Film and Screenwriting

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https://www.bcu.ac.uk/courses/film-and-screenwriting-ba-hons-2027-28

Film and Screenwriting - BA (Hons) - 2027/28 Entry | Birmingham City University

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Undergraduate › Film and Screenwriting - BA (Hons)

Film and Screenwriting - BA (Hons)

Currently viewing course to start in 2027/28 Entry.

Develop your skills across key film studies and screenwriting debates and conventions on our BA (Hons) Film and Screenwriting course. Taught by noted film scholars and established practitioners, you will gain knowledge of international film and television screenwriting perspectives....

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Undergraduate

Study mode

Full Time

BA (Hons)

Start date

September 2027

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Film and Photography

Location

City Centre

This course is:

Available with Professional Placement year

Open to International Students

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Overview

Develop your skills across key film studies and screenwriting debates and conventions on our BA (Hons) Film and Screenwriting course. Taught by noted film scholars and established practitioners, you will gain knowledge of international film and television screenwriting perspectives.

Our degree is designed to equip you with the theoretical understanding, practical experience and knowledge of industry trends needed to succeed in a rapidly changing film environment.

What's covered in this course?

The course considers of a wide range of script to screen traditions from theory, practice and industry perspectives.

You will gain an understanding of cinema and television conventions and screenwriting genres (such as romcom, thriller, science fiction and horror). You will also be introduced to a variety of film and TV formats such as feature film, single drama, drama series, serials, sitcom, soap and web series.

Focusing on the aesthetic and creative aspects of film and television screenwriting, you will consider storytelling techniques, narratology, pitching and screen adaptation.

Modules such as Film Primer and Script Development provide complementary skills relevant to the film industry. You will have opportunities to work on established film festivals that are associated with the course and have access to film collections that will enrich your course of studies.

How you learn

You will be taught in a range of lectures, seminars, writing workshops and production sessions, while regular film screenings help you contextualise cinema traditions against your own script creations.

There will be opportunities to work alongside other students on complementary degree programmes in Filmmaking and Digital Film Production to produce full pieces of work to add to your professional portfolio as well as experience of working with script in live productions in our industry-standard studios.

Your formal studies will be enriched by the possibility to work on a range of external events, such as the Cine-Excess International Film Festival. This annual event attracts visiting international filmmakers, as well as hosting UK theatrical premieres on a regular basis. Having previously operated in London’s West End and Brighton, Cine-Excess has now relocated to BCU to operate as a central resource for the course.

We're ranked top 10 in the UK for Film Production and Photography for three consecutive years Guardian League Table 2026, 2025 and 2024

Professional Placement year

This course offers an optional professional placement year. This allows you to spend a whole year with an employer, following successful completion of your second year, and is a great way to find out more about your chosen career. Some students even return to the same employers after completing their studies.

If you choose to pursue a placement year, you will need to find a suitable placement to complement your chosen area of study. You will be able to draw on the University’s extensive network of local, regional, and national employers, and the support of our Careers teams. If you are able to secure a placement, you can request to be transferred to the placement version of the course.

Please note that fees are payable during your placement year, equivalent to 20% of the total full-time course fee for that year.

I've already been given a lot of opportunities, including working on a documentary as a researcher and composer. This has given me an IMDB credit and my work is in a DVD which will be featured at various film festivals. The course leaders provide valuable insight into the film industry to ensure we're ready for the industry by the time we graduate.

Darryl Mcsporran

Why Choose Us?

We’re ranked top 10 in the UK for Film Production and Photography for three consecutive years (Guardian League Table 2026, 2025 and 2024).

The course combines theory, practice and industry approaches to film and screenwriting, alongside training in film production techniques and script development.

You will be taught by noted film professors, cinema scholars and established screenwriters. Staff on the programme work together to ensure that you receive a balanced understanding of theory, practice and industry skilling relevant to the field.

We have a partnership with BFI, which offers students free access to the BFI player and research, work placement and masterclass opportunities.

You will have the opportunity to work on established film festivals that are associated with the BA. These include the annual Cine-Excess International Film Festival, which features visiting international filmmakers, UK theatrical premieres and industry mentoring sessions.

of students said that academic support on this course was good or very good. NSS 2026

Similar Courses

Filmmaking - BA (Hons)

English and Creative Writing - BA (Hons)

Creative Writing - BA (Hons)

Open Day

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Next Open Day: 21 November

an Open Day

Course in Depth

Year one

Year two

Year three

In order to complete this course you must successfully complete all the following CORE modules (totalling 120 credits):

Screenwriting for Film Genres 40 credits

Screenwriting for Film Genres is aimed at emerging screenwriters. The course will focus on the popular, commercial end of the film industry market, paying particular attention to audiences and the demands and expectations of the marketplace.

Film and the Principles of Storytelling 20 credits

This module provides an introductory course in film narrative and the principles of storytelling. The emphasis is on developing an understanding of narrative cinema. To do this the module will engage with theoretical models of storytelling and examples from narrative cinema.

Language of Film 20 credits

This module looks beyond Hollywood and America to examine notable film movements from across the globe that influenced cinema on a worldwide scale and left an enduring legacy, continuing to shape contemporary filmmaking. The aim is to develop your appreciation of films rich cultural and social heritage, and the social drivers and rebellious characteristics of the filmmakers leading the charge. You will examine the social, political and artistic drivers behind key works, and the mastery and innovation that they display in pushing the boundaries of visual storytelling at their time of creation.

Screenwriting Primer 20 credits

Screenwriting Primer will introduce you to the essential skills of, and principles behind, writing for the screen. You will study a number of freely available short guides to industry standard screenplay layout and formatting and apply that learning to the practical application of screenplay formatting software. You will create a portfolio of short screenplays, given as writing exercises through the learning schedule, and receive detailed formative feedback on the scripts, which you can use to improve and develop your work for your final portfolio. You will focus on visual storytelling, layout conventions, and be encouraged to identify the formal features of a screenplay in terms of character, genre, tone, plot and theme. You will also illustrate your understanding of elementary marketing principles.

Film Primer 20 credits

Looking at forms in films, students will learn how visual languages are being used and how to compose shots that are translatable to other mediums such as animation. You will learn to storyboard and create effective animatics and to succinctly convey ideas and vision to produce short a film(s) as a group and individually. Expect to pitch your ideas individually and as a team.

In order to complete this course you must successfully complete all the following CORE modules (totalling 80 credits):

Writing for TV 40 credits

Writing for TV is designed to help students build on the fundamental skills of writing for the screen and direct that skillset to writing for the multi-format world of television. You will demonstrate an understanding of how to structure scripts for 30-minute and 1-hour slots, for drama series, sitcom, continuing and serial dramas, while presenting an adherence to industry-standard TV screenplay convention, and demonstrating expertise in the presentation of marketing documentation. You will also have the opportunity to reflect critically on your creative considerations.

Script Development 20 credits

This module is designed to help you develop the skills to read and evaluate scripts for the film and television industry. By the end of this course, you will have the skills and knowledge to assess and evaluate scripts according to industry standards. You will be able to read treatments, identify elements of a script, and write comprehensive script reports and 'coverage' that will be useful to film and television producers.

Collaborative Practice 20 credits

The module is an opportunity to learn and critically reflect on the skills of collaboration by enabling you to create an interdisciplinary project with students from complementary disciplines, or with academic staff. Collaboration is a vital employability skill within the Creative Industries and this module allows you to develop these skills, making use of University facilities and with the support of academic staff. Within this module framework, several kinds of collaborative opportunities are available. For example, with the approval of your supervisor, you can determine a project based on your own interests; your supervisor may set you a predetermined project to enable you to work with other students in a way that is appropriate to your subject area; or there may be opportunities for you to collaborate with staff on research projects. In all cases, you must apply your subject skills to an interdisciplinary project which will be agreed in advance with your supervisor.

In order to complete this course you must successfully complete at least 40 credits from the following indicative list of OPTIONAL modules.

Adaptation for the Screen 20 credits

This module introduces students to the creative and critical processes involved in translating narrative from one medium to another. It gives students the opportunity to apply their knowledge of dramatic theory and form through practical work, simultaneously encouraging the development of imaginative screenwriting skills in different genres. Through historical and genre-based case studies, it provides an introduction to ideological and formal questions in the study of adaptation.

Cinema of the Seventies 20 credits

This module will provide students with an overview of the cultural relevancy of 1970s cinema. Initially exploring the context of the decade and the fragmented nature of film narratives at the time the module will discuss the emergence and demise of ‘American New Wave/New Hollywood’ but also explore further the style, substance and aesthetics of the varying sub-genres of the time as well as the cultural and creative impact they had on both cinematic presentation and other aspects of the media industry.

Pre-Production: Script to Set 20 credits

This module will teach the skills needed to take a screenplay through to principal photography via the process of pre-production. To be an effective filmmaker, knowing how to turn the words on a page into reality so that you can shoot requires an essential wide range of skills. Starting with a screenplay, the students will be taught to first build their vision through mood boards / look books, sizzle reels, reference clips, casting ideals, costume & art dept plans before evolving this newly formed vision into things such as scheduling, budgeting, legals & compliance, location scouting, casting and managing a team of creatives. In essence, from theory to practical reality.

Core modules are guaranteed to run. Optional modules will vary from year to year and the published list is indicative only.

Horror Narratives 20 credits

This module critically evaluates horror narratives in their cultural, historical and generic contexts across both visual and audio traditions, and asks you to analyse how debates in this area impact on creative and production practices in the field.

Professional Practice 40 credits

The module is an opportunity to learn and critically reflect on the skills of collaboration and/or your own professional practice. The module enables you to create either an interdisciplinary project with students from complementary disciplines or your own self-defined project.

Major Project 60 credits

The purpose of the module is to enable you to undertake a sustained, in-depth and theoretically informed research project exploring an area that is of personal interest to you. It is important that we can support you appropriately, so you will be guided towards choosing a research topic which is relevant to your discipline and in which your lecturers have expertise. The outcome may take the form of a written dissertation or a practice-based portfolio.

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During the first year of the BA (Hons) Film and Screenwriting course, you will be introduced to core debates across film and storytelling techniques through modules such as Film and the Principles of Storytelling. This unit presumes no prior knowledge of either film studies or screenwriting techniques, and your introductory skilling in these areas will be further expanded through the Screenwriting for Film Genres module, which considers script to screen traditions across a range of Hollywood film formats. Further modules such as The Language of Film allow you to identify key film styles and techniques on screen, while Documentary: Theory and Practice offers you the opportunity to create your own short films based on documentary techniques in the field.

As well as being able to undertake a range of optional modules around topics such as Foundations of Screenwriting, Screen Fandoms and Cinema of the Seventies, this second year of study also provides a dedicated module on Festival programming, which outlines the key industry skills associated with the staging of cinema events.

During the final third year of study, your knowledge of film and screenwriting techniques will focus on both specific film genres and national cinema traditions. A module on Horror Narratives considers literary and cinematic versions of the fantastic, while optional modules on Global Cinema Narratives and Reclaiming the Frame consider issues of film genre within global contexts. In addition to these national considerations, an optional module on Film Entrepreneurship allows you to assess key business practices that are relevant to the current cinema industry. As the culmination of your final year of study you will also undertake the Major Project module, which allows you to produce a feature film screenplay or carry out an independent study of an aspect of cinema theory, film practice or an industry convention that has interested you as a result of your studies on the BA (Hons) Film and Screenwriting course.

Classroom projects

During your studies there will be practice-based opportunities to engage with a regional film festival such as Cine-Excess, an annual international film festival and conference on global cult film cultures. You will also be able to access film collections such as the Cult Film Archive during the course of your studies.

Further study

For successful graduates there is a natural progression from the BA (Hons) Film and Screenwriting to the MA Film Distribution and Marketing, focused on nurturing entrepreneurial producers and distributors, or the MA and MSc Future Media focused on exploiting digital media and marketing opportunities through emerging technologies and advertising agency techniques.

Details can be found on the postgraduate section of the website.

Entry Requirements

These entry requirements apply for entry in 2027/28.

All required qualifications/grades must have been achieved and evidenced at the earliest opportunity after accepting an offer to help confirm admission and allow for on-time enrolment. This can also include other requirements, like a fee status form and relevant documents. Applicants can track their application and outstanding information requests through their BCU mySRS account.

Essential requirements

112-72 UCAS Tariff points

The offer we make you takes into account your individual circumstances, predicted grades, achieved qualifications and potential to succeed at university.

GCSE and other level 2 requirements

This course does not require evidence of GCSE qualifications. Please see A Level, BTEC and other level 3 requirements below.

A Level, BTEC and other level 3 requirements

Qualification

Entry requirements

A Level / AS Level

A Level: 112-72 UCAS Tariff points / BBC-CDE (or equivalent)

AS Level: Must be in a different subject to A Levels

A maximum of four subjects will be considered

Pearson BTEC (Diploma / Extended Diploma/ Extended Certificate)

Diploma accepted with one A Level or equivalent level 3 qualifications

Extended Certificate accepted with two A Levels or equivalent level 3 qualifications

Typical offers vary according to individual circumstances and may be equivalent to a Merit or Pass overall grade

All subjects accepted but Craft and Design and Media, Broadcast and Production preferred

Access to HE Diploma

Pass with 60 credits, 45 credits at level 3

Accepted subjects: Arts, Media and Publishing subjects preferred but other subjects also considered

OCR Cambridge Technical qualifications

NCFE CACHE Level 3 qualifications

WJEC Level 3 qualifications

Considered with two A Levels or equivalent level 3 qualification(s)

Irish Leaving Certificate (Highers)

112-72 UCAS Tariff points, achieved in five Higher level subjects

Scottish Higher / Advanced Higher

112-72 UCAS Tariff points, achieved from three Advanced Highers or two Advanced Highers plus two Highers

Welsh Baccalaureate

112-72 UCAS Tariff points. Considered with three A Levels or equivalent level 3 qualifications

UAL Level 3 Extended Diploma

Typical offers vary according to individual circumstances and may be equivalent to a Merit or Pass overall

Foundation Studies (Art and Design, and Art, Design and Media)

Typical offers vary according to individual circumstances

If you're applying with an International Baccalaureate Diploma or international qualifications, please see further information below.

Mature students

Applications from mature students (21+) with alternative qualifications and/or considerable work experience will be considered on their merits.

International qualifications

International Baccalaureate Diploma

Obtain 28-24 points overall

EU / International students

Please see your country page for further details on the equivalent qualifications we accept. In addition to the academic entry requirements listed above, international and EU students will also require IELTS 6.0 overall with no less than 5.5 in each band.

If you do not meet the required IELTS score, you may be eligible for one of our pre-sessional English courses. Please note that you must have a Secure English Language Test (SELT) to study on the pre-sessional English course. More information on pre-sessional English courses.

If you have a qualification that is not listed, please contact us.

Fees & How to Apply

Please select your student status to view fees and apply

UK Student

International Student

UK students

Annual and modular tuition fees shown are applicable to the first year of study. The University reserves the right to increase fees for subsequent years of study in line with increases in inflation (capped at 5%) or to reflect changes in Government funding policies or changes agreed by Parliament. View fees for continuing students.

Award: BA (Hons)

Starting: Sep 2027

Duration

£10,050 in 2027/28

Apply via UCAS

International students

£19,220 in 2027/28

Apply Online

Included in your course fees

Access to computer equipment

You will require use of a laptop, and most students do prefer to have their own. However, you can borrow a laptop from the university or use one of our shared computer rooms.

Printing

You will receive £5 print credit in each year of your course, available after enrolment.

Field trips

All essential field trips and associated travel costs will be included in your course fees.

Access to Microsoft Office 365

Every student at the University can download a free copy of Microsoft Office 365 to use whilst at university and for 18 months after graduation.

Key software

You will be able to download SPSS and Nvivo to your home computer to support with your studies and research.

Key subscriptions

Subscriptions to key journals and websites are available through our library.

Specialist software

You will be able to access free licences for specialist software such as Fade In screenwriting programme (Windows), Highland 2 screenwriting programme (Mac) and a BFI Player Subscription.

Free Adobe Creative Cloud licence

Students studying on this course can request a free licence to install the entire suite of applications on up to two personal devices.

Not included in your course fees

Excess printing (optional)

Once you have spent your £5 credit, additional printing on campus costs from 5p per sheet.

Personal stationery and study materials (optional)

Based on the experience of our students, you might find it helpful to set aside about £30 for each year of your studies for your personal stationery and study materials.

Placement expenses (optional)

If you choose to undertake a placement, you'll need to budget for accommodation and any travel costs you may incur whilst living or working away from home.

Field trips (optional)

This course includes the option of additional trips that may enhance your experience, at extra cost.

Books (optional)

All module key texts will be in the University library, but in limited numbers. You may choose to purchase a copy. We suggest budgeting approximately £60 for this.

Personal equipment (optional)

Whilst not essential, it is advised you own a computer or laptop, with the following specifications:

Recommended minimum specification for Windows: Intel Core i5 OR AMD Ryzen 5 processor + 8GB RAM + 256GB SSD storage + Windows 10.

Recommended minimum specification for Mac: Intel i5 or Apple M1 or better + MacOS 12 (Monterey) or better.

Production costs (optional)

For some production work you may wish to hire venues, equipment or performers which will have associated professional fees.

Subscriptions (optional)

You may wish to purchase subscriptions to additional journals and websites.

Accommodation and living costs (optional)

The cost of accommodation and other living costs are not included within your course fees. More information on the cost of accommodation can be found in our accommodation pages.

Guidance for UK students

UK students applying for most undergraduate degree courses in the UK will need to apply through UCAS.

The Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS) is a UK organisation responsible for managing applications to university and college.

Applying through UCAS

Register with UCAS

Login to UCAS and complete your details

Select your course and write a personal statement

Get a reference

Pay your application fee and submit your application

Guidance for International students

There are three ways to apply:

1) Direct to the University

You will need to complete our International Application Form and Equal Opportunities Form, and submit them together with scan copies of your original academic transcripts and certificates.

2) Through a country representative

Our in-country representatives can help you make your application and apply for a visa. They can also offer advice on travel, living in the UK and studying abroad.

3) Through UCAS

If you are applying for an undergraduate degree or a Higher National Diploma (HND), you can apply through the UK’s Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS).

You can request a printed form from your school or nearest British Council office. You will be charged for applying through UCAS.

Birmingham City University’s UCAS code is B25 BCITY.

Personal statement

The personal statement gives you a crucial opportunity to say why you’re applying and why the institution should accept you.

Here are the three areas you’ll need to address:

Why do you want to study this course or subject?

Here’s where you explain what makes this course exciting to you. Think about your motivations for studying the course and your future plans. If you’re planning to take a year out, don't forget to give your reasons.

How have your qualifications and studies helped you to prepare for this course or subject?

This is your chance to show what you’ve learned at school or college. You should include the skills and knowledge you’ve gained from education or training and how this will help you succeed in your chosen course.

What else have you done to prepare outside of education, and why are these experiences useful?

Not everything you’ve learned comes from the classroom. Life experience counts too! You might want to talk about work experience, employment, or volunteering and how they’ve helped you develop the skills needed for your chosen course or future career.

Worried about Personal Statements?

If you've got no idea where to start or just want to check you're on the right track, we’ve got expert advice and real examples from our students to help you nail your personal statement. You can even download our ultimate personal statement guide for free.

Get personal statement advice

Financial Support

We offer further information on possible undergraduate financial support. This includes the type of loans, grants and scholarships available both from the government and from Birmingham City University.

View fees for continuing students

Employability

We have an excellent track record for graduate employment, and graduates going into media-related roles. The course builds upon our employability-driven reputation, by opening avenues for students interested in potential careers in screenwriting, film journalism, communications, marketing and PR, advertising and teaching film/media studies.

Where our students go

Our students have gone on to work at the following film production companies including:

Discovery Channel

Studio21

Celsius Entertainment

FilmNation Entertainment

Bedlam Productions

Love Productions

Signature Films

Rollercoaster Angel Productions

Gambol Films

Phrato Cinematic Arts

Screenbound International

Mopicom Ltd

As well as gaining course-specific skills, you could also gain broader tools through our Graduate+ programme, which will help enhance your employment options by helping with careers development, employability activities, volunteering and part-time work experience.

Allied with this course-specific experience, you will also have access to a range of support staff and services from the University’s Careers Service, who can help with:

Reviewing CVs, covering letters and application forms

Career planning and decision making

Preparing for interviews and assessment centres

Developing portfolios

Networking with employers

Advice about self-employment and entrepreneurship

Placements

During your second year, you will have the opportunity to work as part of a mixed discipline team to respond to a brief, as part of an in-house placement element of the course.

In addition to this, there are regional opportunities for visiting and volunteering at film festivals, such as Cine-Excess, and Flatpack, and for networking with producers and distributors who function as guest speakers at such events.

Facilities & Staff

Film, Animation and Photography facilities

Take a look around the facilities available to you as a Film, Animation and Photography student at BCU.

See our Film, Animation and Photography facilities

Our staff

Andy Conway

Course Director for BA (Hons) Film and Screenwriting

Andy Conway is a novelist and screenwriter based in Birmingham, who graduated from this institution in 1994 with a 1st in English Language and Literature. He teaches undergraduate courses in Screenwriting, Drama and Adaptation, and also teaches Screenwriting at The National Academy of Writing, Worcester University and Newman College. He has also...

More about Andy

Rebecca Tullener

Senior Lecturer in Film

Rebecca has a commercial background in web, graphic design and video production, joining Birmingham City University back in 2003 to deliver on European funded projects supporting small businesses with screen-based technologies. The role involved strategizing and overseeing the development of websites and branded content. Rebecca went on to run a...

More about Rebecca

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