Digital Film BA(Hons)

Course in brief

Our Digital Film degree focuses equally on practice, industry and theory. This means you will gain the production and storytelling skills to make your own films; you will learn how to promote your work, reach audiences and access film funding; and you will study current theories and debates.

The course embraces the new opportunities that digital platforms and technologies create. You will gain skills and experience in screenwriting, shooting, editing and using the latest technology, while forming a critical understanding of film form, the cinema industry, marketing, distribution and related media entrepreneurial skills.

You will learn from and collaborate with internationally respected academics and leading media practitioners, alongside international filmmakers, distributors and film festival programmers. When you graduate, you will be certified by Avid and a work placement and direct involvement in industry events will give you a distinct advantage in the job market. You will graduate with a diverse portfolio of film production work ensuring you have the all-important show reel to help you get established in the industry.

Key facts

Location Brighton: Moulsecoomb 2017 entry

UCAS code P313

Full-time 3 years

Book your open day place

Applying for 2018: read our guide

Entry requirements

A-levels or BTEC
Entry requirements are in the range of A-level BBC–CCC (112–96 UCAS Tariff points), or BTEC Extended Diploma DMM–MMM. Our conditional offers typically fall within this range.

We will generally make you an offer if your predicted grades are at the top of this range. If your predicted grades are towards the lower end of this range we may still make you an offer if you have a good GCSE (or equivalent) profile or relevant non-academic achievements.

International Baccalaureate
28 points.

Access to HE Diploma
pass with 60 credits overall. At least 45 credits at level 3, with 24 credits at merit or above.

GCSE (minimum grade C or grade 4)
At least English language and maths.

For non-native speakers of English
IELTS 6.0 overall, with 6.0 in writing and a minimum of 5.5 in the other elements.

International equivalencies

International equivalencies by country

Albania
Algeria
Argentina
Australia
Austria
Bahrain
Bangladesh
Belarus
Belgium
Bermuda
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Botswana
Brazil
Bulgaria
Burma (Myanmar)
Cameroon
Canada
Chile
China
Colombia
Croatia
Cyprus
Czech Republic
Denmark
Ecuador
Egypt
Estonia
Finland
France
Germany
Ghana
Greece
Guyana
Hong Kong
Hungary
Iceland
India
Indonesia
Iran
Iraq
Ireland
Israel
Italy
Jamaica
Japan
Jordan
Kazakhstan
Kenya
Kosovo
Kuwait
Latvia
Lebanon
Liechtenstein
Libya
Lithuania
Luxembourg
Macedonia
Malaysia
Malawi
Malta
Mexico
Moldova
Montenegro
Morocco
Namibia
Nepal
Netherlands
New Zealand
Nigeria
Norway
Oman
Pakistan
Palestinian National Authority
Philippines
Poland
Portugal
Qatar
Romania
Russian Federation
Saudi Arabia
Serbia
Sierra Leone
Singapore
Slovakia
Slovenia
South Africa
South Korea
Spain
Sri Lanka
Syria
Sweden
Switzerland
Taiwan
Tanzania
Thailand
Tunisia
Turkey
Uganda
Ukraine
United Arab Emirates
United States
Uzbekistan
Venezuela
Vietnam
Yemen
Zambia
Zimbabwe

We can help you meet our English language or academic entry requirements.

Visit our language institute

For English language preparation courses.

Visit our International College

For academic preparation courses.

Course in detail

Why study with us?

This innovative degree course is theoretically rigorous while encompassing the latest production techniques and trends, giving you the most relevant skill set to enter the industry at graduate level.
You’ll have the opportunity to work on high-profile events across the UK, which mix filmmaker awards and retrospectives with a range of UK theatrical premiere movie releases.
You will be encouraged to develop your own research and professional practice interests across the interrelated strands of theory, practice and industry when examining the evolution and influence of the digital film narrative.
The course is delivered through a diverse mix of lectures, seminars, practical workshops and masterclass sessions and is assessed through both practical and written coursework.
The work placement module gives you access to industry experience with local and national partners from film and media.
There are chances to screen your work to a wider public and enter awards.
Thanks to an excellent ratio of kit to students, you will be able to easily take advantage of digital film facilities including Avid/Adobe editing suites with Pro Tools surround sound audio editing.

Imagine That? by Connor Gaffney, which won the Best Screenplay award at the University of Brighton Digital Film Festival 2017 and was shortlisted to screen as part of the popular Brighton Big Screen programme for 2017.

The Photographer by Richie Summers, which won the Best Cinematography award at the University of Brighton Digital Film Festival 2017 and was shortlisted to screen as part of the popular Brighton Big Screen programme for 2017.

Year 1

In year 1, the course will deal with classic and contemporary debates from film theory and examine a range of genres.

Modules

Introducing Film Theory: Key Concepts and Debates
TV and Film Practice Foundations
Screenwriting
Screen Industries
Popular Criticism for Film and TV

Year 2

In year 2, you will expand your use and knowledge of digital production and post-production techniques and consider the essential features of the film festival experience. You will be able to choose from option modules to tailor the course to your interests.

Modules

Digital Methodologies in Film Studies
Filmmaking Practice
Screenwriting: Genre and Emotion
Film Marketing, Distribution and Festivals

Options*

Digital Cinematography
Representing Identity in Film

*Option modules are indicative and may change, depending on timetabling and staff availability.

Year 3

In year 3, you will benefit from a work placement and also have the option to study film and media entrepreneurship, exploring the business practices essential in digital film and media careers.

Modules

Digital Media and Film Entreprise
Work placement and professional practice
Fandom and Cult Cinema
Final project

Options*

Debating Screen Cultures
Digital Postproduction

*Option modules are indicative and may change, depending on timetabling and staff availability.

Staff profile

Philip Connolly Course leader

After graduating from the National Film and Television School, Philip has produced and directed Short Films, Television Commercials, Music videos and virals. Recently winning best viral video in the International Toshiba We Love Stories promo competition. His short films have been screened in festivals around the world and his most recent film Chloe (2014) is still currently on the festival circuit.

Philip mainly works as a writer and director, but also has experience in post production from working as an Edit Assistant on entertainment television productions including Top Gear, Green Wing and The Apprentice. He was also the DOP of indie feature film Life Classes (2011).

Philip's teaching on the Digital Film BA(Hons) concentrates on production, directing and cinematography; all roles that draw on his professional experience.

Other staff teaching on the course include:  Dr Dario Llinares and Dr Holly Chard.

Dr Dario Llinares is a cultural critic who produces and co-hosts the popular Cinematologists podcast.

Student views

Roisin McHugh

We do such a variety of things within the course from history of film theory, to film making and script writing. I love how we do all these things but still have time to go into depth with everything. I also love the opportunities we get on our course like the Digital Film Society and working at the Cine Excess Film festival in Brighton. I really enjoyed the film theory module last year and this year the film practice module is my favourite.

Facilities

Digital Film help and support

Students develop their practical skills by using industry-standard equipment under the guidance of our teaching staff of film industry professionals.

Because of the size of the course you will be able to take advantage of digital film facilities including Avid/Adobe editing suites with Pro Tools, surround sound audio editing capabilities and an extensive range of digital cameras, from GoPros to the latest 4k ready cinema grade cameras.

The Box of Broadcasts is the iplayer for education - find out more about Box of Broadcasts

Careers and employability

Our Digital Film graduates are equipped to become critically aware practitioners, developing relevant and creative skills that can be applied across international media environments.

As part of your studies you will have access to film archives, including Box of Broadcasts. You will learn industry working practices, preparing you for a career in digital film, further study or your own creative practice.

Fees and funding

Your fees

UK/EU (full-time) 9,250 GBP

International (full-time) 13,920 GBP

The fees listed here are for full-time courses beginning in the academic year 2017–18.

Further tuition fees are payable for each subsequent year of study and are subject to an annual increase of no more than 5% or RPI (whichever is the greater). The annual increase for UK/EU students, who are subject to regulated fees, will increase no more than the statutory maximum fee.

You can find out more about our fees in the university's student contract and tuition fee policy (pdf).

The tuition fee you have to pay depends on a number of factors including the kind of course you take, and whether you study full- or part-time. If you are studying part-time you will normally be charged on a pro rata basis depending on the number of modules you take.

What's included in the fee?

When costs such as health or DBS checks, or use of specialist materials are incurred as a mandatory requirement of the course they are included in your tuition fee.

You may incur additional costs depending on the optional modules or activities you choose. The cost of optional activities is not included in your tuition fee and you will need to meet this cost in addition to your fees. Before you apply check with the school that provides your course using the contact details in the Find out more tab (at the end of this page) for advice about what is included and what optional costs you could face so you can budget accordingly.

See our finance pages for advice about funding and scholarships as well as further information about fees and advice on international and island fee-paying status.

Location and living here

Location

About Brighton

Forward-thinking and welcoming, the city of Brighton & Hove is a community of creative and diverse people who share values like sustainability and inclusivity – just like its university.

Miles of pebble beaches, hundreds of bars, restaurants and clubs, a packed calendar of culture, music and sport and great independent and high street shopping attract visitors from all over the world. By the end of your course you’ll still be finding new things to enjoy about the city.

The Brighton Festival, England’s largest arts festival, takes place every May – as does the Great Escape Europe’s leading industry showcase for new music, 300 bands perform over three days at venues across the city. Major events celebrate Pride, digital culture, cinema, photography, food and the winter solstice. Our own Brighton Graduate show is a highlight, turning the university into the largest exhibition space in the south east as we celebrate the outstanding creativity of our students.

As a student here you’ll have a unique opportunity to experience what the city has to offer. Volunteering and placement opportunities enable you to play your part in the events, organisations and communities that make Brighton such a compelling place to be.

Where this course is taught

Moulsecoomb campus

Just two miles north of Brighton city centre and the seafront, Moulsecoomb is the largest of our five campuses with more than 8,000 students. A wide variety of subjects are taught here, from engineering and product design to business and law.

Students benefit from many professional-standard facilities, including a flight simulator, design and digital media suites, and specialist research laboratories. The campus library, Aldrich, offers long opening hours and a diverse collection of books and journals for students from all subject areas.

Sports enthusiasts will enjoy our basketball and badminton courts, fitness suite and climbing wall. The campus is also a few minutes walk from the South Downs National Park, providing a great place to relax during the summer months.

Accommodation

Brighton

Our Brighton halls of residence are located across the city in Grand Parade, Moulsecoomb, Varley Park and Falmer.

Grand Parade is in central Brighton and has one hall of residence, Phoenix Brewery, within walking distance.
Moulsecoomb is two miles from the city centre and also has one hall of residence, Moulsecoomb Place, on campus.
Varley Park offers the biggest choice of student accommodation with ten halls of residence.
Falmer campus has two halls of residence: Great Wilkins and Paddock Field.
Varley Park and Falmer are around four miles from Brighton centre; there are good public transport services nearby.

Aside from halls, you have the option of Unihomes, which we let out to our students on behalf of private landlords.

You can also choose to join the many students who live away from campus in private rented accommodation. We have a list of high-quality, university-endorsed private sector accommodation and can help you find housemates to move in with.

Find out more on our Brighton accommodation webpages and if you have any questions, our accommodation team will be happy to help. You can contact them by email at accommodation@brighton.ac.uk or by telephone on 01273 644100.

Paddock Field

Moulsecoomb Place

Maps

Moulsecoomb campus

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Accommodation

University building

Unistats

Unistats and key information sets

Unistats is an organisation that collects specific data about university courses in the UK which enables you to compare information that is important in your decision-making when choosing a university. All universities publish Unistats data on their online course pages.

Wherever we can we have provided extra information here to help put the data into context so that it is as useful as possible when you are making decisions.

Programme specification

The programme specification is the official university document for each course. They are updated each year, and give a very detailed breakdown of what your course might look like.

Programme specification

Find out more

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