Undergraduate Course
Film and Television Production BA (Hons)
Learn to create films and TV programmes that cut through the noise. Master production techniques and start your career in film and TV.

This course will give you the technical skills and knowledge needed to create engaging visual stories for different video platforms. You will specialise in the production of video content, using our cameras and equipment to discover your creative film-making abilities. Explore the process of video creation and consider the different roles that contribute to the final product.
89% of Film and Television students said they were able to contact staff when they needed to. (National Student Survey 2020)
93% of Film and Television students felt their learning had been well supported by the library resources. (National Student Survey 2020)
York campus
- UCAS Code – P3Q4
- Duration – 3 years full time, 6 years part time
- Start date – September 2021
- School – School of the Arts
Minimum Entry Requirements
96 UCAS Tariff points
3 GCSEs at grade C/4 (or equivalent) including English Language.
Tuition Fees
UK and EU 2021 entry £9,250 per year full time
International 2021 entry £12,750 per year full time
Discover why York St John is The One
Course overview
To make video content that captivates your audience, you need to master a range of technical production processes. Throughout your time with us you will learn and perfect skills in:
- Finding stories, both fictional and fact
- Planning and creating visual storyboards
- Scriptwriting
- Shooting raw footage using different cameras and sound equipment
- Editing footage and audio files
- Postproduction techniques.
Alongside this practical work you will also learn about key theories and debates in media production. This knowledge will help you blend theory with practice to create better content.
Investigate how you can ensure your production makes an impact by using social media, blogs and apps to promote your work. You will have the chance to explore the different roles in film and TV production by engaging in different group projects. In your 3rd year, you will be able to specialise in an area that interests you most.
You will have access to our dedicated TV studios, specialist software and editing suites. We also have cameras and sound equipment for location recording that you can use. We will give you all the equipment you need to tell your stories.
York is a living film set, and the perfect place to develop as a media producer. It is the UK’s only UNESCO City of Media Arts. Our partnership with the BAFTA-qualifying Aesthetica Short Film Festival will give you further access to expert masterclasses and networking events.
Course structure
Year 1
Our academic year is split into 2 semesters. How many modules you take each semester will depend on whether you are studying full time or part time.
In your first year, if you are a full time student, you will study:
- 1 compulsory module across semester 1 and 2
- 2 compulsory modules in semester 1
- 2 compulsory modules in semester 2.
If you are a part time student, the modules above will be split over 2 years.
You can find out which modules are available in each semester on the Course Specifications.
Modules
Credits: 40
Compulsory module
On this module we will introduce you to different media organisations and forms. You will explore that history of media and gain an understanding of how media products are created and consumed. Together we will consider the cultural, economic and political impact of the media and what that means for the audience and you as a producer. You will learn different methods of research and advance your academic writing skills too.
Credits: 20
Compulsory module
On this module you will develop your ability to tell non-fictional stories. We will explore what makes a story, how to find them and assess their authenticity. You will learn techniques in making contacts and interviewing for your stories. As part of this we will consider the ethics, regulations and laws around factual storytelling and discuss their importance. You will also learn about the different tools and platforms you can use to deliver your stories to diverse audiences.
Credits: 20
Compulsory module
This is your introduction to the techniques of storytelling. You will learn how stories are constructed for film, tv and radio and examine storytelling conventions, genres and narrative structures. Together we will explore how stories can be found and extracted from non-fiction. We will teach you different techniques for script production such as standard formatting, 3 act structures and writing dialogue. As you start writing scripts, you will show your understanding of character, plot and audience, developing your ability to articulate and present your ideas.
Credits: 20
Compulsory module
On this module we will teach you the key video and television skills needed in media production. You will acquire skills in single camera directing and experience a multi-camera studio environment. Together with your classmates, you will produce a live show. There will be other projects to work on too, giving you camera, sound and editing skills and increasing you ability to manage projects both individually and as part of a team.
Credits: 20
Compulsory module
This module is your chance to apply all the skills you have learnt so far. Use your preferred planning techniques and your technical capabilities to realise your ideas. We will introduce you to production for online media outlets like Instagram and Wordpress, so you gain experience across multiple platforms. With the help of our experienced tutors, you could produce:
- A mini documentary
- Short drama
- Music video
- An advert
- Social media video and more.
Year 2
In your second year, if you are a full time student, you will study:
- 1 compulsory module and 1 optional module in semester 1
- 2 compulsory modules and 1 optional module in semester 2.
If you are a part time student, the modules above will be split over 2 years.
You can find out which modules are available in each semester on the Course Specifications.
Optional modules will run if they receive enough interest. It is not guaranteed that all modules will run every year.
Modules
Credits: 40
Compulsory module
On this module you will focus on producing work for broadcast and online delivery. You will act as a media business throughout the module, working with clients, developing budgets and pitching your ideas. As you work on different briefs for production tasks, developing your ideas, planning, and producing, you will develop your technical abilities. These projects could include:
- Music videos
- Adverts
- Tutorials
- Vlogs
- Promos
- Promos
- Viral videos.
Credits: 20
Optional module
On this module you will develop your theoretical understanding of film and television documentaries. Together we will examine different examples of documentaries, considering their similarities and differences. You will discuss how this media type is connected to ideology and social context and begin to form your own opinions on these issues. We will also explore industry roles in the production of documentaries and how these might evolve in the future.
Credits: 20
Optional module
Transmedia is the telling of a single story across multiple digital platforms. On this module you will develop your critical understanding as you examine transmedia narrative theory and practice. You will experience working as an independent producer as you work independently to produce a transmedia product of your choosing. You will develop your idea, pitch it to your tutors, plan and produce a transmedia artefact. Once complete you will reflect on your work and evaluate the production process you engaged with.
Credits: 20
Optional module
On this module you explore, in detail, the development and complexity of independent cinema. You will examine the historical development of the genre and consider the industrial struggles encountered by independent producers in funding, producing and distributing films. Together we will consider the importance of film festival marketplaces and the turn to DIY filmmaking and crowdfunding. There is so much to explore in this complex genre and this module is a great place to start.
Credits: 20
Optional module
On this module you will explore alternatives to mainstream cinema. We will introduce you to non-hollywood and underground forms of film-making. It’s time to broaden your creative horizons by engaging with work you’re not familiar with. We will encourage you to embrace the creative methodologies and production practices we introduce and think about how you can apply experimentation to your own work.
Credits: 20
Compulsory module
This module gives you the experience of working as an independent producer. You will work collaboratively with your classmates to produce a short film of up to 10 minutes that could be exhibited at a film festival. You will also take on the task of creating a marketing strategy for your film. This will include researching potential audiences, targeting specific film festivals and crowdfunding. It’s another opportunity to apply your technical skills and prepare for your future in the media production industry.
Credits: 20
Compulsory module
We have designed this module to help you prepare for your future career. You will reflect on your ambitions and explore employment options through a series of guest speakers from across the industry. We will deliver workshops in CV writing, personal development planning and the ethics of your chosen industry. This module will also prepare you for your research project in your final year, helping you develop skills in choosing a topic, planning and managing a research project and writing up your findings.
Year 3
In your third year, if you are a full time student, you will study:
- A Final Project module across semesters 1 and 2
- 1 compulsory module and 1 optional module in semester 1
- 2 compulsory modules in semester 2.
If you are a part time student, the modules above will be split over 2 years.
You can find out which modules are available in each semester on the Course Specifications.
Optional modules will run if they receive enough interest. It is not guaranteed that all modules will run every year.
Modules
Credits: 40
Compulsory module
On this module you will bring together the knowledge and skills you have developed to produce a piece of media for broadcast, web or cinema. It can be either fiction or documentary and the subject and style will be determined by you and your team. You will present a project proposal to your supervisor which will include an explanation of the idea, target audience and budgets, plans for distribution and marketing materials. You will then plan and produce the media piece, working collaboratively with your classmates.
Credits: 20
Optional module
This module is your chance to specialise in directing by exploring different methods and performance traditions. This will help you understand that performance is a key cinematic element that shapes the audience's experience. You will explore your role as content creator and consider how your vision develops with performance in mind.
Credits: 20
Optional module
This module is your chance to specialise in cinematography and production design by learning how films and TV programmes function as aesthetic objects. You will consider the nature and significance of cinematography and explore how different elements within the frame function in the work. We will also investigate how films and TV programmes appeal to our senses, emotions and reason.
Credits: 20
Optional module
This module is your chance to specialise in the post production of images. You will learn advanced techniques for professional post production image, sound editing and visual effects for both film and TV. You will also develop your theoretical and intellectual understanding of how films and TV function as visual artefacts. This will involve considering how they appeal to our emotions, senses and reason and investigating how post production techniques can impact this.
Credits: 20
Compulsory module
On this module you will develop your own research project on a topic you are passionate about. This could relate to your career aspirations, your practical work or a theoretical concept. We will teach you about research methods and ethics so that you can apply ethical research methods to your work. You can choose to write a traditional dissertation or a piece of practice-led work. Alternatively, you could produce a piece of critical media and write a short thesis to support it.
Credits: 20
Compulsory module
On this module you will gain expertise in creating TV studio productions. You will start by analysing the formats and businesses of contemporary TV shows. You will then apply this theoretical knowledge to your practice. With your classmates you will develop, plan, rehearse and stage a TV studio production. This project will be a well known genre such as a game show, light entertainment programme, news or drama. You will then consider how TV programmes cross borders, particularly focusing on how this applies to the show you have produced.
Credits: 20
Compulsory module
We have designed this module to help you prepare for graduation and entering industry. You will reflect on the experiences you have had on your degree, highlight your successes and identify any areas for development. We will help you to create an online portfolio of work that showcases your skills to future employers. As part of the module you will take part in CV workshops, careers events and lectures from industry professionals.
Teaching and assessment
Teaching and learning
The best way to learn a practical subject like media is by doing it. We deliver your modules through:
- Seminars
- Workshops
- Technical demonstrations
- Lectures.
Each module has 2 to 3 hours of contact time a week. We schedule our taught sessions between 9:00am and 5:00pm, Monday to Friday. You will also have access to edit suites and learning spaces outside those hours.
You will need to conduct independent study outside of this time. This might include reading, researching and completing your assignments. You can also arrange academic tutorials with your module tutors throughout the year to receive feedback on your work and discuss the course content.
Our teaching draws on both our research and professional experience. This means your learning is informed by the most current thinking in the subject area. You can find out more about our research and backgrounds by visiting our staff pages.
Assessment
There are no exams on this course. Assessment types are based on practical coursework projects and vary from module to module. We have designed them to reflect the work you will do in the industry. Some of your assessments might include:
- Portfolios of practical work
- Essays
- Presentations.
For each assessment you will have the chance to talk to a tutor about your work before submission. Each assessment will be marked and returned with feedback so you can improve your work.
Career outcomes
Your future with a degree in Film and Television Production
This course gives you the business, technical and creative skills you need to succeed in the film and television industry. You will also gain skills in project management, communication and collaboration that are in high demand in a range of other careers.
This degree could be the first step toward your career as a:
- Film director
- Lighting technician
- Location manager
- Special effects technician
- TV camera operator
- TV producer.
Discover more career options on Prospects careers advice pages.
You could also progress onto a postgraduate degree and take your learning even further.
Postgraduate degrees at York St John University
Whatever your ambitions, we can help you get there.
Our careers service, LaunchPad provides career support tailored to your ambitions. Through this service you can access:
- Employer events
- LinkedIn, CV and cover letter sessions
- Workshops on application writing and interview skills
- Work experience and volunteering opportunities
- Personalised career advice.
This support doesn't end when you graduate. You can access our expert career advice for the rest of your life. We will help you gain experience and confidence to succeed. It's your career, your way.
Entry requirements
Qualifications
Minimum Entry Requirements
96 UCAS Tariff points
3 GCSEs at grade C/4 (or equivalent) including English Language.
Calculate your UCAS Tariff points
International Students
If you are an international student you will need to show that your qualifications match our entry requirements.
Information about international qualifications and entry requirements can be found on our International pages.
If English is not your first language you will need to show that you have English Language competence at IELTS level 6.0 (with no skill below 5.5) or equivalent.
International entry requirements
Mature Learners Entry Scheme
If you have been out of education for 3 years or more and have a grade C GCSE in English Language or equivalent, you are eligible for our entry scheme for mature learners. It's a scheme that recognises non-traditional entry qualifications and experience for entry onto this course. Information on how to apply can be found on our dedicated page.
Terms and conditions
Our terms and conditions, policies and procedures contain important information about studying at York St John University. You can read them on our Admissions page.
Fees and Funding
To study for an undergraduate degree with us, you will need to pay tuition fees for your course. How much you pay depends on whether you live inside the UK or EU, or internationally (outside the UK/EU). Tuition fees may be subject to inflation in future years.
UK and EU 2021 entry
The tuition fee for 2021 entry onto this course is
- £9,250 per year for full time study
- £6,935 per year for the first 4 years if you study part time.
These prices apply to all UK/EU, Jersey, Guernsey and Isle of Man students.
You can find out more about funding your degree by visiting our funding opportunities page.
Placement year funding
If you choose to take a placement year, and your course offers it, you can apply for the Tuition Fee and Maintenance Loan for your placement year. How much you are awarded is based on the type of placement being undertaken and whether it is a paid or unpaid placement. The tuition fee for your placement year will be reduced.
Tuition Fees
UK and EU 2021 entry £9,250 per year full time
International 2021 entry £12,750 per year full time
International 2021 entry
The tuition fee for 2021 entry to this course is £12,750 per year for full time study.
This price applies to all students living outside the UK/EU.
Due to immigration laws, if you are an international student on a Student Visa, you must study full time. For more information about visa requirements and short-term study visas, please visit the International Visa and Immigration pages.
Find out more about funding your degree.
Additional costs and financial support
There may also be some additional costs to take into account throughout your studies, including the cost of accommodation.
Course-related costs
While studying for your degree, there may be additional costs related to your course. This may include purchasing personal equipment and stationery, books and optional field trips.
Study Abroad
For more information on tuition fee reductions and additional costs for studying abroad, please visit our study abroad pages.
Accommodation and living costs
For detailed information on accommodation and living costs, visit our Accommodation pages.
Financial help and support
Our Funding Advice team are here to help you with your finances throughout your degree. They offer a personal service that can help you with funding your studies and budgeting for living expenses.
All undergraduates receive financial support through the York St John Aspire card. Find out more about the Aspire scheme and how it can be used to help you purchase equipment you need for your course.
Course highlights
Discover your specialism
Spend your time producing video content such as short films, music videos, TV programmes and more. This course teaches you everything you need to thrive in the film and TV industry.
Successful alumni
Our graduates include BAFTA award winners. Others have careers at ITV, the BBC and independent production companies. They work for shows from Bake Off to Doctor Who and beyond.
Inspiring trips
Visit new places, find inspiration and new stories to tell. Previously we have taken students to the Camerimage film festival in Poland. They have enjoyed sessions with people such as David Lynch and Lana Wachowski.
Ethan Media Production: Film and Television
The opportunities at York St John are amazing. I made a heist film for my third year, went to Camerimage film festival and met some of the best Directors of Photography in the game. If I hadn’t gained the experience I did on my course and realised my passion for the way things look on screen I would never have made it into my career.