The best film universities in the UK

If you’re wanting to get into the film industry, starting with a degree can go a long way. Here’s our list of the best film universities in the UK to start your search. This will exclude any film schools in London mentioned before because there is already a list you can check with this link.

1. Leeds Beckett University

Leeds Beckett has various campus sites such as libraries, learning support, teaching spaces, sports and gym, study spaces and food courts. Leeds School of Arts is one of the major leading university art schools in the North of the UK. The filmmaking degree is a three-year course, where you’ll learn about narrative, film conventions, skill workshops, film history, collaborative projects, industry, creative exercises, making films and an opportunity to study abroad. Also offering numerous societies in the media, arts, recreational, academic, cultural and more. Leeds Beckett is part of and has links to the creative sector in Yorkshire and much of the UK. Under the Leeds School of Arts, filmmaking is taught at the Northern Film School.

Filmmaking Degrees

• BA (Hons) Filmmaking

As well as MA degrees in documentary filmmaking, screenwriting and film curation and exhibition.

2. Screen and Film School Brighton

Screen and Film School Brighton is unmistakably one of the top film universities in the UK, known for its variation in filmmaking degrees and courses. SAFS Brighton has three sites across the artistic city with facilities, film sets, suites, screening rooms and communal student areas. SAFS also offers weekly masterclasses, industry-standard software and numerous spaces for collaboration and lounging. In addition, they possess a creative art department which includes a hair and make-up and production design studios as well as creative technical space, design HUB and photographic stage. Brighton is home to the UK’s longest running cinema the Duke of York’s Picturehouse plus Brighton Dome and Komedia both famous venues that showcase music, theatre, comedy and a number of arts-related events. SAFS Brighton has a great network of industry partners in film, television and digital marketing. In the second year of the three-year course you will have the opportunity to do a 2-4 week work placement at one of these companies. Screen and Film School also has locations in Manchester and Birmingham.

Filmmaking Degrees

• BA (Hons) Filmmaking
• BA (Hons) Production Design for Screen and Film
• BA (Hons) Hair and Make-Up for Screen and Film
• BA (Hons) Film Business and Production

They also offer masters, diplomas and short courses. Although not all of these courses and qualifications are available at the other locations.

3. Ravensbourne University

Ravensbourne is a specialist university, focusing on media and design. Ravensbourne University offers every creative subject there is but it also has numerous TV and sound studios, kit store, libraries and prototyping suite. Based in London, the capital city is rich with arts and culture and Ravensbourne is at its creative centre. London is multicultural and home to international talent its definitely the place to be for collaboration and networking. The historic city is filled with landmarks, pop-up events, galleries, theatre, live music, museums, art installations and interactive exhibitions. Local to the university itself is the O2 Arena and The Tide: London’s first elevated park.

Filmmaking Degrees

• BA (Hons) Digital Film Production
• BA (Hons) Digital Television Production
• BA (Hons) Editing and Post Production
• BA (Hons) Digital Content Creation

They also offer further education, short courses, apprenticeships and postgraduate degrees.

4. Arts University Bournemouth

Arts University Bournemouth specialises in art, performance, design and media. Within AUB is the Bournemouth Film School which is the largest film school outside of London. Arts University Bournemouth is the UK’s #1 specialist university for employability with industry standard equipment, studio spaces and a commitment to make dream careers a reality. The filmmaking degree is focused on practical learning in an academic setting providing the foundational knowledge and practices to develop the understanding of film production and industry. Also, using the cultural and historical contexts of film to broaden knowledge of film and apply to practice and protocols. Despite being registered for a BA (Hons) award, exit awards are available if you choose to leave the course. Although, with successful completion of that level you’re entitled to progress.

Filmmaking Degrees

• BA (Hons) Animation Production
• BA (Hons) Photography
• BA (Hons) Costume
• BA (Hons) Film Production
• BA (Hons) Make-up for Media and Performance
• BA (Hons) Visual Effects (VFX) for Film and Television

Also foundation, postgraduate and short courses are available too.

5. Central Film School

Founded in 2008, Central Film School offers undergraduate, postgraduate, summer school and short courses. Central Film School is a specialist film school. CFS offers a practical programme, industry professional tutors, small class sizes, industry links, frequent Q&A sessions with film industry professionals and access to professional equipment and kit. At the main campus the facilities include two studios, kit room, edit suite, prop room, post-production suite, camera room, sound recording suite and library. In the greater London area there are various major film studios such as Warner Bros. Studios Leavesden, Pinewood Studios, Ealing Studios, Longcross Studios and Shepperton Studios. CFS in 2018 created their own production company named Central Film Productions Ltd. with the purpose to provide production and mentorship for student and alumni projects. Central Film School’s industry partners include ARRI, BAFTA, technicolor, RED, Panavision, BFI, Kodak and Writer Duet.

Filmmaking Degrees

• BA (Hons) Practical Filmmaking
• BA (Hons) Screenwriting

6. Screen Academy Scotland

Created by Edinburgh Napier University and Edinburgh College of Art and opened in 2005. Screen Academy Scotland also offer undergraduate courses in acting for stage and screen as well as postgraduate courses in screenwriting and film. Screen Academy Scotland has famous patrons including Brian Cox and Dame Judi Dench. In the Craiglockhart Campus is their production facilities such as ARRI, Blackmagic and Sony cameras and other sorts of equipment. At the Merchiston Avenue Campus is post production facilities including a screening room, editing suites, sound booths and various software. Furthermore, Screen Academy Scotland provides masterclasses from industry professionals to give insight into a dynamic and fast-paced industry. Studying these Creative Skillset recognised degrees will enable creative and critical thinking that can translate to becoming and being a well-rounded filmmaker. The film school also has well-known alumni. Simon Price is a unit manager who graduated the MA Film degree. His work includes Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga 2020, Shetland 2018 and Deadwater Fell 2020. Robin Haig is a director who graduated the MFA Advanced Film Practice degree. Her graduation film Hula won the BAFTA Scotland New Talent Award for Drama in 2016. Since Haig’s filmography consists of Slingshot 2019, Saltmark 2008 and River City 2022.

Filmmaking Degrees

• BA (Hons) Film
• BA (Hons) Television

7. University of Westminster

This is one of the universities listed that isn’t a film school but offers film degrees. University of Westminster courses are industry recognised by ScreenSkills. UOW is ranked top 10 amongst UK institutions for Communication and Media Studies in the QS World University Rankings in 2021. In addition, graduates from this course have become Oscar and BAFTA winning alumni. Their BA (Hons) Film is a 3-year course with opportunity of doing a work placement year, throughout the course there are mandatory and optional subjects including documentary filmmaking, collaboration, production design, visual effects, animation, contemporary television, world cinema and much more. The Harrow Campus is a creative hub, home to gallery spaces, studios, creative labs and learning spaces.

Filmmaking Degrees

• BA (Hons) Film

They also have masters available in the Business of Film as well as Film, Television and Moving Image.

8. University of Kent

University of Kent offers a variety of undergraduate film degrees paired with other subjects such as drama and cultural studies. University of Kent has made a commitment that by 2025 Kent will deliver one of the best education and student experiences in the UK and be internationally renowned for it. Kent offers numerous joint/combined honours for Film as mentioned before and provides an opportunity to do a placement year or a year abroad. Subject areas in the duration of the 3-year course consist of modules such as theory, history, style, photography, world cinema, genre filmmaking, screenwriting, film criticism, adaptation, microbudget and many more modules and opportunity to collaborate. It’s also worth knowing that UOK was ranked 7th in The Guardian University Guide 2023.

Filmmaking Degrees

• BA (Hons) Film
• BA (Hons) Film and Media
• BA (Hons) Film and History