University degrees: Courses, Postgraduate, Short-Courses, Workshops
Study film and television at the University of Westminster, where cutting-edge media technology and unlimited creativity click. With purpose-built studios, a set construction workshop and professional film, video and sound facilities, the school’s film and TV courses offer an ideal environment to prepare for professional life. You’ll be taught by leading academics and visiting professionals. Westminster was joint first in Media in the most recent research rankings. Students have won many awards in recent years, including an Academy Award nomination and Royal Television Society Awards in entertainment, fiction and factual.
With one of the most varied arts and media portfolios in Europe, the School of Media, Arts and Design aims to prepare students not merely to enter the creative industries, but to shape and lead them. Its strong reputation for professional and practice-based education is matched by a distinguished record in academic teaching and scholarly research, encouraging the development of reflective critical practitioners.
In the professional standard studios, workshops and laboratories the school aims to provide students with an experience that matches as closely as possible the workplaces they will be entering. Surrounded by artists, producers, journalists, designers and musicians all intent on producing their work to the highest possible standards, students will have the chance to collaborate with colleagues in group projects and team work.
Some of the school’s values are: the ability to question, explore, experiment and extend; a welcoming environment for our diverse and international student community; rigorous research and scholarship; the ability to question, explore, experiment and extend; cross-fertilisation, collaboration and exchange.
Number of students/ full-time/ part-time workshops: 300
Number of students in film/animation studies: 120
Number of international students: 55
Number of teachers: 30 (F/T and VL)
Degree category / length of studies:
3-year BA in Film and Television Production
3-year BA in Animation
3-year BA Contemporary Media Practice
1-year MA Film and Television: Theory, Culture and Industry
1-year MA Screenwriting and Producing
3-6 year PhD by Practice Research degree
Programme objective and content:
Film and Television Production
The course gives equal importance to film and production and academic work; the school’s philosophy is that academic study should inform and enrich practical production work, and that theoretical work should be based on an understanding of practice.
The BA develops film-makers who can collaborate creatively as they develop a high level of competence in specialist areas like writing, producing, cinematography, directing, production design, editing and sound. Students will have the opportunity to explore these different disciplines, and to work with both 16mm film and digital video, before specialising in Year Two. Meanwhile, academic modules explore film through a range of theoretical and historical approaches.
The course receives substantial support from manufacturers, facilities companies and film laboratories and students will gain experience of working with professional actors, negotiating with local authorities and equipment companies and dealing with the public.
BA Film and Television Production specialises in drama and documentary production, and film and television history, theory and criticism.
Contemporary Media Practice
Contemporary Media Practice is a unique course. The school’s approach combines the creative exploration of art school traditions with academic and professional excellence to meet industry expectations.
The course reflects change in the media industries, with new and hybrid practices alongside more established working methods. The school provides the leading edge of graduate practitioners – those who are adaptable to these changes in media disciplines and technologies. It also encourages this through compulsory work experience and the opportunity to enter festivals and competitions.
Contemporary Media Practice therefore offers a specific and rare mix of cross-media creative and professional practice, and informed critical debate.
Animation
The degree offers a highly flexible, broad and creative approach to animation through three years of full-time study and practice. Recognising that animators need to be flexible, with the ability to re-invent and adapt to changing cultures and new initiatives, the course seeks to reflect this fluidity both in the range of dimensional techniques and activities it offers, and in its approach to teaching and learning.
The school’s aim is to help students develop their imaginative and creative skills whilst ensuring that they possess a sound knowledge and understanding of animation processes, techniques and critical theory. This, together with the professional practice aspects of the programme, ensures that they possess the confidence and expertise to succeed in the industry whether as a producer, designer, technician, or manager.
MA Film and Television: Theory, Culture and Industry
The MA Film and Television is the longest running postgraduate course in the country in the study and research of film and television and retains its strong reputation within the film sector. In addition to theoretical, cultural and critical dimensions, the course offers an overview of the international film industry both historic and contemporary, including production, distribution, exhibition and marketing, from mainstream commercial productions to alternative, experimental and independent film, video and digital work.
MA Screenwriting and Producing
This MA programme is uniquely designed to develop skills and experience in screenwriting, producing and script-editing.
The emphasis of the course is script/story-development and creative producing to high professional standards, working in partnership with the film industry.
Entry requirements:
BA Animation
A minimum of 5 GCSEs (grade C and above) plus a BTEC/Edexcel Art & Design foundation is recommended.
BA Contemporary Media Practice
BA Film and Television Production
MA Film and Television: Theory, Culture and Industry
Applicants are required to have, or be finishing, a good undergraduate degree or, exceptionally, previous relevant experience; full-time students from abroad must possess proven ability to write English to a high standard.
MA Screenwriting and Producing
Candidates should normally have:
Strong candidates will normally be interviewed, after submitting a portfolio of relevant work.
School Information:
Watford Road
Northwick Park
Middlesex
HA1 3TP
Tel: +44 (0)20 7911 5000
Fax: +44 (0)20 7911 5943
