BA in Film and Screenwriting
Birmingham City University
Key Information
Campus location
Birmingham, United Kingdom
Languages
English
Study format
On-Campus
Duration
3 - 4 years
Pace
Full time
Tuition fees
GBP 9,250 / per year *
Application deadline
Request info
Earliest start date
Sep 2024
* UK students: £9,250 per year | international students: £13,980 per year
Scholarships
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Introduction
This cutting-edge new BA (Hons) Film and Screenwriting degree course will develop your skills across key film studies and screenwriting debates and conventions. You will be taught by noted film scholars and established practitioners, who will provide their knowledge of international film and screenwriting perspectives.
The course is part of Birmingham City University’s Film Futures suite, designed to develop graduates with the theory, practice and industry trends that will enable them to succeed in a rapidly changing film environment.
What's covered in this course?
The course considers a wide range of script-to-screen traditions from theory, practice and industry perspectives.
Not only will you gain an understanding of Hollywood cinema conventions (from silent cinema to modern blockbuster spectaculars), but you will apply these storytelling techniques to a variety of production scenarios. As well as looking at American film and screenwriting genres (such as rom-com, thriller, science fiction and horror case studies), you will also be introduced to other international traditions of cinema that range from European cinema, and documentary to smartphone filmmaking and beyond.
A key focus of the course will be on the aesthetic and creative aspects of film and screenwriting, with consideration being given to techniques of storytelling, narratology and screen adaptation. You will have ample opportunity to collaborate with other Film students on the production of short film projects, while modules on film festival programming and film entrepreneurship provide core skills relevant to the film industry.
How you will learn
You will be taught in a range of lectures, seminars, writing workshops and production sessions, while regular film screenings help you contextualise cinema traditions against your own script creations.
Your formal studies will be enriched by the possibility to work on a range of external events, such as the Cine-Excess International Film Festival. This annual event attracts visiting international filmmakers, as well as hosts UK theatrical premieres on a regular basis. Having previously operated in London’s West End and Brighton, Cine-Excess has now relocated to BCU to operate as a central resource for the course.
Professional placement year
This course offers a professional placement year. This allows you to spend a whole year with an employer, between the second and third years of your degree and is a great way to find out more about your chosen career. Some students even return to the same employers after completing their studies.
The University will draw on its extensive network of local, regional and national employers to support you in finding a suitable placement to complement your chosen area of study. If you do not find a suitable placement, you will be automatically transferred back to the standard, non-placement version of the course.
Please note that fees are payable during your placement year, equivalent to 20% of the total full-time course fee for that year (£1,850 for UK students).
Why choose us?
- The course combines theory, practice and industry approaches to film and screenwriting, alongside training in both documentary film techniques and film festival programming.
- You will be taught by noted film professors, cinema scholars and established screenwriters. Staff on the programme work together to ensure that you receive a balanced understanding of theory, practice and industry skilling relevant to the field.
- We have a partnership with BFI, which offers students free access to the BFI player and research, work placement and masterclass opportunities.
- You will have the opportunity to work on established film festivals that are associated with the BA. These include the annual Cine-Excess International Film Festival, which features visiting international filmmakers, UK theatrical premieres and industry mentoring sessions.
- Top 10 for Creative Writing student satisfaction (Complete University Guide 2023).
- Top 5 for Animation and Game Design (Guardian League Tables 2023).
Curriculum
Year one
In order to complete this course you must successfully complete all the following core modules (totalling 120 credits):
- Screenwriting for Film Genres
- Film and the Principles of Storytelling
- Language of Film
- Screenwriting Primer
- Film Primer
Year two
In order to complete this course a student must successfully complete all the following core modules (totalling 80 credits):
- Writing for TV
- Adaptation for the Screen
- Collaborative Practice
In order to complete this course you must successfully complete at least 40 credits from the following indicative list of optional modules.
- Cinema of the Seventies
- Screen Fandoms
- Comic Book Movies
Core modules are guaranteed to run. Optional modules will vary from year to year and the published list is indicative only.
Year three
In order to complete this course you must successfully complete all the following core modules (totalling 80 credits):
- Horror Narratives
- Major Project
In order to complete this course you must successfully complete at least 40 credits from the following indicative list of optional modules.
- Bollywood Film: Culture, Diaspora and Globalization
- Global Cinema Narratives
- Film Entrepreneurship
- Reclaiming the Frame
- Writing Short Films
Core modules are guaranteed to run. Optional modules will vary from year to year and the published list is indicative only.
Career Opportunities
The BA (Hons) Film and Screenwriting course is located within the School of Games, Film and Animation, which has an excellent track record for graduate employment. Within the School, the majority of graduates go into media-related roles. The course builds upon the School’s employability-driven reputation, by opening avenues for students interested in potential careers in screenwriting, film journalism, communications, marketing & PR, advertising and teaching film/media studies.
As well as gaining course-specific skills, you could also gain broader tools through our Graduate+ programme, which will help enhance your employment options by helping with career development, employability activities, volunteering and part-time work experience.
Allied with this course-specific experience, you will also have access to a range of support staff and services from the University’s Careers Service, who can help with:
- Reviewing CVs, covering letters and application forms
- Career planning and decision making
- Preparing for interviews and assessment centres
- Developing portfolios
- Networking with employers
- Advice about self-employment and entrepreneurship
Placements
During your second year, you will have the opportunity to work as part of a mixed discipline team to respond to a brief, as part of an in-house placement element of the course.
In addition to this, there are regional opportunities for visiting and volunteering at film festivals, such as Cine-Excess, and Flatpack, and for networking with producers and distributors who function as guest speakers at such events.