Salford - Film production students, How is it?

Hi. I'm looking into going to Salford for film production. I went to the open day, looked great and everything but the course content seemed a little vague for the first year and not as direct compared to other places I've looked. The film stock cinematography module in the 2nd year looked interesting, though.

I'm not asking about theory vs practical work (though more filmmaking the better), how is the actual first year of the course compared to say... the first year of a creative media production course at college?

I'm asking because I have a Lvl 3 Extended diploma in media (film) production and I got really hands on there basically right off the bat. I learnt theory and everything of course but I'd love to get hands on and into the thick of filmmaking in uni too, and despite Salford's praises I wasn't sure how much actual camera-handling there'd be in the first year and thereafter.

(Again, not expecting to handle any big jigs or rigs or any of the actually good equipment, but starting from beginning to end and making a short film with my peers/by myself).

Any help would be great. Any graduates or those in later years would be really helpful, too! If you've looked at or went to any other unis for film production in the North/midlands, that'd be greatly helpful as well.