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Diploma · national qualification

Diploma of Screen and Media

This course is for people who want to work at a skilled level in screen and media, whether that is film and television, animation, gaming, radio, sound or content creation.

Compare 11 providers
How long it takes
4 to 12 months
full time at TAFE NSW
What it costs
From $13,755
Subsidised at TAFE Queensland, full fee up to $18,420
How you can study
Online or on campus
Taught by
11 providers
6 states and territories

Is this course right for you?

What the Diploma of Screen and Media asks of you, and what you might want to check first.

It helps to have

  • an interest in making films, games or other screen content
  • the habit of seeing a creative project through to the end
  • good communication skills for working with clients and crews
  • a careful attitude to safety on set and in the studio

Before you start

The qualification has no set entry requirements, but each provider can add its own.

Diploma or Certificate IV?

The Diploma of Screen and Media is at a higher level than the Certificate IV in Screen and Media. This diploma involves applying technical and theoretical concepts in a broad range of contexts to undertake advanced skilled work.

See the course

Where this course can take you

No job needs this course on its own, but it can help with the work below.

Jobs this course can help with

None of these jobs needs a set qualification.

  • Film and Television Producer

    Film and television producers steer a screen project from the first idea to release, keeping the creative choices, the budget and the schedule working together.

    Median pay$96,200 (estimate)

  • Film and Television Director

    Film and television directors shape how a script becomes a finished screen production, guiding the story, the performances and the look from first read-through to final cut.

    Median pay$80,600 (estimate)

  • Game Designer

    Game designers decide how a video game plays, designing the rules, systems and feedback that guide a player from the first level to the last.

    Median pay$91,000 (estimate)

  • Social Media Content Creator

    Social media content creators plan, film and publish posts for brands and organisations, building an audience and turning attention into engagement and sales.

    Median pay$70,200 (estimate)

  • Video Editor

    Video editors turn raw footage into a finished sequence, choosing which shots, sound and pacing carry the story.

    Median pay$102,700

  • Video Producer

    Video producers take a video project from brief to finished cut, managing the budget, the crew and the client along the way.

    Median pay$93,600 (estimate)

If you study further

Pay is the median for everyone in the job, and “In demand” means the job is on the national shortage list. Pay marked as an estimate is our own analysis, not a published figure.

What it costs

Subsidised place

From $13,755

at TAFE Queensland. Whether you get a subsidised place depends on your state, residency, age and earlier study.

Paying the full fee

$18,420

across the TAFEs listed below. Private providers set their own fees.

  • TAFE QueenslandQLD

    Subsidised
    $13,755
    Concession
    $12,360
    Full fee
    $18,420

Fees as each TAFE shows them on its website, read 20 September 2026. Private providers set their own fees.

Where you can study this course

There are 11 places you can study this course. When you compare them, check they teach it the way you want to study, how far you'd be from a campus, what it will cost you and what past students say about the teaching and support. They're listed by how often people search for them, and none of them pays to be here or to move up.

What you’ll learn

15 units: 4 that everyone takes and 11 you choose.

  • Planning a creative project
  • Delivering work to a brief
  • Working as a freelancer
  • Finding and keeping clients
  • Screen and media industry knowledge
  • Safety on set and in studios
See all 4 core units

Core units

Everyone completes these. Select a unit to see what it covers.

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Questions to ask before you enrol

Providers run this course differently, so the answers change from one to the next.

  1. When is the next intake, and how many are there each year?
  2. What is the total cost, including materials, checks and any placement costs?
  3. Can I study part time or online, and how does that change the length?
  4. Do the units count towards a higher qualification if I go on to study further?

Questions people ask

Who is this qualification for?

It is for people who want to work at a skilled level in screen and media, including film and television, animation, gaming, radio, sound and content creation. You will apply technical and theoretical concepts to undertake advanced skilled work, and the roles it leads to include art director, film director, video editor and video producer.

Do I need experience or other qualifications first?

The qualification itself has no entry requirements, though individual providers can set their own conditions. Check with the provider you choose.

How is it different from Certificate IV in Screen and Media?

The Diploma of Screen and Media is at a higher level than the Certificate IV in Screen and Media. This diploma involves applying technical and theoretical concepts in a broad range of contexts to undertake advanced skilled work.

Related courses

The national training register, training.gov.au. TAFE course pages, read 20 September 2026. Google reviews. Pay and shortage status from Jobs and Skills Australia.