UCA School of Film, Media & Performing Art Guide

Vivian Lau Wee Na

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establishment,

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us, you’ll be a name, not a number, as we deliver

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“There is no

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School of Film, Media &

alumnus that includes the likes of

has

Edwards, Chris Butler, Grant Orchard, and more. Our

and dedication to

at the heart of the film, media, and

– Dr Nigel Ward, Head of School,

Arts

Building your network

Across the School of Film, Media & Performing Arts we benefit from strong industry collaborations from projects to guest lecturers. Previous collaborators and visitors include:

Christina Moore - Production Designer (Game of Thrones)

Adele Fletcher - ADR/Dialogue Editor (No Time to Die, Peaky Blinders, Spencer)

– Jonathan Glazier - Executive Producer and Multicamera Director (Asia’s Got Talent, Pointless, The Weakest Link, This Morning)

– Jane Marlow – Drama Writer (EastEnders, Doctors, The Bill, Bad Girls, Hollyoaks, Coronation Street)

Ben Cooper - Head of Development at North One TV (Travel Man, 5th Gear, Guy Martin)

Miranda Howard-Williams - TV Director (Casualty, Holby City, Hollyoaks, Doctors)

– Francesca Maxwell - Art Director (Fantastic Mr Fox, ParaNorman)

– The National Film and Television School

Animation festivals globally, and the Royal Television Society

Our animation industry links are through our alumni, who have founded globally recognised studios such as Mackinnon & Saunders, Animade and Moth

Grant Orchard

Sucess after graduation

And our graduates go on to amazing things – here’s just some of the career paths they’ve taken:

Gareth Edwards - Director (Star Wars Rogue One, Godzilla)

Kate Herron - Director and Showrunner (Loki), Director (Sex Education)

– Chris Butler - Animation Director at Laika Studios

– Michael Dudok de Wit - Oscar Winner (The Red Turtle, Father and Daughter)

Grant Orchard - Creator (Hey Duggee)

– Alex Baldwin – Video Editor (F1)

Carla Buckingham - Junior Casting Researcher (BBC)

Callum Mulholland - Set PA (Working Title)

Wesley Denne - Production Management Assistant (BBC)

Nikita Gautam - Freelance Casting Assistant Producer (ITV)

– Faveola Kett - Assistant Set and Costume Designer (Saarländisches Staatstheate)

Zara Mills - Art Department (His Dark Materials, Whitstable Pearl)

Course

BA (Hons) Acting & Performance

BA (Hons) W410

BA (Hons) with Integrated Foundation Year W41A

BA (Hons) with International Foundation Year W41C

BA (Hons) with Professional Practice Year W412

BA (Hons) with Integrated Foundation Year AND Professional Practice Year W41B

BA (Hons) with International Foundation Year AND Professional Practice Year W41D

BA (Hons) Animation

BA (Hons) W615

BA (Hons) with Integrated Foundation Year W61A

BA (Hons) with International Foundation Year W61C

BA (Hons) with Professional Practice Year W616

BA (Hons) with Integrated Foundation Year AND Professional Practice Year W61B

BA (Hons) with International Foundation Year AND Professional Practice Year W61D

BMus (Hons) Composition for Screen

BMus (Hons) W300

BMus (Hons) with Integrated Foundation Year W30A

BMus (Hons) with International Foundation Year W30C

BMus (Hons) with Professional Practice Year W301

BMus (Hons) with Integrated Foundation Year AND Professional Practice Year W30B

BMus (Hons) with International Foundation Year AND Professional Practice W30D

BA (Hons) Design for Theatre & Screen

BA (Hons) W440

BA (Hons) with Integrated Foundation Year W44A

BA (Hons) with International Foundation Year W44C

BA (Hons) with Professional Practice Year W441

BA (Hons) with Integrated Foundation Year AND Professional Practice Year W44B

BA (Hons) with International Foundation Year AND Professional Practice Year W44D

Course UCAS Code

BA (Hons) Film & Screen Studies

BA (Hons)

W604

BA (Hons) with Integrated Foundation Year W60A

BA (Hons) with International Foundation Year W60C

BA (Hons) with Professional Practice Year W605

BA (Hons) with Integrated Foundation Year AND Professional Practice Year W60B

BA (Hons) with International Foundation Year AND Professional Practice Year W60D

BA (Hons) Film Production

BA (Hons) W600

BA (Hons) with Integrated Foundation Year W60F

BA (Hons) with International Foundation Year W60H

BA (Hons) with Professional Practice Year W601

BA (Hons) with Integrated Foundation Year AND Professional Practice Year W60G

BA (Hons) with International Foundation Year AND Professional Practice Year W60J

BA (Hons) Music & Sound Production*

BA (Hons) W302

BA (Hons) with Integrated Foundation Year W30F

BA (Hons) with International Foundation Year W30H

BA (Hons) with Professional Practice Year W303

BA (Hons) with Integrated Foundation Year AND Professional Practice Year W30G

BA (Hons) with International Foundation Year AND Professional Practice Year W30J

BA (Hons) Television Production

BA (Hons) P311

BA (Hons) with Integrated Foundation Year P31A

BA (Hons) with International Foundation Year P31C

BA (Hons) with Professional Practice Year P312

BA (Hons) with Integrated Foundation Year AND Professional Practice Year P31B

BA (Hons) with International Foundation Year AND Professional Practice Year P31D

BA (Hons) Visual Effects

BA (Hons) W614

BA (Hons) with Integrated Foundation Year W61F

BA (Hons) with International Foundation Year W61H

BA (Hons) with Professional Practice Year W619

BA (Hons) with Integrated Foundation Year AND Professional Practice Year W61G

BA (Hons) with International Foundation Year AND Professional Practice Year W61J

BA (Hons) Studio Practice – Filmmaking (top-up)

BA (Hons) W401

Course UCAS Code

When thinking about your career, there’s only one thing as important as your education – building industry experience.

At UCA, you’ll be able to get both at once, building hands-on experience while you study through a range of opportunities designed to help you enhance your CV. From live industry briefs and work placements through to optional Professional Practice Years, there’s an option to suit you.

Guaranteed work placements  Preparing graduates for successful careers underpins everything we do, and all students on this course will be offered an industry placement anywhere between two weeks and a year in length, depending on their individual needs. We’ll draw on our wide range of contacts within the creative industries to ensure you’re offered opportunities that align with your interests and future career aspirations.

Professional Practice Years

Many of our undergraduate courses come with the option of an additional Professional Practice Year. If you choose this route, you’ll take a study break between years 2 and 3 to go on a year-long placement related to your studies – at a film studio or a performing arts venue, for example. Learn more on the course pages at uca.ac.uk

Live industry briefs  One of the most exciting features of UCA courses is the opportunity to take part in   live industry briefs and competitions. Students on our Film, Media & Performing Arts courses will collaborate on designs, creative briefs, and proposals which will not only prepare you for the world of work but will support you in making lifelong professional connections.

A foot in the door

Our students say...

“Working on this collaboration was really the first time I felt able to focus on the parts of film production that I love, while trusting in my team’s skills in areas where I’m not as strong,” she said. “It’s made me more eager to start working in a professional environment, where clients have specific ideas, and I can make them happen.”

“Before coming to UCA I didn’t have much experience acting in front of the camera and I was excited to finally explore it. I feel like I’ve learned a lot. I’ve already seen improvements in my performance, and I know UCA offer an experience I wouldn’t’t have got anywhere else.”

Teya Hall, BA (Hons) Animation, who was one of many to take part in a live brief to create informative animations for CATTs, a charity for young people with cancer.

Caitlin Pinks, BA (Hons) Acting & Performance

Welcome to Farnham

With its market town charm and its excellent transport links to London, the South East and the South Coast, Farnham is a town with much to offer.

Our campus, with its extensive specialist facilities and large on-site halls community, sits on the outskirts of the town, a stone’s throw away from the iconic Lion and Lamb Yard and a host of cafes, restaurants, pubs and independent shops.

Student favourites include the Slug and Lettuce and The Lost Boy in the town centre, together with the Starbucks close to campus. For a bit of culture, you’ll find regular shows, standup comedy, films and activities at Farnham Maltings, and some lively nightlife is just a short bus or train ride away in Guildford, with venues like Wetherspoons and Popworld nightclub among the many places to have fun.

And for shopping, there’s plenty of choice, with a range of charity shops, bookstores, Elphick’s department store, Pullingers art supplies and 101 Collectors Records among the highlights.

You’ll also find stunning countryside walks close to Farnham, including Bourne Woods, where many blockbuster movies have been filmed, and Caesar’s Camp, which gives spectacular views across Surrey and Hampshire.

Welcome to Maidstone Television Studios

If you’re considering joining our BA (Hons) Television Production degree course, you’ll be spending your time at Maidstone Television Studios.

Here, you’ll get a unique opportunity to study at the UK’s largest independent TV studios, network with industry professionals and work on all kinds of TV entertainment shows in between your studies – past programming includes Catchphrase, I Can See Your Voice and This Time… With Alan Partridge. We even have a work placement co-ordinator to help you set up exciting opportunities.

You’ll also have access to a modern and spacious learning environment packed with all the facilities you need to hone your skills, from the studios

themselves to live galleries, editing suites and screening rooms. Not to mention, a fully stocked equipment store and library.

The town Maidstone is a vibrant town in Kent with plenty to keep you entertained. It has excellent shopping, museums, galleries and events throughout the year, as well as stunning local countryside. After hours you’ll find dozens of restaurants, bars, pubs and clubs to choose from, and you’ll be just over an hour’s train ride from central London if you feel like exploring further.

Meet our school community

Liam Harrison, Technician, Media and Moving Image

“As a technician, I enjoy being part of such a progressive community that encourages creative thought, self-expression and individuality. One of the most rewarding parts of being a technician is introducing the students to a process or technique which surprises them and encourages them to think in a new way, perhaps learning something new about themselves.”

Jamahyl Chan Ellis, BA (Hons) Acting & Performance graduate, who recently starred in the National Theatre’s production of Small Island.

“When I look back on my UCA journey, it was my transition from a teenager to a full-fledged adult. The freedom the course gives you (for the most part) works really well, especially for someone like me, who is very independent. The great thing is that all my teachers made time available to me if I needed advice or feedback.”

Youngdae Lee, BA (Hons) Film Production graduate

“Just looking at the growth of many students, not just me, proves that there are students who love movies with a passion at UCA. UCA also gives students the wings to become professional filmmakers with its professional professors, curriculum, and production practice of an outstanding faculty. As a movie-loving student, learning and experience in this environment has been amazing.

Looking back, the most important thing I learned at UCA was the discovery of passion and possibility. While studying movies, I fell in love with movies more. My passion led to opportunities for submitting films, and that in turn, uncovered the possibilities.”

“I like this course because it’s a lot more than just ‘acting’, contrasting from a drama school course. Some examples of things we have covered are scriptwriting, filmmaking, stage combat workshops and radio play recording. I like that it’s a creative arts community and you can make connections with other students and collaborate on different projects. I have already done three student films since I got here, and I love working with other creatives.”

“Our school is a large and vibrant creative community that stands at the vanguard of leading-edge skills development for the UK’s burgeoning production industries.

Film and TV production are experiencing a new golden age, driven by the boom in streaming technologies and subsequent demand for studio space. Students at Maidstone Studios have unparalleled access to commercial facilities and experience of professional practice throughout their course, collaborating across disciplines with their peers in Farnham. In turn, the Farnham campus hosts an array of film, media, and performance courses that constitute a rich portfolio of highly creative subjects.

This is an exciting place to work with colleagues who care deeply about student achievement and students who are passionate about embracing, disrupting, and leading in the thriving future of production for years to come.”

Audrey Davison, BA (Hons) Acting & Performance student

Mike Rymer, Senior Lecturer, Television Production

Credit: Lauren Grannum

Living at UCA

Moving away from home is a big moment. Wherever you’re staying while you study –campus halls of residence or privately rented flats, houses or lodgings – you’re about to have your first taste of independence in a diverse and tight-knit creative community, and we want to make sure you feel settled and happy.

Farnham halls of residence Farnham has two halls of residence, both on campus and housing around 600 students. Prices ranged from £125 - £187 (these are subject to change, but this gives you a rough idea of what to expect).

University Walk

Our newest accommodation, located next to our Film & Media Centre and library, comprises five buildings and each is identifiable by its coloured feature window - Austen House is purple, Watts House is red, Swift House is yellow, Cobbett House is orange and Godfrey House is green.

Our stylish accommodation is home for more than 250 students to settle in, with each flat sleeping eight students in single en-suite bedrooms, along with a shared kitchen and dining area.

There are six fully accessible bedrooms for students with disabilities too.

Student Village

UCA Farnham’s Student Village comprises 45 purpose-built houses containing up to eight bedrooms each. Features include:

– Shared facilities – two showers and two toilets per house

A single bed, bookcase/shelves, desk and chair, wardrobe and washbasin in each bedroom

– A shared kitchen/communal area with cookers and fridge-freezers, and small appliances including kettles and microwaves

There are 16 en-suite bedrooms, which are predominantly allocated to students with medical conditions and/or a disability.

– Internet access

Student wardens on-site for out-of-hours needs.

Private accommodation

If the idea of halls isn’t for you, or you don’t get a place in our halls, private accommodation is the way to go. There is a bit more to consider if you take this route, so preparation is key, as well as research and budgeting. We’ll help you with the process and finding the information you need.

Accommodation Guarantee

We’re proud to offer all first-year students a guaranteed accommodation offer – either through halls or privately – for 2023. To qualify, you must accept your offer from UCA by the UCAS deadline (usually mid-January).

International students applying directly to UCA must apply by 30 April 2023 to qualify.

Here to help

You can find out more about our accommodation offering, our services, our contact details and more about our Accommodation Guarantee for first-year students, by scanning the QR code below.

Our facilities and resources

We’re not the type to brag...but when it comes to the facilities we’ve got for you at the School of Film, Media & Performing Arts, we reckon we’re second to none.

UCA is where you can really create with freedom of expression and where the possibilities are endless. And this is because we don’t just have the tools, resources and equipment to help you make films, performances, documentaries, music videos or animations. It’s because we’ve got the space, the opportunities and a culture of collaboration as well –you’ll work on things you never thought possible!

So, while the facilities on our highlights list here might feature some unusual additions – it just means you have way more than the obvious to familiarise yourself with.

And if you’re choosing to study BA (Hons) Television Production, then you are literally in the heart of the television industry, with unparalleled access to realtime experiences. There’s really no better way of learning your craft.

Facilities highlights

Multiple film soundstages with industry-standard lighting facilities

– Animation studios with Mac workstations, lightboxes, Wacom Cintiq tablets, line testers and hi-speed batch scanners

Animation rostrum rooms set up to capture stop-frame animation on DragonFrame

– Colour and black and white darkrooms

– Photography studios with an infinity table

FAB LAB, a digital fabrication service with laser cutters and 3D printing facilities, offering a host of computer aided design and creation opportunities

Digital print bureau providing a professional print and finishing

service using an extensive range of materials, paper types, sizes, finishes and binding options

Film & Media Centre featuring a live performance room, control room for sound mixing, dubbing theatre, rehearsal studios and film soundstage with industry standard Arri film lighting rigs

250 seat lecture and film screening theatre with 4K digital projection and online streaming capabilities

Dedicated performance and rehearsal spaces

Three-camera digital television studio, networked to our broadcast newsroom and using industry-leading autocue software.

From script to screen

A great many of our filmmaking graduates go on to enjoy full and busy careers behind the camera, from location scouting and costuming, to editing and supervising scripts for continuity. Hollywood dreams do come true – and if you needed proof, just ask 2010 graduate Craig Luck.

While Craig was studying at UCA, he wrote a script for a then short film, which garnered some interest within the industry. But while prospects for the film simmered under the surface, Craig got on with his career, working behind the scenes on Kenneth Branagh’s reimagining of Cinderella, cult series Sense8 and Marvel origin story Doctor Strange.

Then he got the call. The script was sold, with director Miguel Sapochnik, and none other than Tom Hanks in the titular role. In 2021, FINCH was premiered on streaming service Apple TV+.

“I wrote FINCH with no-one in mind, certainly not Tom Hanks - pie in the sky!” said Craig, “Working with Tom on FINCH though was everything you could possibly want it to be. There’s a good reason why everyone loves Tom Hanks, and it’s because he’s genuine and extremely talented at what he does. His decision to say ‘Yes’ to us changed my life more than he’ll ever know.

“I came up with the concept through my frustration of depressing, dark and downbeat films I was watching at the time. I love the post-apocalyptic landscape as a backdrop and writing a story within that world that was sweet, charming, and upbeat felt like a challenge worthy of trying,” he said. “At the same time, the family dog of 15 years had to be euthanised and so all those elements were put into a melting pot and out came this story almost fully baked.

Credit: Tom Hanks as FINCH. Picture courtesy of Apple TV+”

“Seeing this small project grow into what it is today is surreal. I find it increasingly difficult to say ‘a dream come true’ because the reality is, it was beyond a dream at the time,” he added.

With FINCH now streaming, Craig is working on new projects, including a film called Interloper, which is still in development.

Looking back at his time at UCA, which Craig called an emotional rollercoaster that granted him lifelong friendships, Craig said his main takeaway was the ability to listen, but also to stick to your own dreams.

“If you don’t build your own dreams someone else will hire you to help build theirs,” he said.

“Don’t ever give up. It’s too easy to throw in the towel and call it a day. Failure is a part of success.

For every 3,000 ‘no thanks’ you get, there will be a single ‘yes, please’. And sometimes that single ‘yes’ is all it’ll take — even if it does take 12 years to get it.”

You can stream FINCH on Apple TV+ now.

Read more student stories at uca.ac.uk/blogs

Running the show

Our BA (Hons) Television Production students on the perks of being based at Maidstone Television Studios, where they’ve been working on the latest Alan Partridge series.

There are many roles within the world of television, and most people begin their journey building vital experience as a runner, helping out on set with anything a production’s cast and crew might need. But finding that opportunity to “get your foot in the door” in the first place can be tricky.

“If you can get work experience while you’re at university, then you’ll graduate far better prepared,” says Laura Coull, Work Placement and Production Co-ordinator for our BA (Hons) Television Production course.

This can often come down to having industry connections. Luckily, UCA’s BA (Hons) Television Production students have a unique opportunity

to build their knowledge AND their network at the same time.

As part of our long-standing partnership with Maidstone Television Studios, our students are based at the studios full-time throughout their degree, attending academic sessions in a dedicated learning area while getting hands-on experience on the studio floor. And last year the course was recognised as one of the best in the country for training work-ready graduates when it gained the prestigious ScreenSkills Select accreditation.

Laura works closely with the studios to help find and create placement opportunities for the students, both at the studios and beyond. Over the years, they’ve worked on shows like The X Factor, Blind Date, Catchphrase, Strictly Come Dancing, Watchdog, The One Show, This Morning, Take Me Out, Celebrity Juice, Don’t Tell the Bride, and more.

Courtesy of the BBC

“They gain a greater knowledge of what they want to do within the industry, and already have four or five professional credits under their belt by the time they graduate,” she explains. “That puts them in a far better position to launch their careers.”

In 2020, COVID-19 actually presented some unexpected opportunities for our students, as the start of the new academic year coincided with the resumption of filming at many studios and sets (albeit with stringent COVID safety measures in place).

So, in the autumn, Maidstone Television Studios became a hive of activity, with several exciting series’ and shows starring the likes of Steve Coogan and Paddy McGuinness being filmed there. And because those production companies needed skilled assistance, UCA students gained experience on real shows while they learned. This included working on the second season of This Time with Alan Partridge.

Third-year students James Hunt and Ethan Urquhart both undertook ten days’ work experience as runners. By the end of his time on set, Ethan was shadowing the third assistant director.

“It was all about making sure the cast was happy, and everything ran as it should,” said Ethan. “As time went on, I started to build relationships, making friends with cast and crew. I loved it.”

James spent six of his ten days on location, working at various sites around Maidstone as the crew filmed external shots. “It was a great experience,” he said.

“The longer you’re on set, the more you’re trusted just to get things done. I was surprised by two things — firstly, how quickly things happen. And secondly, the attention to detail that goes into sets and props.”

As well as revealing the realities of working on a major show, the experience helped James and Ethan evaluate their own career aspirations.

“When I started this course, I wanted to be a cameraperson. But as the course has gone on, I’ve discovered how much I enjoy the producing side of things,” said Ethan, who has recently applied for the prestigious Channel 4 Production Trainee Scheme.

“It’s been a complete change of heart. My work experience showed me how interesting the assistant director’s role is, so I definitely want to explore that further.”

James still wants to become a director but said his work experience has opened his mind. “I’ve discovered there’s so much more you can do. I’d really like to explore the props and set design side of the industry, for example. I joined this course because of the amazing work experience opportunities, and I’m so glad I did.”

You can still catch This Time with Alan Partridge on BBC iPlayer now.

Read more student stories at uca.ac.uk/blogs

At UCA, we understand that you might need to develop your portfolio and skills, or maybe you haven’t studied creative subjects at college. We don’t believe these things should stop you from achieving your dreams.

Which is why we offer our Foundation Years to those students who need it. The Foundation Year is designed to bridge the gap from where you are now, to where you need to be so that you can begin your degree with confidence. All of our courses feature a foundation year if you need to take one – whether you’re a UK or international student.

Integrated Foundation Year

For home students, the Integrated Foundation Year is designed to give you the skills you’ll need to start your

degree in the best possible way –with confidence, solid knowledge of creative practice, study skills and more. You’ll explore a range of creative techniques and develop your portfolio, with your chosen subject in mind. We’ll work with you throughout the year to ensure you’re on the right track and give you the tools to achieve your highest potential on your degree.

Integrated International Foundation Year

For our students coming from a nonUK educational background, your Integrated International Foundation Year is exactly the same as for our UK students – but with a few small changes to help you settle in and be the best you can be, including the English speaking and writing skills you’ll need to progress.

Our courses

BA (Hons) Acting & Performance

Delve into the practical, artistic and academic aspects of acting and performance on our BA (Hons) Acting & Performance course and become a confident and assured performer in front of the camera and on stage.

We pride ourselves in giving you the complete package in a course that covers the different aspects of the craft. And thanks to our close links with Farnham Maltings, you’ll benefit from the venue’s extensive resources, large performance spaces and network of arts professionals, as well as the opportunity to see live and screened performances.

You’ll also make use of UCA Farnham’s extensive facilities – including its first-class Film and TV Centre, sound recording studios and film making equipment – and work collaboratively with fellow students on courses in Film Production, Music, Animation, Journalism, Media and Games Arts, ensuring you take your place in our vibrant and collaborative creative community.

Year 1

In your first year you’ll learn the fundamentals of acting, covering movement, voice work, text and character, and improvising. Using what you’ve learned you’ll make a five-minute non-dialogue film inspired by a film genre and a live solo performance. You’ll also lean about the theoretical and practical approaches to creating a role.

Year 2

As well as building upon the acting and performing skills you learned in the first year, you’ll learn about recorded voice skills, be introduced to scriptwriting and get an overview of social realist filmmaking. You’ll start the year with a focus on American Theatre, and finish with an elective school-wide unit that broadens your skillset and interests.

Year 3

Your final year comprises three major projects. You’ll work on a live staged performance to be shown to an invited audience, work collaboratively to create a film performance through scenes and monologues from commissioned or published screenplays. And you’ll complete a final major project which comprises an essay of sustained research, a performance project and a viva voce.

BA (Hons) Animation

Calling all budding animators! If you are keen to forge a career within the world of animation, regardless of your preferred medium, then look no further than our renowned BA (Hons) Animation degree course.

Established in 1972 by Oscar winner Bob Godfrey, ours is one of the best-known and highly regarded animation courses in the world, with graduates going on to create such icons as Hey Duggee, Peppa Pig and the Compare the Market’s Meerkats.

Whether you want to make animated films using CGI, traditional drawing, oil on glass, sand animation or pixelation – you will be encouraged to follow your passions and aim high for your future career.

Along the way, we’ll support you with our extensive knowledge, facilities, experience and industry contacts, providing everything you’ll need to become an innovative storyteller and artist.

Year 1

You’ll be introduced to the fundamental principles of animation through a range of traditional and contemporary animation techniques, learn about effective forms of presentation and how they can greatly benefit your portfolio, work in teams to create a short animated film, and work on briefs that are designed to replicate the entry requirements typical of an internship/junior level animator role.

Year 2

The second year begins with making a short film designed to be shown at international film festivals, undertake a client brief in small groups, develop your skills in research, in order to further your creative, technical, and critical abilities. You’ll finish with an elective school-wide unit that broadens your skillset and interests.

Year 3

Your final year is your chance to showcase your skills and your animation style, and you’ll do this through a series of major tasks – a pre-production and pitch proposal, a dissertation and a graduate film with accompanying showreel.

Credit: Bella Bernard

Credit: Charlize Hoang

BMus (Hons) Composition for Screen

UCA’s BMus (Hons) Composition for Screen degree will help you turn your love of music into a career as you become a skilled, collaborative and thoughtful composer.

This degree has a focus on musical composition for moving image, and will allow you to develop your unique creative voice as you develop a range of applicable skills in:

– Creating compositions

Technical expertise and understanding

Notation for music (documenting and communicating your composition)

Philosophy of music

By the time you graduate, you’ll have developed your own approach to composition, having made the most of collaborative opportunities with filmmakers, animators, actors and games designers. You’ll be a resilient and adaptable problem solver, able to work alone or in teams, who is knowledgeable about the creative industries and has the foundations of a professional network to take into the industry.

Year 1

We’ll introduce you to the fundamental concepts, technologies and music theories that are derived from the analogue domain, and how to deconstruct them by analysing existing compositions, including your own. Later, you’ll move to the digital domain, examining the role of computer technology in the fields of music, film and research.

Year 2

Your second year of study focuses on the relationship of sound and music to both space and time. You’ll also research, negotiate and undertake a self-initiated work experience placement opportunity – or you’ll undertake a live brief related to the music, sound or media industries. You’ll finish with an elective school-wide unit that broadens your skillset and interests.

Year 3

Together with a dissertation, and the creation of a dossier to take with you to into the professional world, you’ll create your Final Major Project, which will be ambitious but achievable and framed within how you want to promote yourself as a composer, musician or music producer.

BA (Hons) Design for Theatre & Screen

Create dynamic environments, costumes and props for the stage and for film and television sets on our exciting BA (Hons) Design for Theatre & Screen course.

In an industry where designers and makers are expected to be all-rounders who can work with a wide range of professionals, you’ll learn all the essential design, making and technical skills you’ll need in your career, and put those skills into practice as you take part in work placements and collaborative projects.

You’ll also gain a deeper understanding of the discipline, learning about the history and theory of theatre and film arts, underpinned by art and design history.

Year 1

Your first year will be hands-on, as you develop your skills as a set, costume and prop designer through individual and team projects. You’ll also learn the histories, theories and practices that inform global performance design, explore careers

within the industry, and finally, create puppets to explore new performance design techniques and processes.

Year 2

In your second year, you’ll transform a play text into a new speculative adaptation with contemporary resonance, and also make scenic elements that interpret others’ designs through a specific discipline such as model-making, costume realisation or prop making to do this. You’ll finish the year with an elective school-wide unit that broadens your skillset and interests.

Year 3

Your final year starts with the formulation of a small design project, which you can, if you choose, carry forward into your Final Major Project to develop further. Or you can choose a new project for your final piece – either way it must be accompanied by a unit agreement/research document and a professional portfolio. You’ll also undertake a critical investigation, featuring research related to your own practice.

Credit: Sapphire Walkden

Credit: Zoe Plumbly

BA (Hons) Film Production

If you want to work on major movies and TV shows then our BA (Hons) Film Production course gives you the tools, knowledge and confidence you need to forge an exciting career behind the camera.

Graduates have gone on to work on the Harry Potter and Mission Impossible franchises, as well as prestigious TV shows like Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan and Disney+ series Loki.

Our course is predominantly practice-based – we believe in learning through doing. Along the way, you’ll get the chance to have your coursework screened at national and international competitions and festivals before graduating with the strong portfolio of work, sought-after specialist skills and practical filmmaking experience that employers really want.

Right from the outset, you’ll be part of a closeknit creative team, making films on digital and 16mm cameras just as you will in the film industry. You’ll learn about the business of film, explore the production process from beginning to end and develop networking and communication skills that will set you up for your career.

Year 1

This first year is all about learning the fundamentals of filmmaking, from documentary films to experimental film. You’ll discover the various ways you can tell stories on screen, and you’ll work in teams to make a narrative fiction film. You’ll also take your first steps in establishing yourself on a professional level, ready for life after graduation.

Year 2

Your second year is hands-on from the outset as you take on responsibility for a crew role in the development and production of a short fiction film to a given brief. You’ll also delve deeper into documentary filmmaking including pitching your ideas in front of a panel, before working on a live brief for either a commercial client or a charitable organisation. You’ll finish the year with an elective school-wide unit that broadens your skillset and interests.

Year 3

Your final year is a chance to showcase your skills and filmmaking style. After completing an extended research project, you’ll spend the first half of the year working on your pre-production project, before seeing this concept through to realisation with a high-quality piece of work.

BA (Hons) Television Production

Our BA (Hons) Television Production degree offers you a unique and thrilling opportunity to work on iconic game shows and entertainment series at one of the country’s top TV studios - while you study.

Based at our fully equipped study space at Maidstone Television Studios and accredited by ScreenSkills, this course is unlike any other and gives you the opportunity to learn the complete range of skills needed to make a career in the television and film industry.

You’ll become a filmmaker, creating stories and working on productions from the very beginning.

Students have worked on shows including This Time with Alan Partridge, Strictly Come Dancing, Take Me Out, Catchphrase and more, and have gone on to careers with a host of high-profile channels, shows and production companies, from ITV to Formula 1.

Year 1

In your first year you’ll be introduced to the fundamental structure, tropes and mechanisms that are common to human stories and that influence the

content we watch. You’ll do this by using an existing screenplay and working in teams with designated roles to create a dramatic short film. You’ll also work on projects around factual entertainment and digital news.

Year 2

Building on your first-year learning, you’ll create a short film documentary, and develop a detailed pitch for a live studio pilot – the winning pilot being worked on by the entire cohort to live stream and record. You’ll choose exciting elective units on school-wide subjects to broaden your knowledge and skillset, and also work on your own professional profile through a short work placement, internship, or client brief.

Year 3

As well as putting together a written presentation or video essay about your practice, you’ll focus your practice through the development of a production concept which you’ll then pitch. You’ll carry this concept through to pre-production and production, working individually or in teams.

BA (Hons) Film & Screen Studies BA (Hons) Visual Effects

From Alfred Hitchcock to Pedro Almodóvar, and from silent movies to the modern era, you’ll delve deep into the historical, cultural and social context of film and television on our BA (Hons) Film & Screen Studies degree course.

Your studies will use sociological approaches and close textual analysis to examine a diverse range of creators and cinematic movements.

You’ll graduate with expert knowledge and understanding of film and television, perfectly equipping you for a career in the industry.

Our BA (Hons) Visual Effects degree puts you on the path to a career in the innovative and rapidly growing Visual Effects industry.

This new course is all about problem-solving, storytelling and creating something new as you join the next generation of innovative thinkers and creators taking Visual Effects to a new level.

All the main aspects of the visual effects postproduction pipeline are covered, along with the theory, principles and production of assets and shots.

You will focus on visual storytelling and previsualisation, post visualisation and shot development, rotoscoping and plate prep, matchmove, modelling, UVing, texturing, look development, lighting, rigging, digital matte painting, simulation effects, technical direction, scripting, image processing, and compositingeverything you need to know to become a vital part of the exciting animation, filmmaking and gaming sector.

Credit: Harry Rainger

BA (Hons) Studio Practice (Filmmaking) BA (Hons) Sound & Music Production

UCA’s new Studio Practice top-up course in Filmmaking aims to provide a challenging educational experience and prepare you for postgraduate study in the field.

Working in moving image is a social practice, and you’ll be encouraged to consider your work in terms of contemporary meaning and relevance. You will be able to explore both documentary and fiction-based storytelling.

Alongside group activities, you will undertake independent study and research which, together with broader transferable skills, will set you up for your chosen career path, and for further study.

We expect you to come to the course with existing skills that you want to develop. Your practical work will be complemented by the theoretical knowledge you’ll develop, and you’ll have the opportunity to work on significant practical and writing projects. You will also be encouraged to set out your career pathway and identify the resources you’ll need to achieve your goals.

New for 2023, our BA (Hons) in Sound & Music Production gives you the opportunity to create music and sound in a variety of contexts and enhances your technical knowledge and creativity in both live and studio settings.

Through the core modules, you’ll focus on primary areas such as your studio toolkit, audio fundamentals, software skills, application of acoustic theory and approaches to responding to professional briefs. Alongside developing your technical knowledge, you’ll broaden your general knowledge of the industry, helping you to identify your place within it. You’ll also work with artists and composers from other courses on collaborative projects.

There are chances for collaboration in Year 2 with elective units where you can experience the needs and processes of film, game, animation and acting students. You will develop your knowledge of the recording industry, the live music industry, the film and TV industry, the audio postproduction industry and education industry.

Your final year will direct you towards your chosen career with your Final Major Project, Music Business and Dissertation units. You’ll graduate with the necessary skills and understanding you need to become a successful music producer, with a sustainable career in the music industry ahead.

Next steps

1. Applying

For full time undergraduate courses, fill out an application form via ucas.com (deadline 25 January). The institution name is UCA, the institution code is C93, and campus codes are C, E, F and M (for Maidstone TV Studios).

OR

For part-time undergraduate courses, fill out an application form directly with us using the ‘Apply now’ link on the course pages at uca.ac.uk

2. Your application

Once you’ve submitted your application, you’ll receive an email from us with your username and password for the UCA Applicant Portal.

3.

Create a portfolio

We really hope you’ve got all the information you need and are feeling excited about starting the next stage of your journey with us at UCA.

If you’d like to apply to become a student here, there are a few things you need to do. So, we’ve put together this checklist of tasks for you to tick off as you go.

4.

Come to your applicant day

Depending on your course, you may need to create a portfolio of your work. Here are some tips (see page 53 for more):

Include 12-20 pieces of work, neatly presented.

Put your show-stopping pieces at the beginning, to grab the attention of the tutor.

– Keep any clips of moving image work to a maximum of three minutes.

Music clips don’t have a time requirement.

– Document your ideas in a sketchbook – this will show us how you think and approach projects.

– Find examples of your research that show how you have developed your ideas and put them in a presentable and well organised format.

– Show us your creative journey – let your personality shine through, and tell us what or who inspires you.

You may be invited to an interview/audition, where you’ll learn more about your course and meet the tutors.

5.

Read your offer email carefully

If your application is successful, you’ll receive an offer email from us that explains the full terms and conditions of your offer. You can also find details of your offer in your UCA Applicant Portal.

Accept your offer

For UCAS applications, accept by logging into UCAS Track

OR

For direct applications, accept using the task in your Applicant Portal.

International students: Pay your tuition fee deposit

Receive your CAS number

– Use your CAS number to apply for a visa.

7.

Apply for accommodation

As soon as you can apply for accommodation, we’ll contact you to let you know. This is usually in March for courses starting in September.

8.

Apply for a student loan

To apply, visit: gov.uk/student-finance

9.

Confirm your accommodation

For halls or local accommodation, make sure you’ve: Made your advance payment

– Confirmed your moving in date.

10.

Take your place at UCA Settle into your accommodation

Enrol on your course

– Meet your new friends Enjoy your creative journey!

Portfolio advice

At UCA, we know you’re about more than just grades. To us, exams are only part of the picture – your creativity and what you can do are just as important. Which is why, when you apply to most of our courses, we ask to see a portfolio.

Your portfolio is a collection of your best work; you might want to show us sketches and paintings, digital art and design, photography, fabric swatches or patterns, sound work, musical compositions, short films, or even essays and creative writing.

At our Applicant Days (or in an online interview if you submitted your portfolio digitally), we’ll get the opportunity to meet you and learn more about you as a person. They usually take place between December and March, and are a fun, informal next step in the application process.

We want to see what inspires you, what you create and what makes you unique. And if your course doesn’t ask for a portfolio but you still want to show us your work, we’d love to see it anyway.

Portfolio tips

For Animation, Design for Theatre & Screen, Film Production, Visual Effects, and Television Production, we’ll ask for 12-20 examples of your current work which shows off your experience, interests, aspirations and passion for the subject.

Remember, we’re all about quality rather than quantity. And we’re happy for work to be provided digitally where sensible.

Portfolios usually include:

– Idea and image generation work in sketchbooks

– Evidence of a strong interest and knowledge of the course

– Recent coursework/schoolwork where relevant

–

–

Any other materials which you believe would support your application

Evidence of your broader academic skills, including essay/critical writing

For Acting & Performance, there is a friendly and relaxed audition which aims to reveal your aptitude for acting and if your style is collaborative. Your audition piece should be a two-minute monologue from a play or screenplay (ideally not a television script) and we recommend choosing a character that you relate to or associate with.

For Film Production we’re looking for a maximum of three minutes of film footage and one or two complete pieces of work which demonstrate your storytelling, creativity and/or technical ability. Don’t worry about high production value, a scene or short film shot on your phone will work. We would also love to see images, web links or documents that demonstrate your interest in visual arts/creative writing. Alongside this, we want to know what inspired you, and what you learned.

For Composition for Screen we would love to see examples of your original composed music or sound work that you feel demonstrates your musical and sonic interests. It should represent you, your interests and your process.

If it’s not practical to bring physical work, photograph it, add it to a memory stick or upload it online. When uploading any work digitally, remember that if it’s a password protected site, we will need access. Try to use a platform that doesn’t require a login.

More questions about your portfolio?

Scan to find out more.

Entry requirements

When looking at whether to offer you a place on one of our courses, we’ll consider your academic credentials alongside the creative talent shown in your portfolio. You can learn more about how to put a portfolio together on page [53].

Here’s a breakdown of the usual academic requirements for each of our courses.

Integrated Foundation Year of a BA/BSc (Hons) degree:

– A-level results adding up to 64 UCAS tariff points

– Or a Diploma in Art & Design –Foundation Studies (Level 3 or 4) with a Pass

Or a BTEC Extended Diploma/ BTEC National Extended Diploma with Merit | Pass | Pass

Or a UAL Extended Diploma with a Pass

Or a combination of accepted Level 3 qualifications adding up to 64 UCAS tariff points

Or an IB (International Baccalaureate) with a score of 24 or above

BMus (Hons) Composition for Screen

Applicants will need an A-level in music or music technology, or Grade 5 Theory

– (ABRSM, LCMM, Trinity College, Rockschool or others recognised by Ofqual)

And: Four GCSE passes at grade 9 to 4 and/or A* to C, including English (or Functional Skills English/Key Skills Communication Level 2)

BA/BSc (Hons) degrees

A-level results adding up to 112 UCAS tariff points

Or a Diploma in Art & Design –Foundation Studies (Level 3 or 4) with a Pass

– Or a BTEC Extended Diploma/ BTEC National Extended Diploma with Distinction | Merit | Merit

– Or a UAL Extended Diploma with a Merit

– Or an Access to Higher Education Diploma

Or a combination of accepted Level 3 qualifications adding up to 112 UCAS tariff points

– Or an IB (International Baccalaureate) with a score of 27–30 (at least 15 IB points at Higher Level)

And: Four GCSE passes at grade 9 to 4 and/or A* to C, including English (or Functional Skills English/Key Skills Communication Level 2)

International students

International students can view typical entry requirements by country on our website. If your first language is not English, you will be required to provide evidence of your English language ability –usually a total score of 6.0 on the IELTS for UKVI Academic or IELTS Academic tests, with no less than 5.5 in any component. More information on our English language entry requirements and other evidence we can accept is available at: uca.ac.uk

Other qualifications

We can consider other relevant and equivalent UK/EU/international qualifications on an individual basis.

Sometimes, we make offers with lower entry requirements to students who have faced difficulties that have affected their performance, and who were expected to achieve higher results.

Open Days

Coming to an Open Day - whether virtually or in person - is a great way to find out more about UCA, the courses we offer, and whether this is the right place for you.

Whether you visit us in person or attend our online events, you’ll get a feel for life in our creative community and a taste of how our courses can help you turn your passions into an exciting and impactful career.

In-person Open Days

If you decide to come to an in-person open day, you’ll need to book a place on our website. It’s easy and free to do, and you’ll be able to register for any talks you’d like to go along to at the same time – from course-specific presentations to more general ones about life at UCA, and funding your studies.

There will also be campus and accommodation tours, and a subject exhibition where you can meet lecturers and chat to our student ambassadors about what life here is really like.

Chat to a student: uca.ac.uk/chat

Explore our online talks: uca.ac.uk/ events/future-students

UCA Open Days

2022/23

Saturday 26th November 2022

– Wednesday 18th January 2023

Wednesday 26th April 2023

– Saturday 17th June 2023

Saturday 1st July 2023

Book your place

UCA FarnhamUCA Farnham

Heathrow Airport

London

Channel Tunnel

Maidstone Television Studios

UCA Canterbury Gatwick Airport

UCA Epsom

Heathrow Airport

CONNECT WITH US

Join us at #UCAlive

Chat with our students

All information is correct at time of print. For the latest information please visit uca.ac.uk

We run live Q&A sessions where you can ask us anything you like about what it’s like to live and study here at UCA. Visit our website and follow us on social media to find out about our next #UCAlive session.

If you’re looking to find out more about student life at UCA, our Unibuddy scheme gives you the chance to chat with people who are studying here right now.

To chat with a student in your subject area, visit: uca.ac.uk/chat