DCU Multimedia vs DIT Media Arts

Shoot-a

I am currently trying to sort out my CAO so this is a tread similar in style to the one about social life.Media is definitely the area in which I wish to work. More specifically as a game producer, film director/editor/writer; to be honest I'd be happy with anything in media.
Multimedia in DCU and Media Arts in DIT are the courses which really appeal to me. My mind is aching trying to decide which one to choose as both seem exceptional. Media Arts has appealed to me lately because although its an extra year one can learn a language on it.
I need your help. Seriously, you, reading this now your 2cents on this is appreciated!

I'd like to know specific experiences anyone has had. How good and experienced are the lecturers? Am I right in saying class size inDCU is 50 and in DIT its 40? Is there much free time to pursue individual projects? How are the facilities with regards to studios,equipment, computers, wifi in Aungier Street? Is there a good mix of theoretical and practical work? Whats course content like (especially DIT)? Finally I've seen that points have been going down in past years does anyone think that it will continue to drop?

If you'd like to comment on social life go ahead. Also you don't need to quote stuff from the respective college sites because I've trawled through it.

Thanks in advance!

johnmct77

seriously somebody answer the question plus will the points for multimedia go down this year ?coz this is a repeat first year posting with 400 points in LC,(as of 2008,multimedia was 400 points;downward trend 4 the last three years)

Landa2

I'm not a multimedia student so i wouldn't know the inner workings of either course but at first glance, DCU's multimedia course is a 3 year Bachelor of Science, while DIT's Media arts is a 4 year Bachelor of Arts.

From reading both prospectuses, DCU's course,

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New digital and multimedia technologies are increasingly central to the communications sector. They are being adopted widely for the creation and production of material in many of the traditional media and communication fields, e.g. digital multimedia in the audiovisual sector (computer games, websites, DVDs) and multimedia applications in education and training. Of course, the range of multimedia applications is increasing across other sectors too, like tourism, travel, entertainment, sales and marketing, arts and architecture.

This course gives you a grounding in the tools used for developing these many multimedia products.

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and DIT,

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A key feature of the Media Arts programme is the integration of theory and practice. The programme offers students a solid foundation in both media production and the critical study of media. Modules in production are underpinned by theoretical study in the relevant fields of documentary, narrative, film and broadcast forms, as well as a study of the cultural and sociological context in which the media operates.

Students are encouraged to develop original media content in both drama and documentary and work across diverse media formats such as photography, video, radio, television and digital media. Students use state of the art facilities where they develop professional production skills that can be applied across increasingly convergent media environments

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Just from these two excerpts, the two courses appear to be different in many ways (correct me if im wrong). The DIT degree seems like a concatenation of Journalism and Communications courses in DCU, with a small bit of Advertising and digital multimedia. Whereas the DCU degree appears to be an Advertising, promotion and digital multimedia specified degree.. Really does depend on what you want to do..

On a side note, I know a lot of people in DCU's Multimedia course and they all 'appear' to enjoy it immensely

Wrath

I have to kind of agree with landa on this..

I have just finished my 4th year in Multimedia in DCU... And I loved the course.. The course is great if you still unsure what area of multimedia you want to do. You should a good bit if time to do other projects and i advise you to do so.... Anyone can do the course. its not exactly rocket science but to be good and it and to really have a chance once your finished college you really do need to work... Almost every aspect of the course can be self thought but you really do need to put the hours in otherwise you will really struggle in finding work once your finished.

if you have any other questions just give me a shout.

:cool:

Al

lizanne83

Hey, the DCU Multimedia course has always been a 4-year BSc. Degree. It has only very recently changed to 3-year course while still being a BSc. (Big brownie point there).
I graduated from this in 2007 after completing the 4-years. It really is a great course, college, atmosphere etc. So here are my answers to your qns:

Experience of lecturers: Excellent - what a range of experience and expertise and many of them also still working directly in the media production industry too.

Class sizes: Despite the course number for DCU MMA being 50, I don’t think I ever recall there even being 40 in a class all at once. Between the usual 1st yr drop outs that every course gets, also classes are usually split into seminar groups (so about 20 per group) and lastly, of course not everyone bothers going to all lectures. The usual class sizes were anything from 10-30 max, in my memory! (OK it was only 2 yrs ago now!)

Yes there is WAY too much free time. Lecture/seminar hours usually only 12 hours max/week. But the main emphasis is on group project work and assignment work which is done during this “free-time”. So this is the most consuming part. But it’s totally up to you how effectively you use this time. You can doss and party all you like but like previous poster said, this is not advisable! The project and team work really does take the time, effort and dedication. Remember only some want to pass… but most want to achieve as high as possible… so when your working in a team, you should respect this. The toughest part of the course is not necessarily the work content, it’s more of a collaboration and management of teams and projects and proper teamwork organization. This is true for all courses and group work - but even more so for DCU MMA with a strong emphasis on group work.

Radio and TV studios, computers (MAC labs for graphics & heavy audio and PC labs for other) are good. Library is good. The facilities - particularly sports facilities are top notch etc then you have the lovely Helix!!

Yes, there definitely is a good mix of theoretical and practical work. Essay’s and written assignments (solo and group) as well as hands on practical production assignments.

Pros:
Great modern campus and always improving (hence why so expensive!)
Facilities (IT, library, services, sports grounds)
Atmosphere, Clubs & Societies
Small class sizes - in comparison to most other courses

Cons
DCU very expensive in comparison to most colleges
The campus can be a bit off the beaten track and out of reach for most commuting from outside Dublin or South Side…
Huge emphasis on group work. This can be very daunting at the time and difficulties with team members, fairness of work efforts, those not pulling their weight etc will inevitably be a factor. But in the long-run, these experiences are invaluable and teach you a lot about yourself and others. People defiantly start pulling up there socks after from 2nd year on though.

I have no idea about the DIT media course but I have heard it’s also an excellent course. I highly recommend DCU MMA in my opinion anyway. Even though I’m not working in media now or even related to it, I have no regrets about doing the course. A lot of the theoretical modules are still relevant to many business / industry streams. It’s funny because my keen focus and interest during 4 yrs DCU was the technical aspect and media production - as oppose to theoretical business side… which is now what I’m working in! And it has given me the opportunity to move onto a masters course more relevant to my career path. Best of luck in the Leaving next week and CAO choices! It always does work out in the right direction in the end.

doonothing

In first year in DCU they told us something like, in terms of their media degrees, IADT is more practical than theoretical, DCU is half and half, and DIT is more theoretical than practical. Depends whatever you're into I guess. Having done the DCU course, I wouldn't have wanted any more theory than that really...

Some of my friends are doing media and communication in Colaiste Dhulaigh, theirs seems to be 90% practical, sometimes I get the feeling they'll be more prepared for a job enviornment than I will be when I'm finished

To the chap who's worried about points, that Dhulaigh course is a FETAC feeder to Multimedia in DCU, maybe apply there and if the points don't go down, do the year and apply to DCU next year with it? http://www.colaistedhulaigh.ie/full-time-courses/media/communication-and-media-production.php

_sparkie_

if you want to do games look at computer science DIT.

mikeyb09

Mr.S wrote: »

For Multimedia in DCU, do you need to know things before you start/have experience or is everything taught from scratch?

I mean, I'm looking at the course and it seems really interesting but i've never done anything like it!

Yeah im the same im really interested in this course but im trying to find out more about it before i change my CAO form!

pixie2

ive been to both dit and dcu. did a 2 yr course in dit years ago and took some of the modules on the media arts course.
had the opportunnty to do the media arts degree but opted for dcu multimedia.


General information

class sizes in dcu will prob start at 50 but with dropouts can go as low as 40.
for tutorials the class is split in two to accomodate technical workshops.

dit may be around 40 unless that has changed.

classes will be split up a lot of the time as you take different modules.

everything is taught from scratch you do not need to know anything going into either degree.

warning: you will be worked much harder and marked harder in dcu than dit but i found with multimedia we had it a lot easier than other courses in dcu

dit media arts you have to take a language as well unless that has changed but it is supposed to be basic enough

length:
dit is 4 years but thats pointless because they do not do work placement, dcu has been cut to 3 years because they have taken out work placement


Dcu Pros and cons:

Pros: dcu is a university, it is a BSc half the country have a BA, lecturers are of a much higher standard, library facilities are of a higher standard, basically your education will be of a higher standard

cons: dcu social life leaves a lot to be desired, it can be a pretty boring college sometimes but i suppose it can be what you make of it

Dit Pros and Cons

Pros: if you are interested in radio or tv or possibly media lecturing in the future you might be more suited to dit, more documentary makers and people who work on tv shows radio etc seem to come from dit.
great student life, lots of events right in city centre

Cons: a fair few dodgy lecturers floating around, hopefully that has changed. quite a repetitive course in terms of modules.


basically if you want to have a wider variety of skills leaving college go to dcu if you already know what area of media you want to work in and if that is tv or radio dit might be better because of the repetitive nature of the course.

i know i am biased coming out of dcu multimedia but a friend of mine took the media arts course and i am so much more prepared for the workforce than he is

Shoot-a

Sorry about posting this so late.

Thanks for all the help. Some very detailed observations! Thanks a million

Multimedia is down as numero uno on my CAO with Media Arts second.