Film Production BA (Hons)

Study level: Undergraduate
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Study for a BA in Film Production and develop your technical, creative and professional skills and help establish yourself in the world of feature film, documentary, television and streaming production, and much more.

Year of entry

Location

Coventry University (Coventry)

Study mode

Full-time
Sandwich

Duration

3 years full-time
4 years sandwich

Course code

P320

Start date

September 2025

How to apply
Book an Open Day
Download a prospectus
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The information on this page is for 2024-25 entry and should be used as guidance for 2025-26 entry. Please keep checking back on this course page to see our latest updates.

Course overview

Our key focus is developing your technical, creative and professional skills in a variety of roles. You will become familiar with industry practices while collaborating on creative film projects. Your practice is further developed through critical evaluation of your own work, contextualised by current research and debate in the creative sector and an understanding of industry trends.

  • Our Film Production course is aimed at future film makers. You will seek to gain practical hands-on experience in making films and learn to understand the contextual setting you are working in.
  • The course is practice based, with aspects of critical media theory integrated into practical modules. We aim to develop curious mind-sets, asking ‘why?’ at every point: as you both research and create narrative and documentary films and reflect critically upon them.
  • The course is focused on the development of passionate, creative, entrepreneurial graduates who are confident collaborators and communicators with industry-led skills to maximise the opportunities for employment in a variety of roles in the creative industries.
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Rated Gold Overall

Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF) 2023
Five stars in a speech bubble.

5 QS Stars for Teaching and Facilities

QS Stars University Ratings
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Top 5 Student City in England (Coventry)

QS Best Student Cities Index 2025

Why you should study this course

  • You will have access to high standard professional media equipment via our Media Loan Shop, such as Sony, Blackmagic, RED cameras and sound, lighting and grip equipment (subject to availability).
  • You have access to dedicated and flexible creative learning environments, media spaces and industry-focused studios, featuring the newly built film studio and Tank TV studio4.
  • Develop your technical, creative and professional skills in a variety of roles: scriptwriting, camera work, post-production editing and post-production sound design, directing and producing. Visit our Film Production Instagram page to get further insight into our course.
  • Opportunities for professional experience and live projects, which have, in the past, included student-industry collaboration with Imaginarium Productions, Regional BBC, Creative City, Rolls-Royce and BBC3 (subject to availability, application and additional costs2).
  • You will have the opportunity to meet experts at our series of screenings and masterclasses (subject to availability).
No.13

Media and Film Studies in the UK

The Guardian University Guide 2023

Why study Film Production BA (Hons) at Coventry University?

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What you'll study

This course has a common first year.

The common first year enables you to work alongside students doing similar courses to you, to widen your knowledge and exposure to other subject areas and professions. You will have the opportunity to collaborate with other students, so you can share your insights and experience which will help you to develop and learn.

If you discover an interest in a specific subject you have studied, upon successful completion of your first year, you could swap degrees with another course in your common first year (subject to meeting progression requirements).

Common first year courses

  • Film Production BA (Hons)
  • Media Production BA (Hons)

In the first year, the curriculum is shared across related courses allowing you to gain a broad grounding in the discipline before going on, in the second and third years, to specialist modules in your chosen field.

Modules

In year two, you will continue to develop the skills and knowledge you’ve learnt. We do this by embedding the following four principles into the curriculum and developing your:

  • Technical skills – digital fluency, backed with the right academic knowledge.
  • Study skills – to be an adaptive, independent and proactive learner.
  • Professional skills – to have the behaviour and abilities to succeed in your career.
  • Global awareness – the beliefs and abilities to be a resilient, confident and motivated global citizen.

You will develop more advanced knowledge and skills to do with: short form content, television studios, and branding, amongst others.

Modules

There’s no better way to find out what you love doing than trying it out for yourself, which is why a work placement2 can often be beneficial. Work placements usually occur between your second and final year of study. They’re a great way to help you explore your potential career path and gain valuable work experience, whilst developing transferable skills for the future. 

If you choose to do a work placement year, you will pay a reduced tuition fee3 of £1,250. For more information, please go to the fees and funding section. During this time you will receive guidance from your employer or partner institution, along with your assigned academic mentor who will ensure you have the support you need to complete your placement.

Modules

Year three aims to bring you to the level to enter the world of work by consolidating your knowledge and skills from year one and two. You could also work on a large final project in an area of your interest, with the support of a mentor.

You will have the opportunity to choose between three optional modules in your final year, ‘Cinematography’, ‘Scriptwriting’ and 'Post Production' to total 120 credits.

Modules

We regularly review our course content, to make it relevant and current for the benefit of our students. For these reasons, course modules may be updated.

More than just a degree

The course blends practical skills and theory really well, while remaining fun, challenging and interesting all at the same time!

Archie Burns, Film Production BA (Hons) student, 2022
A student filming outside in Coventry

How you'll learn

The course is delivered though project-based ‘hands-on’ learning, with a great emphasis on location work, live projects and practice activities, all with ongoing feedback. Your personal tutor will review and discuss your progress with you and will be available for advice throughout the course.

You will be taught in lectures, seminars, skills workshops and masterclasses as well as in production meetings, where you will operate within defined, professionally-informed production roles, and in screenings, where you will gain contextual understanding of your own work and the work of others.

The course normally lasts three years when studied full-time and students have the option to extend the course by taking a sandwich year between the second and third years on placement or study abroad2.

Teaching contact hours

We understand that everyone learns differently, so each of our courses will consist of structured teaching sessions, which can include:

  • On campus lectures, seminars and workshops
  • Group work
  • Self-directed learning
  • Work placement opportunities2

The number of full-time contact hours may vary from semester to semester, however, on average, it is likely to be around 12 contact hours per week in the first and second year dropping to around 10-12 contact hours per week in the third and final year as you become a more independent learner.

Additionally, you will be expected to undertake significant self-directed study of approximately 15 hours each week, depending on the demands of individual modules.

Part of university life is undertaking self-directed learning. During a typical week you will have time that allows you to work independently to apply the skills and knowledge you have learnt in taught or facilitated sessions to your projects or assignment briefs. This self-directed learning allows you to use your research skills, consolidate your knowledge or undertake collaborative group work.

As an innovative and enterprising institution, the university may seek to utilise emerging technologies within the student experience. For all courses (whether on-campus, blended, or distance learning), the university may deliver certain contact hours and assessments via online technologies and methods.

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, we are prepared for courses due to start in or after the 2023/2024 academic year to be delivered in a variety of forms. The form of delivery will be determined in accordance with Government and Public Health guidance. Whether on campus or online, our key priority is staff and student safety.

Assessment

This course will be assessed using a variety of methods which could vary depending upon the module. Assessment methods include:

  • Practical or project work
  • Coursework
  • Tests
  • Essays
  • Presentations/posters

The Coventry University Group assessment strategy ensures that our courses are fairly assessed and allows us to monitor student progression towards the achieving the intended learning outcomes. Assessments may include exams, individual assignments or group work elements.

International experience opportunities

Our course is designed to reflect the increasingly international context of media production; this is reflected strongly in the course curriculum through international trips which provide an insight into other cultures and societies throughout the world2.

We strongly encourage you to broaden your theoretical, cultural and practical references, providing opportunities to broaden your horizons by living, studying or working abroad on a sandwich year. (A sandwich year is subject to availability, competitive application, meeting visa requirements and additional costs.)

You will have opportunities to take part in international trips where you will be able to develop your knowledge and skills through the production of individual and group media projects. Reviewed annually, recent field trips have included: Cyprus, Hangzhou, Kenya, Los Angeles, New York, Norway, Paris, Prague, Sierra Leone and Tenerife. On all trips, you will be engaging in production projects, assisting on a local film production or making your own films using local crew2.

My ambition is to write and direct. I’m really enjoying the course, my lecturers are really helpful and the equipment is great. It makes such a difference being able to loan the equipment, it’s one of the best things about my studies at Coventry University.

Hynek Psenicka, Film Production BA (Hons) quoted June 2023
Hynek Psenicka

Entry requirements

Typical offer for 2024/25 entry.

Requirement What we're looking for
UCAS points 112
A level BBC
BTEC DMM
GCSE Minimum 5 GCSEs graded 4 / C or above including English
IB Diploma 29 points
Access to HE The Access to HE Diploma. Plus GCSE English at grade 4 / C or above.

Portfolio

You may be required to attend a portfolio showcase, activity session or audition or submit a portfolio via email (as is appropriate to your course), either virtually or face to face, as is practical to arrange. Invites for these sessions will be sent directly to your contact email.

Each application will be considered on its merits.

Other qualifications and experience

Our students come from a variety of backgrounds, each with a unique story. We recognise a breadth of qualifications. If your qualifications differ from the above, contact our Admissions Team who will be happy to discuss your qualifications and routes into your chosen course.

Chat with us

Contextual offers and Fair Access Scheme

If you meet the criteria for our Fair Access Scheme, you could automatically receive a contextual offer that may be up to 24 UCAS points lower than our standard entry requirements. View the criteria for our Fair Access Scheme.

Select your region to find detailed information about entry requirements:

Europe

Americas

Middle East

South Asia

South East Asia

East Asia

Africa

Russia and Central Asia


You can view our full list of country specific entry requirements on our Entry requirements page.

Alternatively, visit our International hub for further advice and guidance on finding in-country agents and representatives, joining our in-country events and how to apply.

Portfolio

You will be required to attend a portfolio showcase, activity session or audition or submit a portfolio via email (as is appropriate to your course), either virtually or face to face, as is practical to arrange. Invites to send in your portfolio or attend these sessions will be sent directly to your contact email.

Each application will be considered on its merits.

English language requirements

  • IELTS: 6.0 overall (with no component lower than 5.5)

If you don't meet the English language requirements, you can achieve the level you need by successfully completing a pre-sessional English programme before you start your course.

For more information on our approved English language tests visit our English language requirements page.

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Fees and funding

Student Full-time Part-time
UK, Ireland*, Channel Islands or Isle of Man 2025/26 fees TBC
2024/25 fees - £9,250 per year		 Not available
EU 2025/26 fees TBC
2024/25 fees - £9,250 per year with EU Support Bursary**
2025/26 fees TBC
2024/25 fees - £19,850 per year without EU Support Bursary**		 Not available
International 2025/26 fees TBC
2024/25 fees - £19,850 per year		 Not available

If you choose to study this course with a professional placement2 or study abroad year, you will need to pay a tuition fee3 of £1,250 to cover your academic support throughout your placement year.

For advice and guidance on tuition fees and student loans visit our Undergraduate Finance page and see the university’s Tuition Fee and Refund Terms and Conditions.

The university will charge the tuition fees that are stated in the above table for the first Academic Year of study. The university will review tuition fees each year. For UK (home) students, if Parliament permits an increase in tuition fees, the university may increase fees for each subsequent year of study in line with any such changes. Note that any increase is expected to be in line with inflation.

For international students, we may increase fees each year, but such increases will be no more than 5% above inflation. If you defer your course start date or have to extend your studies beyond the normal duration of the course (e.g. to repeat a year or resit examinations) the university reserves the right to charge you fees at a higher rate and/or in accordance with any legislative changes during the additional period of study.

We offer a range of International scholarships to students all over the world. For more information, visit our International Scholarships page.

Tuition fees cover the cost of your teaching, assessments, facilities and support services. There may be additional costs not covered by this fee such as accommodation and living costs, recommended reading books, stationery, printing and re-assessments should you need them.

The following are additional costs not included in the tuition fees:

  • Any optional overseas field trips or visits: £400+ per trip.
  • Any costs associated with securing, attending or completing a placement (whether in the UK or abroad).

Find out what's included in your tuition costs.

*Irish student fees

The rights of Irish residents to study in the UK are preserved under the Common Travel Area arrangement. If you are an Irish student and meet the residency criteria, you can study in England, pay the same level of tuition fees as English students and utilise the Tuition Fee Loan.

**EU Support Bursary

Following the UK's exit from the European Union, we are offering financial support to all eligible EU students who wish to study an undergraduate or a postgraduate degree with us full-time. This bursary will be used to offset the cost of your tuition fees to bring them in line with that of UK students. Students studying a degree with a foundation year with us are not eligible for the bursary.

Facilities

Coventry University is home to superb facilities4 and our new Arts and Humanities building is planned to fully open in 2023. We also have a well-stocked Media Loan Shop so you can borrow an extensive range of specialist, professional equipment, including 4K and HD video cameras, DSLR cameras, tripods, audio equipment and lighting.

Two male students presenting in a TV studio to a camera in the foreground.

Television Studio

You’ll have access to our on-site television studio The Tank, offering specialist equipment such as large cameras, mixing facilities and fibre-optic wiring throughout.
 

Male student setting up a photography light in a studio.

Photography Suite

This specialist facility is available to media students to take and process photos in a professional environment. There is also support for printing, high-end scanning and film processing.

Exterior front of the Ellen Terry building.

Media Loan Shop

Here you can borrow an extensive range of specialist, professional audio, visual and immersive media equipment including 4K and HD video cameras, DSLR cameras, tripods, audio equipment and lighting. Expert advice from our technicians is readily available.

Careers and opportunities

On successful completion of the course, you will be able to:

  • Deploy the use of professional roles and collaborative working practices within film production and gain knowledge of different approaches across a range of global film production practices.
  • Apply key insights gained through your own production processes to support your own career development and professional networking within the sector.
  • Critically assess theoretical and contextual knowledge, including a diverse range of screen-based texts and a wide range of historical and contemporary production and narrative techniques.
  • Engage with the work of local, national and international communities of practice to evaluate current and future industry trends in order to be informed by, and place your own work within them.
  • Accurately deploy established and innovative techniques when using technical equipment and creative skills in various stages of film production.
  • Produce a highly creative portfolio of work within a contemporary global context that articulates your professional voice in an ethical and sustainable manner.

Studying film production provides you with the technical, creative and business skills to work in the film and wider creative industries. Your portfolio of work may help you get noticed. Your imagination, strong ethics and professionalism will be attributes to help you stand out.

The many transferrable skills learned throughout the degree will mean that your education is applicable to a variety career paths upon graduation.

By studying a broad spectrum of film and media practice, the course is designed to equip you with the skills to work for large organisations like the BBC, as well as film production companies, or to work as a freelancer or independent film maker or producer. Throughout your course, you will develop your own professional practice portfolio to use when looking for work after graduation.

Over the years, we have developed and maintained excellent links with a wide variety of potential employers in the media and cultural industries. Our Talent Team is on hand to offer tailored career and enterprise support if you wish to gain employment or take advantage of professional practice opportunities within course specific industries2. Our dedicated enterprise officers also offer valuable assistance on how to begin as a freelancer/entrepreneur.

Where our graduates work

The School has a very long and impressive history of graduates who establish themselves in extremely high profile media and cultural employment, examples of which include: executive producer for many highly prestigious Hollywood films, executive producer for SYCO, director for BBC documentaries, DJs for national radio stations such as BBC Radio 6 and Virgin Radio, planners and creatives for a number prestigious London-based advertising agencies.

There is also the chance to go onto master’s level study upon successful completion of your undergraduate degree.

Further study

You can choose to continue your studies at Coventry University with:

You may be entitled to an alumni discount on your fees if you decide to extend your time with us by progressing from undergraduate to postgraduate study.

How to apply

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