As the name suggests, film Making degrees provide you with the necessary skills and experience to help launch a career in the film industry. Degrees often have a strong focus on practical work, meaning that rather than simply learning how to make a film, you get hands-on experience and an opportunity to apply methods as you learn them. Among the numerous aspects of such a degree, a typical Film Making course will involve developing your editing, script-writing and production skills.

What jobs can you get as a Film Making graduate?

Unsurprisingly, the vast array of job opportunities available to Film Making graduates are in the media, with specific roles including film editor, camera operator and runner. As the industry is so competitive, networking, volunteering, and internships are just a few ways to present yourself with more opportunities.

What qualifications do you need?

Students working towards a Film Making bachelor's degree have usually taken a relevant subject such as art, drama or media studies at A Level (or equivalent). Experience in the field is a bonus for your application, though this is usually not necessary. Entry requirements for foundation degrees are usually lower. By completing one, you can vastly improve your chances of being accepted to study for a full honours degree, even if you don't meet other entry criteria.

What degrees can you study?

Degrees in Film Making often come under slightly different names, such as film production, digital film making, or film, media and music. Given the range of different focuses of Film Making, types of degree can vary too; if you choose a degree that has an emphasis on the technical side of the process, the degree may be a BSc or a BDes. Contrastingly, courses that focus on the creative aspects of Film Making are more likely to award a BA. Beyond this, there's a range of foundation degrees and diplomas available to study.

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Study Film Making, why & how to study

Q: Why study Film Making?

If you've always dreamed of working in film, but feel that you lack the technical competency to start your career, a degree in this area could be the perfect solution. A Film Making degree will harness your passion and teach you how to channel it into a piece of visual art while giving you the creative freedom to produce work that means something to you.

Q: How will you be assessed?

Exams Coursework Any alternative methods of assessment

Q: What are the postgraduate opportunities?

There are several postgraduate courses available in Film Making, including the opportunity to study more specific subjects such as animation or cinematography. As with undergraduate degrees, the type of degree received depends on the focus of the course, with more technically-focused degrees achieving an MSc and more creatively-oriented courses awarding an MA or MFA.

If you’re a creative person, a Film Making degree could help you achieve those dreams of making your own silver-screen sensation.

CHOOSING A COURSE POSTGRADUATE UNDERGRADUATE

Katie Lazell 03 Nov 2023

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Behind the scene film crew filming movie scene outdoor

What’s Film Making?
What Film Making degrees can you study?
What do you need to get onto a Film Making degree?
What topics does it cover?
How will you be assessed?
Why study Film Making?
Scholarships and bursaries
What do graduates earn?
What jobs can you get with a degree in Film Making?
What are the postgraduate opportunities?
Related subjects
Have any questions?

What’s Film Making?

As the name suggests, Film Making degrees provide you with the necessary skills and experience to help launch a career in the film industry.

Degrees often have a strong focus on practical work giving you hands-on experience and an opportunity to apply methods as you learn them.

A typical Film Making course will involve developing your editing, scriptwriting, and production skills.

What Film Making degrees can you study?

Undergraduate degrees in Film Making include:

If you choose a degree with an emphasis on the technical side of the process, the degree may be a BSc. Courses that focus on the creative aspect are more likely to award a BA.

Options may include an integrated foundation year or a top-up degree. Work experience and international trips may also be available.

What do you need to get onto a Film Making degree?

Must have

Entry requirements will depend on the university, ranging from 64–160 UCAS tariff points. Qualifications may include:

A Levels: AAB–CC
BTECs: DDD–MMP
Scottish Highers: AAABB–BBBB (Advanced Highers: AAB)
International Baccalaureate: 36–28
Portfolio work (sound or film) may be needed, depending on the course
Interviews may be held by some unis

Good to have

Study art, drama, media studies or English literature A Level (or equivalent)
Experience in the field is a bonus for your application, though it’s usually not necessary – try production companies or broadcasters like Channel 4
Develop your own practice through showreels, story boards or involvement in school productions
Take part in courses such as those run by the British Film Institute (BFI)
Find out more about careers and work in the sector from the website of professional bodies, ScreenSkills or the Royal Television Society

What topics does it cover?

Depending on whether the course is more practical or academic in nature, modules may include:

Drama for the camera
Film aesthetics
Film and television criticism
Film and television histories
Film and TV production
Film theory
Media theory and research
Performance techniques for stage and screen
Screen technologies
Scripting performance for screen
The business of film

How will you be assessed?

Assessments are usually carried out by a mixture of the following, depending on the focus of the degree:

Coursework
Essays
Exams
Practical or project work
Presentations/posters
A dissertation may be required in your final year

Why study Film Making?

Career-specific skills:

Knowledge of the film industry, which may include film theory or creative and practical screen skills, depending on your degree
Transferable skills:
Communication
Critical thinking and analysis
Leadership and decision making
Networking skills
Project management
Research
Resourceful problem solving
Team working
Time management
Working to a brief and deadline

Professional accreditation:

Degrees may be accredited by ScreenSkills Select
Some may also be accredited by CILECT, the International Association of Cinema, Audiovisual and Media Schools or the IMIS (International Moving Image Society)

Are scholarships and bursaries available?

Some universities offer Film Making degree students an arts scholarship, bursary, or grant. So it’s worth seeing if you are eligible, how to apply, and what it covers like materials, tuition fees, or living costs.

What do graduates earn?

Work in this sector is often freelance and project-based. BECTU, the Broadcasting Entertainment Cinematograph and Theatre Union, posts rate cards recommending pay for various roles. A daily rate might be £550 for camera work on a TV advert or £824 for a Steadicam operator. For a low-budget film, a minimum weekly rate for a camera operator is £2,473 while for an editor, it’s £2,000.

The BBC and Channel 4 offer trainee schemes for graduates, offering an entry-level salary of £21,000–£22,500.

Full-time, fixed-term positions are available at national broadcasters such as the BBC: here, a broadcast editor could be paid £25,000–£49,000, depending on their experience and managerial or support duties.

What jobs can you get with a Film Making degree?

Unsurprisingly, the vast array of job opportunities for Film Making graduates are at national television broadcasters, advertising agencies and film production companies. As the industry is so competitive, networking, volunteering, and internships are just a few ways to increase your chances.

Camera operator
Communications manager
Film editor
Lecturer
Lighting technician
Location manager
PR officer
Producer
Production designer
Programme researcher
VFX artist
Vision mixer
Runner

What are the postgraduate opportunities?

Examples of taught master’s and research degrees at postgraduate level include:

GO TO
Find postgraduate courses for Film Making
Types of postgraduate degrees

Related subjects

If you’re interested in communicating ideas creatively or other areas related to film, you could consider:

Have any questions?

If you’ve got any questions about studying Film Making, you can email our experts at ask@thecompleteuniversityguide.co.uk. We’ll be happy to hear from you!