Studies & Degrees in Film TV and video
Film TV and video Study Programs
Film, TV and video is the study of how moving images are made and understood. It has two sides. Production courses teach the crafts of making a film or a programme: scriptwriting, directing, producing, cinematography, art direction, editing and sound. Film studies courses teach the history, theory and criticism of cinema and television. Most degrees mix both, but the balance differs a great deal, so the first thing to check is how much of a course is practical work and how much is essays.
Production students usually start with all the crafts and then choose one. At the Escuela Superior de Cine y Audiovisuales de Catalunya (ESCAC), for example, the disciplines are production, directing, cinematography, art direction, scriptwriting, editing, sound and documentary. Students work in crews on short films, and a degree normally ends with a final film or project that becomes the centre of a portfolio.
Qualifications and levels
- Bachelor's degrees. In the United Kingdom a bachelor's degree lasts three years, or four with a placement or foundation year. The Film BA Honours at the University of Westminster lasts three or four years, the BA (Hons) Film and Television Production at Anglia Ruskin University three years or four with a placement, and the more theoretical Film Studies BA at the University of Southampton three years. In Spain a bachelor's degree (grado) has 240 ECTS credits over four years: the Grado en Cinematografía at ESCAC leads to a degree awarded by the Universitat de Barcelona, and the Grado en Comunicación Audiovisual y Multimedia at ERAM is taught under the Universitat de Girona.
- Master's degrees. A UK master's usually takes one year, such as the Film, Television and Moving Image MA at Westminster. In the United States the usual practical postgraduate degree is the Master of Fine Arts (MFA); the University of Miami, for example, lists a BSC and an MFA in Motion Pictures and an MFA in Documentary.
- Vocational training. In Spain the higher vocational training (FP) qualification Técnico Superior en Producción de Audiovisuales y Espectáculos lasts 2,000 hours and belongs to the professional family Imagen y Sonido.
- Short courses. Private schools and colleges offer courses in acting for camera, editing software, scriptwriting or documentary. These usually lead to the school's certificate, so ask what recognition the qualification has.
Where to study it
SpainExchange lists 93 active schools for film, TV and video. The United States has the most, with 32, followed by the United Kingdom with 13, Spain with six, France with five and Mexico with four. New Zealand, Canada, Australia and Argentina have three each.
Examples in the United Kingdom are the University of Westminster and London Metropolitan University in London, Anglia Ruskin University in Cambridge, the University of Southampton, York St John University and the University of Aberdeen. In the United States the list includes San Diego State University, the University of Miami, Florida Atlantic University, Purdue University and Binghamton University. In Spain it includes ESCAC in Terrassa and ERAM in Salt, near Girona. Elsewhere there are schools such as Tel Aviv University and Masaryk University in Brno.
The language of instruction follows the country. ESCAC teaches its degree in Catalan and Spanish, and ERAM in Catalan, Spanish and English. Film schools often select by portfolio, interview or a practical test as well as by grades.
Fees vary widely. As an indication, Westminster lists fees of £19,000 per academic year for international students on its Film BA starting in September 2027, and ESCAC gives an indicative price of €13,500 per academic year for its degree.
Careers
Graduates work as camera operators, editors, sound recordists, production assistants and coordinators, scriptwriters, directors and producers, in film and television companies, streaming and advertising, corporate video and online content. Many jobs are freelance and organised project by project, and people commonly start in assistant roles. The Spanish vocational qualification, for instance, leads to posts such as production assistant in film, video, television or animation.
For the United States, the Bureau of Labor Statistics states that film and video editors and camera operators typically need a bachelor's degree in a field related to film or broadcasting, and projects their employment to grow 3 percent from 2025 to 2035. Producers and directors typically need a bachelor's degree and several years of experience on productions; their employment is projected to grow 4 percent over the same period.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between film production and film studies?
Film production degrees teach how to make films and programmes: scriptwriting, directing, camera, editing and sound. Film studies degrees focus on the history, theory and analysis of cinema. Many courses combine both, so check the list of modules.
How long does a film degree take?
Three years in the United Kingdom, or four with a placement or foundation year, as at Westminster and Anglia Ruskin University. In Spain a bachelor's degree takes four years and 240 ECTS credits, as at ESCAC and ERAM.
Do I need a portfolio to apply?
Often, yes. Many film schools ask for a portfolio, a short film, a written piece or an interview in addition to academic grades. Each school publishes its own requirements.
Can I study film in Spain?
Yes. SpainExchange lists six schools in Spain, among them ESCAC in Terrassa, whose four-year degree is awarded by the Universitat de Barcelona and is taught in Catalan and Spanish. There is also higher vocational training (FP) in audiovisual production, which lasts 2,000 hours.