Study in the UK: Cultivate your career in film and television

25 Aug 2017

It’s clear that the global film industry is alive and booming, with the UK’s thriving movie sector continuing to rise from strength to strength.

Yep, it seems in these times of uncertainty and financial strife, people are still flocking to the movies for a bit of light relief, causing the fruits of the nation’s creative industries to flourish in ways we’ve never seen before.

According to the Office for National Statistics, there was an 8.2 percent surge recorded in the second quarter of 2017 by the country’s film, TV and music sectors, making it the second-largest contributor to the increase in GDP, after the retail industry.

That, in itself, is impressive, but when you consider it in line with the remarkable pace of growth the industry has seen over the last few years, it’s really quite astonishing.

The ONS figures, as reported by The Guardian, show that since 2014 the economic value of the UK’s film, TV and music industries has grown 72.4 percent, compared with just 8.5 percent across the European Union.

This boom is being fuelled by Hollywood studios increasingly choosing to shoot big-budget films in the UK, attracted by significant government tax breaks, as well as access to top-class on- and off-screen talent and studio facilities.

And it’s really no coincidence that the UK’s first-rate talent proves so attractive to producers…

A wealth of world-class UK creative colleges and universities are behind this swell of skilled creative energy, with higher education institutes increasingly cultivating knowledgeable graduates who generate sustainable careers and become valued members of many a creative team.

To learn that craft and hone those raw talents, students need a university that will guide them on their creative path with expert wisdom, hands-on experience and industry connections that gets their career up-and-running before they even receive their mortar board and cape.

Here are 5 UK Schools that will help cultivate your dream career in film and television…

SCHOOL OF MEDIA, CULTURE AND SOCIETY – UNIVERSITY OF THE WEST OF SCOTLAND (UWS)

Get connected with all the right people at this creative hub at the heart of Scotland’s film and television sector. The School of Media, Culture and Society at UWS prides itself on its strong interactions with industry players, from which students massively benefit.

With over 370 placement partners across all areas of the media, design, music and performance industries, students get a level of exposure to industry professionals that most other universities simply can’t rival.

Among these connections sits a partnership between the School and Film City – a production facility that’s home to a broad portfolio of high profile TV and film companies – and the Centre for Contemporary Arts.

UWS’ approach to work-based learning means that students get to work alongside the professionals. This network of partners, paired with exceptional masterclasses and placements, creates graduates that are equipped to jump straight into the workforce and cultivate a sustainable and rewarding career.

The excellent facilities at the new state-of-the-art £81 million Ayr campus means you’ll have the best tools on hand to aid you on your creative journey (the stunning coastal location certainly doesn’t hurt either). While just a stone’s throw from buzzing Glasgow, students get the best of both worlds – the media centre of city life, as well as picturesque coastal Scotland. Find out more here.

SCHOOL OF ARTS – UNIVERSITY OF DERBY

If you want to create compelling film, radio, print or digital media products, the possibilities are endless when you study at the University of Derby.

With a vast array of courses to choose from in Film and Media Production, as well as a variety in Photography, Radio, Visual effects and Post-production, there is something to cover all angles of the whole production process.

You’ll be involved with exciting practical projects that will give you a strong understanding of what it will be like working in industry. Among these is the chance to film Derby County Football Club’s home matches for the club’s website – just one of the many real-world learning opportunities available when you study here.

You also get the chance to learn from the big names in the biz as media students attend workshops run by the Royal Television Society, meaning you get the ear of industry leaders from the word go.

DEPARTMENT OF FILM, MEDIA AND PERFORMING ARTS – UNIVERSITY OF PORTSMOUTH

This Gold-star University is located on the stunning south coast of England, but is only 90-minutes away from central London, granting you convenient access to Europe’s media hub.

With an outstanding reputation for quality teaching and exceptionally high levels of student satisfaction, the University of Portsmouth creates the perfect learning environment to get the creative juices flowing.

From undergraduate right through to doctorates, the Film, Media and Performing Arts department has it covered. All courses are informed by current industry practices and techniques, so you get the relevant knowledge to enter the workplace as a productive and valued member of any team.

This institution is also unique in its ability to offer a course specifically-designed for non-native English speakers. The BA in Film Production with Business Communication allows students to develop their English language skills as well as study the production of television and film, making it perfect for any aspiring global directors who want to also nail the business side of media.

UNIVERSITY FOR THE CREATIVE ARTS (UCA)

Oscar-winning film makers and animators, world-renowned fashion designers, television presenters and Turner-Prize nominees are just some of UCA’s high-profile graduates who have enriched the world with their creative talents.

Taught and guided by the University’s experienced, industry-connected academic staff, UCA students can take advantage of 110 creative courses and soak up the unique community of artists, designers, makers, writers and researchers.

As a specialist arts institution, UCA is 100 percent creative. It is this focus that makes them the number one specialist university in the UK for the creative industries as recognised by the Complete University Guide 2018.

To ensure students leave industry-ready, entrepreneurial in their outlook and equipped to enter the workforce, the Creative Enterprise team works with external partners to provide meaningful placements and experience for all students.

MET FILM SCHOOL

If you want to be right in where the action happens then you can’t find better than the Met Film School in London.

This world-leading film, television and online media school is based at the famous Ealing Studios, known for productions such as The Ladykillers, Notting Hill, Downton Abbey and The Theory of Everything.

Being in the creative hub of Europe means you’re constantly surrounded by the buzz of show business and are exposed to people who have been there, done that. All Met tutors are working screen professionals – TV and film directors, producers, screenwriters, editors, animators and other industry specialists with numerous awards, including BAFTA, Emmy and Oscar nominations.

The School offers both undergraduate and postgraduate courses, as well as short intensive courses over a six month period for those who simply can’t wait to turn their passion into practice.

*Some of the institutions featured in this article are commercial partners of Study International