games and social media platforms.
– Department of Digital, Culture, Media and Sport- GVA Report, November 2018
How it works
Get started with RSL’s Vocational Qualifications in three simple steps…
01
Download the syllabus pack
Download the syllabus pack to review the requirements and processes for this qualification suite.
02
Build your qualification
Tailor your courses to your learners needs and centre’s expertise with our Core Units and innovative Optional Units.
03
Submit centre approval application
Ready to deliver? Submit your centre approval application via our website
Pathway Information
The Creative Digital Media suite of qualifications focuses on the recognition of achievement through practical creative digital media skills, business and marketing skills and creative design skills, as well as offering flexibility of unit combination.
Creative Digital Media is split into three pathways: Interactive Digital Media, Game Design and Social Media (Levels 2 and 3 only). Each pathway embodies a specific profile of study and this informs the core unit choices, which you are guided to make. Learners will be led by centres when choosing the pathway options available to them, and the units within their chosen pathway.
Core Units
Click through the pathway titles to see the Core Units at each level associated with that pathway…
Level 1
Interactive Digital Media
Level 2
Interactive Digital Media Production Technique
Level 3
Producing a Digital Media Product or Service
Level 1
Games Production Techniques
Level 2
Digital Games Production
Level 3
Creating Digital Games
Level 2
Creating and Publishing Digital Content
Level 3
Creating and Publishing Digital Content
Optional & Skills Units
In addition to the mandatory core units, learners can select from a number of optional units, which are open to all pathways. The number of optional units selected will depend on the chosen type of final award. Learners can also take additional ‘core’ units, from any of the pathways, which will be considered as optional units within the qualification.
Please scroll through a selection of unit examples below. Download the syllabus pack to explore the full list of optional and skills units available at each level.
Qualification Titles & Structure
RSL endeavour to provide qualifications at each level which will fit with the needs of centres and learners. We design qualifications which learners can build upon, and that centres can timetable in to a wider programme of study or as a full time course. With our flexible approach to the combination of mandatory and optional content, our qualifications can be tailored to your needs. From a 60 guided learning hour Award at Level 1 through to over 1000 guided learning hours on one of our Level 3 Extended Diplomas, you are sure to find the right qualification size for you.
Level 1
Game Design and Interactive Digital Media pathways are available at Level 1. Centre or learner chooses one.
| Qualification Titles | Guided Learning Hours (GLH) | Total Qualification Time (TQT) | Core Units |
|---|---|---|---|
| Level 1 Award in Creative Digital Media | 60 | 100 | 1 |
| Level 1 Certificate in Creative Digital Media | 120 | 200 | 1 |
| Level 1 Extended Certificate in Creative Digital Media | 180 | 300 | 1 |
Level 2
All pathways available. Centre or learner chooses one.
| Qualification Titles | Guided Learning Hours (GLH) | Total Qualification Time (TQT) | Core Units |
|---|---|---|---|
| Level 2 Award in Creative Digital Media | 60 | 100 | 1 |
| Level 2 Certificate in Creative Digital Media | 120 | 200 | 1 |
| Level 2 Extended Certificate in Creative Digital Media | 180 | 300 | 1 |
| Level 2 Diploma in Creative Digital Media | 480 | 900 | 1 |
Level 3
All pathways available. Centre or learner chooses one.
| Qualification Titles | Guided Learning Hours (GLH) | Total Qualification Time (TQT) | Core Units |
|---|---|---|---|
| Level 3 Award in Creative Digital Media | 90 | 150 | 1 |
| Level 3 Certificate in Creative Digital Media | 210 | 350 | 1 |
| Level 3 Extended Certificate in Creative Digital Media | 360 | 600 | 1 |
| Level 3 Subsidiary Diploma in Creative Digital Media | 540 | 900 | 1 |
| Level 3 Diploma in Creative Digital Media | 720 | 1200 | 2 |
| Level 3 Extended Diploma in Creative Digital Media | 1080 | 1800 | 2 |
For Performance Tables qualifications click here.:
Level 3 Tech Levels for Music Practitioners (Confirmed for DfE Performance Tables Until 2023)
Why RSL Vocational Qualifications?
Developed in collaboration with industry experts to reflect the fast-moving Creative Industries sector, RSL’s VQs are practically-focused, and contain a wide range units and criteria accurately mapping to specific careers. They provide engaging assessment opportunities for learners that focus on the application of practical and/or technical skills.
Recognition
All Level 3 qualifications carry up to 168 UCAS points allowing opportunities for HE progression, and Level 4/5 qualifications can be topped up at a variety of the UK’s specialist HE providers.
Flexible Choice
We have a huge range of units to choose from at Level 3 providing unrivalled flexibility of delivery. The range of optional units are designed to equip learners with a well-rounded understanding of the Creative Industries.
Fair and Practical Assessment
All assessment is based around practical and/or technical skills and knowledge applicable to roles in the Creative Industries. Learners are graded according to where the majority of their grading sits, resulting in holistic, best-fit assessment.
Current
No set works, or genre/repertoire restrictions, learners can study the genres they are interested in, allowing deeper focus on content that excites them.
Tailored Delivery
Build a course that’s tailored to your learners’ needs whilst maximising your centre’s resources and expertise.
Funding
RSL has a huge range of qualifications at each level which are funded for delivery in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. RSL qualifications are also available for funded delivery in Scotland in certain settings at certain levels. Get in touch for more info.
Help, Support & Quality Assurance
You will get access to RSL’s Help & Support portal, containing multiple QA resources, guidance documents, templates and exemplar materials, plus footage from previously recorded CPD events.
Centres have contact with two allocated RSL Quality Assurance representatives from the start of delivery all the way through to certification. These named contacts will offer the following services to support centre delivery:
- Annual centre visit – a supportive process designed to monitor and review the way in which qualifications are planned and delivered
- A point of contact for subject-specific academic queries throughout delivery
- Building of a strong relationship throughout the duration of the qualification, resulting in moderation of your learner evidence with a known, named contact already familiar with your centre
UCAS Points
RSL Awards’ Vocational Qualifications aid progression into Higher Education. We have a huge range of qualifications at Level 3 that carry UCAS Points. Click the button below to see the allocation of UCAS Points per qualification size and suite.
Changing Awarding Organisations
Moving over to RSL Awards Vocational Qualifications is easy! Just follow these three simple steps…
1. Submit a preliminary application form.
This is found here. Once you have submitted this, our team will be in touch with some login credentials for our website, along with details of the next step.
2. Prepare your full centre approval application for submission.
Our centre approval application pack details all supporting documents that need to be included, along with a guidance document for completing the form itself.
3. Approval complete!
If the application is complete our team will be in touch to inform you of your new status as an approved RSL Awards delivery centre!
Progression and Support
The Creative sector is a huge employer and contributor to the UK economy.
Learners undertaking RSL’s Creative Digital Media qualifications can progress into employment or further training enabling them to find a role in this dynamic and growing workforce.
The UK Creative Industries as a whole contributed £101.5bn to the economy in 2017.
Of this, £40.5bn came from the Games and Software sector with a further £13bn coming from the Advertising Industry.
RSL’s Creative Digital Media qualifications cover the knowledge and skills to progress into both industries or further training centred on those sectors.
Pathways in these qualifications cover the following industries, leading to a number of subject-specific job roles:
Digital Games (e.g. programmer, games designer, games tester, character modeller, rigger, animator)
Interactive Digital Media (e.g. editor, animator, developer, web designer, sound designer, electronic music producer)
Social Media (e.g., social media manager, media campaigner, content creator, community manager)
Learners may also want to access apprenticeships such as ‘Creative Digital Design Professional’, ‘Junior Content Producer’ or ‘Media Production Co-ordinator’.
There are countless degree programmes which would also represent a natural progression upon completion of an RSL Level 3 Creative Digital Media qualification.
There are 294 HE Courses offered in Games Design alone at UK Universities.
RSL’s Creative Digital Media qualifications are the latest addition to our suite of technical qualifications covering the contemporary creative industries.
There are similarities in the structure and format of these qualifications and our qualifications in Music and Performing Arts, and there is a natural linkage in that all the qualifications encourage collegiate working across disparate subjects. However, the Creative Digital Media qualifications are unique in their focus on Content Production and Design for the Media sector.
Prospective learners seeking to gain knowledge and skills in the Creative Digital Media sector through undertaking an RSL qualification could also consider an apprenticeship, traineeship or an alternative qualification when deciding on their pathway into the industry.
Amongst others, RSL’s Media qualifications were designed with input from a host of organisations with expertise in the sector and have gained support from employers and education institutions.
Employers in the sector contributing to the development of these qualifications include Redweb, Deep Silver Dambuster Studios and Tarnished Studios.
Education institutions contributing to and supporting these qualifications include Solent University, Suffolk One and Brighton Digital Media Academy.
Downloads
Here are our Creative Digital Media Vocational Qualifications syllabuses available to download.
Qualification Details and Registration Fees
Our qualification registration fees are the same for both UK and International delivery centres. These fees apply to each registered learner, with the fee dependent on the size of qualification they are registered on.
Please note: fees listed are for the current academic year.
| QAN | Qualification | Fee |
|---|---|---|
| 603/4292/4 | RSL Level 1 Award in Creative Digital Media | £67 |
| 603/4293/6 | RSL Level 1 Certificate in Creative Digital Media | £87 |
| 603/4294/8 | RSL Level 1 Extended Certificate in Creative Digital Media | £121 |
Please Note: Fees listed are for the current academic year.
Performance Tables
As well as being industry relevant, we understand the need for our qualifications to be recognised by the Department for Education. That’s why we’ve ensured we have specialist Vocational Qualifications approved in music and performing arts at level 3.
Stefana Coroiu – Access Creative College London
“The course itself involves a lot of practical work. This allows the learners to build not only soft skills with collaboration and teamwork but they also build hard skills that transfer into the form of a portfolio. That portfolio they can later use to either get into the industry, if that’s what they wish to do, or they could present that to a university in order to gain better prospects at the course that they want to do.”
Register your Interest today
Want to deliver Vocational Qualifications?
Moving over to RSL Awards Vocational Qualifications is easy. To get started, click on the button below.
