BA (Hons) Film (Top-up)

Course overview

Our BA (Hons) in Film is designed to develop your creative and technical skills across Film, High-End TV and Factual. With Film and TV production rapidly growing across all areas of the UK, now is the time to add an extra dimension to your film-making and develop the edge you need to thrive. You will gain real experience working in different roles and use the time at college to develop a portfolio/showreel/CV to take you from college into the industry.

Delivered at our Milton Road campus, our students have access to our sector-leading facilities including TV studios, green screen studios, Dolby ATMOS mixing and post-production rooms, edit booths and rooms of industry-standard equipment ready to sign out. In addition, our students all receive a free Adobe Suite licence while studying with us!

For our Film Degree to be future-proof and highly relevant to the demands of local and national industry, we have collaborated with leading industry partners from the Scottish Film industry offering a truly global perspective. We are excited about the opportunities our BA (Hons) in Film can offer our students and the future of Film in Scotland and further.

And if that wasn’t enough – as our programme is validated by Kingston School of Art in London, it allows students who have an HND in a relevant Media Production course to gain a BA (Hons) degree in one year, rather than through a 2-year top up from an HND as typically offered by universities in Scotland.

We welcome applicants from all Media Production backgrounds and disciplines looking to specialise in film production, whether fiction or non-fiction.

Course subject to successful validation.

What you will learn

There are three, core modules which allow students a great deal of flexibility and creativity in their learning. Students can shape the content in each case to suit their interests, strengths and ambitions.

Research and Analysis: Examining Film Style is worth 25% of the degree. In this module, you will develop a deep understanding of key elements of film style and narrative themes. You will also study film from a technical perspective, including mise-en-scène, cinematography, editing, and sound, learning to analyse their contribution to storytelling.

You will articulate a deeper understanding of how these components shape a film’s meaning and impact, and present your research findings. This module encourages a comprehensive exploration of film style from a global perspective, enhancing both critical thinking and the ability to communicate complex ideas.

Short Film Production makes up a further 25% of the year's work. In this module, you will create your compelling short film, using techniques and stylistic elements informed by your research findings. You will explore your storytelling approaches, whether through character-driven plots or factual documentaries, paired with thoughtful visuals and sound design.

Once the concept is defined, you will use advanced film production skills to create a polished final product. You will prepare to exhibit your work, ensuring it meets professional technical standards and intellectual property regulations, and create accompanying promotional materials like posters and trailers to enhance visibility. Through these activities, you will learn valuable lessons for future professional projects.

Major Project: Final Film makes up 50% of the work. In this module, you will work with fellow students in a production team to devise, plan and produce a longer film production. You will each perform significant roles within your teams that will prepare them for working in your chosen area within the professional landscape of filmmaking.

You will be encouraged to utilise the skills learned in other modules within this major project. Your research, knowledge of genre and style, technical filmmaking skills, and understanding of ethics and inclusion will be in evidence in your final product and you will be encouraged to evaluate your work to a professional industry standard.

Placement information

• Placement opportunities vary from year to year. We continue to develop partnerships with a range of industry parters.

How the course is assessed

This is a project-based degree course, where you will predominantly be assessed on your performance across project work.

You will be assessed using a variety of assessment methods, including:

• Project-based creative filmmaking
• Written assessment and self-evaluation
• Practice-based assessment

Entry requirements

Students may apply who have completed either of the following Edinburgh College courses:

• HND Film and Television
• HND Audio Visual Production

Alternatively, applicants may apply if they have the following qualification(s):

• SQCF Level 8 (or equivalent) in a relevant media production course (please contact our admissions team for more information)

Information on Tests / Auditions / Interview Requirements

• You will be asked to an interview to assess your suitability for the course.
• Interviews will take place at the Milton Road campus. In some situations, we may allow interviews to take place online via MS Teams.
• We will ask applicants to provide examples of their previous creative work in the form of a portfolio.

English Proficiency Requirements

IELTS 6 required.Further information regarding IELTS levels and certification is available from our admissions team.

Progression and Articulation Routes

• Post-graduate programmes at various UK universities

Career options

Professional film industry practice in a variety of roles, such as:

• Camera Operation
• Video Editing
• Film Directing
• Film Producing
• Scriptwriting, etc.

Other career routes include:

• Independent Filmmaking
• Corporate Video Practice
• Community Film Practice