BA (Hons) Filmmaking is a practice-based course giving you the creative freedom to develop your voice through the dynamic language of film.

Our learning environment incorporates a unique mix of digital art and film school philosophies, empowering you to express your ideas and stories through narrative fiction, documentary, artists’ moving image and new media. You will specialise in original ideas from unique perspectives, with the potential for your work to be screened in international venues.

Studying at the School of Digital Arts means learning beyond the usual limits. You’ll be part of a vibrant creative community that spans a range of disciplines, from photography and animation, to music and sound design. It’s an environment designed for collaboration – a place where you can push the boundaries of filmmaking, explore the directions that interest you most and develop a broad skill set made for today’s digital arts and media sector. Here, you’ll have access to a vast range of specialist resources and purpose-built facilities, as well as a wealth of opportunities for developing your professional skills, from work experience placements and industry competitions to guest lectures and collaborations with organisations.  

The UK film and television industry is a global success story and Manchester is the perfect place to write your own chapter. It’s a major media city, second only to London. The likes of the BBC and ITV are on our doorstep at MediaCityUK, while the city is also home to a thriving, bustling digital production sector, from innovative start-ups to established production companies. For today, that means you’ll have the chance to work on live industry projects – developing practical skills and valuable experience. For tomorrow, that means you’ll graduate in one of the most exciting cities in Europe for starting a career in the creative and digital industries.

Placement options

SODA Placement Year

As part of your studies with SODA, you will have the chance to take a year working on placement within the industry. During your year, you will spend at least 36 weeks working within an organisation in the industry, developing workplace skills, practical understanding and genuine industry experience.

SODA Study Year Abroad

You can choose to spend an academic year studying with an approved partner university overseas, developing your core skills while demonstrating your initiative by engaging with a challenging curriculum at a foreign institution. This offers practice credits from the host university, after you’ve completed Level 5 of your SODA programme. 

If you take the four-year placement route, Year 3 will be spent on placement.

Graduates from the Faculty of Arts and Humanities are industry recognised for their creative ingenuity, problem-solving skills and ability to see the world differently. Many go on to be industry leaders in their own right.  

Recent graduates have gone on to be founders of independent production companies and editing companies, and successful freelance practitioners specialising as directors, editors, cinematographers, sound designers, producers, scriptwriters, production designers, visual artists and documentary filmmakers at film and media companies including Warner Bros, Universal Pictures, Marvel Studios, Paramount Pictures, ITV, BBC, Netflix, Heyday Films, British Council Film, Channel 4, Fox Searchlight Pictures, Walt Disney Studios,  Equinox TV, Mob Films, The Gate, Vice, Media Dog, Calumet, 24-7 Drama.