| Start Date | Duration | Cost | Max Participant Numbers |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3rd October 2026 | 20 Weeks | 750 | 16 |
THIS PROGRAMME IS CO FUNDED BY THE GOVERNMENT OF IRELAND AND THE EUROPEAN UNION (EUFUNDS.IE)
A collaboration between Cultural & Creative Industry Skillnet and CFA–IADT, this pilot programme is offered to creative professionals at a special CCIS partnership rate of €750 (normally the fee for this course would be €1,700 in 2026).
Overview
What is Television Format Development?
This new 20-week Level 9 (20 ECTS) certificate course will provide you with a keen sense of the world of television and audio-visual content and with the skills, knowledge and know-how to develop and pitch a viable project for unscripted TV.
The course is designed to guide producers through each phase of the creative development process for unscripted entertainment, reality and factual entertainment formats including talent shows and quiz shows, chat or music or ‘reality’ specifically: from creative ideation techniques, through market-matched concept development, generating funding applications, learning to read industry trends, understanding the commissioning and funding landscape and key players, designing effective pitch decks through to building confidence in direct pitching.
Aims & Objectives
Developing ideas and pitching them successfully is the life blood of unscripted TV.
You will learn how to apply a variety of creative development skills to an unscripted series idea in any medium as part of the process of bringing it from nascent idea to industry standard pitch.
The course is spread across two modules with a combination of a weekly online class, mixed with intensive group on site sessions, one-on-one feedback and guest talks from top industry figures.
Participant profile/Who can apply/Eligibility
This course is suitable for students who have an undergraduate qualification of 2nd Class Honours or higher at Honours Degree level. Experience in the media industry is an additional advantage.
Applicants without a Level 8 qualification may be considered provided they can demonstrate Honours Degree equivalence which can be verified through the RPL (Recognition of Prior Learning) process.
Dates and times of the course
20 Weeks Online / 4 x Saturdays on Campus
Module 1:
Saturday, 3rd October 2026 | on campus | 10am – 3pm
Wednesdays | online | 6.30pm – 8.30pm:
- 7th, 14th, 21st, 28th October
- 4th, 11th, 18th, 25th November
- 2nd, 9th December
Saturday, 31st October 2026 | on campus | 10am – 3pm
Module 2:
Wednesdays | online | 6.30pm – 8.30pm:
- 20th, 27th January 2027
- 3rd, 10th, 17th, 24th February
- 3rd, 10th, 24th, 31st March
Saturdays | on campus | 10am – 3pm:
- 6th February
- 20th February
Location
This course is online and on campus at IADT, located on Kill Ave, Dun Laoghaire. IADT is a leader in higher education with a specialist focus on the development of future makers, shapers, technologists, thinkers, storytellers and creators who lead and innovate in a changing digital world.
Costs/fee
The fee for this 20 week course is €750 per person (normally €1700).
Payment will be due in full before the course commences.
CCIS Membership Support
Who Qualifies:
INDIVIDUALS
- Sole traders or Freelancers who are Resident in the ROI are eligible as Member Companies.
- Private company (SME) or Enterprise employees.
COMPANIES
- Private Enterprise & SMEs based in the Republic of Ireland.
- Commercial semi-state companies providing that income contributed to a Network is not sourced from the public purse (must provide a letter).
- Social enterprises that trade as commercial social enterprises, and are companies registered with the CRO
Who Does Not Qualify:
INDIVIDUALS
- Applicants who are not Resident in the Republic of Ireland
- Applicants who are Unemployed and in receipt of Unemployment Benefit
- Applicants participating on a CE Scheme
- Applicants in receipt of a BURSARY, SCHOLARSHIP OR GRANT AID toward fees for this course from another government agency or programme.
COMPANIES
- Skillnet Ireland funding is not available to public sector bodies or organisation that are publicly funded such as community-based not-for-profit companies or charities.
- Social enterprises that are solely constituted as charities do not currently meet the eligibility criteria.
All programmes are provided without discrimination. This includes discrimination based on gender, race or ethnic origin, religion or belief, disability, age, or sexual orientation. An inclusive environment that welcomes participants from diverse communities is promoted.
Application process
Please read carefully. This is a 3-Step application. Failure to complete all three steps could impact your CCIS support application.
- Complete the Special Category Data Participant Questionnaire below (Scroll for the QR Code or Link)
- Fill out the Cultural & Creative Industries Skillnet membership application form below (Green ‘Apply’ button below)
- Submit your IADT Course Application if you have not already done so via the link at the top of this page.
If your Course Application is successful you will be notified by IADT and given access to a CCIS Registration/Payment Link. Refunds cannot be issued once the course has commenced in line with IADTs refund policy.
DOWNLOAD APPLICATION STEP BY STEP GUIDE HERE
This course is part funded by ESF+.
ESF+ stands for European Social Fund Plus. It is a European fund that focuses on lifelong learning through improving employment and education opportunities.
In addition to the CCIS support application, Cultural & Creative Industries Skillnet is required by Government to collect ‘Special Category Data‘ from those who wish to avail of ESF+ supports for this programme. Given the sensitive nature of this data, strict controls over access have been implemented.
Your Rights and Choices
The mandatory form will ask for general and special category data about you. You can choose if you want to share the special category information in questions 13 to 18. If you do answer these questions, we will handle answers with utmost care.
You have the right to access your data, get us to correct it if we get your details wrong, and ask us to delete your data. You can also choose to opt out or withdraw at any time (*I Do Not Consent). However, if you withdraw, we will not be able to provide you with access to the TV Format Development: Unscripted course until you reapply.
At the end of this questionnaire, we will also ask you to declare that the information you have provided is true. If you would like to take part in the ESF+ course, you must answer all the questions even if they do not apply.
Further data will be collected at the following milestones.
- the course certification date
- 6 months post certification
If you wish to use your rights to access or change your information, or are concerned about anything on your participant form, please email dpo@skillnetireland.ie.
For more information on ESF+ data processing and your rights, please see the ESF+ Data Privacy Notice. You can find this on the Skillnet Ireland website or email your postal address and we will post it to you.
Special Category Data Questionnaire
PLEASE FILL OUT THIS FORM OR ACCESS VIA THE QR CODE BELOW.
CCIS membership application deadline
CCIS Membership Application Deadline: Rolling but before course commences.
If you experience any difficulties with your CCIS membership application please contact creativeskillnet@furthr.ie with a Subject Heading of : IADT | CCIS Application | [Course Name]
Important: All Course Applications To Be Made Separately via IADT. Deadline 24th July 2026