Contemporary Film Making in the Highlands and Islands BA (Hons)
Course code W600
What is special about this course?
The BA (Hons) Contemporary Film Making in the Highlands and Islands is designed to allow you to produce creative films using the beautiful and diverse rural landscapes of Scotland.
The programme will give you the opportunity to collaborate with local communities, as well as arts and cultural industry experts, to set up realistic industry links for your future career and employment.
You will study a mix of craft skills, editing and production, film studies, documentaries, and cultural archiving and recording, in an environment that promotes personal development and learning. You will also develop skills in small business planning and research, while acquiring technical ability and hands-on, intensive experience.
Residentials take place twice each year and you will be required to self-fund any travel to these and cover accommodation and subsistence costs.
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:
- Factual film project
- Documentary film: development
- Fictional narrative film project
- Scotland in film
- Live event production
You will also choose one option module from our range of creative degree courses.
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).
How will I study my course?
Additional information for course delivery in 2021-22
From September 2021, it is our intention that physical campuses will be open to all students for access to study facilities, support services and social activities, subject to Scottish Government guidance. Our priority is to provide a safe learning environment for all students and staff. As this course was designed using our blended learning approach it will be delivered through a combination of tutor-supported study, video-based seminars and self-directed study using the university's virtual learning environment. You can access your online and video-based classes from home however it is our intention to provide on-campus space for individual students where required as far as possible. The residential will be planned in line with the developing Scottish Government public health measures and guidance, including social distancing, and is likely to be a virtual event this year. You will have an opportunity to attend an online induction at the start of the course. Further information will be provided by your home campus. International students requiring a Student Route visa to study with us must access scheduled classes on-campus.- Full-time
- Part-time (structured)
- Part-time (unstructured)
- You will learn through a combination of face-to-face and video conference lectures and tutorials, residential experiences and online study via the university's virtual learning environment (VLE), with support from your tutors
- Residentials take place twice each year and you will be required to self-fund any travel to these and cover accommodation and subsistence costs
How long will my course last?
- Full-time: 4 years @ 40 hours per week
- Part-time (structured): 8 years @ 20 hours per week
Where can I study my course?
- North Highland College UHI - Alness campus
- Orkney College UHI - The programme will run at Orkney College UHI subject to the recruitment of a minimum cohort
- Shetland UHI
Start date
- September
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.
| Degrees | 2020-21 | 2021-22 |
|---|---|---|
| Full-time (120 credit modules) per year | £1,820 | £1,820 |
| Part-time (structured) (3 x 20 credit modules) per year | £645 | £645 |
| Part-time (unstructured per module) (per 20 credit module) | £215 | £215 |
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:
| Full-time | Level | 2020-21 | 2021-22 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | CertHE | £9,000 | £9,000 |
| Year 2 | DipHE | £9,000 | £9,000 |
| Year 3 | Degree | £9,000 | £9,000 |
| Year 4 | Honours | free | free |
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) - £1,500.
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 has confirmed that EU/EEA and Swiss nationals starting their study in Scotland from academic year 2021-22, who do not have settled or pre-settled status, will be considered as international for fee purposes. For 2021-22, students will get an automatic scholarship of £3,000 per annum and the 4th 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.
| Year | Level | 2021-22 Full-time | With scholarship |
| Year 1 | HNC | £12,360 | £9,360 |
| Year 2 | HND | £12,360 | £9,360 |
| Year 3 | Degree | £12,360 | £9,360 |
| Year 4 | Honours | Free | Free |
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:
| 2020-21 | 2021-22 | |
|---|---|---|
| Full-time (120 credit modules) per year | £12,000 | £12,360 |
| Part-time (structured) (3 x 20 credit modules) per year** | £6,000 | £6,180 |
| Part-time (unstructured per module) (per 20 credit module)** | £2,000 | £2,060 |
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
External scholarships and financial support may be available. Contact the relevant university partner college for more information.
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.
What can I do on completion of my course?
On successful completion of this degree, you might like to consider an enhanced career in:
- Digital arteface production
- TV or film production
- Video production
- Post-production editing
- Camera operation
- Photography
- Production assistant
- Runner
- Location or props manager
- Programme researcher
Is there more information available online?
You can use the above QR code to connect directly to the course details.
What our students, graduates and staff say
Creating and learning as a filmmaker is the whole point of the course and having the ability to express ourselves tops a lot of other courses.
I’ve had great support both as a class member and as an individual. The course is being run fantastically, with the course leader listening to our concerns and using this feedback to improve the programme for future students.
Andy Wells is studying in the third year of the BA(Hons) Contemporary Film-making in the Highlands and Islands.
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Thank you for your interest in studying Contemporary Film Making in the Highlands and Islands BA (Hons) with us.
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We are delighted that you are thinking about studying at the University of the Highlands and Islands. We operate a fair and open admissions system committed to equality of opportunity and non-discrimination. We consider all applications on merit and on the basis of ability to achieve, without discrimination on grounds of gender, age, disability, ethnicity and socio-economic background. We welcome applications from all prospective students and aim to provide appropriate and efficient services to students with disabilities.