BA Film and Creative Writing

Start date
September
Duration
3 Years
UCAS code
PW38
Course Type
Undergraduate, Single Honours
Fees

Annual tuition fees for 2023/24:
£9,250 (UK)
£21,780 (International)
More detail.

Studying our BA Film and Creative Writing will develop your skills as a filmmaker and writer and allow you to explore film, television and writing in their theoretical, critical, industrial and creative contexts.  This degree will prepare for life beyond your studies in a variety of careers – in film, TV, writing, editing, publishing, journalism, media, marketing and many more.

You’ll gain a comprehensive understanding of film, TV and all main genres of creative writing, including:

  • Poetry
  • Prose
  • Drama
  • Media writing

You’ll also gain practical filmmaking skills, through hands-on learning in our state-of-the-art editing suite.

Graduate with a detailed awareness of and sought-after experience with the creative industries by making use of our work-based placements and employability focused modules.

I’ve really enjoyed taking part in both practical and more theory-based lectures, because it has allowed me to learn about some of my favourite films whilst being able to make one too. It has made me want a career as a writer in the industry!

Amelia

Why study this course?


  • Learn from experienced, global film industry experts – including filmmakers, camera operators, screenwriters, film editors and film writers and commentators.   
  • Find your voice with award-winning and bestselling authors – including 2021 Royal Society of Literature’s Ondaatje Prize winner Professor Ruth Gilligan; 2021 Forward Poetry Prize winner Dr Luke Kennard; 2020 John Pollard Foundation International Poetry Prize winner Dr Isabel Galleymore; 2014 J.I. Segal Award winner Dr Dan Vyleta and Dr Richard House, longlisted for The 2013 Man Booker Prize for The Kills.
  • Get a head start in the graduate market – take advantage of our work-based placements and employability focused modules and enter the workplace with the skills required to shape the creative agendas of the future.
  • Be supported – whether it’s helping you improve your academic writing, organising visiting writers’ sessions, hosting alumni networking events or facilitating wellbeing activities, be assured that Birmingham is committed to your development whilst at university and beyond.
  • Live on a vibrant campus and play in an exciting city – write for our University newspaper, present for our TV and radio stations or join one of our many writing or film societies and put your study into practice. Then take your expertise out into the city - get involved in the numerous literature and film festivals and make use of Birmingham’s many cultural attractions, including the country’s oldest working cinema and Europe’s largest regional library.

Modules

Please note: You'll take 120 credits of modules in each year of study. The modules listed on the website for this programme are regularly reviewed to ensure they are up-to-date and informed by the latest research and teaching methods. Unless indicated otherwise, the modules listed for this programme are for students starting in 2023. On rare occasions, we may need to make unexpected changes to compulsory modules; in this event, we'll contact offer-holders as soon as possible to inform or consult them as appropriate.

First year

Compulsory modules

  • Introduction to Film
  • Filmmaking 
  • Film Culture and Media Skills
  • Creative Writing Foundation
  • Contemporary Creative Writing

Detailed description of compulsory first year modules

Second year

Optional modules

  • 120 credits of optional Film and Creative Writing modules, including, if you wish, modules outside the Film and Creative Writing Department and work-based placement modules

List of second year optional modules

Year Abroad

You can apply to study abroad for a year in an approved university around the world. If you achieve a grade of 2.1 or above in your first year, you will be eligible to apply for a Year Abroad in your second year. If your application is successful, you will go abroad in your third year and return to us for your final year. Find out more.

Final year

Compulsory module

  • Dissertation (can take the form of a Film Studies Dissertation, Film Production Project or Creative Writing Project)

Optional modules

  • 80 credits of optional Film and Creative Writing modules, including, if you wish, modules outside of the Film and Creative Writing Department and work-based placement modules

Detailed description of compulsory final year module and list of optional modules

Fees

For UK students beginning their studies in September 2023, the University of Birmingham will charge the maximum approved tuition fee per year. The fees for your first year of study will therefore be £9,250. Visit our tuition fees page for more information.

Fees for 2023/24 are as follows:

  • UK: £9,250
  • International: £21,780

Eligibility for fees can be verified with Admissions. Learn more about fees for international students.

For further information on tuition fees, living costs and available financial support, please see our pages on undergraduate fees and funding.

Tuition fees when studying abroad

For those spending a whole academic year abroad (where available):

  • Students who are classed as UK for fees purposes are required to pay 15% of their normal annual tuition fee
  • Students who are classed as International for fee purposes are required to pay 50% of their normal annual tuition fee

For those studying abroad for just one semester (where available), normal annual tuition fees apply.

Note - Study abroad opportunities vary between courses; please see the course description for details of study abroad options offered.

How To Apply

Standard offer

International Requirements



Number of A levels required:
3
Typical offer:
AAB
Required subjects and grades:
English / English Language and Literature / Modern Language / History / Law / Religious Studies / Media Studies / Film Studies / Theatre Studies
General Studies:
Not accepted

IB Diploma:
6,6,5 in Higher level subjects plus 32 points overall, including one Higher Level subject from English Literature, English Language and Literature, Modern Language, History, Film Studies or Theatre

BTEC qualifications:
• BTEC Extended Diploma: DDM, plus a B at A-level in in at least one subject from English, English Language and Literature, Modern Language, History, Law, Religious Studies, Media Studies, Film Studies, Theatre Studies
• BTEC Diploma: DD, plus a B at A-level in at least one subject from English, English Language and Literature, Modern Language, History, Law, Religious Studies, Media Studies, Film Studies, Theatre Studies
• BTEC Subsidiary Diploma: D, plus AB at A-level to include in at least one subject from English, English Language and Literature, Modern Language, History, Law, Religious Studies, Media Studies, Film Studies, Theatre Studies

Other qualifications are considered - learn more about entry requirements.

Alternative offers through our Pathways to Birmingham programmes and our Contextual Offer scheme

Students who are eligible and successfully complete a Pathways to Birmingham programme will receive special consideration from admissions tutors and an alternative offer (typically two grades below the standard offer). In addition, our Contextual Offer Scheme recognises the potential of students whose personal circumstances may have restricted achievement in school or college. If you are eligible to benefit from the contextual offer scheme, you will receive an offer which is one grade lower than the standard offer.

International Students

We welcome applications from international students and invite you to join our vibrant community of over 4500 international students who represent 150 different countries. We accept a range of qualifications, our country pages show you what qualifications we accept from your country.

Depending on your chosen course of study, you may also be interested in one of our foundation pathways, which offer specially structured programmes for international students whose qualifications are not accepted for direct entry to UK universities. Further details can be found on Birmingham International Academy web pages.

 

Support

You will have access to a comprehensive support system to help you make the transition to higher education when you start at Birmingham. 

Personal tutors – You will be assigned your own personal tutor who will get to know you as you progress through your studies. They will provide academic support and advice to enable you to make the most of your time here at Birmingham.

Wellbeing Officers –You will also have access to dedicated wellbeing officers who provide professional support, advice and guidance to students across a range of issues. They can meet with you to discuss extensions, disabilities, reasonable adjustments, extenuating circumstances, or to talk through any problems you might be experiencing, and help you access wider support on campus and beyond if you need it.

Our Academic Skills Centre helps you to become a more effective and independent learner through a range of high-quality support services. The centre offers workshops on a range of topics, such as note-taking, reading, academic writing and presentation skills.

The Academic Writing Advisory Service (AWAS) provides guidance on writing essays and dissertations if you need it. You can receive individual support from an academic writing advisor and meet with postgraduate tutors who specialise in particular subjects too.

Our Student Experience Team will help you get the most out of your academic experience. They offer research opportunities, study skills support, and help you prepare for your post-university career. They also organise social events, including trips.

Teaching staff

Students at the University of Birmingham are taught by a mixture of professors, senior lecturers, lecturers and doctoral researchers, thereby receiving a rich diversity of academic knowledge and experience. Many of our teaching staff have published important works about their areas of expertise, whilst others have taught at international institutions and can offer unique perspectives of their subjects.

You can find out more about the members of staff (including their qualifications, publication history and specific areas of interest) in their academic profiles linked below.

Contact Hours

All Birmingham degrees are set within a credit framework designed to measure your academic achievements. We expect all students to accumulate 120 credits in each full year of study which is equivalent to 40 hours of learning a week. Learning is considered to include contact learning (lectures and seminars), private study, revision and assessment.

For this programme, those 40 hours are estimated to be broken down and split into lectures, seminars and other guided teaching opportunities and then independent study. This is a general rule across the entire academic year and may change week by week.

  • Year 1: 20% Lectures, seminars or similar and 80% Independent study
  • Year 2: 15% Lectures, seminars or similar and 85% Independent study
  • Year 3: 15% Lectures, seminars or similar and 85% Independent study

Assessment Methods

Assessments - you will be assessed in a variety of ways to help you transition to a new style of learning. At the beginning of each module, you will be given information on how and when you will be assessed. Assessments methods will vary with each module and could include:

  • coursework, such as essays
  • group and individual presentations
  • and exams

Feedback - you will receive feedback on each assessment within three weeks, so you can learn from each assignment. You will also be given feedback on any exams that you take. If you should fail an exam, we will ensure that particularly detailed feedback is provided to help you prepare for future exams.

The teaching, assessments, employability modules and work placements throughout our BA Film and Creative Writing undergraduate degree are designed to prepare you for the world of work. Not only will you generate industry connections and hone your skills as a writer and filmmaker, you’ll develop the capacity to think critically about a range of topics, argue, defend and advocate for your positions in presentations and written work and respond creatively to real-world challenges, skills that last you a lifetime and qualify you for many possible careers.

Past graduates from the Department of Film and Creative Writing have gone on to work in editing, literary agency, publishing, advertising, commerce, events management, law, marketing, media, public services, PR, teaching and TV production. Employers have included the BBC, Cosmopolitan, Headline Publishing Group, Mirror Group Newspapers, Oxford University Press and STUDIOCANAL.

Developing your career

The University of Birmingham is the 4th most targeted university by the country’s top graduate employers according to The Graduate Market 2022 report [PDF - 1.4MB]. Our Careers Network are here to offer you tailored, expert advice on your career plans and support you with finding and applying for jobs, internships and further study. There are hundreds of events to help you meet potential employers and learn more about the breadth of opportunities and career sectors available to you.

Support will be offered to you covering the whole job application process, including CVs, LinkedIn, application forms, interviews and assessment centres.  You can also email our experienced Careers Advisors and College Teams to review your applications or answer any careers related question, alongside our on campus and online 1:1 appointments.

We have a number of exclusive Internship Programmes such as our Cultural Internships, which will give you paid, professional experience to set you apart in the graduate market. We also offer work experience bursaries, which allow you to apply for funding to support you during any unpaid internships. 

First years can take part in The Birmingham Project, with themes including celebrating arts and culture and shaping a global society. There’s also a successful Mentoring Programme, where you can gain access to experienced Mentors who can empower, inspire and inform you about their experiences.  As a University of Birmingham student you will also be given access to LinkedIn Learning giving free access to real world training courses to kick-start your careers.

If you want to earn money WorkLink advertises convenient part-time job opportunities on campus to fit round your studies.  

Extra-curricular activities

To enhance your career prospects even further, you may want to engage in extra-curricular activities to broaden your skills and your network of contacts. Our employer-endorsed, award-winning Personal Skills Award (PSA) recognises your extra-curricular activities, and provides an accredited employability programme.

There are more than 500 student groups and volunteering opportunities offered by the Guild of Students (our Students’ Union) so you’re bound to find activities that you want to be involved in whilst meeting friends who share your interests.

Culture and collections

Schools, institutes and departments

Services and facilities