BA (Hons) Film Production & Cinematography

Become a creative, collaborative and reflective practitioner able to contribute and shape the present and future film, television and related industries.

UCAS Code:
PW36
Institution:
B50
Delivery:
Full time according to Funding Council definitions

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Why study BA (Hons) Film Production & Cinematography?

Produce individual and collaboratively authored work to industry standards
Gain a critical understanding of current issues and opportunities at the forefront of the film, television and related industries
Develop the intellectual tools and techniques required to deal with issues systematically and creatively
Learn from experienced industry professionals and academics who will help you develop the skills necessary to be successful in the competitive world of film and television
Follow in the footsteps of graduates who have gone on to work in various roles on high profile and prestigious productions such as Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker, Avengers: Endgame, Wonder Woman 1984.

Find out more about the content of this course.

Please note: This course is delivered at Wiltshire College & University Centre, Salisbury. You can view a virtual tour of the campus or book to attend an Open Day online.

Industry standard equipment

You’ll develop your craft skills using digital cinema cameras including the Sony FS7 and FS5, and also professional 16mm and 35mm celluloid film cameras, nonlinear edit suites, 16mm Steenbeck editing tables, location lighting, dollies and track. Over the course of your studies, you will also learn production skills including producing, directing, production management, and screenwriting.

See what it's like to study on this course

Image description — Image of a female student using a camera

Next start date:

September 2022, September 2023

Location:

Wiltshire College and University Centre, Salisbury

Duration:

3 years full-time with a 4 week placement, or 4 years full-time with a minimum 30-week placement

Required subjects:

All subjects considered

Entry requirements:

For September 2022 and September 2023 entry: 104-120 UCAS tariff points from 2 A-levels or equivalent qualifications. BTEC Extended Diploma: DMM. For more information check out our full entry requirements.

International entry requirements:

For September 2022 and September 2023 entry: If English is not your first language you'll need IELTS (Academic) 6.0 with minimum 5.5 in each component or equivalent. For more information check out our International entry requirements.

Course details

On this course you will usually be taught by a range of staff with relevant expertise and knowledge appropriate to the content of the unit. This will include senior academic staff, qualified professional practitioners and research students. You will also benefit from regular guest lectures from industry.

How you will be assessed

You will be assessed by coursework culminating in your final year research project, and you will also undertake group work and written exams. The assessment methods for each unit can be found in the programme specification for your course.

Download the programme specification (pdf 704kb)

Year 1

Screen Studies 1: During this unit you'll be encouraged to understand and reflect upon the changing field of ideas, concepts and contexts that have shaped the development of contemporary film and television.
Professional Development Plan: Research a particular area of industry practice, with a view to developing your own individual career path.
Film Craft Principles: This unit introduces you to key technical, craft and creative skills relating to film production and cinematography, and safe and professional working practices.
Production Principles: Develop your understanding of key production and creative skills required for the safe and effective management of a film production.
Creative Storytelling: Explore narrative forms in both drama and documentary film making.
Collaborative Project: In a group you'll create a production of a narrative film through which you'll develop an understanding of a wide range of technical and production skills.

Year 2

Screen Studies 2: Building on the knowledge and skills from year 1, you'll become more independent in your studies and will have the opportunity to pursue your own research interests using appropriate methodologies, which may become the foundation of your final year project.
Production Portfolio: Working across a number of production projects in a variety of roles, you'll further develop the creative, technical, craft and production skills introduced in the first year. You'll also critically reflect upon your work and select and present your strongest projects in a portfolio.
Film Specialisms: You will agree a series of tasks and exercises with tutors to develop your skill, knowledge and understanding in a chosen area. This could include directing, producing, cinematography, editing, production management, script writing, sound recording, sound design and other approved areas.
Investigating Industry: Using appropriate primary and secondary research methods you'll conduct in depth research into a particular organisation or individual within the contemporary film industry and critically examine their position within a continually changing media landscape.
Negotiated Project: During this unit you'll have the opportunity to complete a production project of your own choosing bringing together production and cinematography skills, film theory and critical reflection.

Placement year

Final year

Concept Development: Development of a film project and accompanying marketing and distribution strategies. This experience will initially grow through a work placement you will undertake.
Graduate Project: Production of a film including the implementation of marketing and distribution strategies. You will need to demonstrate knowledge of industry-standard production techniques and cinematography skills, you will also need to recruit and manage a team of people to produce a minor film project.
Professional Contexts: This unit provides you with the opportunity to improve your employability through an industry work placement and the development of a real world marketing, distribution and exhibition strategy, which may be related to your Graduate Project.
Research Project: You'll produce a significant piece of written academic work on a topic of your choice, and develop and demonstrate high level skills in research, critical thinking, analysis and academic debate. The dissertation must have a 10,000-word equivalence but the exact content and style will be agreed with your supervisor and will depend on the subject and approach taken.

Programme specification

Programme specifications provide definitive records of the University's taught degrees in line with Quality Assurance Agency requirements. Every taught course leading to a BU Award has a programme specification which describes its aims, structure, content and learning outcomes, plus the teaching, learning and assessment methods used.

Whilst every effort is made to ensure the accuracy of the programme specification, the information is liable to change to take advantage of exciting new approaches to teaching and learning as well as developments in industry.

If you have been unable to locate the programme specification for the course you are interested in, it will be available as soon as the latest version is ready. Alternatively please contact us for assistance.

Placements

We recognise that placements are extremely valuable and can give you a head start when it comes to your future career. That’s why we offer every new student the opportunity to undertake a work placement as part of their course.

We will provide a great deal of support to help you find the most appropriate work placement for the subject you’re studying and the career you’re interested in, which means you could be based anywhere in the UK, or even overseas.

All you need to know about placements

How placements benefit you

Placements provide a great opportunity to make your first career steps and enhance your employability while you’re completing your studies. You’ll get the opportunity to:

Put the theory learnt throughout the course into professional practice
Enhance your study and help you decide on subject options (where appropriate)
Learn a wide range of skills such as time management, problem solving and team work (all of these are important to succeed in any career)
Make contacts, as it is not uncommon for our students to be offered permanent positions to return to after graduating
Gain a real insight into how the industry operates in roles that would be almost impossible to achieve for an outsider
Many of our students, during their placement, are given responsibilities normally associated with graduate trainees.

How long will your placement be?

Our placement students have previously worked with

Entry requirements

This course requires 104–120 UCAS tariff points including a minimum of 2 A-levels or equivalent. We are happy to consider a combination of qualifications and grades to meet the overall tariff, for example A-levels A*CC, ABC, BBB or BCC, BTECs DDM or DMM. You can use the UCAS calculator to see how your qualifications equate to UCAS tariff points.

Calculate your UCAS tariff points

2022 and 2023 entry
Numeracy and literacy requirements (e.g. GCSEs)	GCSE English Language or English Literature and Mathematics grade 4 (or grade C in the old grading system). We also accept iGCSEs, Key Skills and Functional Skills and other qualifications at Level 2 of the National Qualifications Framework. See all of the equivalencies.
A-level and AS levels	104–120 UCAS tariff points from a minimum of two A-levels.
Advanced Welsh Baccalaureate – Skills Challenge Certificate	We accept this qualification, but it must be accompanied by an A-level sized qualification to meet the overall UCAS tariff.
Access to HE Diploma	102–118 UCAS tariff points with any combination of Distinction, Merit, Pass grades.
BTEC National	Extended Diploma: Distinction, Merit, Merit (112 UCAS tariff points) Diploma: Distinction, Distinction (104 UCAS tariff points) Foundation Diploma/ 90-credit Diploma:* We accept this qualification, but it must be accompanied by an A-level sized qualification to meet the overall UCAS tariff Extended Certificate/ Subsidiary Diploma: We accept this qualification as part of the overall tariff.
Cambridge International Pre-U Diploma	104–120 UCAS tariff points from a minimum of two principal subjects.
Cambridge Technical	Extended Diploma: Distinction, Merit, Merit (112 UCAS tariff points) Diploma: Distinction, Distinction (104 UCAS tariff points) Subsidiary Diploma:* We accept this qualification, but it must be accompanied by an A-level sized qualification to meet the overall UCAS tariff Introductory Diploma: We accept this qualification, but it must be accompanied by an A-level sized qualification to meet the overall UCAS tariff.
Extended Project Qualification	We accept this qualification, but it must be accompanied by two A-level sized qualifications to meet the overall UCAS tariff.
International Baccalaureate Certificates	104–120 UCAS tariff points from a minimum of two Higher Level certificates.
International Baccalaureate (Diploma)	An overall score of 28–31 points.
Scottish Highers	104–120 UCAS tariff points from a minimum of four Scottish Highers.
Scottish Advanced Highers	104–120 UCAS tariff points from a minimum of two Scottish Advanced Highers.
T Levels	Merit (120 UCAS tariff points).

International entry requirements

You can find details of the international qualifications we accept, and what level of study they apply to, on our entry requirements for non-UK students' page.	Please see below some examples of the qualifications for entry onto Year 1 for September 2022 and September 2023 entry: Chinese Senior High School Graduation Certificate (Huikao) average 80%, or Gaokao 61-71%. Grade depends on the course Hong Kong HKDSE Diploma (4,4,3 to 4,4,4 from three subjects). Grade depends on the course All India Senior School Certificate Examination (Standard XII) 60-70% Italian Esame di Stato with 60-70%. Grade depends on the course Titulo de Bachillerato with 6 or 7. Grade depends on course English language requirements If English is not your first language, you will need to provide evidence that you can understand English to a satisfactory level. English language requirements for this course are normally: For September 2022 and September 2023 entry: IELTS (Academic) 6.0 with minimum 5.5 in each component, or equivalent. View further information about our English language requirements. If you do not meet the English language requirement for your degree then why not join our Pre-Sessional English course? Successful completion of our Pre-Sessional English course will meet your English language requirement.

You can find details of the international qualifications we accept, and what level of study they apply to, on our entry requirements for non-UK students' page.

Please see below some examples of the qualifications for entry onto Year 1 for September 2022 and September 2023 entry:

Chinese Senior High School Graduation Certificate (Huikao) average 80%, or Gaokao 61-71%. Grade depends on the course
Hong Kong HKDSE Diploma (4,4,3 to 4,4,4 from three subjects). Grade depends on the course
All India Senior School Certificate Examination (Standard XII) 60-70%
Italian Esame di Stato with 60-70%. Grade depends on the course
Titulo de Bachillerato with 6 or 7. Grade depends on course

English language requirements

If English is not your first language, you will need to provide evidence that you can understand English to a satisfactory level. English language requirements for this course are normally:

For September 2022 and September 2023 entry: IELTS (Academic) 6.0 with minimum 5.5 in each component, or equivalent.

View further information about our English language requirements.

If you do not meet the English language requirement for your degree then why not join our Pre-Sessional English course? Successful completion of our Pre-Sessional English course will meet your English language requirement.

Other useful information

AccessBU: AccessBU provides you with the opportunity to tell us about your circumstances that are not always evident in your UCAS application. This widening access initiative also considers relevant criteria such as being in care or if you live in an area with a low participation rate in Higher Education - if you are eligible, your offer could be up to 16 UCAS tariff points below the published tariff.

Apprenticeships: We recognise the transferable knowledge and skills gained through apprenticeships and welcome applications from students with a Level 3 Advanced Apprenticeship recognised by the Institute for Apprenticeships. Each application will be considered on a case-by-case basis.

Deferred entry: We are happy to consider eligible applicants for deferred entry. If you have already submitted your application, please submit your deferral request through our website.

Direct entry: We welcome applications from students who have previously studied at degree level at other institutions and wish to transfer onto a BU course. Our Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) procedure enables credit awarded from one institution to contribute to a BU award, subject to an application process. Please visit our RPL webpage for more information.

Mature applicants: We recognise that mature applicants may have a wealth of experience rather than formal qualifications, so we’ll consider your application on these merits if included in your application. You’ll need to apply to BU in the usual way through UCAS and you may be invited to an interview to discuss your suitability for the course based on the experience you tell us about in your application.

Your application

This course will suit applicants who:

Demonstrate both intellectual and creative abilities
Show an understanding of film making principles
Have an appreciation of cinematography
Possess a strong awareness of different film genres and histories
Demonstrate good written and oral communication skills.

How to apply

What we’re looking for

Students on this course will typically have a creative background and either qualifications or experience related to film and cinematography. Students will also be media aware and have a proven ability to work creatively, in groups and individually.

We look for creative and innovative thinkers who are familiar with current film making practice and want to apply it. We would encourage applicants who are interested in new ideas, can express themselves well in writing, work well in groups and can demonstrate a wide range of interests.

Selection methods

How we assess your application

We look at individual applications and make a tailored offer based on your potential to succeed on the course considering a range of factors, including your academic achievements, work and other experience, reference and personal statement. Typically, we make an offer at the bottom of the tariff range.

AccessBU gives you the chance to tell us more about you and your life experiences if you haven’t had the same educational opportunities as other applicants. If you are eligible for AccessBU, your offer could be up to 16 UCAS Tariff Points below the published tariff.

Our offer making process

Our offer-making will typically be based on your most recent qualifications, including any required subjects where applicable. We'll consider all qualifications when assessing your application, although these may not be part of our offer.

If you do not meet the criteria of your original offer, we may still offer you a place. We will review your whole application and consider all academic qualifications (including those not in the offer) to see if you have the academic potential to succeed on the course. If we feel the answer is yes, we will confirm your place.

Applying for the second/final year

We have recently reviewed this course to take advantage of new approaches to learning and teaching, as well as developments in industry. As the aims, structure, content and learning outcomes, teaching, learning and assessment methods may have changed as a result of the review, you can find the relevant information for your year of entry in the appropriate programme specification.

Final year new entrants programme specification (pdf 704kb)

Careers

Film and TV production has become ever-more sophisticated over the years and you need to be versatile with a good understanding of the industry and the latest technology to get ahead. We have an excellent reputation within this competitive industry and our graduates consistently go on to work on high-profile TV and film projects.

Many of our graduates have gone on to work in various roles on high profile and prestigious productions such as 1917, Tenet, Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker, Avengers: Endgame, Wonder Woman 1984, Mission Impossible: Rogue Nation, Spectre, Paddington and Jurassic World: Dominion.

Careers advice and resources

Typical starting job roles

Example employers

This is a degree that’ll prepare you for roles in the areas of film, television, media and creative – but the capacities in which you can take on such positions are numerous.

You could use your passion for your work in documentaries or entertainment, original drama or marketing and campaigning. There are countless contexts in which visual storytelling can make a difference.

Further study

Costs and fees

All fees are quoted in pounds sterling and are per year. Your tuition fees will be the same for each year of your course. You can find full information about funding your studies and paying your fees in our undergraduate fees and funding section.

Find out more about budgeting and living expenses

Our staff

On this course you will be taught by staff with relevant expertise and knowledge appropriate to the content of the unit. This could include senior academic staff, qualified professional practitioners and research students, many of whom are actively engaged in research and/or professional practice which is integrated into the teaching of this course. Please note that staff can change.

Kieron Evans - Course Leader

Kieron is the Course Leader for the BA (Hons) Film Production and Cinematography degree programme that is delivered at Wiltshire College and University Centre’s Salisbury campus. He first gained a Higher National Diploma in 3D Computer Animation from Swansea Metropolitan University before going onto achieve a BA (Hons) in Film and TV Production from Bournemouth University. He also has a Professional Graduate Certificate in Education from Bath Spa University.

Prior to teaching on the BA (Hons) Film Production and Cinematography degree programme, Kieron first worked as a Camera Operator and Editor before moving into television commercials production working as a Visual Researcher and Director’s Assistant on high-profile TV spots.

Kieron has taught Film at Salisbury since 2008 and helped to design and create the Film Production and Cinematography degree in 2009. In addition to teaching, Kieron writes scripts and develops scripts in collaboration with other writers. He continues to develop his own projects whilst also assisting new filmmakers to produce films locally. He recently took a number of his third year film students to crew on an independently produced short film with an upcoming award-winning Director.

Dion M Casey GBCT, SOA

Dion is a freelance cinematographer and Steadicam owner operator specialising in feature films and TV drama. He combines his professional work as a cameraman with teaching part time on the BA (Hons) Film Production and Cinematography course.

Dion has worked on many feature films, high end television dramas, commercials and music videos including the seminal Verve video Bittersweet Symphony. His most recent film and television work includes The Dark Crystal, Gentleman Jack, Spanish Princess, Line of Duty, Silent Witness, Into the Badlands, Victoria, The Crown, Humans, Bridget Jones’s Baby.

Tim Dodd

Tim entered the film industry in 1980 as the clapper-loader on The Dark Crystal and The Great Muppet Caper working under veteran cinematographer Ossie Morris. In a subsequent career spanning nearly thirty years, he worked as a Camera Assistant on numerous feature films and TV dramas progressing to Camera Operator and, finally, Second Unit Cinematographer with Film Directors including Jonathan Lynn and Paul W S Anderson.

He has worked on films featuring many of the greats of cinema including Bette Davis, Laurence Olivier, Kirk Douglas and Sean Connery and Directors including Michael Winterbottom, James Ivory and Steven Spielberg. He has also worked on hundreds of commercials, documentaries, corporate and music videos.

Tim’s continuing strong links with the industry enable him to provide students access and trips to prime contacts and companies within the feature film community as well as the opportunity to use professional 35mm camera equipment. His main interest is the continuing use of celluloid acquisition, helping and encouraging students who are interested in a career in the camera department to develop the relevant knowledge and skills to work on film-based productions.

He continues to make films directing his own shorts and producing extra-curricular student films that have screened at festivals and won a prestigious Royal Television Society award. He is a member of The Guild of British Camera Technicians.

Manca Perko

Manca is a Lecturer on the BA (Hons) Film Production and Cinematography degree course. She teaches film history and theory, documentary and short filmmaking, professional development and supervises dissertation students. She is a Doctor of Film Studies (University of East Anglia, 2019), has an MA in Film Studies (University of East Anglia, 2014), and BA in Cultural Studies (University of Ljubljana, Slovenia, 2009).

She researches Stanley Kubrick, creative autonomy and authorship, and history of Yugoslav cinematography. She regularly publishes her work and presents her research at international conferences.

Manca worked in the film industry as a freelance script supervisor and assistant director since 2009, creating a number of feature films, shorts and TV series.

As a member of the Education Committee of International Federation of Cinematographers (IMAGO), she also actively promotes the importance of building a bridge between film practice and academia.

Course changes

Changes for 2022 entry

Date	Changes to this course
02/03/2022	Where the change was made: Key information, Entry requirements, Your application Change: Portfolio requirement removed Previous text: We will ask you to submit a portfolio of work that demonstrates a strong sense of visual storytelling in support of your application. Portfolios could include, but are not limited to: Examples of films that you produced on previous media courses – or films that you produced in your own spare time – but your portfolio does not need to be limited to film and moving image. Photography to show us your sense of visual storytelling, technical skills, and your sense of composition. Any form of art demonstrating your creative potential, such as sketches, painting, sculpture, or theatre. Your portfolio will be reviewed by one of the tutors on the course. It should show us that you are as passionate about visual storytelling as we are.
11/02/2022	Where the change was made: Key information, Entry requirements Change: Entry requirements changed to 104-120 UCAS tariff points from 2 A levels or equivalent qualifications. Previous text: 112 - 128 UCAS tariff points from 2 A levels or equivalent qualifications.
01/10/2021	Where the change was made: Fees box. Change: Placement fee for September 2022 entry amended to £1,850. Previous text: £850.
18/06/2021	Where the change was made: Key information, Your application, Entry requirements Change: Portfolio requirement added. Applicants are required to submit a portfolio in support of their application. Previous text: N/A

Changes for 2021 entry

Date	Changes to this course
17/11/2020	Where the change was made: Course details Change: New units added:Year 1: Screen Studies 1; Film Craft Principles; Production Principles; Creative Storytelling. Year 2: Screen Studies 2; Production Portfolio; Film Specialisms; Investigating Industry; Negotiated Project. Final year: Professional Contexts; Research Project. Previous text: Units removed: Year 1: Media Concepts and Contexts; Introduction to Production Skills; Applied Production Skills 1. Year 2: Professional Studies; Media Theory; Applied Production Skills 2; Research Methods; Film Production & Cinematography Project. Final year: Dissertation

Date

Changes to this course

17/11/2020

Where the change was made: Course details
Change: New units added:Year 1: Screen Studies 1; Film Craft Principles; Production Principles; Creative Storytelling. Year 2: Screen Studies 2; Production Portfolio; Film Specialisms; Investigating Industry; Negotiated Project. Final year: Professional Contexts; Research Project.
Previous text: Units removed: Year 1: Media Concepts and Contexts; Introduction to Production Skills; Applied Production Skills 1. Year 2: Professional Studies; Media Theory; Applied Production Skills 2; Research Methods; Film Production & Cinematography Project. Final year: Dissertation

Changes in 2018

Date	Changes to this course
19/02/2018	Change: English language requirements have changed to IELTS (Academic) 6.5 with a minimum of 6.0 in each component. Previous text: IELTS (Academic) 6.0 with minimum 5.5 in each component, or equivalent.

Changes in 2017

Date	Changes to this course
14/11/2017	Where the change was made: Fees Change: After an annual review of the placement year tuition fee, a price increase in line with current inflation, equating to 3% has been introduced. Previous text: £790
25/10/2017	Where the change was made: Key facts and English language requirements Change: English language requirements have changed to IELTS (Academic) 6.0 with a minimum of 5.5 in each component. Previous text: IELTS (Academic) 6.5 with minimum 6.0 in each component, or equivalent.
06/09/2017	Where the change was made: Key facts and 2018 entry requirements Change: 2018 entry requirements have changed to 112 - 128 tariff points including a minimum of 2 A-levels or equivalent. BTEC Extended Diploma: DMM. Previous text: The entry requirements for this course are 120-128 tariff points from 3 A-levels. BTEC Extended Diploma: DDM.
06/09/2017	Where the change was made: 2018 entry requirements Change: 2018 GCSE entry requirements have changed to this course requires GCSE English and Mathematics grade C (or grade 4 in the reformed GCSE grading) or equivalent qualifications. Previous text: This course requires a minimum of 4 GCSEs grades A* - C (or grade 4 or above in the newly reformed GCSE grading) including Maths and English or equivalent qualifications.

Statistics shown throughout this page are taken from Unistats and BU institutional data unless otherwise stated.