Study your favourite genres. Work with industry-standard equipment to turn your creative vision into reality. Join our award-winning students and launch your career in film.
Overview
Passionate about film? Excited about movies? Want to work in film or produce high-end TV? Do you want the opportunity to direct short films and documentaries? Or are you interested in becoming a cinematographer or editor? If you’ve said yes to any of the above, this course is for you.
Explore filmmaking, documentary production, directing, cinematography, and scriptwriting or editing. Develop practical skills and theoretical knowledge that will set you up for your own exciting and rewarding career, turning your creativity into reality.
Through practical projects you will develop skills in screenwriting, camera, sound, editing, lighting, colour grading, producing and directing. Learn from our highly experienced and skilled lecturing team, using first-class equipment.
From day one, you’ll have access to specialised digital cameras, sound recording equipment, lighting kit, Steadicam rigs, and professional editing software packages such as Avid Media Composer, Adobe Premier Pro and Da Vinci Resolve.
Why us?
- Our Film Production and Photography courses are 1st in the UK (Guardian University Guide, 2023)
- Acclaimed independent production company Fulwell 73 – makers of Netflix show ‘Sunderland ‘Til I Die’ – has launched a new regional office in our David Puttnam Media Centre. Get direct experience and insight into a leading production company and how it operates. Read more about Fulwell 73's new regional office, Fulwell North.
- Our students are award winners; from the Royal Television Society and Sunderland International Short Film festival, they have seen their work used in promotional materials across the country
- Learn from, and network with, experts who are professionals in their fields, including film makers, camera operators and scriptwriters. We have friends in high places too, with masterclasses from visiting lecturers including Lord David Puttnam and Leo Pearlman (Fulwell 73)
- This course has 92% Overall Satisfaction (National Student Survey 2021)
- Get hands-on in our broadcast-quality production studios, using industry standard equipment, and develop your skills in one of 70 workstations with state-of-the-art editing and post production systems
- We are part of Avid’s worldwide network of Learning Partners and an accredited training provider for Avid software, giving you the option to undertake an Avid certification that boosts your employability
- Our teaching is under-pinned by the Centre for Research in Media and Culture Studies (CRMCS)
Course structure
Through lectures, workshops and project work, you will learn practical skills and develop your knowledge in a variety of filmmaking roles to set you up for a career in the film and TV industry.
Our teaching methods develop subject-specific knowledge and transferable skills that enhance employability. These include skills in communication, analysis, research, teamwork, writing and presentations.
You will be taught via lectures, demonstrations, workshops, seminars, screenings, group and individual projects, and independent learning.
Assessment methods include portfolios of practical work (short films, documentaries, advertisements, music videos, showreels, scripts), production files, essays, examinations, reports and presentations.
Facilities
The David Puttnam Media Centre is a thriving place to study and experience media. Rub shoulders with BBC Newcastle and Tyne & Wear TV, who are both based in the building. Volunteer with award-winning Spark Sunderland, write for one of our suite of websites or edit Spark Magazine in our mediaHUB. Get hands on in TV and Radio Studios, Journalism and Digital editing suites. Learn from experts in this centre of excellence for training.
Career ready
This degree prepares you for careers in the film and TV industries. Your training in communication, teamwork and creativity will be highly relevant to roles in many different businesses and in the public sector.
Career destinations
Our graduates have gained employment working as freelance crew on film sets and TV shows in a variety of roles such as Camera Trainee, Foley Artist, Cinematographer, Digital Content Manager, Production Manager, Editor, Director, Producer, Script Supervisor, Sound Recordist, Production Coordinator and Digital Imaging Technician.
Previous employers include the BBC, ITV, Pinewood Studios and a huge variety of independent production companies. Other graduates take a more entrepreneurial route and have set up their own production/media companies.
Work experience
We actively encourage you to gain relevant work experience while at university. In every year of your course, you'll be guided and encouraged to gain meaningful experience that will fit around your studies.
You'll undertake a number of practice modules throughout your course, which can include live briefs from clients from outside the University. Get the opportunity to gain production experience with independent production company Fulwell 73 and build up a portfolio of work to show future employers.
Creative Industries Week
Creative Industries Week gives everyone in the Faculty of Arts and Creative Industries the opportunity to participate in a range of projects, workshops, talks, industry visits and career events. This exciting week encourages interdisciplinary working, broadens your experience, to build your confidence and help develop your career path.
My name is Kavisha Prince Anthony, and I always had a dream of studying abroad. Thankfully, that dream came to life since I applied to the Study Advisor. I was able to receive my visa within four days. I also had some visa refusals in the past; I had about six UK visa refusals in the past, but thankfully, it was not an issue since the Study Advisor was able to make things work this time. I highly recommend Study Advisor for your dreams of going abroad, whether it be the UK or any other European country there is.