Key information
- Duration:
- 3 years full time
- Typical A-level offer:
- ABB
View full entry requirements - UCAS code:
- P313
- Start date:
- September 2025
“I’m a filmmaker of both drama and documentary, and bring this experience into the classroom. I give examples of how I approach a subject conceptually and how to produce a film practically.”
Professor Joanna Callaghan Professor of Filmmaking
Filmmaking has the power to entertain and open our eyes to new perspectives. This course is for you if you’d like to develop your critical and practical filmmaking skills to ignite your creativity.
At Sussex, you’ll learn from our active and innovative film producers and film scholars. On this course, you’ll:
- learn to produce both documentary and fiction films – developing skills in producing, directing, cinematography, editing, scriptwriting and sound
- explore film history and film theory
- take electives from other subjects – from business to law and modern languages – to open your mind to other disciplines and tailor your degree to your interests
- have 24/7 access to our specialist facilities, which include edit suites, a photographic studio, dubbing facilities and a foley studio
- be able to hire a wide range of professional equipment that’s free to use for extended periods, locally, nationally and internationally.
Outside the classroom, you’ll have opportunities to develop real-world skills. During your studies, you’ll build a portfolio of work to show potential employers. Masterclasses from alumni and industry professionals also prepare you for life after graduation.
Brighton is one of the UK’s fastest growing hubs for digital and creative media. Studying at Sussex, you’re perfectly placed for work experience and career opportunities.
We understand that deciding where and what to study is a very important decision. We’ll make all reasonable efforts to provide you with the courses, services and facilities described in this prospectus. However, if we need to make material changes, for example due to government or regulatory requirements, or unanticipated staff changes, we’ll let you know as soon as possible.
Course content
This is a single-honours course, allowing you to focus in depth on your core subject.
We’ve made some updates to the course to make your degree as relevant as possible. For details of the course changes, have a look at our table of change
Find the latest information on your modules and course structure below.
Find out about our types of undergraduate degrees, their structure, modules and credits
Your degree
Teaching
Teaching methods typically include:
31%: Lecture
21%: Seminar
48%: Practical
Assessment
Assessment methods typically include:
60%: Practical
40%: Written assessment
Contact hours and workload
This year of study includes approximately 1,200 hours of work. This breaks down into about 150 hours of contact time and about 1,050 hours of independent study.
Engage and actively participate throughout your studies to get the most out of your course.
Your modules
Core modules
Core modules are taken by all students on the course. They give you a solid grounding in your chosen subject and prepare you to explore the topics that interest you most.
Autumn teaching
- Audiovisual Practices
- Writing the Short Film
Spring teaching
- Global Cinema
- Introduction to Fiction Filmmaking
Explore modules from other subjects as part of your course
At Sussex, you can choose to customise your course to build the sort of degree that will give you the knowledge, skills and experience that could take you in any direction you choose.
As part of this degree, you explore subjects that are different to your course through electives that complement your main subject. Exploring different disciplines in three electives – one in Year 1 and two in Year 2 – helps enrich your learning experience.
We regularly review our modules to incorporate student feedback, staff expertise, as well as the latest research and teaching methodology. We’re planning to run these modules in the academic year 2025/26. However, there may be changes to these modules in response to feedback, staff availability, student demand or updates to our curriculum. We’ll make sure to let you know of any material changes to modules at the earliest opportunity.
We’ll do our best to provide as much optional choice as we can, but timetabling constraints mean it may not be possible to take some module combinations. The structure of a small number of courses means that the order of modules or the streams you choose may determine whether modules are core or optional. This means that your core modules or options may differ from what’s shown here.
Check back in January 2025 for more module details.
Your degree
Teaching
Teaching methods typically include:
30%: Lecture
30%: Seminar
40%: Practical
Assessment
Assessment methods typically include:
67%: Practical
33%: Written assessment
Contact hours and workload
This year of study includes approximately 1,200 hours of work. This breaks down into about 140 hours of contact time and about 1,060 hours of independent study.
Engage and actively participate throughout your studies to get the most out of your course.
Your modules
Core modules
Core modules are taken by all students on the course. They give you a solid grounding in your chosen subject and prepare you to explore the topics that interest you most.
Autumn teaching
- Film, Finance, Exhibition and Distribution
- Film Theory
- Intermediate Fiction Filmmaking
Options
Alongside your core modules, you can choose options to broaden your horizons and tailor your course to your interests. This list gives you a flavour of our options, which are kept under review and may change, for example in response to student feedback or the latest research.
While it’s our aim for students to take their preferred combinations of options, this can’t be guaranteed and will be subject to timetabling. Options may be grouped and if so, students will be able to choose a set number of options from the selection available in any particular group.
Spring teaching
- Advanced Screenwriting
- Animation
- British Cinema
- Documentary Video
- Indian Cinema: Popular Hindi Film
- Industry Brief
- Latin American Cinema: Contemporary Trends and Movements
- Playable Media
- Sound Design
- TV: Fictions and Entertainments
Explore modules from other subjects as part of your course
At Sussex, you can choose to customise your course to build the sort of degree that will give you the knowledge, skills and experience that could take you in any direction you choose.
As part of this degree, you explore subjects that are different to your course through electives that complement your main subject. Exploring different disciplines in three electives – one in Year 1 and two in Year 2 – helps enrich your learning experience.
We regularly review our modules to incorporate student feedback, staff expertise, as well as the latest research and teaching methodology. We’re planning to run these modules in the academic year 2025/26. However, there may be changes to these modules in response to feedback, staff availability, student demand or updates to our curriculum. We’ll make sure to let you know of any material changes to modules at the earliest opportunity.
We’ll do our best to provide as much optional choice as we can, but timetabling constraints mean it may not be possible to take some module combinations. The structure of a small number of courses means that the order of modules or the streams you choose may determine whether modules are core or optional. This means that your core modules or options may differ from what’s shown here.
Check back in January 2025 for more module details.
Study abroad (optional)
Apply to study abroad – you’ll develop an international perspective and gain an edge when it comes to your career. Find out where your course could take you
If your application to study abroad is successful, you’ll have to meet the academic requirements at Sussex and also at the partner university. Find out more about studying abroad as a Sussex student
Placement (optional)
To help you gain experience and increase your employability, you can apply for an optional placement as part of your course. You’ll be responsible for applying for and securing your placement. Our dedicated careers team can provide you with information and advice. If you’re successful in obtaining a placement, this will form part of your course.
Find out more about placements and internships
Please note that if you’re receiving – or applying for – USA federal Direct Loan funds, you can’t transfer to the version of your course with an optional study abroad period in any country or optional placement in the USA if the number of credits for the placement/internship exceeds 25% of the total credits for your course. Find out more about American Student Loans and Federal Student Aid
Your degree
Teaching
Teaching methods typically include:
39%: Lecture
61%: Practical
Assessment
Assessment methods typically include:
100%: Practical
Contact hours and workload
This year of study includes approximately 1,200 hours of work. This breaks down into about 164 hours of contact time and about 1,036 hours of independent study.
Engage and actively participate throughout your studies to get the most out of your course.
Your modules
Core modules
Core modules are taken by all students on the course. They give you a solid grounding in your chosen subject and prepare you to explore the topics that interest you most.
Autumn teaching
- Project Development
Spring teaching
- Final Creative Project
Options
Alongside your core modules, you can choose options to broaden your horizons and tailor your course to your interests. This list gives you a flavour of our options, which are kept under review and may change, for example in response to student feedback or the latest research.
While it’s our aim for students to take their preferred combinations of options, this can’t be guaranteed and will be subject to timetabling. Options may be grouped and if so, students will be able to choose a set number of options from the selection available in any particular group.
Autumn teaching
- Cinema and Migration
- Pop Soundtrack Cinema
- Race and Ethnicity in Popular Cinema
Spring teaching
- American Teen Cinema: Coming of Age on Screen
- Cinema and Sexualities
- Hollywood Industry and Imaginary
We regularly review our modules to incorporate student feedback, staff expertise, as well as the latest research and teaching methodology. We’re planning to run these modules in the academic year 2025/26. However, there may be changes to these modules in response to feedback, staff availability, student demand or updates to our curriculum. We’ll make sure to let you know of any material changes to modules at the earliest opportunity.
We’ll do our best to provide as much optional choice as we can, but timetabling constraints mean it may not be possible to take some module combinations. The structure of a small number of courses means that the order of modules or the streams you choose may determine whether modules are core or optional. This means that your core modules or options may differ from what’s shown here.
Check back in January 2025 for more module details.
Silver
The student experience and student outcomes are typically very high quality.
This rating was awarded in 2023, for four years.
(Teaching Excellence Framework 2023)
Find out more about our approach to teaching and supporting you to thrive
Our staff
Careers
At Sussex, you’re given the chance to develop further real-world skills outside the classroom. Masterclasses from alumni and industry professionals also prepare you for life after graduation.
You’ll learn how to use industry-standard software and equipment, and develop skills in video editing, photographic manipulation, digital design, animation and sound. You also build up a portfolio of work to show potential employers.
Working while you study
Our Careers and Entrepreneurship team can help you find part-time work while you study. Find out more about career development and part-time work
Design your future at Sussex
Taking the next step in your career can feel daunting, but we’ll help you to explore, connect and flourish throughout your studies and beyond.
As a Sussex student, you’ll learn how to tackle real-world challenges and have access to tailored programmes of careers support:
- our Career Lab helps you to explore your options, build key skills and connect with employers. Take part in internships, community consultancy projects and insight visits, where you can learn about life at organisations including Brighton & Hove Albion Football Club, Gatwick Airport and the Knepp Rewilding Project
- one-to-one coaching with your Faculty Careers Consultant can enable you to identify your career goals, write an effective CV and prepare for future interviews
- entrepreneurship initiatives like StartUp Sussex and Ideas Lab can empower you to turn your concepts into reality.
Explore how our Careers and Entrepreneurship team can support you
Winner
Supporting Student and Graduate Employability Award
AGCAS Awards for Excellence 2024
Winner
Entrepreneurship Catalyst Award
National Enterprise Educator Awards 2024
A-level - contextual offer
BCC
Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Diploma and one A-level - contextual offer
Grade B in A-level and Merit, Merit in Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Diploma.
Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Certificate and two A-levels - contextual offer
Grades BC in A-levels and Merit in BTEC Level 3 National Extended Certificate.
Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diploma (formerly BTEC Level 3 Extended Diploma) - contextual offer
DMM
T Level - contextual offer
Merit overall with a grade B in Core Component.