Contemporary Film Making in the Highlands and Islands BA (Hons)

What is special about this course?

Set the scene for your future amongst the beautiful and diverse rural landscapes of Scotland. Write, capture, and produce creative films in collaboration with local communities; involve experts in the arts and cultural fields, and cultivate healthy industry links that will stand you in good stead for your future career.

Study craft skills, editing and production, film studies, documentaries, and cultural archiving and recording, in an environment that encourages personal development and learning. Gain valuable knowledge in small business planning and research, while acquiring the technical ability and hands-on, intensive experience needed to succeed in this rewarding industry.

Special features

• You will be taught by industry experts
• Collaborations with local communities and industry experts will help you set up realistic links for your future career
• A blend of theory, technical and project-based learning is applied throughout the course
• You will receive hands-on learning and immediate experience, and develop skills in business planning and research
• Residentials will enrich your experience

Accommodation

We offer modern student accommodation at a number of our locations.

Entry requirements

• 3 Scottish Highers at grade C or above, one in a literary subject, eg English, History, Psychology OR
• 2 A levels at grade C or above, one in a literary subject AND
• Standard Grade Credit level, National 5 Computing Science at grade C or above, or equivalent
• Alternatively, Foundation Apprenticeship Creative and Digital Media PLUS an additional Scottish Higher in either English, History or Psychology, at Grade C or above
• Relevant industry experience or understanding of the requirements of film-making is also required
• You will be required to attend an interview to assess your technical ability
• Applicants with other qualifications or experience will be considered on an individual basis
• Advanced entry to year two may be possible with a relevant HNC (with a B in the graded unit) such as: Creative Industries: Television; or Creative Industries Radio, Audio Visual Technology or Interactive Media

Access routes

SWAP Access courses
If you are eligible to undertake Scottish Wider Access Programmes (SWAP), please visit our SWAP access list for further information on grade profiles and available subjects.

Year 1 - CertHE

Core modules are:

• Writing for film: introduction to screenplay
• Single camera production
• Stories from the highlands and islands, making a film: pitch
• Moving images: history and development of film
• Stories from the highlands and islands, making a film: production
• Introduction to post-production

Year 2 - DipHE

Core modules are:

• Moving images: visual literacy
• Remote and rural film making in a highlands and islands community
• Creating work for clients: developing the brief
• Writing for film: writing a screenplay
• Creative work for clients: production
• Post-production

Year 3 - BA

Core modules are:

• Documentary film: development
• Factual film project
• Fictional narrative film project
• Film production: techniques and aesthetics
• Live event production (mandatory residential in Shetland)
• Scotland in film

Year 4 - BA (Hons)

Core modules are:

• Critical commentary
• Post-production: advanced techniques
• Freelancing skills for the digital film-maker

You will also undertake a major film project (60 credits).

Fees

For students normally domiciled in Scotland, with a term-time address in Scotland, the following fees apply:

This includes

• EU nationals with settled or pre-settled status in the UK,
• EEA/Swiss nationals with settled status in the UK
• EEA/Swiss nationals with pre-settled status who are self-employed or migrant workers in the UK.

Rest of UK students

For students normally domiciled in the rest of the UK (England, Wales and N. Ireland, including Channel Islands and the Isle of Man) and with a term time address in Scotland studying this course full time, the following fees apply:

4th year free only for students studying full-time, on continuous study, who have paid for the previous three years at the University of the Highlands and Islands.

Part-time (per 20 credit module) - £1,542.

Fees are payable in advance each academic year unless otherwise agreed.

There are a number of funding options available to UK students to help you pay for your studies and your cost of living while studying.

EU/EEA and Swiss nationals without settled or pre-settled status in the UK

Following the UK’s departure from the European Union, the Scottish Government confirmed that EU/EEA and Swiss nationals, who do not have settled or pre-settled status, will be considered as international for fee purposes. Students will get an automatic scholarship of £3,000 per annum and the 4^th year of study will be free for those studying full-time, on continuous study, who have paid for the previous three years at the University of the Highlands and Islands.

This includes EEA/Swiss nationals with pre-settled status who are not self-employed or migrant workers in the UK.

Students will need Student Route visa sponsorship to study on the UK.

International students

For students who do not normally reside in the UK or European Union and with a term-time address in Scotland, the following fees apply:

Part-time study is not open to international students requiring Student Route visa sponsorship to study in the UK.

Further information on international course fees.

A no fee increase guarantee is available for self-funding full-time and structured part-time rest of the UK, EU and international undergraduate students for continuous study for the same award, up to the permitted standard time limit for the relevant award.

Funding

UHI has a number of scholarships, bursaries, awards, and discretionary fund opportunities available to new and current students. Please use the A-Z of funds or use the filter to see which ones may be relevant to you. All students are welcome to apply.

Further information on funding your studies is also available, please see the attached link or contact the relevant UHI partner.

Additional costs

Residentials take place twice each year and you will be required to self-fund any travel to these and cover accommodation and subsistence costs.

There is a mandatory residential in the third year for the Live Event Production module assessment, which requires travel to Shetland for 3 days. You will be expected to cover costs (including overnight ferry, hostel accommodation and subsistence), which are expected to be upwards of £250.

Please be aware that you will incur costs during the making of your films for assessments. You should work within your means and make use of existing inter-disciplinary working relationships with drama and music students at UHI.