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January 20, 2026

Course Video Production for the University of South Wales

Course Video Production

Advertising Course Video Production for the University of South Wales

The Challenge – Course Marketing For International

The University of South Wales required a promotional video for its BA Advertising degree, to support international partnership engagement and student recruitment, with a focus on prospective students in Malaysia.

The video needed to bring the course to life by showcasing the campus, teaching approach and industry connections, while helping international audiences understand what studying Advertising at USW was actually like.

Because Stephen guest lectures on the course and delivers filmmaking workshops to the third-years, Carnival Content had an in-depth understanding of the course structure, student experience and creative outcomes. This allowed us to approach the project with a high level of insight.

BA Advertising Course Video (16×9)

The Strategy – Student Storytelling

Filming took place at the start of summer, when student availability can be limited. Rather than see this as a constraint, we used it as an opportunity to carefully design a shoot that represented every element of the course.

The creative approach reflected the wider USW brand campaign, using handheld, energetic cinematography to create a sense of pace and authenticity.

At the heart of the film was student-led storytelling. We wanted students to explain, in their own words, how the degree supported their creative development and career goals.

The objective was to produce a video that showcased academic expertise, industry relevance and the community around the course, while inspiring both prospective students and international partners.

BA Advertising Social Media Edit (9×16)

The Approach

We planned an ambitious shoot across multiple campus locations to reflect the breadth of the course.

Interviews were deliberately in depth, with about ten questions per contributor. This allowed students the time to speak honestly about their experience of studying in Cardiff, at USW and on the BA Advertising degree.

The edit was structured around an interview with Lee Thomas, the course leader, supported by student soundbites and a section featuring the industry placement partner.

Fast paced b-roll was used throughout to reflect the collaborative nature of the course and to convey the sense of community and creative energy within the programme.

The Project Included:

  • 1 & 1/2-day shoot including five interviews and extensive b-roll
  • One course film with a full edit under five minutes
  • Thirty second social media edits in landscape, square and vertical formats
  • English and professionally translated Welsh subtitles

Behind The Scenes

USW Advertising interview set up

The Outcome

The final video was extremely well received by international partners, particularly in Malaysia, and is now featured on the course page as it effectively communicates every aspect of the degree.

While the original brief was for a two-minute promotional film, we made the strategic decision to deliver a full five-minute edit to properly capture the depth of the course and the student experience.

Both the international recruitment team and the course leadership were delighted with the result.

Explore more of our university video production work →

See how we approach open day campaigns for universities →

Planning a course video or student recruitment campaign?
Talk to us about your next video project
Or email us: hello@carnivalcontent.com

“Working with the team at Carnival Content was a positive and collaborative experience from start to finish. They took the time to understand the course aims, academic context, and student experience. Their professionalism, creative insight, and attention to detail resulted in a course video we’re all proud of.”

Lee Thomas – Course Leader, BA Advertising, UNiversity of South Wales
January 16, 2026

University Podcast Production: Help, I’m Going To Uni, Cardiff Met

University Podcast Production

Help, I’m Going To Uni by Cardiff Metropolitan University

Cardiff Met’s Help, I’m Going To Uni Podcast

Help, I’m Going To Uni is one of our favourite university podcast productions. A brilliant example of what authentic student marketing looks like when a university is brave enough to trust its students.

It’s now a double award-winning podcast, winning silver for Best Content at HEIST Awards and then winning Best Practice in Student Recruitment at HELOA Awards.

Podcast Highlight Reel

The Challenge: Social-First Content

Jack (Brand and Content Manager at Cardiff Metropolitan University) approached Carnival Content to talk about podcast production.

He wanted honest and entertaining student conversations in a video podcast format. With social-first content to increase channel reach and drive engagement with prospective undergraduate students.

TikTok Social Edits – Holly’s Introduction

@cardiffmet Curious about what uni life is really like? Every week, Cardiff Met student Holly chats with real-life students about leaving home, campus life, and much more in our new video podcast ‘Help! I’m Going to Uni.’ Watch or listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts and YouTube for your ultimate guide to starting university. Link in bio! @holly davies #students #studentlife #student #unistudent #studenttok ♬ original sound – Cardiff Met University

The Strategy: Peer-To-Peer Student Content

At a time when trust in content is at an all-time low, peer-to-peer student conversations are a winning university content strategy.

The objectives were:

  • Produce unfiltered student-led content
  • Address anxieties around starting university through real stories
  • Produce a library of content that integrates with all student recruitment activity
  • Create the most entertaining student conversations in HE

Episode 29: Switching Courses and Creating Confidence (YouTube Podcasts)

The Execution: Creative Collaboration

Host >> Key to the success of any podcast is the host. Jack already had Cardiff Met Student Content Creator Holly Davies in mind. And she is brilliant. She owned the podcast and brought it to life with her own experiences and personality.

Guests >> Jack and the team worked very hard to identify a diverse mix of students who represent Cardiff Met’s student body. They had a good chat with the prospective guests, so we could design each episode around their story.

Episode planning >> Carnival planned the episode structure and drafted questions. We added in features such as the ‘quick fire round’ and ‘student confessions’ to break up the episodes, keep the listeners engaged and to get the most out of the guests.

Each episode was designed to help the guest tell their university story. To share their anxieties and then what the reality was actually like. Show the unexpected, the challenges and the highlights of studying at Cardiff Met.

Behind The Scenes

Podcast studio set behind the scenes.

Location >> The set was designed to give a low-fi, intimate look. With two branded chairs (Holly’s is always blue) and fairly low-key lighting, plus Cardiff Met blue backlights.

Production >> To make the most of the budget, we batched filmed three episodes in half-day sessions. Three 4K cameras captured host, guest and wide shots, giving us flexibility to create long-form episodes and high-energy social clips.

Postproduction >> Carnival edited each recording to keep with the energy of the episodes. Each episode has a trailer intro, high energy music and fairly fast paced cuts between cameras.

We then edited the highlight clips for social in landscape and portrait, with English and Welsh subtitles. Finally, we provided copywriting options the episode title and description with a focus on SEO for discovery.

Publishing >> Each episode was published on Spotify and Apple Podcasts (by Carnival) and then on YouTube Podcasts, YouTube Shorts, TikTok, Instagram and Facebook (by the team).

Episode 19: Game, Set and Met (YouTube Podcasts)

The Outcomes

A double award-winning podcast that went on to lead the University’s summer conversion and Clearing campaigns. The University exceeded year-on-year recruitment, despite the sector-wide declines.

Content & stats so far:

  • 3 seasons produced
  • 30 episodes recorded and published (with more planned)
  • 60+ social media edits
  • 11,000 episode streams
  • 800,000+ organic views on social
  • Brilliant comments from prospective students on social media

The podcast content has been adopted across Cardiff Met Marketing resulting in:

  • Holly and guests starring in the prospectus
  • Live ‘Help, I’m Going To Uni’ sessions at campus recruitment events
  • ‘Help, I’m Going To Uni’ AI Knowledge Base powering personalised content at UCAS events

Explore more of our university video production work →

See how we approach open day campaigns for universities →

Planning an international student recruitment campaign?
Talk to us about your next video project
Or email us: hello@carnivalcontent.com

“Carnival Content took the initial concept of a student-hosted, social-first podcast, and turned it into something which prospective students actually listen to. The production process was seamless, super collaborative throughout and also a lot of fun! Something which really comes across in the finished product. And now we’re multi-award winners!”

Jack Rivers – Brand And Content Manager, Cardiff Metropolitan University
June 3, 2025

University Open Day Video Production | USW Creative Industries

“Working with Carnival Content has been a great experience. They always produce high quality and engaging video that really resonates with our audience. I would definitely recommend working with them. They are professional, reliable and responsive whilst also creating amazing content.”

Kate Treharne-Davies – Future Students Business Partner, University of South Wales

USW Creative Industries Open Day Video Ads

Helping future creatives picture themselves at university. The University of South Wales partnered with Carnival Content to produce a series of vibrant open day video adverts.

Designed to inspire future creatives to visit campus and explore courses in subjects like music, film, photography, animation and fashion.

Filmed across three years of real open days, we built a library of high-energy video assets with a distinctive creative look and feel, tailored for paid social media campaigns.

This project is an example of our university video production work, combining subject-specific storytelling with social-first execution.

Music Open Day Video Promo Cymraeg (16×9)

The Challenge: Promoting Creative Industries Open Days

USW needed to increase promotion of the Creative Industries open days to increase attendance and applications.

Creative students tend to have a clear idea of what they want from a university course. They don’t just want to know that an open day is happening, they want to see:

  • The facilities and equipment 
  • What a real day on campus feels like
  • Whether the environment is right for them

There was also a clear emotional challenge: relieving anxiety about going to university, while increasing excitement about taking the next step.

Media Production Open Day Ad (16×9)

The Strategy: Subject-Specific University Open Day Videos

As Kate at USW highlighted at the start, a generic “Creative Industries” video risked missing the mark.

  • A music applicant wants to see studios and production
  • A fashion applicant wants workshops and making spaces
  • A film applicant wants cameras, lights and edit suites

So instead of one video for everyone, we needed to show exactly what happens on the day, subject by subject.

Fashion Design Open Day Ad (16×9)

The Execution: Social Video Content That Drives Attendance

We created a series of individual, subject-specific open day ads. Each designed to act as the backbone of its own paid social campaign.

We planned a documentary-style approach, shooting handheld for intimacy and immediacy. Integrating the USW brand campaign aesthetic with retro grain and camera flicker effects for continuity.

Each film was edited into a fast-paced, story-led sequence.

To future-proof the content and maximise value, all footage was shot in landscape at 4K resolution. Then reframed and edited into multiple formats, including:

  • Vertical 9:16 for Reels and TikTok
  • Square formats for other ad placements
  • Landscape for YouTube & presentations

This gave USW a flexible asset library optimised for each platform, without compromising quality or composition.

Photography Open Day Ad Promo Cymraeg (16×9)

The First Shoot: Music

The first open day we covered was Music, a subject particularly close to home.

I (Stephen) almost studied music production at university myself, so I was genuinely excited to capture this one. Shooting entirely handheld gave the cinematography a more immersive, energetic feel, putting viewers right in the room.

I recorded all ambient audio throughout the day, talks, room tone, applause and performances. During the music production workshop attendees created an original track with the course leader.

For the final edit, we used the music created by the students as the backing track for the ad, layered with the ambient audio from the day itself.

This doubled down on the authenticity.

Music Open Day Video Promo Reels (9×16)

The Outcome

The resulting ads became the core creative assets for each subject area’s open day campaign.

They clearly showed what happens at a USW Creative Industries open day. Helping prospective students visualise themselves on campus. Giving each subject a tailored, relevant narrative, rather than a one-size-fits-all message.

We provided USW with high-quality, multi-format video assets they could publish confidently across platforms.

Most importantly, the content didn’t just promote the events, it connected with the right prospective students.

Explore more of our university video production work →

See how we approach international video campaigns for universities →

Thinking about your next video project?
Talk to us
Or email us: hello@carnivalcontent.com

June 3, 2025

Swansea International

Welcome to Swansea

Swansea University - International Student Recruitment Video Campaign

The Challenge – Improving International Recruitment

Swansea International needed video content that would resonate with prospective international students, showing the authentic student experience and supporting international recruitment efforts.

They wanted to show the welcoming community vibe, with a strong focus on employability and that it is safe. In addition, show off the picturesque coastal setting and campus beach life. All in a way that feels authentic and trustworthy.

Welcome To Swansea Main Edit (16×9)

Welcome To Swansea Campaign

We’re in awe of international students. How inspiring they are travelling to study here. Often without visiting the university or the UK beforehand.

They have the most interesting study journeys. With a compelling reason, drive or dream behind their subject choice.

That’s why it’s so important to get the suite of content and especially video right. We need prospective international students to be able to visualise themselves on campus and feel confident in their study decision.

Swansea University commissioned Carnival Content to create a suite of engaging films showcasing their international student experience.

Narottam’s Story (16×9)

The Strategy – Tell Real Student Stories

We encourage our clients to not only shoot the main campaign video, but to showcase each individual student story as well. This is particularly important for international marketing, so that the regions are represented on a deeper level, with a relatable student story.

We created a suite of real student stories talking about their lived experience of applying, travelling, studying and living in Swansea. Relatable and inspiring stories for Swansea’s global audience.

We pitched the idea of student content creator style introductions to each of the videos. Leaning into authentic storytelling with self filmed iPhone clips. Then moving onto more cinematic storyboarded shots to showcase the best parts of campus and surrounding area cut with their interview.

Everything was shot at 4k in landscape and all shots were planned to work well in horizontal and vertical cuts for social media and ad edits. All clips are SLOG and then colour graded for a consistent look and feel across the suite of videos.

Basma’s Story (16×9)

The project included:

  • A 3-minute flagship promotional video featuring five international students, combining interviews with authentic b-roll on campus and around Swansea.
  • A set of India specific campaign videos, ads and social edits
  • Four individual student case studies offering deeper insight into their student stories and experiences.
  • Social media and ad edits of the main video tailored for Instagram, Shorts and TikTok

Swansea to Bangalore

The below 10 second ad is one of many outputs from this project. It played on giant screens in Bangalore Mall, bringing the Swansea experience to life for prospective students in India.

The ad was design to the screens specifications. There were a few variations to build interest, with different call to actions.

Bangalore Mall Advert (9×16)

The Approach

Working with the International Marketing Team, they identified confident students with interesting stories to tell.

First, the India specific videos were shot over 1 & 1/2 days to cover both campuses, with two interviews. These were edited first, as proof of concept and due to the priority of student recruitment.

Then the other 4 x case study videos were shot over two days, half a day per featured student (including the interview and b-roll).

We had beautiful weather for all bar one of the days shoots, where in typical Welsh style it rained throughout the day. We carried on with the b-roll with some umbrellas, adding the reality of the project (see Weiyi’s video)!

The benefit of having multiple interviewees is that they can all feature in each other’s videos, reducing the need for lots of student extras. Although, the more the merrier!

Emmanuela’s Story (16×9)

Execution

Carnival Content worked closely with Swansea’s International Marketing Team to create a flexible video series that could be used across global campaigns.

By focusing on real students and authentic moments, the content helped reduce uncertainty and build trust with prospective students overseas.

Gaining over 87,000 organic YouTube views on Swansea’s channel.

They helped:

  • Communicate the student experience beyond academics
  • Build trust and emotional connection with prospective students
  • Showcase Swansea as a welcoming and vibrant place to study
  • Provide the international team with high-quality video assets they could deploy across campaigns, events and digital platforms

Weiyi’s Story (16×9)

Explore more of our university video production work →

See how we approach open day campaigns for universities →

Planning an international student recruitment campaign?
Talk to us about your next video project
Or email us: hello@carnivalcontent.com

“Carnival Content have been instrumental in delivering our international student videos, bringing vast experience and technical expertise to the table. The team’s flexibility and professionalism ensured a smooth process from start to finish, with skills in camerawork, editing, and final production delivering a high-quality end product. The communication is consistently excellent and the ability to advise throughout the project made working with the team a real pleasure.

Daf Turner – Digital Marketing Manager, Swansea International
June 3, 2025

USW Postgraduate Research

“A huge thank you for delivering such high-quality videos, ahead of schedule and in every format we needed. Honestly, you have just been amazing. Thank you!”

Nina Rabaiotti – Research Marketing Manager, University of South Wales

University of South Wales – Postgraduate Research Campaign

The Brief:
Following a top ranking in the UK’s PRES (Postgraduate Research Experience Survey), the University of South Wales wanted to capitalise on this achievement to boost its profile and attract more home and international PGR students.

To support this, we were commissioned to produce a high-impact video that brings the student experience to life through authentic case studies from current postgraduate researchers.

The Objective:
Shine a spotlight on the University’s supportive research culture and real student stories. Helping USW stand out in a competitive postgraduate landscape.

June 1, 2025

Exploring Global Problems Video Podcast Production

“Carnival Content has produced outstanding work for Swansea University. The quality of the Exploring Global Problems podcast series is exceptional and they have been full of amazing ideas and suggestions right from the beginning of the project. Stephen is a delight to work with and puts everyone at their ease immediately.

Rebecca Lever – Former DIRECTOR OF MARKETING, RECRUITMENT & INTERNATIONAL
Swansea University

Exploring Global Problems Video Podcast Production

Carnival Content partnered with Swansea University to produce a 50-episode podcast series. The award winning Exploring Global Problems podcast demonstrated Swansea’s groundbreaking research into global challenges.

Carnival pitched the concept of a video podcast focused on telling Swansea’s research story. Carnival produced, recorded, edited and published the series.

S1E1 – Climate Change: Reading The Past In Tree Ring Data (YouTube Podcasts)

The Challenge – Showcasing Swansea University Research To Global Audiences

Swansea University wanted to showcase its world‑leading research in a way that was engaging, accessible and shareable globally. Positioning the institution as a thought leader on pressing global challenges.

From climate change to healthcare innovation, AI to politics. The professional quality podcast aimed to showcase the world-leading research from Swansea across multiple platforms (YouTube, social, Spotify and Apple Podcasts).

S1E14 – Using Electronic Tags To Protect Endangered Species (YouTube Podcasts)

The Strategy – Showcasing Research And The Researchers

We developed a story-led video podcast that combined expert insight that covered all academic areas of the University.

Key elements of the strategy included:

  • Highlighting real researchers tackling global problems
  • Designing episodes that could be consumed as long-form podcasts or short, social media clips
  • Publishing content on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and social media to reach multiple audiences
  • Maintaining a consistent, professional tone while keeping the content interesting and entertaining for students, staff, and the public

This approach enabled the University to showcase its research impact globally while creating a library of assets for ongoing use.

Producing long-form video content, such as podcasts, and then editing it into multiple short-form social media clips is one of the most cost effective content strategies. We’re big fans of this approach and it’s championed by digital marketing expert Gary Vee.

S3E1 – Creative Solutions For Plastic Pollution (Spotify Podcasts)

Execution

Carnival Content worked in partnership with Swansea on every stage of production:

  • Concept & planning: Working with the brilliant host Sam Blaxland and the University team to plan each episode
  • Recording: On-campus (then remotely through COVID) interviews with researchers, capturing authentic dialogue
  • Editing & post-production: Full audio and video edits, with landscape, square, and vertical highlight clips for social
  • Subtitles & accessibility: English and Welsh captions for all social content, full transcriptions generated on platform
  • Distribution: Episodes published to YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and repurposed across social channels

The series combined high production values with an authentic, intimate feel, giving listeners the impression they were in the room with the experts.

S1E2 – Will Maggots Save The Human Race? (YouTube Podcasts)

Outcomes

The Exploring Global Problems podcast became a central part of Swansea University’s thought leadership strategy:

  • Engaged a global audience of students, academics, and policy-makers
  • Strengthened the university’s reputation for cutting-edge research
  • Provided multi-format content that can be used across digital campaigns, social media, and newsletters
  • HEIST Award winner: recognised externally, winning Best Brand / Reputation Campaign at the HEIST Awards

The 50 episode series demonstrated how strategic podcast production can turn complex research into compelling content that resonates across multiple audiences. Each episode had at least two social media edits, generating over 100 additional pieces of content.

 

Explore more of our university video & podcast production work →

See how we approach international video campaigns for universities →

S1E12 – Cancer Treatment And Eradicating Malaria: What Role Can Microbes Play? (Apple Podcasts)

Podcast Planning

The Exploring Global Problems podcast became a central part of Swansea University’s thought leadership strategy:

  • Engaged a global audience of students, academics, and policy-makers
  • Strengthened the university’s reputation for cutting-edge research
  • Provided multi-format content that can be used across digital campaigns, social media, and newsletters
  • HEIST Award winner: recognised externally, winning Best Brand / Reputation Campaign at the HEIST Awards

The 50 episode series demonstrated how strategic podcast production can turn complex research into compelling content that resonates across multiple audiences. Each episode had at least two social media edits, generating over 100 additional pieces of content.

 

Explore more of our university video & podcast production work →

See how we approach international video campaigns for universities →

Planning a podcast or research campaign?
Talk to us about your next podcast project
Or email us: hello@carnivalcontent.com

Client Feedback

“Stephen is a joy to work with; he not only has the requisite technical ability and marketing knowledge but is flexible and personable. The work he produced for us was of an extremely high quality and we are already exploring future projects together.

Martyn Edwards – Former Director of Marketing, Recruitment & International
Swansea University
February 20, 2022

Cardiff Campus Tour

Cardiff Campus Tour

Video production for Cardiff University

Cardiff University’s Virtual Open Day

During the height of the pandemic, we produced a number of campus tours for Cardiff University’s virtual open days.
We filmed aerial drone footage to show how close Cathays Park Campus is to the city centre, as well as several student guides explaining what campus life is like. The videos were shot for postgraduate and undergraduate audiences, with bi-lingual piece to cameras.

“The Carnival Content team were an absolute pleasure to work with. They had great ideas and input into our project, helping us shape an initial idea into a really good piece of content that continues to receive excellent feedback. We will definitely be working with them again very soon for our next project!”

Phil Jarman – Postgraduate Student Recruitment Manager (UK)
Cardiff University
February 20, 2022

USW Cold Case Unit

“Carnival content has really helped to bring our brand and messaging to life. Working with a production company you can rely on to unpick and expertly delivery our vision was invaluable.  We’ve ended up with some fantastic high-quality content and, through conversation, explored content opportunities we’d never have thought about. From our first briefing, it was reassuring to know our project was in safe hands with someone we could rely on to deliver.”

Matt Hayes, Marketing Business Partner, University of South WaleS

USW Cold Case Unit Video

When the brief starts with ‘we want it in the style of a Netflix true crime documentary’, you know it’s going to be a good project!
It was our pleasure to produce this video for USW Criminology to promote their brilliant Cold Case Unit. We planned, filmed and edited the main video, plus social media edits (with English and Welsh subtitles) for both organic and paid advertising.

February 17, 2020

RWCMD Superbrass Weekend Video

Superbrass Weekend Video

Video production for RWCMD

Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama

We had a brilliant time filming the Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama’s Superbrass Weekend. The event ran over three days and covered performances, workshops and rehearsals.

Promotional Videos

We produced a number of promotional videos from the weekend. The first was the ‘aftermovie’, which celebrated the weekend and was used on social media (see above). Then a corporate video including animated infographics was created as a case study for this type of event.

Finally, a course video was produced using the footage, as well as a series of interviews with students and staff. We edited the video to promote the brass courses at the College.

It was a great weekend and we loved the AmserJazz evening!

February 13, 2020

Aberystwyth University Agriculture Videos

“A big thank you for your team’s work on this project, the output and quality of the videos are exceptional. I will definitely be in touch to discuss future video projects with you.

Joe Smith – Digital and Print Publications Manager
Aberystwyth University

Aberystwyth University Agriculture Videos

We produced four cinematic videos for Aberystwyth University. The two English and two Welsh-medium productions are designed to promote their agriculture research and farm facilities. Their main goal is student recruitment.

Cinematic Drone Footage

When working with locations as beautiful as those in around Aberystwyth, it’s easy to create something special – especially when you have a drone pilot with the skills of Mei! The majority of footage was shot by Carnival Content plus some existing b-roll.

The challenge was to cover the four key research areas in a concise enough video to work on their website and cut short square versions for social media. With some careful editing the results can be seen above, with a very happy client!

Production Schedule

The three day shoot was just before the clocks went back for winter and autumn was on its way. With multiple key messages for each of the videos, we carefully planned the production schedule with the IBERS team, leaving flexibility for the large number of locations and interviews required.

It was our pleasure to create these videos and we’re really proud of the final edits!

Branded content

We really love what we do and we’ll always go the extra mile to ensure you have the best possible content for your brand.

Contact us

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hello@carnivalcontent.com

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