Program Overview

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BA (Hons) Film and Television

Immerse yourself in the world of storytelling, cinematography, and production on our practical three-year course. Unlock the art of crafting captivating film and TV from concept to completion and discover the power of visual storytelling to engage and inspire audiences.

Course Overview

Our Film and Television programme is a dynamic, hands-on course that equips you with the creative, technical, and professional skills needed to thrive in the screen industries. From day one, you'll be involved in real projects, building the confidence and experience to turn your ideas into powerful, audience-ready content.

You’ll master the art of visual storytelling, learning the fundamentals of cinematography, directing, production, and scriptwriting, while exploring how to connect with audiences across a range of platforms—from streaming services to the big screen.

The course covers the full production cycle, taking you from concept development to final delivery. You'll gain practical experience working on a variety of formats, including short films, documentaries, multi-camera TV shows, music videos, and experimental pieces. Regular workshops with industry professionals ensure you're learning the latest techniques and best practices.

With access to professional-grade facilities and support from staff who bring over 20 years of industry experience, you’ll be encouraged to push creative boundaries and refine your craft. Our students regularly gain recognition at film festivals and competitions, proving what’s possible when talent meets opportunity in a vibrant, collaborative environment.

On this course you will...

• Study within a safe, creative and vibrant environment that allows for individual approaches to filmmaking. There is an emphasis on practical learning with practical tasks and collaborative work.
• Develop close but meaningful working relationships with industry partners and critical friends to enhance learning and experiences for our students.
• Benefit from a flexible programme that reacts to industry/market needs when shaping the course.
• Have access to industry-standard equipment with managed access to kits where individual personal projects are encouraged.
• Prepare for the employment of tomorrow by learning future-proof, broader skill-base, transferable skills and adaptation – learners must show resilience, confidence, and ingenuity.
• Collaborate with expert lecturers such as course leader and Directors UK member Clive Tonge.

Key Details

• Recruiting to: UK / RoI / Settled in UK, EU / EEA / International
• Course Location: Carlisle - Brampton Road
• Institute: Institute of Education, Arts and Society
• UCAS Code: P311
• Delivery Style: In-Person
• Course Duration: Full-time: 3 Years
• Study Options: Integrated Foundation Year
• Course Start Point: September
• Award: BA (Hons)

Minimum entry requirements

• 104-120 UCAS Tariff points

Tuition fees

• £9,535 - UK
• £14,900 - International

Qualifications

• A-levels: BCC - BBB
• T-levels: P (C+) – M
• Access to HE: 30 Credits at Distinction, 6 at Merit and 9 at Pass
• CACHE Technical Level 3 and Level 3 Extended Diploma: B
• OCR Cambridge Technical & Edexcel/Pearson BTEC Level 3 (National) Extended Diploma: MMM – DDM
• Scottish Highers: BBBC - AABB
• Irish LC Highers: B1, B2x3 – A2, B1x3

Fair Admissions

When you apply, our Admissions specialists will review your whole application. We are looking for your potential to succeed so will assess your qualifications, any relevant work experience, your personal statement, and references.

Selection Criteria

As part of the application and selection process, we are looking for your commitment to this programme. In your personal statement, you should demonstrate your motivation for choosing Film and Television and reflect upon any experience you have gained.

Contextual Admissions

Going to higher education can transform a person’s life. We use contextual admissions to make sure that we are accessible to everyone who has the potential to succeed. Qualifications and grades are important, but they are considered alongside other information that helps universities to identify potential and widen access to university level study.

Course Structure

What you will learn

This full time 3-year degree in film and TV production has been designed to ensure that you not only graduate with writing, shooting, and editing technical skills, but also as a creative practitioner with your own unique voice. Each year will build on the skills you developed in the previous year as you take on more challenging projects of bigger scale.

We see your time with us as an opportunity to embark upon a voyage of discovery. One where you are given the freedom and confidence to discover yourself, who you are and who you wish to become. One where you are guided through and towards possibilities that you never even considered were even options for you. Whether that be in creation of new ideas to developing a love for technical proficiencies. A discovery where you stand at the very centre of your education and you get to choose your direction of travel with confidence and all fully guided by the core principles of the course and the academic team.

Year one

You are introduced to a broad range of skills which will benefit your future projects, including TV studio production, script-writing, lighting, camera operation, shot choice, composition, location sound recording, producing, directing and a host of other relevant skills and technique.

• Media Craft Skills
• Lens and Edit Craft
• Cultural Contexts
• Applied Storytelling
• Collaborative Practice

Year two

You will start to specialise and build on your technical & creative skill set through a range of production and large scale projects, including advanced script-writing, TV production, cinematography, experimental film, documentary, and short film.

• On Set
• Scene Craft
• Script and Narrative
• Unscripted TV Idea and Concept
• Professional Development

Year three

All your acquired knowledge, creative technique, and skills will be focused on professional production, putting into practice all you have learned in the creation and exhibiting of award-winning, festival-ready work.

• Research Portfolio
• Promotion and Pitch
• Graduate Project
• Festival and Exhibition

Teaching & Assessment

How you will learn

To succeed in the creative professions, individuals need to be highly skilled, competitive, and independent. As well as developing the knowledge and skills necessary to enter their chosen discipline, the programme seeks, from day one, to inculcate a strong professional ethos and values which make University of Cumbria graduates stand out in the workplace.

BA (Hons) Film and Television use a range of learning approaches such as lectures, demonstrations, seminars, workshops, critique reviews, pitching, and one-to-one feedback tutorials to monitor the progress of various projects, all with a bespoke VLE.

You will also undertake self-directed research and within the VLE environment, participate through forums, seminars, and lectures. As an undergraduate, you are continually involved in the assessment of your own work and that of your peers. You are required to develop interpersonal and team working skills within this context. You will also receive formative critical feedback from tutors.

A distinct feature of studying at the University of Cumbria is that in your first year, you will study two modules alongside other first year students within the Institute of Art. These modules are Cultural Contexts and Collaborative Practice. Additionally, you will work alongside Wildlife Media and Animation students for your first year 'Media Craft Skills' module.

Going into your second year, you will begin to specialise in Film & TV. However, you will still study alongside other Art students for modules like 'Professional Development' which explores professional skills and presentation in screen-based industries.

Learning will take place in person, online, and in the field.

How you will be assessed

The range of assessment modes used by Film and Television include:

• critical reflection
• group work
• individual presentations
• practical productions
• essays
• graduate project
• research portfolios
• reflection of creative actions

Our Film & TV programme will use an innovative model of combining industry proven Mentors with experienced academics. Online academic sessions will be available for you to access at a time that suits you, while others will be at set times, offering the benefits of face to face learning with online learning. The range of assessments is used because this enables different aspects of your learning to be tested.

Fees & Funding

Tuition Fees

2025 - 2026

• £9,535 - UK
• £14,900 - International

2024 - 2025

• £9,250 - UK
• £13,575 - International

The figures above don't include accommodation and living costs.

Tuition fees are set annually and are subject to review each year. The University may therefore raise tuition fees in the second or subsequent years of a course, in line with inflation and/or the maximum permitted by law or Government policy. Students will be notified of any changes as soon as possible.

International Finance

At the University of Cumbria, we offer affordable tuition fees for international and EU students looking to study at one of our main four campuses. No matter your choice of course or career path, our International Team is here to support you.

More Information

We have a wide range of scholarships, bursaries, grants and funds available to support you throughout your studies with us. This includes the Cumbria Bursary - a non-repayable bursary designed to support first year students with a household income of less than £25,000.

Additional Costs

There will be some additional costs. For example all students will need to purchase stationery and may wish to purchase some text books. Extra costs may also be applicable to cover field trips, membership fees etc. although such features are usually options within the course.

Books are reviewed annually and are therefore subject to change, course welcome information will provide you with an indicative list for the year.

Books and Journals

Most core text books are available via the University's library, however students may wish to buy copies of any texts used to support your learning on your course. This could cost between £50 - £100 per year.

Stationery

Students should budget for stationery and consumables for your own personal use. This should include notebooks, pens and pencils for taking notes in class and/or in the field. Students should also budget for the purchase of USB pen drives, as well as occasional printing and photocopying costs incurred in the preparation or submission of coursework. Whilst you will choose how much you need, expect to pay around £30 - £40 per year for these items.