BA (Hons) Film & TV Production

Core units

• Academic & Professional Practice: You will build your confidence in both academic and professional skills. This unit will cover the academic skills which will be required at degree level study and you’ll practice them throughout the unit with support from key university services including the library and study skills team. There will also be the opportunity for you to reflect on and develop your own professional skills through interactions with employers, careers services and online resources. 
• Collaborative Communication Project: The unit focuses on the centrality of communicaiton, both as a process and as a project. Through the collaborative development of a communication solution to a specific communication problem, the unit aims to promote the principles and practices of team-based iterative project work. 
• Media & Current Debates: You will be introduced to a) the important role and responsibilities of the news media within democratic societies and b) the varied nature of reporting of key events, issues and debates within the contemporary 24/7 news cycle. You will gain an essential level of understanding of what constitues news and what the work of journalists entails. You will also develop an awareness and appreciation of differing coverage of particular stories by a range of news organisations. 
• Media Work: You will become familiar with a range of profiles and career paths in the communication and media industries and be inspired to reflect on and develop your own professional identity. Through case studies of seminal campaigns, programmes and artefacts, profiles of ground-breaking personalities, masterclasses from industry professionals, and guest talks from BU staff who have worked or currently work in marketing, PR, media production, journalism and communications, you will encounter and interact with diverse role models, career trajectories, and types of profressional practice. 

Core units

• Studio Skills: In this unit you will learn how to run a TV studio and the various roles from camera op to vision mixer etc. You will develop the core skills of structuring a programme with a running order developed for a target audience.  train. 
• Film & Edit: This unit will equip you  with the core skills to edit a film, use a digital camera, record sound and setup lighting for filming. 
• Ambitions: In this unit we will support your ambitions and develop your understanding of the core skills and knowledge required to successfully work through a degree programme as well as picking up additional qualifications on the way such as the Albert qualification for sustainable Film/TV production. 
• Writing & Story: This unit aims to introduce students to the core concepts of storytelling and script development of a media product (typically fiction scripts for Film and TV production, but might involve narrative strategies for factual entertainment, documentary, or other improvised/devised narrative strategies 
• Sound & Image: The student will be introduced to a range of creative practices, strategies and technologies for developing their professional craft practice and understanding. 
• The Big Picture: Students will learn the foundational context for media production and the associated creative industries, including the socio-cultural, economic and political drivers which inform their practices both historically and contemporaneously. 

Core units

• Professional 1: Students will develop advanced skills in a selection of Film and TV production specialisms and consideration for the media futures unit and their subsequent employability strategy. 
• Media Perspectives: In this unit you will choose two from a menu of options as you engage with significant industry debates and case studies within a chosen discipline. 
• Professional 2: Students will develop a secondary set of advanced skills in a selection of Film and TV production specialism with further and consideration for the media futures unit and their subsequent employability strategy. 
• Research: This unit provides students with an understanding and practical experience of a range of research methodologies and methods appropriate to researching the Film and TV.

Option units (choose 2)

• Multicam Formats: The aim of this unit is to develop practical and conceptual competencies around the production of existing multicam studio production formats. 
• Factual Shorts: The aim of this unit is to develop practical and conceptual competencies in the production of factual, documentary and factual entertainment films and formats or across identifiable or emerging genres or in traditional documentary modes. 
• Fiction Shorts: The aim of this unit is to develop practical and conceptual competencies in the production of fiction/drama films across different genres. 
• Multicam Takeover: During this unit you will develop your practical skills and creative approaches to experimentation with form, formats and styles as well as the intellectual skills to reflect and critique the outcomes of their experimentation and identification of potential or emerging audiences for these new forms and formats.
• Innovating Factual: Develop practical skills and creative approaches to experimentation with formats and styles as well as the intellectual skills to reflect and critique the outcomes of your experimentation and identification of potential or emerging audiences for these new forms and formats.
• Dramatic Disruption: This unit will help develop your understanding and application of approaches to innovation in the Film and TV in the production of fiction, drama, docudrama and/or hybrid forms and formats. You will develop production skills in terms of risk assessment, location management and scheduling, as well as creative approaches to experimentation with form, formats and styles and the intellectual skills to reflect and critique the outcomes of your experimentation and identification of potential or emerging audiences for these new forms and formats.

Please note that option units require minimum numbers in order to run and may only be available on a semester by semester basis. They may also change from year to year.  

You'll have the option to complete either a 4-week or optional 30-week (minimum) work placement during the course, working in a professional environment alongside experienced programme-makers.

The placement provides you with the experience of how an organisation operates, as well as an opportunity to enhance your personal development and future employability.

Core units

• Launchpad Development: There is a lot of freedom in this unit and an opportunity to create a plan for the development of the final year launchpad projects. This experience develops a sense of a professional identity and cultivates creative and collaborative groupings and competencies. 
• Launchpad Project: Bringing together all your television knowledge, and picking up on programme ideas shared and developed in the previous unit, here you will work collaboratively to create a high production-value television programme that can act as your calling-card to industry. 
• Media Futures: Positioned at the conclusion of the degree, this unit provides an opportunity for students to reflect on their higher education journey and construct a reflexive forward-facing career plan and professional profile.

Option units (choose either the Dissertation or the Industry Research Project AND Understanding Distribution units)

• Dissertation: The Dissertation provides you with the opportunity to develop and demonstrate your critical, analytical and research skills by conducting a significant piece of individual scholarly enquiry into a topical Film/TV subject area.  
• Understanding Distribution: This unit aims to explore the history, theory and practice of film distribution, and investigate where it may be going in future. 
• Industry Research Project: Here you can opt to critically examine your chosen area of practice through conducting original research into a media industry organisation.

Please note that option units require minimum numbers in order to run and may only be available on a semester by semester basis. They may also change from year to year. . 

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.

With practical learning being integral to your degree, we provide industry standard specialist facilities. We continue to invest in our campuses so all our students can maximise their talents today and into the future. Visit our virtual tour to find out more and get a feel for where you’ll be studying while you’re based on our Talbot Campus.

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

If you choose to undertake a placement, you will typically begin your placement after completion of your second year of study and you must complete a minimum of four weeks (on the three-year version of the course) or you can choose to complete a minimum 30-week placement (on the four-year sandwich option).

The faculty running your course will offer the support of a Placement Co-ordinator. 

Through timetabled sessions and one-to-one appointments, they’ll help support you in your placement search including advice on finding a placement, information and advice on all aspects of job searching and job applications, as well as ensuring your proposed placement meets the requirements of your course.

Our CareersBU service is also available throughout your time at BU, offering services like CV checking and careers fairs to meet employers.

Placement Development Advisors will support you once you have started your sandwich placement – so you will be able to maintain contact with the university throughout.

• LoveLove Films
• Disney
• Spectacle Productions
• Framestore
• BBC South
• Warner Bros.Television Production UK.

Many BU courses have partner universities around the world, offering opportunities for you to apply to study abroad for between one month and a year of your degree. There are usually no additional tuition fees, and the Turing Scheme at BU can often provide grants to support with travel and living expenses*.

As a student studying BA (Hons) Television Production you can apply to study abroad at these international partners:

• United States: Montclair State University, Montclair, New Jersey
• Netherlands: Breda University of Applied Sciences, Breda
• Norway: Volda University College, Volda

Further information can be found here.
 

*Funding is subject to an annual successful bid and information will be shared with students in the Autumn

Students will have a proven ability to work creatively, in groups and individually. We look for creative and innovative thinkers who are familiar with current production practice in the Film and TV industries. 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.

Students should be familiar with using computers for assignments and group activities. 

We select candidates for this course by looking at your application; there are usually no interviews or selection activities needed. For that reason, make sure your application really stands out from the crowd, and leave us in no doubt as to why you should be joining BU. You can find some handy hints about filling in your UCAS form on our how to apply web pages.

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, and in some cases, your performance at an interview or a portfolio review. Typically, we make an offer at the bottom of the tariff range.

If you are unable to meet the entry requirements, we may be able to make you an offer through AccessBU if you meet certain criteria e.g. you have been in care or live in an area where fewer people typically progress to Higher Education. If you don't meet our published tariff, we will accept you at least 8 points below if your personal circumstances match our AccessBU criteria. 

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.

This course has compulsory elements involving practical production activities. When required, students must complete a health and safety risk assessment to take part in these activities, for their safety and that of others. As part of that assessment students provide information about any conditions or disabilities that might affect their ability to undertake these activities fully or safely. 

If you have such a condition or disability, please let us know as soon as possible. You can contact our Additional Learning Support (ALS) service about this before or after making an application. We will then work with you to identify any support or adjustments you would need. Our ALS team works with the Faculty to seek to put in place reasonable adjustments and health and safety plans.

Exceptionally, it may not be possible to arrange for a student to access these courses without either over-riding their core standards or competencies or creating unacceptable risks to health and safety. If that is the case we will help you explore alternative course choices.

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.

Our graduates have taken on a range of roles, including:

• Film set runner
• Digital content producers
• Production co-ordinators
• Researchers
• Assistant script editors
• Assistant producers
• Video editors
• Studio floor runners
• Camera operator
• Camera assistants
• Sound recordists
• Boom operators
• Grips
• Vidoegraphers
• Self-shooting producer/directors etc.

You can also find some of our alumni working on popular TV shows such as Strictly Come Dancing, Dr Who, EastEnders, This Morning, Louis Theroux and Hollyoaks etc.

• Film companies
• TV production companies
• Creative agencies
• Marketing agencies
• Broadcast services
• Media production companies

Once you have completed an undergraduate Honours degree, you can further develop your education by studying for a postgraduate degree. Please visit our postgraduate section for further details about our range of Master's degrees.

What’s included in your tuition fee?

Your tuition fee covers expenses associated with your course including tuition materials, access to facilities, mandatory field trips and the following:

• Our fees committment means your tuition fees are fixed at the price quoted
• Materials for laboratory and mandatory field-based teaching activity
• Support for finding placements (UK or abroad) and fieldwork, and non-financial support whilst on placement if this is part of your course of study
• A range of student services – advisors, help desks, counsellors, placement support and careers service
• The Library – access to a wide range of electronic resources (databases, e-journals and e-books), print and multimedia collections, subject librarians and study spaces
• Access to Brightspace, our virtual learning environment, which offers a responsive and personalised learning experience with powerful learning analytics capabilities, integrated social media and advanced video features.
• IT labs (some open 24/7), wireless network, AV equipment to borrow
• Free software download to your personal device of Microsoft Office 365 ProPlus while you are studying, as well as access to applications provided on AppsAnywhere, subject to licensing and compatibility restrictions
• Peer Assisted Learning (PAL) scheme
• Disability and additional learning support, according to individual circumstances 
• The BU Language Centre to help you develop/improve foreign or English language skills
• 24 hours a day, 365 days a year security team.

Additional costs

We are committed to offering you value for money and ensuring there are no hidden costs while you are studying with us, therefore we have listed below any additional costs you may incur that are not covered by your tuition fee:

• Laptops, tablets and mobile devices and any software used on personal devices. Access to a personal computer is strongly recommended for your study. If you are experiencing financial difficulty, visit our website for information regarding hardship funds.
• Textbooks, general stationery and other supplies. Our award-winning library is stocked with a large range of textbooks and online resources, free of charge. The Students’ Union shop stocks a wide range of stationery supplies.
• Accommodation and living costs. Our accommodation price guide can be found on our website.
• Travel costs for optional field trips, outdoor wear and footwear for mandatory and optional field trips 
• Travel costs to and from the University campus. An annual bus pass is included in your rent if you are living in halls of residence/Unilet accommodation or may be purchased separately.
• Travel costs to and from your placement (both in the UK and overseas). Information about funding your placement year can be found on our website.
• You will need to meet the cost of any Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check if required by your placement setting, including any Post Office verification changes. 
• Clothing or equipment costs required for your placement if this is part of your course of study.
• SportBU membership.

If you need to repeat one or more units during your studies (with or without attendance) the pricing will be pro-rata of the full-time fee.