BA (Hons)

Film

Develop your creative ambition and refine your voice as a film maker with our dynamic and progressive BA (Hons) Film degree. We’ll prepare you for a successful career in the screen industry through practical training and extensive film knowledge.

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Key Course Details

  • UCAS Code

    36VA

  • Start Date

    September

  • Location

    Cardiff

  • Campus Code

    B

Fees

  • Home students

    £9,535*

  • International students

    £15,850*

  • Full-time fees are per year. Part-time fees are per 20 credits.

Build your craft and create your future in the film industries with this practical and theoretical course.

DESIGNED FOR

If you enjoy telling stories and love film, this course is for you. You’re a team player and creative thinker, open to learn all aspects of filmmaking. You’re ready to learn specialist skills and respond to the latest, social, cultural, and technological developments in the industry.  

Accredited by

  • ScreenSkills

Career Paths

  • Director  
  • Producer 
  • Camera Operator 
  • Screen writer 
  • Editor 
  • Sound Recordist/Engineer    

Skills taught

  • Camera, sound and editing techniques
  • Research and critical analysis
  • Digital proficiency
  • Latest software and technical equipment
  • Creative thinking
  • Storytelling
  • Communication
  • Pitching and presenting
  • Professional Development
  • Industry Awareness

We make a difference in practice, not just on paper. Our courses are designed by people who offer jobs - and taught by people who have real work experience.


Course Highlights

ScreenSkills tick 

Accredited by ScreenSkills as a course best suited to prepare people for careers in the screen industries.

Screen Alliance Wales

Build your dream career in 21st century screen industries through SAW opportunities.

Avid Learning Partner

Gain a competitive edge by learning industry recognised software.

Arri Film School 

USW Film is an ARRI Certified course, meeting professional and industry standards of camera training. Students can gain an additional ARRI qualification whilst studying.

Film ready facilities

Take advantage of our fully equipped film studios, and state-of- the-art finishing suites.

Module Overview

The First Year provides all students with foundational skills in Directing, Producing, Screenwriting, Cinematography, Sound, and Editing for both factual and fiction film. It introduces film theory and how this helps to inform ideas, themes and perspectives. Students develop their practical skills through collaboratively produced filmmaking projects.

Filmmaking 1: Documentary  
This hands-on  practical module introduces the foundations of Storytelling through the production of factual content. Students are encouraged to engage with the world to find and tell stories of contemporary interest.   

Craft 1: Skills and Techniques  
Through a series of practical workshops, students will develop core technical skills in Camera, Lighting, Sound Recording, and Postproduction.   

Filmmaking 2: Fiction  
Students develop fundamental skills in fiction Storytelling, working in crews to write, shoot, and post produce a short film to recognised industry standards.   

What is Film? 
This theory-based module explores the very nature and diverse roles of film in society. Students examine and debate film’s status as both art and commercial entertainment; across a wide range of genres from realism to fantasy. Students look at the social and political functions and effects of film; its current status and possible future. 

Craft 2: Preparation and Practice  
Students will acquire core skills in Screenwriting, Producing, and Directing through a series of lectures and workshops whilst developing their interpersonal communication skills, and professional practice as filmmakers. 

The Second Year builds on Year One to advance practical skills and encourage students to specialise on a specific area of film craft as the core focus of their degree. Through exploration of diverse and experimental filmmaking practices, students are encouraged to explore new approaches to storytelling in factual and fiction contexts whilst deepening their understanding of how this industry works. 

Filmmaking 3: Experimentation  
Through close study of existing films and hands-on experimentation, this practical module provides the opportunity to develop understanding of film as both a medium of philosophical expression and as entertainment.  

Craft 3: Advanced Studio  
Through craft specialist workshops and supervised continuity shoots, this module reinforces professional, creative, and logistical practices and etiquette in preparation for industry.   

Theory 3: Documentary Film History and Theory  
This theory module looks at historical development and diverse ‘modes’, traditions, and trends of documentary film. It helps broadens understanding and assessment of some of its key forms and functions. 

Theory 3: Global Cinema  
Students will investigate important examples, from European and Asian art cinema, through revolutionary and post-colonial cinema from Africa, Asia and Latin America to contemporary transnational cinema reflective of our increasingly globalised world.  

Filmmaking 4: Development  
Students will develop creative and communication skills of applied film language with a focus on character representation. Students will also choose individual craft specialisms to further advance their skills.   

Collaborative Project  
Working on live external briefs, students will actively engage with real-world clients to produce commercial, promotional, or social action films.  

The Final Year draws together the rich experiences gained across the degree. Students work towards final graduation films destined for film festival release. Students develop extended independent research through either a dissertation or critically reflective journal. Every student develops professional marketing tools to locate work opportunities and promote themselves within the screen industry. 

Advanced Storytelling Development 
Stories can develop from many different sources, from existing material, life experiences, or imagination. This module supports students in developing a storytelling package for either a short graduation film or 'real-world' industry destination 

Advanced Craft 
Following Advanced Storytelling Development, this module focuses on creative collaboration and advanced craft development, building on skills from Year One and Year Two. Students  will fully immerse themselves into the preproduction stages of a scripted or unscripted project and launch a crowdfunding campaign to gather support for their final film. 

Advanced Filmmaking: Engagement  
This module brings together the  experiences and knowledge of film concepts, experimentation and practical skills gained throughout the course, resulting in the production of  a professional standard graduation film, ready for film festival release.  

Advanced Theory: Dissertation  
This optional module offers the opportunity for the in-depth study of a film (or related media) topic, leading to an extended piece of individual research from a theoretical perspective.  

Advanced Theory: Critical Report 
This optional module provides students with the space to engage with independently sourced external opportunities and explore ‘practice as research’ using reflective journalling techniques.  

Career and Exhibition 
This module prepares students for their careers by exploring the industry and employment  paths in surrounding fields. Students consider their individual professional ambitions by developing interview, social media and self-marketing skills. 
 

Students will also bolster their final film projects for festival runs and prepare them for promotion and exhibition on the big screen. 

Course Highlights

How you'll learn

We’ll teach you how to make a film, with whatever story you want to tell. Our modules are built to develop craft skills, critical thinking and professional practice that aligns with industry standards and expectations.  

The short film you produce before graduation will showcase your abilities as a filmmaker as you enter the film industry.   

You’ll be pleased to know this is a course without exams - it’s all coursework-based. Through a combination of lectures, seminars, workshops, tutorials, and project supervision, you’ll use a range of methods to communicate your ideas both collaboratively and individually.  

Teaching staff

We’re a highly skilled team, with a vast range of recent industry experience. Our staff  include award-winning filmmakers who continue to work in the industry, making sure that our curriculum remains current and forward-thinking across the degree.  

BA (Hons) Film draws on our connections with current industry professionals through guest lectures, masterclasses, external visits, and consultation opportunities.  

Make sure to visit our profile pages to learn more about our research, filmmaking, publications, and engagement with the sector.  

Placements

We’re proud to work with a wide range of industry organisations in Wales and beyond, including Channel 4, BBC Wales, BAFTA Cymru, RTS Wales, Film Cymru, and the Welsh Government.As an education partner of Screen Alliance Wales, you’ll get the chance to apply for work placement opportunities across your degree ranging from film festival volunteer positions to production roles on film and TV shoots.   

You’ll have the chance to acquire additional qualifications through Albert Educational Partner and Mark Milsome Foundation. These are optional qualifications that are not part of the course but will be offered to help enhance your CV. 

Facilities

We offer industry-standard facilities at our newly enhanced Cardiff Campus which includes an on-site cinema where you can screen your work and play your favourite films.  

As a film student, you can benefit from our fully equipped film studio including Arri Alexa, Black Magic Ursa, and Sony cameras, a range of professional microphones, LED lights, tracks, dollies and grip equipment. Everything you need to practice filmmaking in a secure and safe space.  

We also offer state-of-the-art finishing suites for professional video editing, sound mixing, and colour grading. Including Adobe Creative Packages, Movie Magic and Final Draft. 

Accredited by

Careers and Employability

Graduate careers

Serving as the stepping stone for your film career, many of our graduates take up roles as camera trainees, sound trainees, script supervisors and production runners, working for the BBC, Netflix, and Channel 4. Some graduates have also set up their own production companies. 

In 2016,Film graduateAsif Kapadia won an Oscarfor his documentary film, Amy (2015), having previously won acclaim and BAFTAs for Senna (2010).  

With the transferable skills you’ll learn on our BA (Hons) Film course, you can pursue a wide range of career opportunities including researcher, postproduction technician, screenwriter, director and editor. 

Careers support

We’re here to help you get your foot on the ladder in the film and television industry. We know how competitive it can be, but you’re in the right hands. The film and television industry in Wales is growing rapidly, providing more and more opportunities. We’ll teach you how to tell your stories and make your films stand out. Through our industry partnerships not only will you know how to work professionally on set, but you’ll also be a master in networking – a key skill for a career in film.  

The final short film you produce will be film festival-ready, and we’ll help guide you through this process.  

Industry partners

USW's BA (Hons) Film degree can provide you with the opportunities to gain experience needed in today’s film and television industry. As an education partner of Screen Alliance Wales, we provide opportunities for you to network with industry professionals and regularly advertise and update you on positions on upcoming productions.  

ENTRY REQUIREMENTS

UCAS points: 96 (or above)

Typical qualification requirements:

  • A Level: CCC to include a relevant subject
  • BTEC: Merit Merit Merit in a relevant subject
  • Welsh Baccalaureate Advanced Skills Challenge Certificate: C in the Skills Challenge Certificate and CC at A Level with a relevant subject
  • Access to HE: Pass the Access to HE Diploma with a minimum of 96 UCAS tariff points.
  • T Level: Pass (C and above)

 

Additional requirements include:

The University normally requires a minimum 5 GCSEs including Mathematics/Numeracy and English at Grade C or Grade 4 or above, or their equivalent, but consideration is given to individual circumstances. 

Selection for this course is based on a suitable application. If you do not meet the entry criteria you may also be required to attend an interview to help us assess your suitability for the course.

International applications welcomed:

We welcome international applications with equivalent qualifications of our entry requirements. For more details related to your country of residence, please view our dedicated country pages.

English language requirements

International applicants will need to have achieved an overall of IELTS 6.0 with a minimum of 5.5 in each component/TOEFL 72 overall and a minimum of 18 in reading, 17 in listening, 20 in speaking and 17 in writing or equivalent.

Equivalents can be located on our English Language pages.

If you have previously studied through the medium of English, IELTS might not be required, please visit our country specific page for further details. If your country is not featured, please contact us.

If you do not meet the English entry criteria, please visit our Pre-Sessional course pages.

Contextual offers

We may make you a lower offer based on a range of factors, including your background (where you live and the school or college that you attended, for example), your experiences and individual circumstances (as a care leaver, for example). This is referred to as a contextual offer, and we receive data from UCAS to support us in making these decisions.

USW prides itself on its student experience and we support our students to achieve their goals and become a successful graduate. This approach helps us to support students who have the potential to succeed and who may have faced barriers that make it more difficult to access university.

 

We're here to help

Whether you a have a question about your course, fees and funding, the application process or anything else, there are plenty of ways you can get in touch, and we'd love to talk to you. You can contact our friendly admissions team by phone, email or chat to us online.

 

Fees and Funding

UK Full-time Fee

£9,535

per year*
International Full-time Fee

£15,850

per year*

Further Information

Studying at university is one of the most significant investments you'll ever make. Whilst you’re studying, you’ll have two main financial obligations – tuition fees and living costs. There’s lots of financial help available from the University of South Wales and external funding sources, that may provide loans (which have to be paid back) and grants, scholarships and bursaries (that don't).

*Full-time fees are per year. Part-time fees are per 20 credits. Once enrolled, the fee is anticipated to remain at the same rate throughout the duration of your study on this course except as described below.

Please be aware that we may increase the maximum fee for home students on full-time undergraduate courses only where the Welsh Government increases the permitted level of inflation of fees. Fees for all students (including part-time, postgraduate and international students) may be amended in accordance with our applicable Fees and Debt Management Policy.  We will ensure that students are given clear, intelligible, unambiguous and timely information about our courses and costs in good time, ahead of the next academic year.

 

Fees and Funding Scholarships and Bursaries Cost of Living Support

Additional Costs

As a student of USW, you’ll have access to lots of free resources to support your study and learning, such as textbooks, publications, online journals, laptops, and plenty of remote-access resources. Whilst in most cases these resources are more than sufficient in supporting you with completing your course, additional costs, both obligatory and optional, may be required or requested for the likes of travel, memberships, experience days, stationery, printing, or equipment.

Cost: Up to £60

Cost: Up to £150

Cost: Up to £120

How to apply

All applications for full-time undergraduate courses or foundation degrees should be made via UCAS. Take the next step: Apply through UCAS. You can apply to us directly for all part-time undergraduate courses, if you’re seeking advanced entry or you’re an international student. To apply directly, please choose the application form below for your preferred start date and mode of study (full-time or part-time.)

Advanced entry

If you already have a relevant qualification or experience related to the course you're applying for, you may be eligible to start at a later stage of the course. For example, students from partner colleges can ‘top up’ their qualifications to a degree by joining us in Year Two or Year Three of a course. This process is known as ‘advanced entry’, you can apply directly to the University for 'advanced entry' using the application forms provided above.

International admissions

International applicants can apply to us directly. If the University has an in-country team in your region, your application will be assigned to them for assistance.
 

Media Loans

You can hire a range of equipment, for your assignments and practical work, for free from our Media Loans facility.

Media Loans

University Quality Assurance

At USW, we regularly review our courses in response to changing patterns of employment and skills demand to ensure we offer learning designed to reflect today’s student needs and tomorrow’s employer demands.

If during a review process course content is significantly changed, we’ll write to inform you and talk you through the changes for the coming year. But whatever the outcome, we aim to equip our students with the skillset and the mindset to succeed whatever tomorrow may bring. Your future, future-proofed.

student-25

USW Film Students Shine at RTS Cymru Awards

Students and graduates have secured five prestigious accolades at the RTS Cymru Awards, celebrating excellence in film and television. Their award-winning projects spanned drama, comedy, and factual storytelling, underscoring the university's commitment to nurturing creative talent.


Life at USW

Halls are a big part of your student experience and there’s accommodation at all three of our locations. If you don’t want to live near the campus, there are great transport links to keep you connected.