Film Technology BSc (Hons)
- Level(s) of Study: Undergraduate
- UCAS Code(s): W610
- Start Date(s): September 2024
- Duration: 3 years
- Study Mode(s): Full-time
- Campus: City Campus
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Entry Requirements:
More information
Introduction:
The creative industries are always looking out for the next pool of technicians who can make innovative contributions to the making of films. Our BSc (Hons) Film Technology course combines the main elements of film production with a focus on technical specialisation in cinematography, sound, and editing.
This course will be taught at Nottingham School of Art & Design for September 2024 entry. If you are looking to join us in September 2023, the course is taught at Confetti Institute of Creative Technologies Nottingham.
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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. -
Develop your professional skills through self-initiated work experience placements, industry competitions, collaborations with organisations and guest lectures. -
You’ll be able to personalise your studies by choosing from a range of up to eight optional modules. Your course also includes our School-wide, sector-leading CoLab module.
What you’ll study
Our BSc (Hons) Film Technology course takes a holistic and practical approach to exploring the professional aspects of filmmaking and will give you skills and experience in making short films, commercials, music videos, and documentaries. With an emphasis on hands-on training, you’ll also learn the importance of all aspects of the film production journey and have access to high-specification digital cameras, a purpose-built virtual production studio, and the latest software applications for post-production editing.
- Craft Skills and Technologies
- Storytelling and Production
- Approaches to Film: Digital Workflows
- Advanced Production
- Emerging Technologies
- Film Crew Collaboration
- Enterprise and Entrepreneurship
Craft Skills and Technologies
(40 credit points)
Your introduction to digital film production equipment and techniques, with a special focus on the basics of sound, camera, and editing through practical demonstration and experimentation. In this module, you will create projects using digital filming technology to develop your basic audio-visual communication skills.
Approaches to Film
(40 credit points)
Your introduction to digital film production equipment and techniques, with a special focus on the basics of sound, camera, and editing through practical demonstration and experimentation. In this module, you will create projects using digital filming technology to develop your basic audio-visual communication skills.
Storytelling and Production
(40 credit points)
Storytelling is a fundamental building block within the creative industries, critical to content-making for big and small screens. In this module, you will be introduced to the fundamentals of content development and learn how ideas are generated, refined and pitched in professional contexts. You will progressively hone your storytelling skills and work intensely and intensively in key areas of film and television production.
Digital Workflows
(20 credit points)
The module provides you with the opportunity to investigate the fundamental core technical concepts that make up the digital moving image, as well as multimedia and digital film production pipelines and workflows.
You will engage with foundation-level mechanisms and standards essential to image acquisition, reproduction and display.
TV Contextual Landscapes
(40 credit points)
Develop your awareness of different approaches to making television content and how social, cultural, ethical, and political landscapes affect the programme-maker through research and discussion of a range of theoretical and critical approaches to engaging with television and visual cultures.
Television: Studio Practice
(20 credit points)
Devise and research a multi-camera magazine project with the aid of outside presenters and contributors in a TV studio environment. Gain basic level training and skills in studio production alongside an introduction to research for factual programme-making, utilising camera, lighting and sound in a professional broadcast context.
Storytelling and Production
(40 credit points)
Storytelling is a fundamental building block within the creative industries, critical to content-making for big and small screens. In this module, you will be introduced to the fundamentals of content development and learn how ideas are generated, refined and pitched in professional contexts. You will progressively hone your storytelling skills and work intensely and intensively in key areas of film and television production.
CoLab: 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. Your project will allow you to explore outside of your usual frames of reference and to move beyond your comfort zone. You can expect to engage in new conversations as you explore disruptive learning opportunities through participation in unfamiliar creative places and experiments as you embrace new opportunities.
Optional module
You will also choose one optional 20-credit module from:
- Storyboarding
- Character Ideation
- Experimental Animation
- The Art of the Video Interview
- Typography: Use and Expression
- Motion Graphics
- Responding to the Visual World
- Digital Matte Painting
Optional Placement Year
We have an option for all of our students to undertake a placement year and allow you to decide whether this is right for you once you have completed years 1 and 2 of your course. This time spent working in industry provides our students with crucial work experience, which is highly prized and much sought after by employers upon graduation. If you are successful in securing a placement you will have the chance to gain an additional Certificate or Diploma in Professional Practice, dependent on duration.
Personal Project
(40 credit points)
This module provides you with the opportunity to undertake a sustained investigation into a specific area of creative technology that builds on your previous knowledge, experience and skills. You will achieve this by undertaking a self-initiated research project with a practical creative or technical outcome supported by tutor supervision.
Enterprise and Entrepreneurship
(20 credit points)
Production Collaboration
60 credit points)
Building on the collaborative skills you have developed in Year Two, you'll have the opportunity to work with BA Filmmaking and BSc Television Production students to make a screen production to professional standards and to take on a role with an emphasis on their chosen career field in television.
How you’re taught
Teaching and learning experiences will include:
- Lectures
- Staged briefings
- Independent learning
- NOW online learning portal
- Demonstrations
- Tutorials
- Seminars
- Team working
- Verbal and visual presentations
- Live projects
- Study trips
- Peer group activities
20% of your final degree mark will be based on your work in Year 2, and 80% from your work in your final year.
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. Your project will allow you to explore how creativity can make an impact in society, as you choose a theme of sustainability, social justice, enterprise and innovation or community.
Exchange opportunities
If you’re thinking about studying part of your degree abroad, the course has exchange agreements with a number of institutions around the world.
Exchanges take place in Year Two of the course. You’ll receive guidance from the University about where you can study, and help in completing your application and arranging your exchange.
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’.
Contact hours
- Year 1 lectures/seminars/workshops (24%), independent study (76%)
- Year 2 lectures/seminars/workshops (26%), independent study (74%)
- Year 3 lectures/seminars/workshops (23%), independent study (77%)
How you’re assessed
- Year 1 coursework (83%), practical exams (17%)
- Year 2 coursework (100%)
- Year 3 coursework (100%)
Careers and employability
Employability is a key focus of this course, with modules including initiatives such as live projects and trips, and the opportunity to exhibit your work, which will help to raise your profile and enhance your future career.
This course will equip you with the skills and knowledge you need to forge a career in a variety of technical or creative roles and productions. This could include roles such as runner, camera assistant, sound recordist, editing assistant, or production coordinator. You could be working with major production studios on the sets of blockbuster films and award-winning TV series.
Connecting with industry and work placement opportunities
Industry professionals will visit the course to guest lecture and share their experiences. Live projects and competitions will help you to gain real experience of the industry, make contacts, and build your portfolio and CV.
You’ll be encouraged to undertake short periods of work experience alongside your studies. You will normally complete these placements during holiday periods, but you will have the option of taking up to two weeks out of term time, which you can negotiate with your tutor.
In addition, you’ll also have the opportunity to complete a longer work experience or placement, with the chance to gain an additional Diploma or Certificate in Professional Practice, dependent on duration. Course tutors and our Employability team are on hand to support you in applying for placement and professional practice opportunities.
YouFirst – working with our Employability team
Studying a creative degree in a large university has many benefits, none more so than having access to a large employability team.
Our friendly, experienced careers consultants will work closely with you at every stage of your career planning, providing personal support and advice you won't find in a book or on the Internet. You can benefit from this at any time during your studies and for up to three years after completing your course.
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.
Campus and facilities
Entry requirements
112 UCAS Tariff points
What are we looking for?
- A-levels – BBC; or
- BTEC Extended Diploma – DMM; or
- 104-112 UCAS Tariff points from three A-levels or equivalent qualifications; and
- GCSEs – English and Maths or Science grade C / 4.
Other qualifications and experience
We will consider equivalent qualifications and combinations, please see UCAS course search for details and use our calculator to help you work out how many UCAS points your qualifications relate to.
We may also consider credits achieved at other universities and your work/life experience through an assessment of prior learning. This may be for year one entry, or beyond the beginning of a course where applicable, for example, into year 2. Our Recognition of Prior Learning and Credit Transfer Policy outlines the process and options available for this route.
Contextual offers
As well as assessing your application and qualifications, we use contextual data and information to make offers for this course. Depending on your circumstances, we may make you an offer up to two grades below the standard entry criteria. Find out how we assess your application.
Getting in touch
If you need any more help or information, please email our Admissions Team or call on +44 (0)115 848 4200.
International qualifications
We accept qualifications from all over the world – check yours here:
Undergraduate preparation courses (Foundation)
If you don’t yet meet our entry requirements, we offer Foundation courses through our partner Nottingham Trent International College (NTIC), based on our City Campus:
English language entry requirements
You can meet our language requirements by successfully completing our pre-sessional English course for an agreed length of time, or by submitting the required grade in one of our accepted English language tests, such as IELTS:
Advanced standing (starting your undergraduate degree in year 2 or 3)
You may be able to start your undergraduate course in year 2 or 3 based on what you have studied before. This decision would be made in accordance with our Recognition of Prior Learning and Credit Transfer Policy.
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.
- Complete this simple form to keep in touch with the International Office.
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?
The School will cover the costs of any mandatory study trips.
In your final year, the Nottingham School of Art & Design will provide infrastructure costs for the Showcase.
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.
Material costs
Depending on the materials you choose to work with, you should budget around £100 per year (minimum) for production costs associated to your course, including things like your final year project.
Stationery and reading materials
Most study modules will recommend one or more core textbooks, which most 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 on-line/directly whilst studying in the library. You should budget £100 per year (minimum) for stationery and reading materials.
Although this is not a requirement for entry on the course or for successful study, once you have joined the course, some students choose to buy a laptop. Costs for this can vary depending on the technique you want to work in and the subsequent computer specification. If you do wish to purchase a computer, we advise you to wait until the course starts so that you can take advice on the specs needed for the work you are doing. You should expect to pay between £800-£1,500.
As part of your studies, you’ll need to store large quantities of data and we recommend you budget £70 for a rugged 1TB portable hard drive.
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’ll need to budget around £50 per year (minimum). If you choose to join an optional international study trip, you’ll need to budget £500 per year (minimum).
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.
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?
The School will cover the costs of any mandatory study trips.
In your final year, the Nottingham School of Art & Design will provide infrastructure costs for the Showcase.
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.
Material costs
Depending on the materials you choose to work with, you should budget around £100 per year (minimum) for production costs associated to your course, including things like your final year project.
Stationery and reading materials
Most study modules will recommend one or more core textbooks, which most 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 on-line/directly whilst studying in the library. You should budget £100 per year (minimum) for stationery and reading materials.
Although this is not a requirement for entry on the course or for successful study, once you have joined the course, some students choose to buy a laptop. Costs for this can vary depending on the technique you want to work in and the subsequent computer specification. If you do wish to purchase a computer, we advise you to wait until the course starts so that you can take advice on the specs needed for the work you are doing. You should expect to pay between £800-£1,500.
As part of your studies, you’ll need to store large quantities of data and we recommend you budget £70 for a rugged 1TB portable hard drive.
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’ll need to budget around £50 per year (minimum). If you choose to join an optional international study trip, you’ll need to budget £500 per year (minimum).
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.
How to apply
Apply through UCAS.
Getting in touch
If you need any more help or information, please email our Admissions team or call +44 (0)115 848 4200.
You can ap
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:
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.
- Complete this simple form to keep in touch with the International Office.
ply 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: