Film & Screen Arts (Extended Degree)

If you want to pursue a creative degree at Arts University Plymouth but feel you have yet to acquire the experience and range of skills necessary, our Extended BA programme will prepare you for entry to one of our BA (Hons) undergraduate courses.

What is Extended BA? Our Extended BA (Hons) Degrees offers a unique four-year route for students aiming to delve into the diverse realm of art, design, and media. This programme provides an initial exploratory year, where you'll cultivate insight into various creative skills and approaches, laying a robust foundation before advancing to a specialised degree of your choice. Whether you're returning to education after a hiatus or entering without formal qualifications, our Extended BA equips you with the requisite skills, knowledge, and experience to secure a place in our full undergraduate program.

Our Intensive Extended Degree program is a dynamic blend of lectures, workshops, and practical studio sessions designed to challenge and inspire. Our diverse student body spans from fresh-faced eighteen-year-olds to seasoned creatives in their seventies, fostering a rich collaborative environment. With the freedom to take risks and experiment, you'll develop a diverse skill set through hands-on experimentation with materials, processes, and methodologies. This transformative journey hones critical skills essential for degree-level study, expanding your proficiency in drawing, visual research, contextual studies, digital imaging, and design methods. Gain invaluable experience in a supportive atmosphere that encourages creativity, collaboration, and innovation.

Why Choose BA (Hons) Film & Screen Arts? BA (Hons) Film & Screen Arts is a practical filmmaking course that focuses on the craft and aesthetics of contemporary filmmaking. With a focus on cinematic storytelling, the course allows you to design and create story-worlds for a range of audiences, providing real insight into the global filmmaking industries.

This course allows you to gain the skills necessary to succeed as a practical filmmaker such as cinematography and lighting design, directing and camera operation, sound design and mixing, production decision and art direction, editing and post-production. You will also explore specialist techniques including production design, screen direction, sound production, set-building, editing, visual effects, social media production, and experimental image-making.

During this course, you’ll have the opportunity to design and make films, from your initial idea, to shooting and screening, all while considering your work in relation to culture, society, and the wider world. You’ll have the opportunity to develop a wide range of projects beyond traditional film, including screen-based installations, site-specific cinema, music video, and video art. Led by a team of filmmakers and media producers, all areas of your learning will be underpinned by a rigorous critical and cultural understanding of film in its many contemporary forms.

Students should expect practical skills and workshops covering all filmmaking roles and access to professional filmmaking equipment, from motion picture film cameras to industry-standard digital cinema cameras. You’ll also benefit from specialist studio facilities, including infinity green screen cove, sound recording studio, and editing workstations in class. Every unit incorporates hands-on filmmaking that builds to support location filmmaking excursions and live briefs. You’ll be encouraged to enter film festivals in the UK, Europe, and beyond, as well as have the opportunity to showcase work in an on-site independent cinema.

On successful completion of your Extended Degree year, you will be guaranteed a place on one of our full undergraduate BA (Hons) programmes. Many of our past students have gone on to achieve high grades in their degrees, including a large number with First Class Honours.