BA (Hons) Film Production and Theatre with Placement Year · BULBachelor's degree · 4 years
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Brunel University of London · Undergraduate

BA (Hons) Film Production and Theatre with Placement Year Bachelor's degree at Brunel University of London

BA (Hons) Film Production and Theatre with Placement Year at BUL. Brunel's Film Production and Theatre BA offers hands-on training in how films and plays are realised from concept to performance.

BA (Hons)
Award
4
Years
Full-time
Study mode
85%
in work/study (15m)

About this course

Study Brunel’s Film Production and Theatre BA and learn how spectacular scenes make it to stage or screen. From the provider’s course page.

BA (Hons) Film Production and Theatre with Placement Year is a Bachelor's degree (BA (Hons)) at BUL, based in Brunel University Campus. It runs 4 years, studied full-time.

For Design, and creative and performing arts graduates from this provider, 85% were in work or further study 15 months after graduating, 50% in highly skilled roles, typical earnings around £25,000. (HESA Graduate Outcomes / LEO, via Discover Uni.)

For the typical curriculum, specialisations, career paths and graduate earnings for Art & Design, see the sections below.

Course evidence score

The arithmetic mean of the official measures available for this course: NSS satisfaction, graduate activity and continuation.

8.0
/ 10
Excellent
3 of 3 official measures
Student satisfaction
What students say in the National Student Survey
Strong75

Published threshold met NSS publication requires sufficient responses; small differences are not a rank. NSS mean of 7 published themes (Discover Uni snapshot 2026-06-21)

Graduate outcomes
In work or further study 15 months after graduating
Excellent85

Limited evidence Published sample: 20; treat comparisons cautiously. Cohort 2021-23. Graduate Outcomes work or further study 85% (2022-23; Discover Uni snapshot 2026-06-21)

Continuation
Students who continue past their first year
Excellent80

Published threshold met Discover Uni suppresses continuation data below its publication threshold. Cohort 2021-23. Continuation 80% (2021-23; Discover Uni snapshot 2026-06-21)

Curriculum & modules

Real modules published for this course, grouped only where the source gives a year, stage or level.

Year 1 9 modules
  • The Craft of FilmmakingCompulsory
    Module details

    Module introduces you to the vocabulary, concepts and equipment needed in film production. You will work collaboratively with your peers to train with technical and academic staff covering directing, producing, cinematography, editing and sound recording and sound designing, using industry standard equipment.

  • The Professional SelfCompulsory
    Module details

    Module aims to engage you in your own professional development with workshop sessions on activities like CV workshops and networking simulations. Emphasis on developing professional behaviours such as timekeeping, attendance, participation, organisation and communication.

  • Film and TV AnalysisOptional
    Module details

    Uncover some of the core skills in analysing and reading film and television texts. This module focuses particularly on how we might understand film and television in terms of the context of its production and reception, considering social, cultural and political contextual relationships.

  • Technology, Industry and FormOptional
    Module details

    Module examines how film developed in terms of sound, colour, the development of the classical Hollywood system, and where we are today in terms of industry models. Considers television from the broadcast era through to contemporary streaming services.

  • Representation and IdentityOptional
    Module details

    Module explores identity politics and theory such as feminism, queer theory, postcolonialism and disability studies. Considers how certain identities are portrayed onscreen both historically and now.

  • Why Performance MattersOptional
  • Performance and the WorldOptional
  • ActingOptional
  • Making TheatreOptional
Year 2 13 modules
  • Advanced FilmmakingCompulsory30 credits
    Module details

    Module allows you to develop your film practice and production skills further. You will enhance your directing, producing, cinematography, sound design, and editing skills, and be introduced to other roles on a film set. Your practice culminates in the production of a short film for which you will specialise in your preferred craft.

  • Professional FilmmakingCompulsory15 credits
    Module details

    Single term version of the two-term Advanced Filmmaking module to be taken by students studying abroad in the second term, or for students on the Film & Television studies degree pathway.

  • Applied Theatre ProjectOptional
    Module details

    Module invites you to create and evaluate applied theatre workshops and performances tailored for specific audiences. Engage in collaborative ventures within student companies.

  • Music TheatreOptional
    Module details

    Module introduces you to the exciting ways in which music contributes to theatre and performance. You will learn about different approaches to using music and practically explore them by creating work.

  • Performance PerspectivesOptional
    Module details

    Modular block investigates key areas of contemporary arts and performance practice and research, analysing existing work through specific research fields and introducing students to critical practitioners and core academic practices.

  • Performance LabOptional
    Module details

    Transform your curiosity into dynamic performance creation. Engage with performance to pose questions, probe specific topics, and unravel issues. Module advances your performance making skills.

  • Acting as a Critical PracticeOptional
    Module details

    Modular block extends students' knowledge of acting by introducing realist and non-realist approaches as critical tools for representing social realities, while developing experience in devising theatre on social issues.

  • Alternative Film and Video PracticesOptional30 credits
    Module details

    Exploring a range of examples from distinct periods of filmmaking history, this module will allow you to create your own experimental film. You will examine connections between the economic, formal-aesthetic and social-political aspects of alternative practices.

  • Film and Television GenresOptional15 credits
    Module details

    Module explores a range of genres in film and television, examining how genre has been variously theorised and considers how we might approach genre from a range of different perspectives. Case studies include the Western, science fiction, crime fictions, horror, comedy, fantasy, reality TV and the Hollywood musical.

  • World CinemasOptional15 credits
    Module details

    Module explores dynamic relationships that exist between different cinemas from different places. Considers a range of world cinemas from the Global South, Asia and beyond, as well as global art and alternative cinemas.

  • Understanding the Film and TV IndustriesOptional15 credits
    Module details

    Module focuses primarily upon the British context but also considers where the film and television industries in the UK are located in relation to the wider global nexus of production, distribution and exhibition. Explores challenges of negotiating a job market.

  • Critical PerspectivesOptional15 credits
    Module details

    Module uses classic and more recent critical frameworks in film studies to provide readings and interpretations of film and television. Explores influential theories such as the 'gaze', ideology and affect.

  • AnimationOptional
    Module details

    Module allows you to explore the medium specificity of animation, the range of techniques available, as well as different industries and their development. You will learn animation production skills to create your own short form animation.

Year 3 8 modules
  • Contemporary Theatre ProjectCompulsory
    Module details

    Become a creator of original performance works, drawing from your interdisciplinary experiences. Navigate the dynamic interplay between performance-making and the ever-changing contexts of local, national, and international stages.

  • Drama, Theatre, and Performance DissertationCompulsory
    Module details

    Undertake a substantial research journey, crafting a written dissertation that contributes to the field. Module is designed to empower you to plan, design, and execute a specialised project.

  • Dissertation – PracticeCompulsory45 credits
    Module details

    Your final year film project which will provide you with the opportunity to demonstrate a high level of achievement in Film Production by specialising in your preferred craft. The specialisms mirror real world roles in the film and television industry.

  • Gender and SexualityOptional15 credits
    Module details

    Module is largely led by feminist theory and queer theory where we examine a range of identities onscreen in relation to gender and sexuality. A number of case studies are examined from historical examples to more contemporary work.

  • Analysis of Film and Television Work ExperienceOptional30 credits
    Module details

    Module requires students to complete a 70-hour placement with a company/organisation in which they can apply the skills they have acquired over the course of the programme. Includes a taught component structured around contributions of industry speakers.

  • The Horror FilmOptional15 credits
    Module details

    Module provides students with an in-depth examination of the horror genre across both film and television. Critical frameworks and theories relevant to the study of horror will be explored in depth across a range of case studies from historical and contemporary contexts.

  • Documentary: Image and ViolenceOptional15 credits
    Module details

    Module will give you the skills to analyse cinematic representations of violence and develop a critical awareness of different types of violence in relation to warfare and military technology. You will have the opportunity to develop techniques for the use of found footage.

  • Movies and MigrationOptional
    Module details

    Modular block introduces students to diverse film and documentary representations of migration and related phenomena, while situating these texts within key economic, social, legal and policy contexts, as well as transnational and world cinema frameworks.

Source: provider course page. Modules can change; required/optional status, credits, descriptions and assessment are shown only when explicitly published.

Course in depth

What this course covers, who it suits and where it leads.

What you'll study

This course teaches how spectacular scenes reach stage and screen through practical film and theatre production. You'll usually begin with visual fundamentals, colour, composition and form, alongside foundational processes and materials work, supplemented by art and design history. In Year 2, you'll develop sustained studio projects and explore digital and emerging media tools relevant to moving image, whilst undertaking live briefs and real-world collaborations. By Year 3, you'll specialise in your chosen area, such as graphic design, illustration, fine art, or fashion and textiles, whilst building a professional portfolio and completing a final major project. Throughout, the course progresses from broad visual literacy to independent, self-directed creative practice.

Who it's for

This course suits you if you're drawn to filmmaking or theatre production and want to develop both creative vision and practical competence. You should enjoy collaborative work, these fields demand strong teamwork, and be prepared to learn through doing: workshops, live projects, and on-set or backstage experience form a substantial part of your study. You're likely to have studied A-levels or equivalent, and to bring curiosity about how narrative, design, and performance connect. The placement year is integral; you'll need to be ready for a professional working environment that tests your skills in real conditions.

Careers & job market

Across Art & Design nationally, 87% of graduates are in work or further study 15 months after completing their degree, with 55% in highly skilled work or further study. Starting salaries for Art & Design graduates lie between £22,000 and £27,000 at the 15-month mark; after five years, the range is £20,825 to £29,400. These figures reflect national trends; your own outcomes will depend on the roles, employers, and sectors you pursue.

University & format

Brunel University of London is a public university founded in 1966, located on Brunel University Campus. The BA (Hons) Film Production and Theatre is a 4-year full-time degree taught in English. The university is a recognised UK degree-awarding body, and degrees are nationally recognised. The course received a Bronze award for teaching quality in the Office for Students' TEF 2023.

Student satisfaction

How students on this course answered the National Student Survey, by theme.

The teaching on my course
72%
Learning opportunities
83%
Assessment and feedback
78%
Academic Support
80%
Organisation and management
64%
Learning resources
88%
Student voice
63%

Share of students responding positively.

Published threshold met NSS publication requires sufficient responses; small differences are not a rank. NSS mean of 7 published themes (Discover Uni snapshot 2026-06-21)

Applicant information

The next application dates for this course, followed by facts the provider publishes.

Application timelineWhat happens next
  1. 2027 entryCompleted applications can be submitted

    Your application needs a reference before you can send it.

  2. 2026 entryFinal date for 2026 applications

    Applications must reach UCAS by 18:00 UK time.

  3. 2026 entryLast day to add a Clearing choice

    Check that this course still has a vacancy before adding it.

  4. 2027 entryEqual-consideration deadline

    18:00 UK time for most undergraduate courses.

Show 5 later dates
  1. 2027 entryUCAS Extra opens

    Applicants who used all five choices and hold no offer may be able to add another choice.

  2. 2027 entryLast day applications go directly to providers

    Applications received after 18:00 UK time are entered into Clearing.

  3. 2027 entryClearing opens

    Eligible applicants can see vacancies and release themselves into Clearing.

  4. 2027 entryFinal date for 2027 applications

    Applications must reach UCAS by 18:00 UK time.

  5. 2027 entryLast day to add a Clearing choice

    Check that this course still has a vacancy before adding it.

Published entryBBB-BCC (A-level) typical offer

Provider-published requirement; check the linked course page before applying.

Contextual offersPublished by this provider

The provider publishes contextual-offer information. Eligibility and any reduced offer are applicant-specific.

PlacementBuilt into the named course route

With placement. Availability, selection and pay can vary.

Open daysBook an Open Day

See and book current events. Dates can fill or change.

Entry & how to get in

Typical offer (from the provider)The university’s course page lists a typical A-level offer of BBB. Always check the provider for the current offer and subject requirements.
Most entrants held A-levels or equivalent90% of accepted students came in with A-levels or equivalent (entrants over recent years).
Typical UCAS tariff: 96 - 111 pointsThe most common UCAS tariff band among accepted students. This is what entrants had, not a stated requirement.
Entry requirements are set by the universityGrades, subjects and contextual offers vary. Check BUL's official course page for the current offer.

Who gets in

What recently admitted students actually held, official admissions data, not a stated requirement.

UCAS tariff of entrants

Grades are the A-level equivalent of each points band. Tap a band to check your own chances below.

Qualifications held on entry

QualificationShare
A-levels or equivalent90%
a Baccalaureate10%

Entry & your chances

An honest read from the official entry data, plus your personal match.

Accessible entry

Accepted students came in with a broad spread of qualifications and UCAS points. If you're worried about grades, this course has historically taken a wide range, and contextual offers may apply.

Will you get in? Plot your grades

Pick your predicted A-levels and watch your UCAS points land on the real spread of students admitted to this course.

Each bar is the share of admitted students in that UCAS-points band (lower → higher). Grades show the A-level equivalent.

Add your grades to see where you land

Your points will drop onto the distribution above, with an honest above / within / below read.

Based on the official admitted-student tariff distribution. Many universities make contextual (reduced-grade) offers, so a result below the range doesn’t rule you out.

How to apply

Undergraduate applications go through UCAS. Here’s what matters for this course, the right deadline, the grades to aim for, and the steps in order.

Apply by13 January 2027, 18:00 UK timefor this course
Typical gradesBBBA-level equivalent admitted students held
  1. 1
    Register on UCAS Hub

    Create your UCAS application and add this course. One application covers up to five choices.

  2. 2
    Write your personal statement

    A single statement covers all your choices, so keep it broad enough for similar courses while showing genuine interest in this subject.

  3. 3
    Submit by 13 January 2027, 18:00 UK time

    UCAS equal-consideration deadline for most undergraduate courses. Source: UCAS 2027 dates.

  4. 4
    Reply to your offers

    When decisions are in, pick a firm (first) choice and an insurance (back-up) choice with slightly lower grades.

  5. 5
    Results day & confirmation

    On results day (mid-August) your place is confirmed if you meet the offer. Just missed? Talk to the university, or find a place through Clearing.

💡 Many universities make a contextual (reduced-grade) offer, for example based on your school’s results, time in care, or where you live. Ask BUL whether you’re eligible before you apply; it can lower the grades you need.

Fees & funding

What this course costs and how UK student finance covers it.

Tuition per year

Home (source figure)£9,535 / yr
International£17,400 / yr

Provider-sourced figure; academic year not supplied. The 2026/27 England cap is up to £9,790. Verify this course.

Check fees at BUL →

For students who normally live in England

illustrative Maintenance Loan per year
£9,790tuition used per year, illustrative full-time England fee-cap scenario; provider-source year unavailable
illustrative borrowing over 4 years

2026/27 Student Finance England figures. Maintenance support is means-tested and this two-point view is not an entitlement calculator. The course total uses its published length and home fee where both are available; a missing full-time fee uses the clearly labelled England-cap scenario, while part-time fees and unknown lengths are never guessed. Use the official calculator. Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland use separate systems: SAAS, Student Finance Wales, and Student Finance NI.

Starting on or after 1 January 2027?

The Lifelong Learning Entitlement is a separate system. A new learner’s tuition entitlement is currently stated as £39,160 (about 480 credits at 2026/27 fee levels), subject to prior study and eligibility. Check the official LLE guide.

Paying for it

  • Tuition Fee Loan: can cover eligible tuition up to the applicable limit and is paid straight to the provider.
  • Maintenance Loan: up to £10,830/yr away from home outside London (England, 2026/27), means-tested on household income.
  • Repayment: 9% of income above £25,000, nothing below it; written off after 40 years.
  • Earn alongside: most students work part-time in term, part-time roles on the StudySmarter job board.

England figures shown; Scotland, Wales & NI run their own schemes, check gov.uk.

Funding matched to this course

Scholarships & bursaries you could qualify for

All BUL funding →

Named awards published by the university. Compare the eligibility and application route before budgeting for one.

Amounts, exclusions and deadlines can change. An award is not guaranteed unless the university confirms it.

StudyKit · free

Still deciding what to study?

StudyKit brings course choice, applications and funding together in one place, with a personal AI assistant. Find what really fits you and start your UCAS application step by step.

Career quizApplication walkthroughSalary & CV check

Careers & earnings

What Art & Design graduates actually earn, from real outcome data, 15 months, 3 years and 5 years after graduating.

Graduate earnings: this course

WhenMedianTypical rangeGraduates
15 months after£25,000£22,000 – £27,00020
3 years after£25,000£19,000 – £31,500295
5 years after£30,500£24,500 – £39,000290

Nominal earnings for graduates of this course/subject at this provider. Limited evidence. Published sample: 20; treat comparisons cautiously. Cohort 2021-23.

Graduate outcomes, 15 months on: this course

85%
in work or further study 15 months on
50%
in highly skilled work or study
80%
continue past their first year
85%
find their work meaningful
70%
say work fits their future plans
  1. 1Graduate roleFirst role after the degree · 0–2 yrs
  2. 2Specialist / PractitionerWorking in art & design · 2–5 yrs
  3. 3Senior / LeadLeading work and people · 5–10 yrs
  4. 4Head of / ExpertSenior leadership or deep expertise · 10+ yrs

How pay grows: this course vs Art & Design nationally

Starting (15 months) HESA GO
£25,000
£22,000 – £27,000
After 3 years LEO
£25,000
£17,000 – £24,000
After 5 years LEO
£30,500
£20,825 – £29,400
national rangethis course’s medianaxis £16,000 – £31,500

National figures for Art & Design graduates, HESA Graduate Outcomes (15 months) and the Longitudinal Education Outcomes (LEO) dataset (3 & 5 years). These are national, not university-specific; actual pay varies by employer, region, role and experience. Different cohorts, so the bars are not one group over time.

Work out your pay

Headline figures hide a lot. Calculate realistic take-home pay for this field by role, region and experience, then check your CV before you apply.

What happened to 100 students?

Choose an outcome to translate the published percentage into a simple 100-person view. Each dot represents one percentage point, not an individual tracked student.

85 of 100

were in work or further study

15 months after graduation

60% working10% working and studying10% in further study50% in highly skilled work or study

Source: Discover Uni, using Graduate Outcomes and continuation data. Cohorts: 2022-23. Limited evidence. Published sample: 20; treat comparisons cautiously. Cohort 2021-23. Each tab is a separate published measure; categories can overlap and should not be added together.

Value compared with similar courses

How this course’s 5-year median earnings compare with Art & Design courses at the same study level.

This course £30,500Peer median £24,500Middle 50% £22,125–£26,500
98th percentile

Compared with 1,698 courses with compatible official earnings data. This is a course-value comparison, not a quality ranking.

UK occupations graduates enter

Published graduate destinations, joined conservatively to UK SOC 2020, ONS pay and Skills England demand.

  • Teaching ProfessionalsSOC 2020 231 · 20% of published destinations · ASHE median £42,660
  • Sales occupationsSOC 2020 71 · 15% of published destinations · ASHE median £15,975
  • Artistic, literary and media occupationsSOC 2020 341 · 15% of published destinations · ASHE median £33,824
  • Elementary occupationsSOC 2020 9 · 15% of published destinations · ASHE median £19,087
  • Administrative occupationsSOC 2020 41 · 10% of published destinations · ASHE median £27,006
  • Secretarial and related occupationsDiscover Uni category · 10% of published destinations

Discover Uni JOBLIST/JOBTYPE; ONS ASHE 2025 provisional, all employee jobs; Skills England Occupations in Demand 2025. SOC is shown only for an exact normalised label match; demand is shown only at exact four-digit SOC. Published sample: 25; response rate: 65%. Pay describes the occupation across workers, not a guaranteed graduate salary.

Job market & outlook

How Art & Design graduates fare in the labour market, and how AI is reshaping the work.

87%
in work or further study 15 months after graduating, across Art & Design courses nationally.
Graduate Outcomes
55%
of working graduates are in highly skilled work or further study.
highly skilled
85%
of students continue past their first year (still enrolled or completed).
continuation

How AI is changing the work

AI doesn't replace the profession, it shifts it: routine tasks get automated, while judgement, working with people and using AI well become more valuable.

What AI takes off your plate

  • Routine information gathering
  • First-draft writing and summaries
  • Standard analysis and admin
  • Repetitive processing tasks

More human than ever

  • Judgement and original thinking
  • Working with and leading people
  • Owning and sense-checking AI output
  • Ethics and accountability

The strongest graduates pair subject depth with the ability to use AI tools critically.

Roles & employers

Where Art & Design graduates typically go, indicative destinations from graduate career data. Each role links to live openings on the StudySmarter job board.

Where they work

  • Design studios & agencies
  • In-house brand teams
  • Games & media companies
  • Freelance & self-employed

Is this course right for you?

The essentials UK applicants ask about: finance, outcomes, entry and quality.

💷

Student finance

Published home tuition is £9,535/year for this course. If you normally live in England, eligible students can apply for a Tuition Fee Loan, plus a Maintenance Loan for living costs. Under Plan 5 you repay 9% of income above £25,000, nothing below that, and the balance is written off after 40 years.

📈

Where graduates go

85% were in work or further study 15 months after graduating, with a median salary of £25,000. See the full breakdown in Careers & earnings above.

🎯

Your entry chances

Use the UCAS points calculator above to see how your predicted grades compare with admitted students, and whether a contextual offer could apply.

Official-data snapshot

Averaging the official measures published for it, this course scores 8.0 out of 10: NSS 75.4% · in work or study 85% · continued 80%.

Who studies here and in this subject?

Provider- and UK subject-level context.

Brunel University London

All students12,705
International34.6%
Aged 25+25.3%

Design, and creative and performing arts across the UK

Students178,755
Aged 25+15.7%

HESA student record 2024/25. Counts are rounded.

Local crime-data context

A neutral snapshot around the published teaching location.

Around Brunel University Campus

1,392 street-level reports returned within roughly one mile across 2026-04 to 2026-06.

Violent Crime 429Anti Social Behaviour 365Shoplifting 132Public Order 94Other Theft 75

Police.uk street-level API. Approximate locations, not confined to campus. England, Wales and Northern Ireland; not Scotland.

Is Art & Design right for you?

Tick what applies to you and see how good a fit it is.

International students

What applying to BUL from outside the UK involves: fees, English, visa, funding and living costs.

Tuition fees

International tuition is £17,400 / year for this course (from the provider’s fee page). You’re not eligible for UK Tuition Fee or Maintenance Loans, so plan for fees plus living costs upfront.

English language

Most UK undergraduate courses ask for around IELTS 6.0–6.5 (no band below 5.5–6.0), or an accepted equivalent. If you’re just short, most universities run a pre-sessional English course that counts towards the requirement.

Student visa

You’ll usually need a Student visa (Student Route). After you accept an offer the university issues a CAS; you then show funds for fees plus about £1,023–£1,334/month living costs and pay the Immigration Health Surcharge for NHS access.

Scholarships & funding

BUL offers the Dean's International Scholarship (£2,000 per academic year) for international students, see Scholarships above.

Living costs

Budget roughly £1,100–£1,400/month outside London and £1,400–£1,800/month in London for rent, food and travel; the figure also matters for your visa.

Working while you study

A Student visa usually allows up to 20 hours/week in term time and full-time in holidays, useful alongside study, though not something to rely on for fees.

Visa rules and fees change. Always confirm the current requirements with BUL and gov.uk before you apply.

Common questions

Entry is historically accessible, accepted students came in with a broad spread of qualifications. The most common tariff band among recent entrants was 112 - 127 UCAS points. Use the calculator on this page to see where your predicted grades would put you; many universities also make lower contextual offers.
Set by BUL. Most accepted students held A-levels or equivalent. Check the university's course page for the exact offer.
For Design, and creative and performing arts graduates from this provider, 85% were in work or further study 15 months after graduating, 50% in highly skilled roles, typical earnings around £25,000. (HESA Graduate Outcomes / LEO, via Discover Uni.)
The latest provider-sourced home-fee figure in our data is £9,535, but its academic year is not supplied; verify the 2026/27 fee on the provider's course page. If you normally live in England, eligible students can apply for a Tuition Fee Loan, plus a Maintenance Loan for living costs. Under Plan 5 you repay 9% of income above £25,000, nothing below that, and the balance is written off after 40 years. See Fees & funding on this page to work out your numbers.
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