Whether your interest is action, animation, documentary, horror or sci-fi, this course provides an excellent environment for you to develop your own exciting and rewarding career in film, television and new media. With a mix of practical skill and theoretical knowledge, you’ll be set to turn creativity into reality.
Develop practical production skills including camera, sound, editing, post-production, lighting, colour grading, producing and directing. Your learning experience will be greatly enhanced by our top class equipment including specialised digital cameras, Steadicam rigs, drones and professional editing software packages like Avid and Final Cut Pro.
You will increase your understanding of the history of cinema and different film genres with our theory based modules. Options include European Cinema and Contemporary Cinema. You will gather a broad understanding of many varied aspects of the film industry.
We encourage you to take full advantage of our creative and business services, which prepare you for careers in digital film and broadcast industries. Supported by our experts you will engage with industry from year one through work experience with a number of broadcasters and film shoots.
Students have gone on to win awards from the Royal Television Society and have seen their work used in promotional material for organisations and cities.
You will acquire transferable skills in communication, teamwork and creativity which are essential to success in the industry. This course will give you the skills and experience to move into rewarding jobs in the media.
This course is under review. The course title and modules are subject to change.
Why us?
- Inspirational graduate success stories – former students have worked on I, Daniel Blake, Victoria, Beowulf and The Dumping Ground
- Students have undertaken work experience on films and TV shows including Avengers: Infinity War, Vera and Netflix original productions
- All our academics are working or researching in media so you’ll study alongside scriptwriters, filmmakers, radio producers, and independent film producers with expertise in moving camera, cinematography and SteadiCam
- All students studying on-campus undergraduate media courses can take up a CV-enhancing work placement
- Study in our purpose built media centre, a base for Made in Tyne & Wear and BBC Newcastle
- Media and Film Studies courses at Sunderland are 15th in the UK according to The Guardian University league tables 2018
Course structure
Teaching and assessment
Our teaching methods develop subject-specific knowledge and transferable skills that enhance employability. These include skills in communication, analysis, research, teamwork, writing and presentation.
You will receive lectures, demonstrations, workshops, seminars, screenings, group and individual projects, and independent learning.
In the second year of the course, we encourage you to take a work placement module. Developing relevant experience of work is an integral part of the course, and throughout your time at Sunderland, you will be encouraged to continuously liaise with the digital film production industry with work experience placements and industry-run master classes.
According to the National Student Survey, 95% of our media students agree that staff are good at explaining things.
Assessment methods include portfolios of practical work, production files, essays, examinations, reports and presentations.
Part-time study
If you study this course on a part-time basis you will typically complete 40-80 credits in a year, rather than the 120 credits of full-time students. All modules are taught during the day time and you will be studying alongside full-time students.
Employment
This degree prepares you for careers in the film and TV industries. Your training in communication, teamwork and creativity will be highly relevant to roles in many different businesses and in the public sector.
Career destinations
Our students have gained placements or graduate roles with employers such as BBC Radio 1, Capital FM, Channel 4, Heart FM, Metro Radio, Sky TV, BBC Sport, MTV, ITV Studios (Coronation Street), Talk Sport, The Guardian, Jamie Oliver Productions, Lime Pictures, Absolute Radio, BBC Radio 6 Music, I Daniel Blake, BBC World Service, regional newspapers and PR companies.
You could also choose to continue your studies with a Masters degree at the University of Sunderland, such as MA Media Production (Film and Television) or MA Film and Cultural Studies.
Work experience
We actively encourage students to gain relevant work experience while at university. In every year of your course, you will be guided and encouraged to gain meaningful experience that will fit around your studies.
You will undertake a number of practice modules throughout your course, which can include live briefs from clients from outside the University. You will build up a portfolio of work to show future employers.
In your second year, you may have the opportunity to take a work placement module. Many of our students have used this time to work for media and film companies such as the BBC, Tyne Tees Television or one of the region’s many smaller production companies.
All students studying on-campus undergraduate Digital Film Production courses can take up a CV-enhancing work placement, a University-led industry initiative, or a professional and business development boot camp. By the term placement, we mean we are offering you a taste of the industry which might last anything from two days to four weeks on a part-time basis.
External links
We encourage you to take part in competitions; our students have a record of winning awards from organisations such as the Royal Television Society.
Our students also submit work to, and attend, BBC North Developing Talent events. We are involved in the BBC Connect and Create Partnership and we have links to Community Media Association.
Throughout the course, we invite guest speakers to run workshops and master classes that allow you to relate your learning to real-life experience.
