BA Film & Television

Our BA Film & Television course brings together practical, hands-on film and TV projects with academic analysis, helping you to become a skilful, informed and thoughtful creator.

During the course, you'll look at films and TV programmes from a range of periods and cultural settings, and will have the opportunity to collaborate in the making of film and television projects.

Develop a wide range of professional and practical skills, including:

• editing
• sound and lighting design
• screenwriting and directing
• TV studio production.

You’ll also gain supporting academic knowledge, learning about the histories and meanings of films and TV programmes. The Department of Film, Theatre & Television’s expertise lies in bringing together practice and theory in a way that meets current industry demands. You’ll have the chance to undertake industry placements, professional collaborations and study abroad opportunities, to develop your practice in a range of contexts.

This degree is based in the purpose-built, industry-standard Minghella Studios. Our studios are situated on the University of Reading’s green campus, a leader in sustainable practice across the higher education sector.

The first year of the course will offer you an equal balance of foundational knowledge and supported practice, delivered by the lecturers, researchers and technicians who lead our core modules.

You will develop this understanding further in your second year of study, where you’ll delve into work within and beyond classical and conventional film and TV traditions and contexts.

Optional modules will allow you to expand your interests and investigate various areas in detail, such as:

• authorship and genre
• industry practices
• key socio-political and cultural issues.

Throughout the year, you’ll engage in increased, group-based practical work in either film or television, enhancing key skills and developing more specialist technical and production proficiency. 

In your final year, you’ll enrich your expertise as a skilful and knowledgeable creator and critical thinker, culminating in a collaborative film or TV production, a written dissertation, or an individual creative research project. The course will give you the tools and independence to select your path with confidence by the third year of your degree.

Optional, research, and practical-based modules, built around our academics’ current world-leading research and practice, will deepen your knowledge of film and TV, and there will be opportunities to engage with communities and clients as part of your practice.