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Develop your creative, production and analytical skills while learning to tell great stories in the rapidly evolving worlds of film and television
Year of entry: 2025/26
W600
Y50
3 years full-time (plus optional placement year)
Complete University Guide, 2025
Guardian University Guide, 2025
The Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide, 2025
Film and television are exciting, creative and rapidly evolving industries.
They are always looking for talented people with new ideas and stories to tell. Our highly creative and practical course gives you everything you’ll need to produce exciting film and television content. We combine practical learning with engaging group sessions.
You will have access to professional-standard single and multi-camera facilities from the outset. Cultivate the practical and theoretical skills to let your imagination flourish. Create your own dramas, documentaries and studio programmes. Refine your skills in large-scale group productions. Tackle a range of genres and a range of professional disciplines. Explore key areas of film and television production history and theory. Enhance your analytical skills and understand current industries trends.
Our teaching staff come from a range of industry backgrounds. They have extensive experience as documentary and feature film-makers, broadcasting executives, scriptwriters, technical practitioners, media historians and theorists.
You’ll graduate with the skills and experience to begin your career in the creative industries or in independent film and TV production.
This course is accredited by ScreenSkills, the industry-led skills body for the UK's screen-based industries. This means you’ll learn professional skills approved and supported by the industry. You’ll gain access to a range of internships and traineeships in British film and television, with broadcasters including the BBC and ITV, and independent production companies.
The School of Arts and Creative Technologies is part of the BAFTA albert Education Partnership. albert is the leading screen industry organisation for environmental sustainability. Through this partnership students are introduced to the sustainability knowledge they'll need when joining the production workforce.
I had a brilliant time at York. The training we received in the TV studio was fantastic. We learned how all of the different roles in multi camera production work together all while using industry-standard kit. I discovered how much I loved vision mixing and went on to study at the National Film and Television School. I'm now working as a Vision Mixer for BBC Studioworks, primarily on EastEnders.Eleanor, BSc Film and Television Production graduate
You'll experience creative production, develop technical skills and explore key areas of theory and history. You'll spend around half of your time on practical projects. We'll encourage you to explore and realise your ideas. At the same time you'll develop an understanding of how film and television have influenced our world, and how you might contribute to the industries in the future.
You will be based in a £30 million bespoke media complex, home to some of the best production facilities at any UK university. Our facilities are regularly updated to meet the latest technical standards.
There are opportunities for you to spend time abroad during your course:
There are opportunities to spend time in industry as part of this course.
Your first year will introduce you to some of the key technologies, core production processes and major ideas and theories that drive film- and programme-making.
You'll study the art of storytelling and start working on screen stories of your own. You will learn about cameras, editing and sound technologies both on location and in the multi-camera television studio, and you will explore some of the underlying science that will allow you to use equipment effectively to achieve exciting creative results.
You will study the histories of film and television, learning about key forms and movements and discovering the many exciting ways in which creators generate meaning through choices around sound and image, all of which will feed forward into the development of your own ideas.
A unique module on content development will give you your first taste of creating film and TV ideas in a professional context.
In addition to the above you will also need to complete our online Academic Integrity module.
This module covers some of the essential skills and knowledge which will help you to study independently and produce work of a high academic standard which is vital for success at York.
This module will:
In your second year you will hone your production skills and study a full range of professional disciplines on the way towards creating your own projects. You'll learn to develop, write, cast, budget and produce your own short film, drama or documentary. And you will experience a variety of roles and a variety of different formats in the multi-camera television studio, before working up and directing a studio show of your own. You will explore film and TV content production through all its stages, from concept to completion. The module on genre will acquaint you with the importance of terms like Thriller, Horror, Western and other definitions in the development and production of professional film and television. Meanwhile, to start you own your way towards your own areas of specialisation, we currently offer options in screenwriting and in designing digital effects tools, among others.
You will study two option modules. Examples can be found below. Some option module combinations may not be possible. The options available to you will be confirmed after you begin your course.
You may be able to replace one option module with an elective module, studying a complementary subject, a language or an interdisciplinary topic.
In your final year, you'll be able to make a statement about what you want to be in the professional world: film-maker or programme-maker, technician or producer, writer or director and more besides.
You will fine-tune your specialist skills by working alongside your student colleagues in ambitious, large-scale film or studio television productions. You'll explore your interests and enthusiasms by focusing on an independent research project on a subject of your own choosing. And you will prepare to enter the film and TV industries by studying the latest creative, business and political issues that affect budgets, audiences, broadcasters and movie studios. You'll also have the chance to choose an option area of study to complement your areas of specialisation: advanced cinematography, advanced audio production, TV research skills and advanced directing on screen are among the modules that are currently on offer.
You will study one option modules. Examples can be found below. Some option combinations may not be possible. The options available to your will be confirmed after you begin your course.
You may be able to replace one option module with an elective module, studying a complementary subject, a language or an interdisciplinary topic.
Our modules may change to reflect the latest academic thinking and expertise of our staff, and in line with Department/School academic planning.
Every course at York has been designed to provide clear and ambitious learning outcomes. These learning outcomes give you an understanding of what you will be able to do at the end of the course. We develop each course by designing modules that grow your abilities towards the learning outcomes and help you to explain what you can offer to employers. Find out more about our approach to teaching and learning.
We have a wide range of industry connections and regularly have visiting speakers and masterclasses.
We are part of the School of Arts and Creative Technologies. The School continues our commitment to the integration of theory, creative practice and collaborative learning.
| UK (home) | International and EU |
|---|---|
| £9,250 | £25,800 |
Fees for students starting in the 2025/26 academic year.
The level of fee that you will be asked to pay depends on whether you're classed as a UK (home) or international student. Check your fee status.
For more information about tuition fees, any reduced fees for study abroad and work placement years, scholarships, tuition fee loans, maintenance loans and living costs see undergraduate fees and funding.
Access to all professional equipment required for the filmmaking and TV production processes is included in your fees.
Some expenses will be additional, for example you may voluntarily incur extra costs to lift production values, eg location fees, expenses, or insurance if you are taking equipment abroad.
We'll confirm more funding opportunities for students joining us in 2025/26 throughout the year.
You can use our living costs guide to help plan your budget. It covers additional costs that are not included in your tuition fee such as expenses for accommodation and study materials.
Our teaching, learning and student experience is outstanding, recognised by a Gold rating from the Office for Students in the 2023 national assessment (Teaching Excellence Framework).
You’ll study and learn with academics who are active researchers, experts in their field and have a passion for their subjects. Our approach to teaching will provide you with the knowledge, opportunities, and support you need to grow and succeed in a global workplace. Find out more about our approach to teaching and learning.
You'll progress rapidly, guided by our experienced academics who will ensure you're in contact with the latest ideas, trends and technologies.
You'll take part in hands-on-workshops and practical sessions with close instruction from specialists. You'll be able to meet industry experts in our masterclasses and professional visitors programme.
Production is important to this course. You'll make films and TV shows: refining your skills and knowledge as you work through, organise and shoot your ideas and stories.
You'll explore the theories and history that make film and television what they are and that point the way towards their future. Your intellectual development and critical thinking will be supported by lectures, screenings, tutorials, workshops and round-tables.
You'll find our staff accessible and ready to discuss your ideas. With plenty of contact time, you'll never be short of support and advice.
In your first year, you can expect:
| Lectures | 3-6 hours per week |
|---|---|
| Seminars | 2-3 hours per week |
| Workshops | 18 hours |
| Practicals | 59 hours |
| Film Screening | 4-5 hours per week |
These figures are representative of a typical week. Your contact hours will vary throughout the year due to your module choices, non-compulsory classes, exam periods and changes to scheduled activities.
Outside your timetabled hours, you'll study independently. This may include preparation for classes, follow-up work, wider reading, practice completion of assessment tasks, or revision.
In the UK, full-time students are expected to spend 1,200 hours a year learning. That's about 40 hours of classes and independent study each week during semesters. Everyone learns at a different rate, so the number of hours you spend on independent study will be different to other students on your course.
You'll have access to exceptional facilities in our bespoke £30 media complex, including:
You will be based in the School of Arts & Creative Technologies on Campus East.
Most of your contact hours will be in Theatre, Film, Television, and Interactive Media with some additional teaching elsewhere on Campus East.
Our beautiful green campus offers a student-friendly setting in which to live and study, within easy reach of the action in the city centre. It's easy to get around - everything is within walking or pedalling distance, or you can use the fast and frequent bus service. Take a campus tour.
Assessment methods vary according to modules and include productions, practical exercises, presentations, essays, scripts, project proposals, reports and blogs. In the TV studio some of your work will be assessed by live observation with tutors watching you direct and crew.
In the majority of cases you will be assessed individually. The collaborative nature of the film and TV industries however means that some of your modules will involve group work. In these you will be assessed on the actual film or television programme you have produced as a team, as well as on your individual contribution to the project.
Studying Film and Television Production at York you will have the chance to follow in the footsteps of graduates who are already making a name for themselves, as cinematographers and writers, as film and studio directors, as editors and vision mixers, as audio production and post-production professionals, as production managers, production designers and researchers.
While many of our students choose a career in film or television, our course is also designed to offer you a range of transferable skills that are relevant to the media, the wider world of work or to further academic study.
The majority of our graduates move into staff or freelance roles in the film, television and video industries. Recent roles include:
Transferable skills developed on the course include:
| Typical offer | |
|---|---|
| A levels | AAB |
| Access to Higher Education Diploma | 36 credits at Distinction and 9 credits at Merit or higher |
| BTEC National Extended Diploma | DDD |
| Cambridge Pre-U | D3, D3, M2 |
| European Baccalaureate | 80% overall |
| International Baccalaureate | 35 points |
| T levels | We will consider a range of T Level qualifications for entry. Please visit our dedicated T Levels page for a full list of accepted T Levels. |
| Scottish Highers / Advanced Highers | Scottish Highers - AABBB Advanced Highers - not required for entry We may also be able to consider three Advanced Highers or a combination of Highers and Advanced Highers, where an applicant does not meet the grade requirement through Highers alone. Please contact us to discuss your qualifications. |
| International foundation programme | Foundation Certificate from our International Pathway College or an appropriate alternative. |
| Other international qualifications | Equivalent qualifications from your country |
Meeting the following additional criteria may qualify you for an alternative offer.
| Criteria | Adjustment |
|---|---|
| Widening participation | If you successfully complete one of the following programmes, you may be eligible for an alternative offer up to two A level grades (or equivalent) below our typical offer: Black Access Programme, Next Step York, Realising Opportunities. More about widening participation. |
| Contextual offers | If you have experience of local authority care or live in an area with low progression to university, you may be eligible for an alternative offer up to two A level grades (or equivalent) below our typical offer. More about contextual offers. |
| EPQ | If you achieve C or higher at EPQ, you may be eligible for an alternative offer up to one A level grade (or equivalent) below our typical offer. |
| Core Maths | If you achieve B or higher in Core Maths, you may be eligible for an alternative offer up to one A level grade (or equivalent) below our typical offer. |
If English isn't your first language you may need to provide evidence of your English language ability. We accept the following qualifications:
| Minimum requirement | |
|---|---|
| IELTS (Academic) | 6.5, with a minimum of 6.0 in each component |
| Cambridge CEFR | 176, with a minimum of 169 in each component |
| Oxford ELLT | 7, with a minimum of 6 in each component |
| Duolingo | Integrated subscores: 120 overall, with a minimum of 105 in each component |
| GCSE/IGCSE/O level English Language (as a first or second language) | Grade C / Grade 4 |
| LanguageCert SELT | B2 with a minimum score of 33/50 in each component |
| LanguageCert Academic | B2 Communicator with a minimum score of 33/50 in each component |
| Kaplan Test of English Language | 478 Main Flight score with 444 in each component |
| Skills for English | B2: Merit overall, with Pass with Merit in each component |
| PTE Academic | 61, with a minimum of 55 in each component |
| TOEFL | 87 overall, with a minimum of 21 in each component |
| Trinity ISE III | Merit in all components |
For more information see our undergraduate English language requirements.
You may be eligible for one of our pre-sessional English language courses. These courses will provide you with the level of English needed to meet the conditions of your offer.
The length of course you need to take depends on your current English language test scores and how much you need to improve to reach our English language requirements.
After you've accepted your offer to study at York, we'll confirm which pre-sessional course you should apply to via You@York.
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