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BSc (Hons) Film and Television Production

Develop your creative, production and analytical skills while learning to tell great stories in the rapidly evolving worlds of film and television

Year of entry: 2024/25

UCAS code

W600

Institution code

Y50

Length

3 years full-time (plus optional placement year)

Typical offer

AAB (full entry requirements)

Start date

September 2024 (semester dates)

UK (home) fees

£9,250 per year

International and EU fees

£23,700 per year

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in the UK for Drama, Dance, and Cinematics

Complete University Guide 2024

in the UK for Film Production and Photography

Guardian University Guide 2024

Film and television are exciting, creative and rapidly evolving industries. 

They are consistently on the look-out for new talent with new ideas and stories to tell. Our highly creative and practical course gives you everything you’ll need to produce exciting film and television content. You'll also gain analytical skills that will allow your imagination to flourish in a professional environment.

You will have access to professional-standard single and multi-camera facilities from the outset. You’ll develop the practical and theoretical skills you’ll need to tackle a range of genres and a range of professional disciplines. Create your own dramas, documentaries and studio programmes, and hone your skills in large-scale group productions.

Our teaching staff come from a range of backgrounds and include documentary and feature film-makers, broadcasting executives, scriptwriters and technical practitioners alongside media historians and theorists.

You’ll graduate with the skills and experience needed to enter a variety of media industries or begin a career in independent film and TV production.

This course is now closed to applicants for 2024/25 entry

Accreditation


This course is accredited by ScreenSkills, the industry-led skills body for the UK's screen-based industries. This means you’ll learn professional skills approved and supported by the industry. You’ll gain access to a range of internships and traineeships in British film and television, with broadcasters including the BBC and ITV, and independent production companies.

I had a brilliant time at York. The training we received in the TV studio was fantastic. We learned how all of the different roles in multi camera production work together all while using industry-standard kit. I discovered how much I loved vision mixing and went on to study at the National Film and Television School. I'm now working as a Vision Mixer for BBC Studioworks, primarily on EastEnders.
Eleanor, BSc Film and Television Production graduate

Course content

You'll experience creative production, develop technical skills and explore key areas of theory and history. You'll spend around half of your time on practical projects. We'll encourage you to explore and realise your ideas. At the same time you'll develop an understanding of how film and television have influenced our world, and how you might contribute to the industries in the future.

You will be based in a £30 million bespoke media complex, home to some of the best production facilities at any UK university. Our facilities are regularly updated to meet the latest technical standards.

Study abroad

There are opportunities for you to spend time abroad during your course:

Placements

There are opportunities to spend time in industry as part of this course.

Year 1

Your first year will introduce you to some of the key technologies, core production processes and major ideas and theories that drive film- and programme-making.

You'll study the art of storytelling and start working on screen stories of your own. You will learn about cameras, editing and sound technologies both on location and in the multi-camera television studio, and you will explore some of the underlying science that will allow you to use equipment effectively to achieve exciting creative results.

You will study the histories of film and television, learning about key forms and movements and discovering the many exciting ways in which creators generate meaning through choices around sound and image, all of which will feed forward into the development of your own ideas.

A unique module on content development will give you your first taste of creating film and TV ideas in a professional context.

Core modules

Academic integrity module

In addition to the above you will also need to complete our online Academic Integrity module.

Year 2

In your second year you will hone your production skills and study a full range of professional disciplines on the way towards creating your own projects. You'll learn to develop, write, cast, budget and produce your own short film, drama or documentary. And you will experience a variety of roles and a variety of different formats in the multi-camera television studio, before working up and directing a studio show of your own. You will explore film and TV content production through all its stages, from concept to completion. The module on genre will acquaint you with the importance of terms like Thriller, Horror, Western and other definitions in the development and production of professional film and television.  Meanwhile, to start you own your way towards your own areas of specialisation, we currently offer options in screenwriting and in designing digital effects tools, among others.

Core modules

Option modules

You will also study two option modules from a wide range of topics from across our undergraduate programmes, including:

Year 3

In your final year, you'll be able to make a statement about what you want to be in the professional world: film-maker or programme-maker, technician or producer, writer or director and more besides.

You will fine-tune your specialist skills by working alongside your student colleagues in ambitious, large-scale film or studio television productions. You'll explore your interests and enthusiasms by focusing on an independent research project on a subject of your own choosing. And you will prepare to enter the film and TV industries by studying the latest creative, business and political issues that affect budgets, audiences, broadcasters and movie studios. You'll also have the chance to choose an option area of study to complement your areas of specialisation: advanced cinematography, advanced audio production, TV research skills and advanced directing on screen are among the modules that are currently on offer.

Core modules

Option modules

You will also study one option module:

Our modules may change to reflect the latest academic thinking and expertise of our staff.

Learning by design

Every course at York has been designed to provide clear and ambitious learning outcomes. These learning outcomes give you an understanding of what you will be able to do at the end of the course. We develop each course by designing modules that grow your abilities towards the learning outcomes and help you to explain what you can offer to employers. Find out more about our approach to teaching and learning.

Students who complete this course will be able to:

  • Exercise a critical understanding of the creative processes and current practices in professional film and television production - including how different stages of these processes relate to and inform one another - by applying the knowledge and practical skills gained in appropriate professional situations.
  • Initiate and produce work, both individually and collaboratively, by applying – with creative, technical and artistic flair - a range of independent and team-working skills in combination with specialist practical skills in the use of digital production technologies.
  • Constructively contribute to a range of activities related to the film and television industries by virtue of an advanced understanding of the role, function and use of digital technologies in contemporary film and television production, distribution and exhibition.
  • Navigate and negotiate the complexities of the film and television industries in order to develop their own careers through applying a critical understanding of the structure and functioning of those industries and the issues which they face now and going forward
  • Recognise and develop a capacity to intervene effectively into a range of issues relating to film and television culture through a developed and critical understanding of moving image forms and aesthetics and of how films and television programmes tell stories, create meaning and relate to social and cultural conditions.
  • Identify how historical issues influence present working practices in the film and television industries by drawing upon a rich knowledge and understanding of both the chronological developments in and geographical diversity of film and television output.
  • Exercise critical judgement, intellectual rigour and creativity in approaching new as well as familiar situations, and be able to communicate clearly and persuasively using appropriate written, oral and visual media.

Creative community

Join a creative community of industry professionals, dedicated academics and talented students.

Distinguished visiting speakers

We have a wide range of industry connections and regularly have visiting speakers and masterclasses.

Seamless collective learning

We are part of the School of Arts and Creative Technologies. The School continues our commitment to the integration of theory, creative practice and collaborative learning.

Fees and funding

Annual tuition fees

UK (home) International and EU
£9,250 £23,700

UK (home) or international fees?

The level of fee that you will be asked to pay depends on whether you're classed as a UK (home) or international student. Check your fee status.

Fees for subsequent years

  • UK (home) fees may increase within the government fee cap in subsequent academic years. We will notify you of any increase as soon as we can.
  • International fees are subject to increase in subsequent years in line with the prevailing Consumer Price Index (CPI) inflation rate (up to a maximum of 10%).

More information

For more information about tuition fees, any reduced fees for study abroad and work placement years, scholarships, tuition fee loans, maintenance loans and living costs see undergraduate fees and funding.

Additional costs

Access to all professional equipment required for the filmmaking and TV production processes is included in your fees.

Some expenses will be additional, for example you may voluntarily incur extra costs to lift production values, eg location fees, expenses, or insurance if you are taking equipment abroad.

Funding

We'll confirm more funding opportunities for students joining us in 2024/25 throughout the year.

Our Future Voices Scholarship programme provides a package of financial and industry support to welcome talented UK undergraduates from Black, Asian, Gypsy, Traveller and ethnically diverse backgrounds to our creative community.

Living costs

You can use our living costs guide to help plan your budget. It covers additional costs that are not included in your tuition fee such as expenses for accommodation and study materials.

Teaching Excellence Framework Gold Award

Gold-standard education

Our teaching, learning and student experience is outstanding, recognised by a Gold rating from the Office for Students in the 2023 national assessment (Teaching Excellence Framework).

Why we’re gold-rated

Teaching and assessment

You’ll study and learn with academics who are active researchers, experts in their field and have a passion for their subjects. Our approach to teaching will provide you with the knowledge, opportunities, and support you need to grow and succeed in a global workplace. Find out more about our approach to teaching and learning.

Teaching format

You'll progress rapidly, guided by our experienced academics who will ensure you're in contact with the latest ideas, trends and technologies.

You'll take part in hands-on-workshops and practical sessions with close instruction from specialists. You'll be able to meet industry experts in our masterclasses and professional visitors programme.

Production is important to this course. You'll make films and TV shows: refining your skills and knowledge as you work through, organise and shoot your ideas and stories.

You'll explore the theories and history that make film and television what they are and that point the way towards their future. Your intellectual development and critical thinking will be supported by lectures, screenings, tutorials, workshops and round-tables.

You'll find our staff accessible and ready to discuss your ideas. With plenty of contact time, you'll never be short of support and advice.

Timetabled activities

In your first year, you can expect:

Lectures3-6 hours per week
Seminars2-3 hours per week
Workshops18 hours
Practicals59 hours
Film Screening4-5 hours per week

These figures are representative of a typical week. Your contact hours will vary throughout the year due to your module choices, non-compulsory classes, exam periods and changes to scheduled activities.

Outside your timetabled hours, you'll study independently. This may include preparation for classes, follow-up work, wider reading, practice completion of assessment tasks, or revision.

In the UK, full-time students are expected to spend 1,200 hours a year learning. That's about 40 hours of classes and independent study each week during semesters. Everyone learns at a different rate, so the number of hours you spend on independent study will be different to other students on your course.

Facilities

You'll have access to exceptional facilities in our bespoke £30 media complex, including:

  • Three HD TV studios with industry-standard equipment that has been used for projects for the BBC and other major clients
  • Two professional theatres that have data links to our TV studios for live performance broadcast and recording
  • Production equipment including cameras and lenses, lighting and grip, production sound equipment and interactive media
  • Post-production suites
  • Media production and design labs
  • 140-seat 4k digital cinema

Teaching location

You will be based in the School of Arts & Creative Technologies on Campus East.

Most of your contact hours will be in Theatre, Film, Television, and Interactive Media with some additional teaching elsewhere on Campus East.

About our campus

Our beautiful green campus offers a student-friendly setting in which to live and study, within easy reach of the action in the city centre. It's easy to get around - everything is within walking or pedalling distance, or you can use the fast and frequent bus service. Take a campus tour.

Assessment and feedback

Assessment methods vary according to modules and include productions, practical exercises, presentations, essays, scripts, project proposals, reports and blogs. In the TV studio some of your work will be assessed by live observation with tutors watching you direct and crew.

In the majority of cases you will be assessed individually. The collaborative nature of the film and TV industries however means that some of your modules will involve group work. In these you will be assessed on the actual film or television programme you have produced as a team, as well as on your individual contribution to the project.

Careers and skills

Studying Film and Television Production at York you will have the chance to follow in the footsteps of graduates who are already making a name for themselves, as cinematographers and writers, as film and studio directors, as editors and vision mixers, as audio production and post-production professionals, as production managers, production designers and researchers.

While many of our students choose a career in film or television, our course is also designed to offer you a range of transferable skills that are relevant to the media, the wider world of work or to further academic study. Find out what our graduates are doing now..

Career opportunities

The majority of our graduates move into staff or freelance roles in the film, television and video industries. Recent roles include:

  • Directors and producers
  • Writers and researchers
  • Cinematographers and camera operators
  • Visual effects artists
  • Sound designers and picture editors
  • Production designers and production managers
  • Vision mixers.

Transferable skills

Transferable skills developed on the course include:

  • Team-working and collaborative skills
  • Leadership
  • Communication and presentation skills
  • Creative and persuasive writing
  • Independent research capabilities
  • Critical and analytical thinking.

Entry requirements

Typical offer
A levels

AAB

Access to Higher Education Diploma 36 credits at Distinction and 9 credits at Merit or higher
BTEC National Extended Diploma DDD
Cambridge Pre-U D3, D3, M2
European Baccalaureate 80% overall
International Baccalaureate 35 points
T levels We will consider a range of T Level qualifications for entry. Please visit our dedicated T Levels page for a full list of accepted T Levels.
Scottish Highers / Advanced Highers Scottish Highers - AABBB

Advanced Highers - not required for entry

We may also be able to consider three Advanced Highers or a combination of Highers and Advanced Highers, where an applicant does not meet the grade requirement through Highers alone. Please contact us to discuss your qualifications.
International foundation programme Foundation Certificate from our International Pathway College or an appropriate alternative.
Other international qualifications Equivalent qualifications from your country

Alternative offers

Meeting the following additional criteria may qualify you for an alternative offer.

Criteria Adjustment
Widening participation If you successfully complete one of the following programmes, you may be eligible for an alternative offer up to three A level grades (or equivalent) below our typical offer: Black Access Programme, Next Step York, Realising Opportunities, YESS, YorWay to York. More about widening participation.
Contextual offers If you have experience of local authority care or live in an area with low progression to university, you may be eligible for an alternative offer up to two A level grades (or equivalent) below our typical offer. More about contextual offers.
EPQ If you achieve C or higher at EPQ, you may be eligible for an alternative offer up to one A level grade (or equivalent) below our typical offer.
Core Maths If you achieve B or higher in Core Maths, you may be eligible for an alternative offer up to one A level grade (or equivalent) below our typical offer.

English language

If English isn't your first language you may need to provide evidence of your English language ability. We accept the following qualifications:

Minimum requirement
IELTS (Academic) 6.5, with a minimum of 6.0 in each component
Cambridge CEFR 176, with a minimum of 169 in each component
Oxford ELLT 7, with a minimum of 6 in each component
Duolingo 120, minimum 105 in each component
GCSE/IGCSE/O level English Language (as a first or second language) Grade C / Grade 4
LanguageCert SELT B2 with a minimum score of 33/50 in each component
LanguageCert Academic B2 Communicator with a minimum score of 33/50 in each component
KITE 459 Main Flight score with 426 in each component
Skills for English B2: Merit overall, with Pass with Merit in each component
PTE Academic 61, with a minimum of 55 in each component
TOEFL 87 overall, with a minimum of 21 in each component
Trinity ISE III Merit in all components

For more information see our undergraduate English language requirements.

If you haven't met our English language requirements

You may be eligible for one of our pre-sessional English language courses. These courses will provide you with the level of English needed to meet the conditions of your offer.

The length of course you need to take depends on your current English language test scores and how much you need to improve to reach our English language requirements.

After you've accepted your offer to study at York, we'll confirm which pre-sessional course you should apply to via You@York.

Applying

To apply to York, you will need to complete an online application via UCAS (the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service).

All applications must be made through UCAS.

Once your application has been reviewed by the admissions tutor, you may be invited to attend an interview afternoon.

Your personal statement will be read very closely and we will be looking for a range of interests and extra-curricular activity. Previous experience of film and TV is not a requirement.

We do not require a portfolio.  If you are invited to interview, you will be asked to prepare a short exercise to present to your interviewer. 

Next steps

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