Program Overview

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BA (Hons) Film

Overview

Study the art and craft of cinema and gain the practical and creative skills that will prepare you for a contemporary filmmaking career.

BA (Hons) Film provides an in-depth grounding in the technical processes, creative skills and production practices necessary for a career in the media and creative industries. From the outset, you are encouraged to think critically and creatively, developing your skills so that you can convey your ideas through practical work.

You will be taught to a high technical standard through the craft of script writing, producing, directing, documentary film-making, production design, cinematography, editing, sound design and other roles that are instrumental to industrial and independent film-making practices.

The course provides the opportunity to study at a partner university overseas, or complete a work placement in industry in your third year.

Throughout your studies, you will strive towards the goal of being an intelligent, creative and contemporary film-maker. By identifying your strengths and perfecting your craft within established film-making roles, you will increasingly define your own area of study and develop an individual creative practice, so that by graduation you will be capable of producing creative and original works of the highest quality.

Mode of Study:

• Full-time

Duration:

• 4 years

Start date:

• Sep

UCAS code:

• P303

Course details

BA (Hons) Film is a full-time programme and takes place at the Merchiston Campus, Craiglockhart Campus and at our purpose-built post-production facilities at Merchiston Avenue.

We offer fully equipped, specialist film facilities including high-end digital cinema cameras, professional film lighting, Avid Media Composer edit suites, Pro Tools, a professional dubbing theatre and a grading suite.

Alongside the more formal teaching content, there is a significant element of self-directed study and research, both individually and via group work.

Through independent enquiry, students are encouraged to develop and realise project ideas towards briefs that are designed to engage with relevant social, cultural and contextual concerns.

Graduates of the BA Film programme are able to engage and work in the following ways:

• creatively and imaginatively
• critically
• practically and technically
• professionally and collaboratively.

At the heart of this programme is the aim of equipping students with (1) the skills that are necessary to be employable in an industry that is largely freelance in nature and (2) the ability to go on to further postgraduate study. Therefore, alongside practical film-making skills, you will develop the ability to communicate your ideas effectively; be a purposeful contributor to collaborative practices; be a capable problem solver and be able to work in a self-motivated and responsible way. These are the essential, transferable professional skills that are required for a successful career in the creative industries.

Portfolio and interview

BA (Hons) Film is a popular programme, attracting a large amount of applicants. Short listed applicants will be invited to submit a portfolio of relevant work and attend an individual face-to-face interview with a member of the programme team. Telephone interviews are also available for overseas applicants.

You will be given set exercises for your portfolio and we will be looking for evidence of your understanding of, and engagement with, film. We will be looking for your visual literacy, interpretative skills and critical evaluation. While consideration will be given to technical knowledge, a high level of technical competence is not expected at this stage, although your potential for future development will be assessed. Please note that you will be sent more specific and detailed requirements when a portfolio is requested.

If invited to interview, you will be able to bring other examples of your work and you should include material which you feel best demonstrates your interest in and passion for film-making. The interview is an opportunity for you to present your work, outline the ideas behind your work, and tell us about what influences and inspires you.

How you’ll be taught

You will learn by a variety of teaching methods including lectures, seminars, workshops, independent study and research. Delivery of practical film-making skills is undertaken within an industry focus, and by academics and visiting lecturers who engage in relevant professional practices.

Assessments

Assessment is continuous throughout the year and is predominantly based upon submission of creative practical work, documentation of research and critical reflection, essay assignments, and oral presentations.

Work placement

You will undertake a period of work-related learning during Year 3, when you will start the process of preparation for your career after graduation. You will have the opportunity to gain industry experience by working on live briefs, on film sets, placements within production companies and television broadcasting studios, or working with charity sector clients.

Study abroad

You'll have the opportunity to spend one trimester or a full year abroad in Year 3.

Studying abroad provides a unique opportunity to develop your studies in film while embarking on a rich cultural exchange.

BA (Hons) Film Students have undertaken exchanges at Deakin University (Melbourne, Australia), Queensland University of Technology (Australia), Ryerson University (Toronto, Canada), San Diego State University (California, USA), San Jose State University (California, USA), Brooklyn College, City University of New York (USA), Drexel University (Philadelphia, USA), Charles University (Prague, Czech Republic) and Stuttgart Media University (Germany).

Students have also been involved in unique cultural exchange film-making projects with Shanghai Normal University and Beijing Central Academy of Fine Arts.

Popular modules

Year 1

• Key Concepts in Filmmaking
• Research and Communication Skills
• Narrative Construction
• Essential Elements of Storytelling (plot, character, dialogue and engaging an audience)
• Editing Sound and Picture
• Systems of Continuity
• Screenwriting
• Film History

Year 2

• Film Histories and Key Theoretical Film Issues
• Documentary Filmmaking
• Cinematic Genres
• Film Adaptation

Working collaboratively on practical film projects in the roles of:

• Cinematographer
• Editor
• Sound Design
• Writer
• Director

Year 3

• Individually tailored filmmaking projects within specialist roles
• Work-related learning
• Critical and analytical abilities required to undertake a research topic
• Visual Anthropology
• Screenwriting
• Documentary Filmmaking
• Opportunity to study abroad

Year 4

• Practical project (typically a short film or collaborative roles on a number of short films)
• Dissertation
• Professional development skills

OUR INDUSTRY PARTNERS

We work closely with our industry partners to offer projects, short-term work placements and work experience opportunities to our BA Film students throughout their degree.

Entry requirements

Minimum Year 1

Please Note - this course is not available for advanced entry.

• SQA Higher: Standard Entry Requirement: ABBB including English or other literary subject. Minimum Offer Entry Requirement: BBCC including English or other literary subject.
• A level: BCC including English or other literary subject* (Film Studies and Moving Image Arts accepted as literary subjects).
• Irish Leaving Certificate: H2, H2, H2, H3 at Higher Level including English or other literary subject*.
• HNC: Pass HNC in a related subject with grade B in the Graded Unit.
• BTEC (QCF) Extended Diploma Level 3: Minimum grades DMM (Distinction, Merit, Merit) in a related subject. Additional A Level grade C English/Literary subject or equivalent required if the BTEC subject does not cover sufficient literary content.
• BTEC (QCF) National Diploma Level 3: Minimum grades DD (Distinction, Distinction) in a related subject.
• International Baccalaureate Diploma: Award of Diploma with 29 points overall with three Higher Level subjects with grades 6,5,4 including English or other literary subject* at grade 5.

English language

If your first language isn't English, you'll normally need to undertake an approved English language test. The English Language requirements for this programme are IELTS (Academic) with 6.5 overall and no element below 6.0.

International students

We welcome applications from students studying a wide range of international qualifications.

Admissions policies

We’re committed to admitting students who have the potential to succeed and benefit from our programmes of study.

Fees & funding

The course fees you'll pay and the funding available to you will depend on a number of factors including your nationality, location, personal circumstances and the course you are studying.

Tuition fees for 2024/25

• Students from Scotland: £1,820
• Students from England, Wales, Northern Ireland, and Republic of Ireland: £9,250
• Overseas and EU: £19,340

Careers

The programme prepares students for a wide range of possible careers in the creative industries sector. Many of our graduates enter the traditional areas of professional film and television production as freelancers in fields such as camera department, sound recording and design, editing, art department, directing, production and documentary film-making.

When you complete the course, you will leave with an in-depth grounding in the technical processes, creative skills and production practices necessary for your career, including opportunities to study abroad and work-related learning.

Where your degree could lead:

• Screenwriter
• Researcher
• Film/Television Director/Producer
• Production Designer
• Cinematographer
• Editor
• Sound Designer
• Content Editor
• Production Manager
• Multimedia Manager