Filmmaking with a Foundation Year - BA (Hons)

Birmingham City University

Our BA (Hons) Filmmaking with a Foundation Year will develop your technical skills and knowledge to achieve your dream career.

On this course, you’ll start by exploring fundamental core skills such as media production, academic writing, researching and collaborative practice using state-of-the-art facilities and studios, to prepare you to start the first year of the BA (Hons) degree.

About the Foundation Year
The Foundation Year course option enables you to study for our BA (Hons) degree over an extended full-time duration of four years by including a Foundation Certificate (year one of four).

The Foundation Certificate provides a broad study programme that underpins the follow-on degree. To progress to the next year of your degree, it is necessary to achieve a pass in all of the modules of the Foundation Certificate.

What's covered in this course?
The course considers of a wide range of filmmaking conventions, 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 filmmaking conventions, you will also be introduced to other international traditions of cinema that range from European perspectives of documentary to Bollywood film and beyond.

A key focus of the course will be on the aesthetic and creative aspects of filmmaking, with consideration being given to both mainstream and experimental modes of film creation, as well as how these traditions are mediated by differing production and postproduction techniques. Whilst theoretical and practice based considerations of filmmaking techniques remains a central focus to the the award, the course also provides modules on on film festival programming and film entrepreneurship, which help provide core skills relevant to the film industry.

Employability
The BA (Hons) Filmmaking course has an excellent track record for graduate employment.

Within the School, the majority of graduates going into media-related roles. The course builds upon the School’s employability driven reputation, by opening avenues for students interested in potential careers in film research, film journalism, film archiving, 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 careers development, employability activities, volunteering and part-time work experience.