Cinematic Arts
The only course of its kind in Northern Ireland, the BSc (Hons) Cinematic Arts programme is for students who are interested in high quality storytelling on screen. A first of its kind course in the island of Ireland it has been designed with the future at the forefront, ensuring your skills remain relevant and preparing you for the ever-evolving professional world.
| Award Name | Degree - Honours Bachelor at UK Level 6 |
|---|---|
| NFQ Classification | |
| Awarding Body | Ulster University |
| NFQ Level |
| Award Name | NFQ Classification | Awarding Body | NFQ Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| Degree - Honours Bachelor at UK Level 6 | Ulster University |
Duration
3 years full-time.
Attendance
For this 3 year, full time degree, students are expected to be in attendance during the normal working week. Typically students will have around 12 weekly hours in class lectures a week during each semester. The majority of time is dedicated by each student to practice outside of the classroom.
In addition, students working on projects and in independent work may be required occasionally to attend for group meetings/seminars in the evenings and at weekends.
In line with the University’s attendance policy, attendance at all taught sessions is compulsory.
Entry Requirements
Irish Leaving Certificate
112 UCAS tariff points to include a minimum of five subjects (four of which must be at higher level) to include English at H6 if studied at Higher level or O4 if studied at Ordinary Level.
Careers / Further progression
Graduate employers
Graduates from this course are now working for:
BBC
Film Four
Foyle Film Festival
Game of Thrones (TV Series)
HBO
Krypton (TV Series)
Nerve Centre
Job roles
With this degree you could become:
Screenwriter
Editor
Cinematographer
Director
Producer
Lighting
Sound Design
Career options
Cinematic Arts graduates will complete their studies possessing a range of valuable and transferrable skills in key areas of moving image content development/production, communication and creative thinking. With such interdisciplinary skills future career opportunities aren’t limited to the cinematic world, other relevant roles and industries include:
• Advertising
• Ambient media
• Filmmaking
• Live performance
• Online media
• Research
• Screenwriting
• Visual Arts
For information on postgraduate research opportunities see: http://arts.ulster.ac.uk/rgs/
Career Sample of Recent Grads:
• Megan McArdle: Assistant Director, BBC NI, Winner of RTS NI Best Short Film Award 2018
• Lana Knox: Production Assistant on Guillermo del Toro's 'Antlers'
• Ayrton McGurgan:Camera Operator on Disney's 'The Lodge'
• Orla Finucane: Script Supervisor, Game of Thrones
• Ciarán Mullin:Media Trainer at Nerve Centre
Further information
Start date: September 2024
Deadlines for on-time applications
2024 entry application deadlines
For courses starting in 2024 (and for deferred applications), your application should be with us at UCAS by one of these dates – depending on what courses you apply for. If your completed application – including all your personal details and your academic reference – is submitted by the deadline, it is guaranteed to be considered.
16 October 2023 for 2024 entry at 18:00 (UK time) – any course at the universities of Oxford and Cambridge, or for most courses in medicine, veterinary medicine/science, and dentistry. You can add choices with a different deadline later, but don’t forget you can only have five choices in total.
31 January 2024 for 2024 entry at 18:00 (UK time) – for the majority of courses.
Some course providers require additional admissions tests to be taken alongside the UCAS application, and these may have a deadline. Find out more about these tests at https://www.ucas.com/undergraduate/applying-university/admissions-tests
Check course information in the search tool to see which deadline applies to you at the application weblink below.
Apply as soon as possible: Student funding arrangements mean that as offers are made and places fill up, some courses may only have vacancies for students from certain locations. It’s therefore really important that you apply for your chosen courses by the appropriate deadlines mentioned above, as not all courses will have places for all students.
All applications received after 30 June are entered into Clearing - find out more about Clearing at https://www.ucas.com/undergraduate/clearing-and-results-day/what-clearing
Overview
The start of your creative adventure into the world of film.
Summary
The only course of its kind in Northern Ireland, the BSc (Hons) Cinematic Arts programme is for students who are interested in high quality storytelling on screen.
Ranked 8th in the UK for Art and Design in The Times Good University Guide 2019 and 2nd for Film Production and Photography in The Guardian University League Tables 2019 Ulster University is one of the top places to study this highly practical and creative course.
In the age of streaming media (Netflix, Amazon Prime etc.) where content is constantly consumed, it is a very exciting time to be involved in cinema and film. Cinematic Arts will provide you with a whole host of essential skills required for filmmaking and image production across a range of platforms from mobiles and tablets through to modern 4k digital cinema screens.
A first of its kind course in the island of Ireland it has been designed with the future at the forefront, ensuring your skills remain relevant and preparing you for the ever-evolving professional world. Forging together storytelling with the very latest in professional film production standards you will develop key skills in filmmaking and image production, screenwriting for film and TV, cinematography, editing, acting and directing and music and sound design.
This extremely practical course will get you industry ready and possessing the knowledge, skills and innovative drive to compete in one of the fastest growing sectors of the economy; the creative industries.
Social Media
To stay up-to-date with the latest news from the Cinematic Arts team, our student work and relevant industry information, join the conversation on twitter at @cinematicarts_. Need some creative inspiration? View videos by current students at Vimeo.
About
This degree is for those who want to develop practical methods in dramatic filmmaking (movies and TV series) by drawing on a variety of creative and technological disciplines.
Technology and the arts are experiencing a period of profound change. Central to this change is the way in which these previously unconnected areas of study are becoming ever more dependent on each other with respect to the creation and delivery of content for new digital media platforms.
The course is extremely practical, and 100% coursework based. With such a broad spectrum of skills covered this provides you with the opportunity to find what you enjoy and specialise in it. If you are a creative thinker interested in becoming a film director; screenwriter; film producer or production manager; cinematographer; art director, postproduction supervisor, film editor and colour grader; tv and commercial director or researcher then this course is an excellent way to gain the knowledge and experience needed to start your career.
A hands on, project-based course, taught by enthusiastic and knowledgeable staff (93% of students agreed staff made the subject interesting, Unistats, 2019) here is a flavour of some of the modules you can expect each year:
Year One focuses on visual image and developing key skills with modules including Intro to Film Art, Editing, Visual Storytelling, Light/Camera/Sound and Intro to Acting. By acquiring high-level technology and software skills you will be uniquely placed to present your ideas in innovative ways.
Year Two focuses on narrative elements including character development and production design with modules including Screenwriting, Advanced Cinematography, Advanced editing, Art Direction, Dramatic Short, Visual Effects, Independent Cinema and World Cinemas.
After successful completion of Year Two you can opt to undertake a placement year or study abroad gaining a Diploma in Professional Practice (DPP) or Diploma in International Academic Studies (DIAS).
Year Three consists of optional practice-based modules which include Web Series, Film Business, Documentary Practice, Horror and Experimental Filmmaking. You will collaborate with other students to plan, produce and present a major piece of digital work. Examples of projects include film, documentary, video installation, interactive application, sound design/film score or, ideally, a mixture of a number of these areas.
This hands on, practical course replicates roles you would be performing in a real life set scenario helping to get you industry ready by graduation.
Here is a guide to the subjects studied on this course.
Courses are continually reviewed to take advantage of new teaching approaches and developments in research, industry and the professions. Please be aware that modules may change for your year of entry. The exact modules available and their order may vary depending on course updates, staff availability, timetabling and student demand. Please contact the course team for the most up to date module list.
Year 1
Introduction to Film Art
Visual Storytelling
Editing 1
Mobile Moving Image Production
Lighting, Camera, Sound
Dramatic Structures on Stage and Screen
Year 2
Cinematography
Screenwriting - Optional
Dramatic Short - Optional
Feature Screenwriting - Optional
Art Direction/Production Design - Optional
Editing 2 - Optional
Independent Film - Optional
Visual Effects - Optional
Life wide Learning & Personal Development (Cinematic Arts) - Optional
Sound for Productions - Optional
Production Management - Optional
Acting 4: Acting and Screen - Optional
Year 3
International Academic Studies (Cinematic Arts) - Optional
Industrial Placement (Cinematic Arts) - Optional
Year 4
The Business of TV & Film
Final Project (Practice)
Final Project (Theory & Context)
Documentary Practice - Optional
Horror Film: Theory and Practice - Optional
Experimental Film Practice - Optional
Law, film and visual culture - Optional
Assessment methods vary and are defined explicitly in each module. Assessment can be a combination of examination and coursework but may also be only one of these methods. Assessment is designed to assess your achievement of the module’s stated learning outcomes. You can expect to receive timely feedback on all coursework assessments. This feedback may be issued individually and/or issued to the group and you will be encouraged to act on this feedback for your own development.
Coursework can take many forms, for example: essay, report, seminar paper, test, presentation, dissertation, design, artefacts, portfolio, journal, group work. The precise form and combination of assessment will depend on the course you apply for and the module. Details will be made available in advance through induction, the course handbook, the module specification, the assessment timetable and the assessment brief. The details are subject to change from year to year for quality or enhancement reasons. You will be consulted about any significant changes.
Normally, a module will have 4 learning outcomes, and no more than 2 items of assessment. An item of assessment can comprise more than one task. The notional workload and the equivalence across types of assessment is standardised. The module pass mark for undergraduate courses is 40%. The module pass mark for postgraduate courses is 50%.
Associate awards
Diploma in Professional Practice DPP
Diploma in International Academic Studies DIAS
Diploma in Professional Practice International DPPI
Work placement / study abroad
On successful completion of Year 2 studies, you have the opportunity to take the optional module Diploma in Professional Practice (DPP) or (DPPI). This provides an opportunity for you to gain first hand practical experience within a professional environment such as an advertising agency or brand consultancy prior to your final year of study. This module links the education experience to the real life situation of practice in the creative industries. It provides you with a range of experiences and skills relative to your practice, future career and professional development.
You also have the opportunity to take the other optional module Diploma in International Academic Studies (DIAS). This optional module provides an opportunity for you to undertake an extended period of study outside the UK and Republic of Ireland, developing an international perspective and an appreciation of cultural sensitivities which are desirable qualities in any graduate. You will develop an enhanced understanding of the academic discipline whilst generating educational and cultural networks.
Past students have successfully completed placements at Hedgehogs vs Foxes (Dublin) and have studied filmmaking abroad in the USA, Denmark, Hungary, Madrid, Portugal and Turkey.
Ulster University,
Northland Rd,
Londonderry
BT48 7JL
T: 02870 123 456