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BA/BSc (Hons) Film Production Degree

Learn to create, edit, and master high-end films and promotional videos using industry-standard equipment and digital cinema cameras on SAE’s 2-year film production degree. Get access to the latest film industry hardware and software brands, such as Adobe, Avid and Blackmagic Design, Sony, Panasonic and Canon, Kino Flo, and Arri. Immerse yourself in SAE’s world-class production and post-production facilities. Start dates in January and September.
Available at
London, Liverpool, Leamington Spa, Glasgow
Fees
BA/BSc (Hons) Film Production Degree
Domestic Fees
London

£11,100 per year

The annual tuition fee is fully funded via Student Finance England for eligible home-fee students.

For UK/Irish students commencing their studies from January 2024.

Glasgow

£9,000 per year

The annual tuition fee is fully funded via Student Finance England for eligible home-fee students.

For UK/Irish students commencing their studies from January 2024.

Liverpool

£11,100 per year

The annual tuition fee is fully funded via Student Finance England for eligible home-fee students.

For UK/Irish students commencing their studies from January 2024.

Leamington Spa

£11,100 per year

The annual tuition fee is fully funded via Student Finance England for eligible home-fee students.

For UK/Irish students commencing their studies from January 2024.

BA/BSc (Hons) Film Production Degree
International Fees
London

For international students (non-EU/EEA/Swiss)*, £15,000 per year



For EU/EEA/Swiss students*
: £11,100 per year

*Student visa required

For more information regarding SAE’s EU/EEA/Swiss students bursary policy, please read the SAE UK EU/EEA/Swiss students bursary policy.

Glasgow

For international students (non-EU/EEA/Swiss)*, £13,000 per year



For EU/EEA/Swiss students*
: £9,000 per year

*Student visa required

For more information regarding SAE’s EU/EEA/Swiss students bursary policy, please read the SAE UK EU/EEA/Swiss students bursary policy.

Liverpool

For international students (non-EU/EEA/Swiss)*, £15,000 per year



For EU/EEA/Swiss students*
: £11,100 per year

*Student visa required

For more information regarding SAE’s EU/EEA/Swiss students bursary policy, please read the SAE UK EU/EEA/Swiss students bursary policy.

Leamington Spa

For international students (non-EU/EEA/Swiss)*, £15,000 per year



For EU/EEA/Swiss students*
: £11,100 per year

*Student visa required

For more information regarding SAE’s EU/EEA/Swiss students bursary policy, please read the SAE UK EU/EEA/Swiss students bursary policy.

Duration(s)
2 years full-time
BA/BSc (Hons) Film Production Degree
Course Durations
2 years full-time
Start Date(s)
January and September 2024
BA/BSc (Hons) Film Production Degree
Start Dates
London
  • January and September 2024

Liverpool
  • January and September 2024

Leamington Spa
  • January and September 2024

Glasgow
  • January and September 2024

Entry Requirements
BA/BSc (Hons) Film Production Degree
Domestic Entry Requirements
Domestic students must meet one of the following criteria:
Degree entry Offers will be made to applicants who are expected to meet, or exceed the entry requirements below, in addition to supplying a personal statement:
72 UCAS points
GCSE level A* - C in English 9 - 4 (or equivalent). For students studying in Scotland this is equivalent to National 5, C grade
Personal statement
Non-standard entry routes SAE Institute will accept non-standard entry applications, which do not meet the 72 UCAS points or equivalent, and/or maths/English at level 2 or equivalent as required:
Portfolio of related work - This could include recordings, films, sketch books, a blog or any suitable medium that gives you the best opportunity to show us your creative potential.
Successful pass mark achieved via the SAE UK Maths test
Academic Essay
Further Domestic Entry Information
For more information, please look at our Domestic Entry page
Domestic Entry Requirements
BA/BSc (Hons) Film Production Degree
International Entry Requirements
Non-UK Applicants
English language requirements Students whose first language is not English will need a qualification that demonstrates competence in English, equivalent to UK GCSE (Level 2) grade 4 (c) or above. Equivalent qualifications can be accepted, where these qualifications have been verified by ENIC and are adopted widely within the UK Higher Education sector, including:
IELTS (UKVI or Academic) (minimum 5.5 in all components and an overall score of 6.0)
Pearson Test of English (minimum 59 in all subscores)
Cambridge English: Proficiency (CPE) (minimum grade C)
Cambridge English: Advanced (CAE) (minimum grade B)
Cambridge English: Level 1 Certificate in ESOL International (B2 First) – minimum grade C
TOEFL (IBT or IBT Home Edition online) 72 overall with the following component scores: Listening – 17 Writing – 17 Speaking – 20 Reading – 18
LanguageCert ESOL examinations:
  • International ESOL C1 Expert – pass in all four components
  • International ESOL SELT B2 (Listening, Reading, Writing, Speaking) – minimum 33 in all components
  • ESOL Integrated Skills in English II – pass in all components
• IELTS Indicator* (online) – minimum 5.5 in all components and an overall score of 6.0
*Accepted on exceptional basis for the applicants whose local test centres are affected by closures due to Covid-19
Further International Entry Information
For more information, please look at our International Entry page
International Entry Requirements

What you can expect from your degree

If you’re looking to launch a career in film, SAE’s Film Production degree will get you there much quicker than a similar course at a traditional university. Taught over 2 rather than 3 years, you’ll learn essential technical film production skills and theoretical knowledge studying this film production accelerated degree, so you can succeed in your chosen area of the film industry – whether that’s as a director, producer, screenwriter, cinematographer, editor or another role entirely.

As an SAE student, you’ll get hands-on experience in our state-of-the-art film production environment, using industry-leading equipment to make your films such as Sony, Panasonic and Canon cameras, DaVinci Resolve colour grading software, Adobe Premiere Pro and Avid Media Composer for video editing. Across the course, you’ll experience the entire production workflow involved in making a film – from story development and script writing, pre-production planning and storyboarding, to filming and editing and, finally, marketing and distribution. You’ll also have access to SAE’s first-rate facilities, like green screens, cyclorama soundstages, animation studios and high-tech lighting rigs, to help bring your creative ideas to life.

An action-packed second half

As you take your filmmaking to the next level, you’ll put academic concepts like short film theory and cultural context analysis to the test, as you create an impressive portfolio of creative work. Both individually and in small creative teams with your fellow Film Production degree students, you’ll create real-world promotional pieces like adverts and music videos, fictional films and documentaries, and much more across a variety of film genres. You’ll also collaborate creatively with students from other SAE disciplines, such as audio experts, animators, games developers and digital marketers.

During your 2 years at SAE, you’ll be guided and supported by SAE’s expert tutors – talented creative professionals, who also happen to be highly experienced educators. They’ll mentor you throughout your degree, making sure you have a strong grasp of how the film industry works, plus vital business, legal, financial and marketing skills that every creative media professional needs. You’ll work together to plan your Major Project – an in-depth study of a particular area of interest in the film industry, conceived in Trimester 5 and implemented in your final trimester of study (Trimester 6).

At the end of your time with SAE, you’ll graduate with a solid understanding of film theory, enviable practical film production skills and a standout creative portfolio, giving you a real competitive edge in the workplace. Along the way, you’ll have gained a vast network of film industry connections, and will leave us with the desire to either continue on to postgraduate study or launch a successful career as a film industry professional.

What you'll learn

At the end of your 2-year Film Production degree you will:
  • Learn skills in directing, film production, post-production, cinematography, visual effects, lighting, sound and more.
  • Confidently operate the latest film industry software, including Adobe Premiere Pro, Avid Media Composer and DaVinci Resolve.
  • Script and shoot your favourite film and video genres.
  • Combine hands-on immersive training with academic learning for holistic education from day one.
  • Collaborate creatively with SAE students from other courses, such as audio experts, animators and game developers.
  • Gain entrepreneurial and screen business skills to take into your film production career.
  • Build an impressive network of connections across the wider creative industries.
  • Develop a significant portfolio of work to present to industry.
  • Graduate career ready with practical employment skills gained through strong film industry links.
  • Film production course start dates available in January and September.

YOUR CAREER IN FILM BEGINS NOW

What your course structure will look like

The BA/BSc (Hons) Film Production course is an accelerated 2-year degree, split over 6 trimesters. Its structure follows 3 distinct stages – each designed to help you develop specific skills. Dividing it this way ensures you graduate as a well-rounded film production professional with a universal understanding of the entire film production process.

Stage 1 (T1 and T2) provides a foundation of core technical knowledge.
Stage 2 (T3 and T4) broadens your skills, exploring new areas of film production.
Stage 3 (T5 and T6) offers specialisation in your chosen area of interest, covering every aspect of film production from conception to completion, including managerial aspects like project management, finance and promotion.
Trimester 1
Develop the essential technical film skills and knowledge needed to collaborate with professionals and your fellow creative media students.
During your first trimester of this pioneering film production degree, you’ll be introduced to a range of key filmmaking practices and processes, gaining an overview of the film industry and its workflows. In the Film Fundamentals module, you’ll develop knowledge and skills across several core competencies – taking part in both theoretical and practical learning – as you start to build your portfolio of film projects.

Topics include:

  • Production planning
  • Camera operation
  • Lighting techniques
  • Working in a crew
  • Audio recording
  • Edit theory
  • Non-linear editing
In the Film Development module of this film production course, you’ll discover the various creative and organisational elements that need to be completed before the physical production process of a film can begin. You’ll develop skills in storytelling and scriptwriting and explore the processes required to plan a production.

  • Short film narrative structure
  • Story development
  • Script writing
  • Pitching
  • Pre-visualisation
  • Research
  • Film analysis
  • Production design
Trimester 2
Across your second term, you’ll hone your skills in both film production and post-production. You’ll gain experience in a variety of production roles, learning the post-production processes involved in finalising a film for distribution.
In Film Production, you’ll build the skills required to develop and communicate a film’s overarching vision, as well as working in ‘below-the-line’ roles to bring your narratives to the screen. You’ll expand your skills within the camera, grip, lighting and sound departments, and experience organisational roles including production management, assistant directing and location management.

Topics include:

  • Short film theory
  • Pitching
  • Character development
  • Genre theory
  • Colour theory
  • Typography theory
  • Casting and rehearsals
  • Blocking and staging
  • Pre-visualisation
  • Directing actors and working with crew
During the Film Post-Production module of this film production accelerated degree, you’ll gain a practical appreciation for the post-production phase of filmmaking. Working with industry-standard software, you’ll edit and perform colour correction and colour grading on your film, while also picking up basic skills in audio editing. By the end of the module, you’ll have developed the knowledge and skills needed to conduct a range of post-production workflows and prepare a film project for distribution.

Topics include:

  • Video editing
  • Sound editing
  • Montage theory and techniques
  • Colour grading/correction
  • Motion graphics
  • Post-production workflow
Trimester 3
Across Trimester 3, you’ll undertake a variety of film-specific project briefs in a professional working environment using a project-based ‘creative studio’ approach. Creative Studio sees you take part in real-world assessment activities that reflect current film industry practices – guaranteeing a highly practical educational journey.
During Creative Studio 1, you’ll apply core practical skills you’ve learned to date to the art and craft of documentary filmmaking. Taking part in a series of practical workshops, you’ll explore interviewing and lighting techniques and discover how to capture engaging and vibrant footage that tells stories.

Across a mixture of theoretical classes and discussion-based sessions with Experts and peers, you’ll expand your skills in finding, exploring and crafting engaging non-fiction narratives through a variety of storytelling modes. Working independently and as part of a creative team, you’ll work with HD and UHD camera workflows and experiment with a variety of production and post-production skills to bring real-life stories to the screen.

Topics could cover:

  • Documentary production planning
  • Research
  • Style and genre
  • Factual film production practices
  • Interviewing techniques
  • Editing documentary
  • Giving, receiving and learning from feedback
  • Reflective and critical analysis
  • Cultural contexts
Trimester 4
The second Creative Studio term focuses on collaborative film production skills, as you put together a creative team to develop, produce and distribute a range of film projects.
The Creative Studio 2 module introduces you to the business side of the film industry and the vital role of ‘producer’. Collaborating with peers from other SAE courses, you’ll produce either a short fiction film or a series of promotional films, such as music videos, adverts or corporate videos.

If you choose to produce a short fiction film, you’ll continue to develop your storytelling, directing and cinematography skills as you bring your narrative to life. Potentially collaborating with SAE Animation and Audio Production students, you’ll ensure your film has high-quality visual effects, location sound, automated dialogue replacement (ADR) and soundtrack music – and is completed to a professional standard, ready for distribution and submission to film festivals.

If you choose the promotional film route, you’ll work on a series of creative briefs, collaborating with SAE students from courses such as Music Business, Audio Production and Content Creation and Online Marketing. Here you’ll be guided through the concept development process, as you gain skills working with clients and broaden your production abilities to include live-event/multi-camera production techniques and multi-clip editing.

Topics could cover:

  • Fictional film production
  • Promotional film production
  • Working in a team
  • Collaboration and communication
  • Enterprise
  • Marketing basics (target group analysis, product lifecycle, product development)
  • Business planning (budgeting, financing)
  • Pitching projects
  • Contracts
  • Film marketing and distribution
Trimester 5
As you near the end of your studies, you’ll start to specialise, advancing your skills across your chosen area of the film production industry by selecting from one of 3 optional modules.
If you’ve enjoyed the previous 2 Creative Studio modules, you can choose to further develop your skills in this area with Creative Studio 3. Across this module, you’ll identify an area of interest within filmmaking, and develop a deep professional knowledge of it in the form of a project.

Across your subject area, you can choose to undertake a research project or take part in a structured industry-based live project, designed in collaboration with our Experts and film industry professionals. Whichever option you select, you’ll build a thorough understanding of professional practice in your field, as you align your professional development with your future career plans.

Combining creative media practice mastery and evidence-based decision making, you’ll develop a proposal for your final Major Project (Trimester 6), which will include negotiated and live industry projects. Projects are typically a fiction, non-fiction, experimental, promotional or transmedia film production, with you performing the role of producer, director, cinematographer or editor.

Topics could cover:

  • Producing
  • Directing
  • Cinematography
  • Editing
  • Colour grading
  • Transmedia storytelling
  • Promotional film production
Across the Advanced Specialised Production optional module, you’ll build on your previous knowledge and skills to create industry-standard work in your chosen area. This can either be through work placements or live projects with peers from other SAE disciplines, by undertaking simulated briefs, or by developing your own project. This module is a fantastic chance to refine the skills required for your final trimester Major Project, as you create a body of filmmaking work that showcases your skills and knowledge to date, building connections with industry professionals along the way.

Topics could cover:

  • Scriptwriting

  • Producing

  • Directing

  • Cinematography

  • Editing

  • Colour grading

  • Transmedia storytelling

  • Promotional film production
In this module, you’ll create the proposal for your final Major Project with guidance from our Experts. You’ll also develop a variety of academic and professional skills as you prepare to progress to postgraduate studies or embark on your career journey.
Trimester 6
The final module of this film production degree lets you demonstrate the academic and practical skills you’ve developed across your 2 years at SAE via an advanced-level large-scale project.
During your final trimester, you’ll implement the Major Project you scoped, planned and designed in Trimester 5. This industry-focused module lets you focus on a specialism of your choice, building your skills and knowledge in this area. Depending on your topic, you can use it to establish your own business, as an opportunity to springboard into the film industry, or as a way of making connections with film industry professionals that may lead to future employment.
UCAS Course Codes
BA (Hons) Digital Film Production W612
University of Hertfordshire
Level 6 This program was developed and is delivered and assessed by SAE Institute, awarded by and quality assured by University of Hertfordshire.

Tools & Software

WHY STUDY FILM PRODUCTION AT SAE?

Accelerated learning
Get into the industry quickly with our film production accelerated degree – completed in 2 rather than 3 years – and save on tuition fees and living expenses, too.
Our degrees explained
World-class facilities
Learn the art of filmmaking in SAE’s high-tech film production studios, kitted out with industry-standard tools and software from brands including Sony, Canon, Panasonic, Adobe and Blackmagic Design.
Explore more
Expert support
Be guided by SAE’s Experts every step of your learning journey – they’re all highly experienced and successful film industry professionals.
Meet your mentors
Creative Collaboration Audio Students
Creative collaboration
Get creative with your fellow Film Production students, as well as industry practitioners and those studying other SAE disciplines, like animators, game developers and designers, web experts, audio and music business specialists.

Career Outcomes

What Jobs will this course lead to?

  • Director
  • Producer
  • Cinematographer
  • Screenwriter
  • Video Editor
  • Colourist
  • Camera Operator
  • Gaffer
  • Key Grip
  • Casting Director

YOUR DREAM CAREER BEGINS NOW

With our industry connections, specialised teachers and personalised education in world-class facilities, you can unleash your creative future with a Film Production degree.
Enquire now

Course FAQs

We are looking to see an applicants’ best and most refined artwork in whatever medium they choose, and should evidence their creativity and technical skill. You are welcome to contact our admissions team for advice on what you should include.

We are looking to see applicants passion for film, if you have created any work before applying. This can include examples of your work, script work or practical mov examples or anything creative and film related that boosts your creative vision. We would also like a 800 word write up of why you want to study film production as well as what your favourite is and why? (400 words on each). You are welcome to contact our admissions team for advice on what you should include.

You can provide a PDF document or a personal URL with examples of your work. Text based work, such as scripts and write ups can be submitted as a PDF document.

We consider all applicants, so you can still join the course without any practical experience. However, we do require you to have a passion for film, which is why we ask you for an informal write up to explain why you would like to join the course and what your favourite film is.

While we recommend students to invest in their own hardware, in particular a laptop and an external hard drive, they are not essential to the course as you can use the computer labs on site. They will, however, make your learning experience easier as you can work off site. A camera is desirable but again not essential as we have cameras on site for your learning experience.

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