Filmmaking BA (Hons)
- Level(s) of Study: Undergraduate
- UCAS Code(s): W600 /
- Start Date(s): September 2024
- Duration: Three years full-time
- Study Mode(s): Full-time
- Campus: City Campus
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Entry Requirements:
More information
Introduction:
This exciting new degree has been created in response to the global success of the UK film and screen industries.
On this practical course, you'll explore all aspects of filmmaking to set yourself up for a successful career in producing, directing, writing and other key creative roles in the industry.
With guidance from our expert staff, you will develop a deep understanding of the art of filmmaking and create original, entertaining and innovative films. You will gain skills across a range of filmmaking disciplines while making drama, documentary, commercial, music video and experimental projects leading to the production of a final industry facing short film.
Throughout the course you will work on live briefs with our industry partners, learning the technical and artistic abilities required to produce a professional portfolio tailored to your career goals.
Key features
- 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.
- Innovative independent filmmaking – this course has been developed with industry and academic insight by staff with a wealth of experience.
- Focus on the creative elements of the film. We want to create artists who can develop and bring their own projects to life.
- Learn in a professional studio environment, using industry-standard facilities such as high-end camera equipment and software such as the Adobe Creative suite and Davinci Resolve. View our Nottingham School of Art & Design Facilities Hub here.
- Develop your skillset through self-initiated work experience placements, industry competitions, external collaborations, and guest lectures.
- Learn from staff with expertise in areas such as directing, producing, scriptwriting, cinematography, and editing.
- During your time here, you will be given the opportunity to showcase your work to members of the creative industries. You can view our graduating students’ showcase here.
- Optional international study trips to renowned film festivals and events.
- Opportunity to apply for a European or international exchange to one of our partner institutions, such as Northern Arizona University in the USA.
- Course design approved by the International Moving Image Society, recognising the quality and relevance of our teaching content.
What you’ll study
Taught in partnership with NTU’s School of Arts and Humanities and Confetti Institute of Creative Technologies, you’ll benefit from a wide range of staff expertise and industry-standard facilities and equipment.
Script to Screen
(80 credit points)
This module will provide you with a foundation of the core creative concepts of writing, directing and producing for film, delivered through practical projects, workshops, lectures, seminars, tutorials and masterclasses.
By undertaking team and individual projects, you’ll develop your storytelling skills by undertaking technical roles in areas such as camera operating, lighting, sound recording, and post-production skills such as editing, working with audio and post-production workflow. All of these key skills will be developed so you can confidently tell your story.
Style, Narrative, Authorship
(20 credit points)
This module will explore film’s relationship with its audience and how characters and stories are influenced by writers, directors and producers.
A series of screenings will provide you with a broad background of current and historical international and national filmmakers. In these screenings and in lectures, workshops and discussions you will be introduced to film theory, genre, the idea of authorship in film, the power of film and its influence on audiences and culture.
Experimental Practice
(20 credit points)
This module is designed to broaden your knowledge and experience of lesser-known film form and content. It encourages you to reflect on contemporary filmmaking by looking at how mainstream has always drawn from the 'edges'. Having developed fundamental technical skills and a basic understanding of cinema studies in previous modules, this module will provide you with the opportunity to experiment freely and further develop your aesthetic understanding of the medium.
Narrative, Production and Audiences
(80 credit points)
This module asks you, through a series of given and self-initiated film-based projects, to apply and develop what you have learned through the experience of working on both individual and team-based projects. You will also have the opportunity to undertake a placement of up to 8 weeks or alternatively work on a live client brief with the supervision of tutors, which will enhance your employability skills.
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. 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. 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 optional 20-credit module from:
- Storyboarding: Visualising the story, enhancing the narrative
- Digital Marketing and Communication
- Motion Graphics
- The Art of the Video Interview
- Telling Stories
- Responding to the Visual World
Major Project: FILM
(80 credit points)
The module enables you to demonstrate the skills, ideas and learning acquired during your degree in an extended piece of film production practical work. You will have the opportunity to create a short film intended to be the core of your graduation portfolio.
Independent Film Research Project
(20 credit points)
This module aims to further develop your understanding of film theory, history and criticism, to better understand your own place in film culture, as well as your contributions to it, and the urgent issues and initiatives that are driving, and delivering fundamental industry change.
Business and Entrepreneurship for Filmmakers
(20 credit points)
This module focuses on career development and employability and examines strategies to help you pursue a future in the filmmaking industry. You will have opportunities to interact, communicate and explore the nature of working in the creative industries.
Video Gallery
How you’re taught
Teaching and learning experiences will include:
- film screenings
- lectures and briefings
- studio workshops
- seminars
- tutorials
- masterclasses
- verbal and visual presentations
- individual work
- teamwork
- live projects
- study trips
- personal development planning.
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, performers, photographers, illustrators and animators 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.
International exchanges and study trips
If you’re thinking about studying part of your degree abroad, the Nottingham School of Art & Design 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. Last year we celebrated our final year students work in our ‘We are Creatives’ showcase – you can view our graduating students’ showcase here.
Contact hours
- Year 1 lectures/seminars/workshops (28%), independent study (72%).
- Year 2 lectures/seminars/workshops (26%), independent study (74%).
- Year 3 lectures/seminars/workshops (25%), independent study (75%).
How you’re assessed
- Year 1 coursework (100%).
- Year 2 coursework (100%).
- Year 3 coursework (100%).
Assessment is 100% coursework. You’ll be assessed at the end of each module and awarded a grade, receiving feedback throughout.
Depending on the module, you may be assessed through:
- design development work (prototypes, storyboards, scripts, animatics, draft edits, research)
- final project work (e.g. film, scripts, pitch packages)
- portfolio work
- reports and evaluations
- essays
- visual and verbal presentations
- production management documentation
- design journals (online / offline).
Your final degree mark will be based 100% on your final year work.
Careers and employability
Employability is a key focus of this course, with modules including initiatives such as live projects and the opportunity to exhibit your work publicly, helping to raise your profile and enhance your future career prospects.
This course will prepare you to work in the digital media field, in areas such as feature and independent film, television, heritage interpretation, advertising, music video and games production.
You will also develop transferable skills for alternative careers in media, writing, research, teaching and academia.
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.
Connecting with industry and work placement opportunities
Industry professionals will visit the course to guest lecture and share their experiences. Live projects and competition briefs will help you gain real experience of the industry, make contacts, and build your portfolio and CV.
You’ll have the opportunity to complete work experience or longer 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.
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.
The National Association for Higher Education in Moving Image Membership
Students on this course will benefit from the NAHEMI (The National Association for Higher Education in Moving Image) Membership. The membership will provide you with the opportunity to enter competitions, network with industry professionals and showcase your work at national festivals such as Encounters and Aesthetica Short Film Festival.
Campus and facilities
Primarily, you’ll be based at our City Campus in the Waverley building – a beautifully restored, listed building with real design heritage – the original home of the Nottingham School of Art. View our Nottingham School of Art & Design Facilities Hub here.
You will also have some timetabled sessions at:
- Confetti, our partner institute in the Creative Quarter of Nottingham city centre
- NTU Clifton Campus.
Entry requirements
What are we looking for?
- A-levels – BBC or equivalent; or
- BTEC Extended Diploma – DMM; or
- 112 UCAS Tariff points from three A-levels or equivalent qualifications; and
- GCSEs – English and Maths or Science grade C / 4.
Other requirements
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 annual fee for our undergraduate degree courses includes a number of items. In addition to expert tuition and access to our first-class workshop and IT resources, you'll receive:
- mandatory field trips, exhibitions and events required as part of your core studies
- materials for induction workshops and activities within the workshops and laboratories
- professional body course accreditation (where applicable)
- infrastructure costs for final year Degree Showcases within Nottingham (where applicable).
You are expected to purchase your own books, standard drawing and writing equipment, and consumables.
Where optional study visits are offered, you will need to meet the cost of these.
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?
The annual fee for our undergraduate degree courses includes a number of items. In addition to expert tuition and access to our first-class workshop and IT resources, you'll receive:
- mandatory field trips, exhibitions and events required as part of your core studies
- materials for induction workshops and activities within the workshops and laboratories
- professional body course accreditation (where applicable)
- infrastructure costs for final year Degree Showcases within Nottingham (where applicable).
You are expected to purchase your own books, standard drawing and writing equipment, and consumables.
Where optional study visits are offered, you will need to meet the cost of these.
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.
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 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.
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.
The University's commitment to delivering the educational services advertised.