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.
Key features
- As a dedicated art and design school, our facilities promote collaboration and innovation. You’ll be working alongside artists, designers, photographers, illustrators, animators, and filmmakers.
- We're ranked 12th best University for Art and Design in the UK. (The Complete University Guide 2021)
- Opportunity to apply for a European or international exchange to one of our partner institutions, such as RMIT in Australia.
- All first-year students within the School of Art and Design will work together on a joint project.
- The School supports your course in developing a flexible approach that enables work experience / placement activity to occur within modules.
- 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).
- Recent study trips have included the Harry Potter film studios, London and the Luc Besson studios, Paris.
- You’ll showcase your work at our Degree Show, with the opportunity to exhibit at a high-profile industry venue, such as Pinewood Studios.
- We are proud to be in the top ten in England and Wales for Art and Design (QS World University Rankings by Subject 2020).
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100% of our undergraduate students are satisfied with the quality of this course (National Student Survey 2020).
What you'll study
This course’s industry connections result in exciting guest lectures, live projects and work experience opportunities. You’ll study in facilities that reflect the latest industry standards, learning from staff with extensive experience in their field. You’ll collaborate with your fellow students and work independently on a range of exciting projects that will develop your skills, and focus your career goals.
In your final year, you’ll showcase your work at our Degree Show, with the opportunity to exhibit at a national or international show or high-profile industry venue, such as Pinewood Studios.
Collaboration across courses
This course offers our new innovative collaboration module. This gives you the opportunity to work collaboratively with your contemporaries from a range of different art and design subjects and beyond. You’ll be working alongside artists, designers, photographers, illustrators, animators, and filmmakers on daring and creative projects that prepare you for a rewarding career in your chosen industry.
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Year One
Design for Stage and Screen: Introduction
(80 credit points)
Through independent and collaborative projects and practical workshops, you will develop the skills and vocabulary relevant to design for film and TV. Through experimentation with a variety of methods and materials, this module will provide the opportunity to develop your visual communication skills and 3D problem solving, as you work on individual briefs, and a collaborative project with your fellow Design for Stage and Screen students.
You’ll develop your skills in set design process, including free drawing, technical drawing, visualisation and communication, model making, storyboarding, and a variety of software.
Contextual Studies: Introducing Research
(20 credit points)
Explore stage and screen history, cultural and contextual knowledge and its relevance to design for film and TV. You will develop a critical knowledge and understanding of the role that performance, culture, art and design can play within society by examining cultural contexts across a variety of time periods and locations, aiding and enriching your practical work.
Skills Passport
(20 credit points)
This module introduces a variety of practical technical skills and the concepts of safe professional practice. Through exploration of a range of materials and processes, you will build relevant skills and develop your practical knowledge base, while allowing flexibility for personal direction and acquiring an understanding of industry needs.
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Year Two
Design for Stage and Screen: Exploration
(60 credit points)
Building on the knowledge and skills you acquired in Year One, you will develop and enhance your creative thinking, critical analysis and technical skills, giving you a sound and relevant preparation for your final year and your future career.
You’ll work on a series of projects that are designed to reflect industry practice, and to give you a deeper understanding of the processes of design within film and television. You will design sets, create camera-ready props, and adapt a given text for the big screen.
Contextual Studies: Research and Impact
(20 credit points)
You will further investigate the role of performance and how it can convey meaning within a variety of cultural contexts, with an emphasis on performance analysis and practice within the global industry. You will continue to develop your intellectual curiosity and critical thinking skills which are key to the expression of your knowledge and understanding.
Co Lab: Research, Exploration and Risk-taking
(20 credit points)
Through active participation with team-based problem-solving, you will work together in mixed teams on a project where you will use your creative ideas to generate solutions to the challenge or brief. This collaborative learning experience will expose you to a range of new processes and approaches that will develop your creative thinking.
Optional module
You will also choose one 20-credit module from:
- Model Making: Object and Narrative
- 3D Material and Exploration
- Character Ideation
- Storyboarding: Visualising the Story, Enhancing the Narrative
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Final year
Design for Stage and Screen: Exposition
(100 credit points)
Research, develop and design your final major projects, which will be informed by your intended professional direction within the design for stage and screen industries. You will then present and communicate your ideas via visuals, technical drawings, models and digital work, showing your higher level of industry skills developed throughout your studies. You will demonstrate innovation, risk-taking and problem-solving at a professional level.
Contextual Studies: Research and Professional Practice
(20 credit points)
Undertake a detailed piece of written work that explores either your own final year project, or an industry-related investigation of an area of design for film and TV that is of significance to you. You will hone your research and critical analysis skills as you connect theory to relevant aspects of professional contemporary performance or practice.
Course specification
View the full course specification
Please note that course specifications may be subject to change
This course has an excellent graduate employment rate, with 95% of graduates in employment or further study within six months (DLHE survey 2016/17).
How you’re taught
On this course, you’ll spend most of your time in a creative studio environment. Teaching and learning experiences will include group and independent projects, demonstrations, tutorials, lectures and seminars. You’ll also benefit from study visits and work experience and be expected to keep a reflective journal.
Assessment methods
Assessment is 100% through coursework. You’ll receive feedback throughout each module and will have opportunities to discuss feedback, identify areas of strength and weakness, and set personal goals. Depending on the module, you may be assessed through design presentations, submissions of artefacts (e.g. props) and portfolios, as well as written work and peer assessment.
Your final degree mark with be based 100% on your final year work.
- Year 1 coursework (100%).
- Year 2 coursework (100%).
- Year 3 coursework (100%).
Contact hours
A full-time student on average can expect to spend 1200 hours a year learning which will typically be broken down as follows:
- Year 1 lectures/seminars/workshops (28%), independent study (72%).
- Year 2 lectures/seminars/workshops (23%), independent study (77%).
- Year 3 lectures/seminars/workshops (20%), independent study (80%).
Staff profiles
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).
We're ranked 12th best University for Art and Design in the UK. (The Complete University Guide 2021)
Student work
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Created by Julia Bull -
Created by Matilda Beard -
Created by Matilda Beard -
Emma Savill, BA (Hons) Design for Film and Television -
George Turner, BA (Hons) Design for Stage and Screen (Design for Film and Television) -
George Turner 1, BA (Hons) Design for Stage and Screen (Design for Film and Television) -
Lydia Hornby, BA (Hons) Design for Film and Television
Facilities
You’ll be based in the Waverley building – a beautifully restored listed building with real design heritage: it was the original home of the Nottingham School of Art. Facilities and equipment include:
- two dedicated design studios
- TV studios with green screen facilities
- Mini-Cam (for models)
- water jet and laser cutting and engraving technology
- 3D prototyping from polymer to powder printing
- construction workshops
- IT facilities
- industry-standard software including Vectorworks, PhotoShop, and SketchUp.
You’ll also have the opportunity to use resources from across the School of Art & Design and the wider University, including equipment such as metal and wood workshops; rubber, resin and plastics development
Entry requirements
What are we looking for?
You will need one of the following options:
- A-levels – BBC or equivalent; or
- BTEC Extended Diploma – DMM
- 112 UCAS Tariff points from three A-levels or equivalent qualifications.
- You will also need GCSEs – English and Maths or Science grade C / 4.
NTU may admit a student with advanced standing beyond the beginning of a course, through an assessment of that student's prior learning, whether it is certificated or uncertificated. Our Recognition of Prior Learning and Credit Transfer Policy outlines the process and options available to these prospective students, such as recognising experiential learning or transferring to a similar course at another institution, otherwise known as credit transfer.
All prospective students who wish to apply via Recognition of Prior Learning should initially contact the central Admissions and Enquiries Team who will be able to support you through the process.
Other requirements
All applications welcome
We welcome applications from prospective students with a range of qualifications and experience, and all are assessed on an individual basis. Mature applicants who do not meet the standard entry criteria can still be considered providing they have relevant experience to compliment any qualifications.
All applicants will need to apply through UCAS and will be expected to present a portfolio at interview.
What are we looking for?
We accept qualifications from schools, colleges and universities all over the world for entry onto our courses. If you’re not sure how your international qualification matches our course requirements, please visit our international qualifications page.
NTU may admit a student with advanced standing beyond the beginning of a course, through an assessment of that student's prior learning, whether it is certificated or uncertificated. Our Recognition of Prior Learning and Credit Transfer Policy outlines the process and options available to these prospective students, such as recognising experiential learning or transferring to a similar course at another institution, otherwise known as credit transfer.
All prospective students who wish to apply via Recognition of Prior Learning should initially contact the central Admissions and Enquiries Team who will be able to support you through the process.
Other requirements
Foundation courses
If you need to do an art and design foundation course to meet our course requirements please visit Nottingham Trent International College (NTIC). If you’re already studying in the UK at a school or college and would like to know if we can accept your qualification please visit our foundation courses page.
English language requirements
If English isn't your first language, you need to show us that your language skills are strong enough for intensive academic study. You can check our language requirements and list of accepted English language tests. Your British Council office can tell you where you can take an International English Language Testing System (IELTS) test locally.
Next steps
Please also take a look at our International students page and our application guide for international students, which are full of advice and information about the University.
If you need any more help or information, please contact our International team or call on +44 (0)115 848 4200. Alternatively, you can speak to one of our official NTU representatives for your country.
How to apply
Apply through UCAS. If your application is successful, you'll be invited to an interview where you'll need to bring with you your portfolio.
Download our portfolio checklist.
Please read our notes on the University's commitment to delivering the educational services advertised
Please read our notes on the University's commitment to delivering the educational services advertised.
Apply through UCAS (if applying to more than one university in the UK), or through our NTU applicant portal. If successful, you'll be invited to an interview where you'll need to bring with you your portfolio.
If you aren't a resident in the UK, we'll ask you to submit a digital portfolio in lieu of an interview.
Get some digital portfolio advice
Keeping up to date
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.
Please also take a look at our International students page and our application guide for international students, which are full of advice and information about the University.
If you need any more help or information, please contact our International team or call on +44 (0)115 848 4200. Alternatively, you can get in touch with our staff at the International Development Office, who are always happy to help. Or speak to one of our official NTU representatives for your country.
Please read our notes on the University's commitment to delivering the educational services advertised.
Please read our notes on the University's commitment to delivering the educational services advertised.
Fees and funding
Preparing for the financial side of student life is important, but there's no need to feel anxious and confused about it. We hope that our fees and funding pages will answer all your questions.
Getting in touch
For more advice and guidance, you can contact our Student Financial Support Service.
Tel: +44 (0)115 848 2494
What's included in the course fees?
As part of the course, we will provide some basic materials and some necessary printed materials.
The School will cover the costs of any mandatory study trips.
In Final Year, the School of Art & Design will provide infrastructure costs for your Degree Show, including course catalogue and exhibition set-up costs. If you’re selected to exhibit your work at a graduate show in London, the School will cover the cost of transporting your work, the exhibition stand and event set-up.
Additional costs
Print and copy costs
The University allocates an annual printing and copying allowance of £20 depending on the course you are studying. For more details about costs for additional print and copying required over and above the annual allowance please see the Printing, photocopying and scanning information on the Library website.
We advise you to budget up to £100 per year for printing costs. This is related to personal portfolios. However, submissions can be made electronically, keeping printing requirements to a minimum.
Material costs
Depending on the projects you choose to work on, you may need to budget £100-£250 each year for materials and equipment. This is of course an approximation as your projects are highly personalised.
Stationery and reading materials
Most study modules will recommend one or more core textbooks, which many students choose to purchase. Book costs vary between courses and further information is available in the University’s bookshop, Blackwell’s. A good supply of these essential text books are available in the University libraries, which students can easily borrow or access online/directly whilst studying in the library. You should budget £50 – £100 per year (approximately) for reading materials.
Field trips
All essential field trip costs will be included in your course fees. There may be the opportunity to take part in optional field trips, which do incur additional costs.
If you choose to join an optional UK study trip, you should budget £40 – 60 per year. If you choose to join the optional overseas study trips/cultural visits, you should budget £350 (minimum) per year.
Placements
If you're undertaking a placement year, you'll need to budget for accommodation and any travel costs you may incur whilst on placement. Many of our placement students do earn a salary whilst on placement which can help to cover these living costs.
If you undertake work experience or a longer placement, you will have the chance to gain an additional Certificate or Diploma in Professional Practice, dependent on duration. The Diploma in Professional Practice incurs a fee for the additional placement year.
Preparing for the financial side of student life is important, but there's no need to feel anxious and confused about it. We hope that our fees and funding pages will answer all your questions.
You might be able to get a scholarship to help fund your studies. We award scholarships to those international students who can demonstrate excellent achievement, passion, and dedication to their studies.
Please take a look at our International students page for information about fees, scholarships for international students, visas and much more.
Getting in touch
For more advice and guidance, you can contact our Student Financial Support Service.
Tel: +44 (0)115 848 2494
What's included in the course fees?
As part of the course, we will provide some basic materials and some necessary printed materials.
The School will cover the costs of any mandatory study trips.
In Final Year, the School of Art & Design will provide infrastructure costs for your Degree Show, including course catalogue and exhibition set-up costs. If you’re selected to exhibit your work at a graduate show in London, the School will cover the cost of transporting your work, the exhibition stand and event set-up.
Additional costs
Print and copy costs
The University allocates an annual printing and copying allowance of £20 depending on the course you are studying. For more details about costs for additional print and copying required over and above the annual allowance please see the Printing, photocopying and scanning information on the Library website.
We advise you to budget up to £100 per year for printing costs. This is related to personal portfolios. However, submissions can be made electronically, keeping printing requirements to a minimum.
Material costs
Depending on the projects you choose to work on, you may need to budget £100-£250 each year for materials and equipment. This is of course an approximation as your projects are highly personalised.
Stationery and reading materials
Most study modules will recommend one or more core textbooks, which many students choose to purchase. Book costs vary between courses and further information is available in the University’s bookshop, Blackwell’s. A good supply of these essential text books are available in the University libraries, which students can easily borrow or access online/directly whilst studying in the library. You should budget £50 – £100 per year (approximately) for reading materials.
Field trips
All essential field trip costs will be included in your course fees. There may be the opportunity to take part in optional field trips, which do incur additional costs.
If you choose to join an optional UK study trip, you should budget £40 – 60 per year. If you choose to join the optional overseas study trips/cultural visits, you should budget £350 (minimum) per year.
Placements
If you're undertaking a placement year, you'll need to budget for accommodation and any travel costs you may incur whilst on placement. Many of our placement students do earn a salary whilst on placement which can help to cover these living costs.
If you undertake work experience or a longer placement, you will have the chance to gain an additional Certificate or Diploma in Professional Practice, dependent on duration. The Diploma in Professional Practice incurs a fee for the additional placement year.