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Design for Film and Television BA (Hons)

  • Level(s) of Study: Undergraduate
  • UCAS Code(s): W280
  • Start Date(s): September 2023
  • Duration: 3 year(s)
  • Study Mode(s): Full-time
  • Campus: City Campus
  • Entry Requirements:


    More information

Introduction:

Created in close collaboration with the film and television industry, this course will prepare you for a successful career as a production designer, art director or other art department role. Learn a wide range of art department skills including set design, visualisation and drafting.

  • You’ll have the opportunity to complete a work experience placement of up to a year in length. Dependent on the duration of your placement, you could gain an additional Diploma or Certificate in Professional Practice.
  • Industry experts and specialists are a regular feature of the course, either delivering guest lectures and workshops or working more closely with you on live projects. Recent industry experts include: Oscar-nominated production designer Maria Djurkovic (Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy, Billy Elliot, The Imitation Game) and BAFTA award-winning production designer Charles Wood (Guardians of the Galaxy, Doctor Strange).
  • Opportunity to apply for a European or international exchange at one of our partner institutions. You can also attend study trips, recent study trips have included the Harry Potter film studios, London and the Luc Besson studios, Paris.
  • This course is industry recognised by ScreenSkills, the industry-led skills body for the UK's screen-based industries, and carries the ScreenSkills Select quality-mark which indicates courses best suited to prepare students for a career in the screen industries.

Course accreditation

  • Creative Skillset logo

What you’ll study

Don’t just take our word for it, hear from our students themselves

Student Profiles

Alfie Burt

Design for Film and Television

So far we have been lucky enough to visit two studios; the ITV Emmerdale studio and most recently Pinewood studios.

Katie Boyce

Design for Film and Television

There are so many opportunities to get work experience and a lot of support to help you along the way.

Ethan Garrett

Design for Film and Television

The best part of DFTV is completing your work around others who share the same passions as you. In the studio, people are always communicating, bouncing ideas of each other, and helping others. The atmosphere is wonderful and it makes going into university so exciting.

Yiwen Luo

Design for Film and Television

Being on real film and television production sets has equipped me with the key aspects I should pay attention to while working on my own designs in the studio.

Ed Humphreys

Design for Film and Television

As part of the course we had the opportunity to meet Sarah Greenwood, a leading production designer who has worked on Sherlock Holmes, Atonement and Pride and Prejudice.

Anna Turrell

Design for Film and Television

Since starting the course I have learnt something new every day. It is an unusual course which offers an insight into the exciting world of film and TV from tutors who have been in the industry themselves.

Emma Savill

Design for Film and Television

DFTV not only offers you a chance to learn all the skills required to work in the film industry, but it also gives you a new level of creative thinking.

Katie Riseley

Design for Film and Television

This course has given me contacts for the future which is a big thing in the TV and film world.

Marcus Lester-George

Design for Film and Television

I chose to study at NTU because it is one of the only courses teaching film design in the country, and it is also one of the best, especially regarding industry links and work experience.

Video Gallery

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Staff Profiles

Stelios Polychronakis - Senior Lecturer

Nottingham School of Art & Design

Stelios Polychronakis, BA (Hons) Design for Film and Television

Duncan Howell - Senior Lecturer

Nottingham School of Art & Design

Duncan Howell is Third year module leader in Design for Film and Television. He has worked on a broad variety of Television shows and Films.

Neil Dixon - Senior Technician

Nottingham School of Art & Design

Neil Dixon is a Senior Technician for Lighting and Visualisation

Kerry Bradley - Senior Lecturer

Nottingham School of Art & Design

Kerry Bradley is the Course Leader for Design for Film and Television, overseeing the course and leading the first-year teaching.

Careers and employability

Graduates have gone on to work as production designers, art directors, and in a wide range of art department roles within film and television for companies including:

  • BBC
  • ITV
  • Channel 4
  • Mammoth
  • Tiger Aspect.

Some projects our graduates have been involved with include:

  • Star Wars
  • the Marvel franchise
  • The Fast and The Furious.

TV productions our graduates have been involved with include:

  • EastEnders
  • Emmerdale
  • Killing Eve
  • Victoria
  • Bad Education
  • Gentleman Jack .

Connecting with industry

You’ll have the opportunity to engage with industry through real-situation design projects and lectures from guest speakers. Industry professionals that have recently shared their knowledge and experience include:

  • Oscar-nominated production designer Maria Djurkovic (Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy, Billy Elliot, The Imitation Game)
  • BAFTA award-winning production designer Charles Wood (Guardians of the Galaxy, Doctor Strange)
  • Donal Woods, production designer (Downton Abbey)
  • Tim Napper, concept artist (Star Wars, Dark Crystal)
  • lighting designer Mike LeFevre (The Andrew Marr Show, Globe Theatre, and the Royal Opera House).

Creative Industries Federation

We are members of the Creative Industries Federation (CIF), which means students in the Nottingham School of Art & Design have the opportunity to sign up to free student membership. Creative Industries Federation are an organisation that represents, champions and supports the UK’s creative industries and membership grants students exclusive access to their selection of resources and events to help advance your career and connect with industry.

Showcase

You will be given the opportunity to exhibit your work during your time at NTU to members of the creative industries. Visit our ‘We Are Creatives’ showcase to take a look at the work of this year's graduating students’.

Campus and facilities

How to apply

Apply through UCAS.

We will ask you to provide a digital portfolio. Visit our webpage which has some advice on what to include to help make your portfolio stand out. After you have submitted your portfolio, we may also invite you to an online interview to help us make our final decision.

You can apply for this course through UCAS. If you are not applying to any other UK universities, you can apply directly to us on our NTU applicant portal.

Application advice

Apply early so that you have enough time to prepare – processing times for Student visas can vary, for example.  After you've applied, we'll be sending you important emails throughout the application process – so check your emails regularly, including your junk mail folder.

Writing your personal statement

Be honest, thorough, and persuasive – we can only make a decision about your application based on what you tell us:

Your portfolio 

If your initial application is successful, you may be asked to upload a portfolio of your work and you may also be asked to attend an interview.

Portfolio advice

Would you like some advice on your study plans? 

Our international teams are highly experienced in answering queries from students all over the world. We also have members of staff based in Vietnam, China, India and Nigeria and work with a worldwide network of education counsellors.

The University's commitment to delivering the educational services advertised.