Filmmaking (with Placement Year) Bachelor of Arts (with Honours) - BA (Hons)

Explore the stories that matter to you with our hands-on film course
Integrate filmmaking, acting, and live production with our practical film course. You will learn in an environment that fosters creativity, technical excellence, and personal wellbeing. You’ll cover topics like:

• Cinema history
• Digital production
• Motion graphics
• Screenwriting
• Sound, lighting, and costume
• Documentary production
• Horror, sci-fi, and fantasy
• Funding in the arts

Expert teaching and support
Our lecturers are experienced industry professionals and current practitioners. And because class sizes are small, you’ll get their one-to-one support. We’re rated:


• Top 5 in Teaching Quality in the UK (The Sunday Times Good University Guide, 2024)



- 1st Academic support in London (National Student Survey, 2024)


Make London your classroom
Our campus is located in the green and picturesque London borough of Richmond-upon-Thames, so you’ll have plenty of opportunities to explore the capital's diverse film industry. We’re also only a stone’s throw away from world-leading studios, such as:

• Twickenham Studios
• Shepperton Studios
• Sky Studios

Together, we’ll explore the London film scene through:

• British Film Institute (BFI)
• London Film Festival
• Film walking tours

State-of-the-art facilities
During your filmmaking course, you’ll access specialist facilities like the:

• Media Production Suite
• Computer labs

Work experience
You can complete work experience to build your skills and network. You could work at:

• Post-production houses
• Independent film productions
• Film and TV studios

About the Placement Year
A placement year enables you to undertake a year of experience in an organisation between your second and final year.

It will enable you to:


- apply the knowledge and skills you gain from your course in a work setting


- build your commercial awareness and insights into organisations and industries you might want to work in


- develop your professional skills through company training, networking skills and confidence in the workplace


- get some great experience for future job applications or even land a graduate job.


Support from St Mary’s every step of the way
Securing a placement can really help you develop your job search skills and the Employability Service placement and Careers Teams can support you to find and apply for available opportunities.

Please note: in the event that you cannot secure a placement you will be able to transfer onto the three year version of your degree programme.

Hear from our students
Jonny, Film student – “My time at St Mary’s has been some of the best years of my life. The opportunities I have been given and the friends I have made have been amazing.”

Why St Mary’s?
You will gain skills and support to make a positive impact – for yourself and for others – through high-quality teaching, real-world experience, and a community that lifts each other up. Our campus is a London oasis – blending city energy with open green spaces to think, connect, and grow.