FAQ
GENERAL
Are there going to be taster days for new students?
We are hoping to hold taster days in the upcoming months, COVID dependent. We will keep you updated over the coming months to see if these can be held either at college or virtually. You will have the opportunity to meet your tutor and other keys staff members before you start also.
Is there the opportunity to take part in work experience?
Yes, all of our students have the chance to take part in work experience on our courses. These are held with local companies and opportunities come up throughout the year. They range from a few days to year-round and the days spent at your chosen work experience will need to be taken on a day when you are not at college. Get in touch with our Work Experience Coordinator for the range of opportunities you can get involved with.
Are the Level 3 courses the equivalent of 3 A Levels?
Once you have completed 2 years at Level 3, you will hold an Extended Diploma in your chosen field, which is the equivalent of 3 A Levels. The courses are graded at Distinction*, Distinction, Merit, Pass and Fail, and depending on your final grade, this will be the equivalent of corresponding A Levels.
Where do your students go after finishing at Dv8 Sussex?
Our students go in varied directions after completing their course. These range from university, apprenticeships and internships, another college or directly into the workplace.
What happens after I submit an application?
Your application will be reviewed by our admissions team firstly. If you have an Educational Health Care Plan (EHCP), you will need to send it over to us and will then be asked to meet with our learning support team for a discussion on how best we can support you. If this doesn’t apply to you, you will be invited to a discussion with a tutor in your chosen course. If all is well, you will receive an offer letter to study with us!
What will the timetable look like?
Our college days run from 9.40am-4.20pm and the course days will be 3 days per week. If you are taking maths and English alongside your Level 2 course, this will be an extra half day per week per subject. The days you will be in vary per subject and timetables will be sent to you over the summer break.
How many students are in each class?
Our class sizes run at a maximum of 14 students per class, however there may be less students in your class.
If I don’t receive the GCSE’s I was hoping for, will I still be able to attend Dv8 Sussex?
Our admissions policy is flexible and there is always a course for applicants, regardless of their GCSE results. If you do not hold any GCSEs grade 4 or above (including maths and English) you can start at Level 2 on one of our courses. You will be able to study maths and English GCSE alongside the Level 2 course. If you weren’t able to reach a grade 4 or above in English or maths and you have applied for a Level 3 course, we can have a conversation regarding your options. Please do not worry.
GAMES DEVELOPMENT
Do you have to have completed a Computing GCSE to apply?
You don’t need to have completed a Computing qualification prior to starting on the Games Development course. It can be good for your own confidence to take part in gaming skills sessions which are held regularly by organisations such as Into Games.
What degrees can you study with a Games Development qualification?
The course will provide you with a number of skills and depending on what area you are interested in, you could go on to study in games art, games programming and development, design, marketing, web development, digital media and more.
MUSIC PRODUCTION & PERFORMANCE
Do you provide the instruments for the students to use?
We provide a range of instruments and we wouldn’t expect you to have to buy any instruments or equipment. Many of our students that have an instrument do like to play on their own and bring them in to college, especially in the current climate.
Are there any lessons for the students to learn an instrument or work on vocal skills?
We don’t include 1:1 instrumental lessons as part of the study program at this time, however each student works on an individual learning plan specifically geared towards their own musical goals over the course of the year. Where possible, we would encourage to incorporate their instrumental development into this plan. The teaching team will be able to provide feedback and guidance on their development, as well as tips and techniques in disciplines that the teachers share.
Are there collaboration opportunities with other students?
We encourage collaboration within the projects as much as possible, accounting for current social distancing measures. Given that the end product of most of the projects across both levels of the course will be a completed track, it is likely that students will need to utilise each others’ skills and musical disciplines in order to produce complete arrangements that satisfy their original visions for their work. This will also help students to experience the vital real-world collaboration that is so embedded within the music industry.
What equipment do you have available for sound production?
We have all of the necessary equipment to engage in music production, from computers equipped with industry-standard DAWs and MIDI keyboards to a range of microphones and studio hardware to support recording work.
MEDIA PRODUCTION
What are the main subjects that you study?
We explore a range of different creative media practices including photography; filmmaking; audio production; digital art; graphic design; and interactive product development. The projects you work on in each discipline will be driven by your own creative intentions and interests.
Do I need any specialist equipment at home to study this course?
All the equipment you will need to complete your projects is available during college opening times. However, we recommend that having access to Adobe creative suite and an appropriate DSLR camera at home would be advantageous in getting the most out of your studies.
Is the course practical or theoretical?
A mixture of both! Although the Media Production courses at Dv8 Sussex are primarily practice-driven, each project you undertake will be underpinned by contextual studies and artistic research to anchor your creative work.
