BA Filmmaking

The BA Filmmaking is a scripted, drama-based, practical filmmaking programme aimed at those who are passionate about storytelling in cinema and television. It is a rich and challenging environment for students who are keen to develop their storytelling skills and have the passion to produce and develop exciting drama content. The programme has Screenwriting at the heart if it whilst you develop your skills across camera, lighting, sound, production, directing and editing.

At RCS you have the opportunity to work with actors, composers, dancers and musicians, as well as your peers from production.

The programme has critical thinking at its core, with workshops and seminars designed to enhance your ability to appreciate what has gone before as you craft the stories of the future. You will benefit from industry contacts, which can include working on professional sets, masterclasses and expert tuition from industry practitioners. We will help you to develop your ideas and your creativity to the highest level, as well as offering you the opportunity to make films, tell stories and develop craft skills.

Year one

You will engage with the mechanical and creative elements of developing ideas for film and television, designed to develop your writing skills and creative awareness. Your ideas will be challenged and workshopped in a classroom environment where you’ll learn about film craft skills in camera, lighting, post-production, sound recording, producing and directing. You will gain experience in making individual monologue work and larger group shoots. Your film and television studies lectures and seminars will inspire your creativity by exploring the masters of
storytelling, both current and historic. At the end of the year, you will originate a short film script of up to five minutes.

Year two

Find your own distinct visual style through practice and exploration, develop directing and producing skills whilst creating short films throughout this year with acting students. You will take the lead at various roles to determine what is right for you, exploring storytelling by focusing on single directors or television shows.

Year three 

You will hone your practice of independent responsibility and development by choosing a negotiated path of study for the practical output you are involved with. You have the opportunity to write a draft of a feature script or TV pilot and your final year research project will focus on film or television criticism in relation to your project work. Throughout years two and three, there will be the opportunity to study subjects from a group of options modules offered to you from a variety of departments within RCS. These modules offer you the opportunity to further enhance your skills in your discipline or explore other related disciplines that are of interest to you.

The Royal Conservatoire of Scotland is in the World Top 10 for performing arts education 2016, 2017, 2018 and 2020 (QS World Rankings) 

• 93.4% of graduate respondents are in employment or further study (HESA, 2016/17)
• We focus on the individual – you will analyse the best of film and television storytelling with your own filmmaking craft in mind
• Strong relationships with the National Film and Television School and BBC Scotland
• Develop original short film and television programme ideas and make short films
• Opportunities to make short films
• AVID 101 for all first year students
• Professional partnerships include BBC Scotland, Procam and Dumbarton Studios
• Learn from award-winning expert staff
• Benefit from workshops and masterclasses from distinguished industry practitioners
• Excellent graduate employment opportunities – in the past year graduates have worked on The Avengers, Outlaw King, Outlander, The Wife and All the Money in the World

Ray Tallan
Head of Film

• Dr Andy Dougan Lecturer in Film and Television Studies
• Vince Hunter Lecturer, Directing/Writing
• Gavin Rizza Tutor, Post Production
• Seamus Skinner Visiting Lecturer, Location Sound
• Travis Reeves Visiting Lecturer, Post-Production Sound
• Karen Smyth Visiting Lecturer, Production
• Ruth Johnston Film Production Manager
• Paul Mitchell Kit Co-ordinator

There are also seminars and workshops delivered by guest professionals who previously have included Andrew Macdonald (Producer Ex-Machina, Trainspotting 2), Michael Hines (Director Still Game), Jed Mercurio (Writer Line of Duty – in conjunction with BAFTA Scotland), Helen Wright (Filmmaker and curator of The Scottish Queer International Film Festival) and Peter Mackie Burns (Director, Daphne).

We provide a mix of visiting lecturers and tutors and experienced full-time staff. Our visiting staff are current industry practitioners who are therefore able to bring the best of current sector practice into the classroom before our students take it back out to the industry. We have masterclasses with some of the best talent in the industry. Our students have worked with Richard Attenborough, Tony Marchant, Emma Thompson, James McAvoy, Billy Boyd, Bill Paterson, Peter Mackie Burns and Tom Vaughn.

The majority of our shooting is done on location and that means our students are trained to the highest level in industry practice. Films are shot on the BlackMagic Pocket Camera – 6K. We also allow students to shoot on formats that they might have access to (with prior agreement from our editing staff).

We have access to a classroom with 18 iMacs all equipped with Avid Media Composer software. There are three dedicated edit suites for Filmmaking students only.

Our films have also been praised for the quality of their sound and our students use industry-standard Sound Devices mixer/recorders as well as having access to Sound Devices 633 mixer/recorders with Sennheiser and Rode microphones.

RCS film graduates are employed by major broadcasters and production companies, and establish themselves as independent filmmakers. Some graduates work freelance for independent companies or on short film schemes, and some have gone on to postgraduate study, including with the National Film and Television School.

Some of our recent graduates’ successes:

• Michael J Ferns is an award-winning Children’s BAFTA-nominated director whose portfolio includes work for CBBC, Official Chart show, music promos and commercials
• Matthew Moss has worked on feature films The Wife, Avengers: Infinity War, All the Money in the World and the TV show Outlander
• Krysty Wilson-Cairns sold her science fiction script Aether to a major studio and is currently adapting the novel The Voyeur’s Motel which will be directed by Sam Mendes; in 2017 she was named as one of Forbes 30 under 30
• Paul Wright’s first feature film, For Those in Peril, was selected for the Cannes Film Festival and chosen to compete in Critics’ Week

Student final year films consistently play in festivals worldwide and have won awards including BAFTA Scotland New Talent and Royal Television Society (Scotland) Awards.

Behind the Scenes

Student films

A selection of our final year student films are listed below for you to see the quality of the work produced by our award-winning students. To see all of our final year films from the past decade please visit Vimeo.

Tuition fees for academic year 2020-21

• Scottish/EU Students – £1,820
• Rest of UK (RUK) Students – £9,250
• International (Non EU) – £17,685

Scottish/EU students

The Student Awards Agency for Scotland (SAAS) will pay tuition fees for all eligible full-time Scottish-based and other non-UK undergraduate EU students, who are studying in Scotland at degree level for the first time. Students should apply to SAAS for payment of tuition fees even if they are not applying for any other means of support. Eligible students can also apply for student loans through SAAS . For further advice and to check eligibility contact SAAS directly on 0300 555 0505 or visit their website .

Rest of UK students

Students from England, Wales and Northern Ireland studying in Scotland will be eligible for the same funding/loan package that they would benefit from if they attended an institution in their home country. For further advice please visit student finance England , student financeWales , or student finance Northern Ireland as appropriate.

International students

Students from outside the EU typically fund higher education by a variety of resources, depending on the home country. More specific information on funding options relevant to specific countries can be found on our International page. 

Scholarships

Any potential student who auditions for a place at the Royal Conservatoire will automatically be considered for a scholarship. They are awarded on a combination of talent, potential and financial need. More information about Scholarships is available here.

Sources of external funding

For more information about alternative funding sources, including external scholarships and bursaries, please visit here.

The Conservatoire’s International and Student Experience team are available to advise and assist applicants and current students in respect of queries about funding your studies at the Conservatoire. Please email or telephone +44 (0)141 270 8281/ +44 (0)141 270 8223 for further information.

Our admissions processes are designed to be fair, transparent and efficient. The audition/interview approach serves the dual nature of allowing the panel to assess first-hand an applicant’s suitability for their chosen programme and it also affords the applicant the opportunity to gain a deeper insight into the nature of that programme and the opportunities offered by the RCS.

In arriving at its recommendation, the audition/interview panel will take account of all aspects of the applicant’s profile i.e.:

• Performance at audition/interview
• Commitment to the particular programme
• Potential to benefit from the programme
• Academic qualifications
• Personal statement
• Performance qualifications
• Performance/practical experience
• References
• Contextualised data

General Academic entrance requirements

• Scottish Highers – 3 passes (grade C or above)
• A Levels – 2 passes
• International Baccalaureate – minimum score of 24 with 3 subjects at Higher Level
• Recognised equivalences (EU and International Entry Requirements)

We welcome the Scottish Baccalaureate and will accept combinations of Highers and Advanced Highers.

We offer a flexible approach to students taking Higher over more than one academic year and/or who achieve their qualifications in more than one sitting.

Language of Study

The language of study is English. Applicants who first language is not English will be required to provide evidence of proficiency in English. We accept the International English Language Testing System (IELTS). Level 6.5 (with no component below 5.5) is required.

Direct Entry

Applications for direct entry beyond Year 1 will be considered on a case-by-case basis and in accordance with the Royal Conservatoire’s Recognition of Prior (Experiential) Learning policy. If you wish to apply for direct entry, please mark the point of entry on UCAS Conservatoires application as 2 or 3.

Non-standard Entry

We welcome applications from individuals whose academic qualifications or English language qualifications do not match (in terms of equivalence) or fall short of the normal entrance requirements, where specified*. Having satisfied the Audition Panel that they meet the selection criteria and demonstrated that they have the capacity to pursue the proposed course of study, such applicants will be considered through examination of contextualised data provided in accordance with the Non-Standard Entry Policy. The appropriate Head of Department/ Programme will make a case in support of the applicant for consideration by the Directors of the Schools and Convener of the Quality and Standards Committee.

*Note that UK Visa and Immigration (UKVI) imposes minimum English Language qualifications in respect of international (non-EU) applicants who require a Tier 4 Visa to study in the UK.

Mature Students

RCS welcomes applications from mature students, i.e. students over the age of 21 at entry to the programme. Whilst the selection procedures will still be applied, consideration will be given to appropriate artistic experience not normally expected in school leavers, which is deemed to compensate for any lack of traditional entrance qualifications. Successful mature applicants, as for all other applicants, must convince auditioning panels that they have the ability and potential to cope with the demands of the programme. Their progress, especially in the early stages of the programme, will be closely monitored and appropriate advice and support given.

Apply via UCAS conservatoires

Applications are made through UCAS Conservatoires website. The UCAS Conservatoires application system is separate from the main UCAS undergraduate application system. If you wish to apply to conservatoires and universities within UCAS, you will need to register for both services.

There is a UCAS application fee of £26 to register to use UCAS Conservatoires.

To begin a new UCAS Conservatoires application, you will need to register. You can read the UCAS Conservatoires’ advice on completing the UCAS Conservatoires application.

If you need assistance with your application, you can contact UCAS Conservatoires team by telephoning (Monday to Friday, 8.30 – 18.00). Phone 0371 468 0470 from within the UK or +44 330 3330 232 if you are calling from overseas.

Application deadline date

The closing date for all on time undergraduate applications from the UK and EU is 15 January 2020. If you submit your application after this date, we cannot guarantee that you will be invited to audition.

The closing date for international applications (non EU) is 31 March 2020. If you do consider to submit a late application, please contact admissions@rcs.ac.uk in the first instance to check we are accepting late applications. Late applications will be considered on a case by case basis.

We do not offer deferred entry. If you wish to commence in 2020, you must apply next year.

The Royal Conservatoire of Scotland institution code is R58.

You will also require the following programme code to apply:

BA Filmmaking: 200F 

Application fee

There is a UCAS Conservatoires application fee of £26. In addition to the application fee, each conservatoire charges an audition fee. For RCS, the audition fee is £55 per programme applied for. Fees are not refundable. The fees are paid via the UCAS Conservatoires website and not directly to RCS.

Audition fee

The Royal Conservatoire of Scotland charges an audition administration fee of £55 per course.

We recognise that auditioning and interviewing for conservatoires, drama and ballet schools can be costly. The audition fee charge allows us to offer a thorough and positive experience to all applicants and we encourage you to ask the panel questions and find out more about the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland to see if it is the best place for you.

We are committed to ensuring fair access to a conservatoire education for students who have the talent and potential to benefit from it, regardless of their background. In support of this, audition fee waivers are offered to applicants whom financial hardship may be a barrier to auditioning. Please see the audition fee waivers document for more information

References

It is your responsibility to ask two separate referees to write references and ensure that these are sent to RCS.

The references must be written by two different people and we will not accept references from family, other relatives or close friends. You can submit your UCAS Conservatoires application form and send your references at a later date, but they must be received prior to your audition date.

UCAS Conservatoires provides reference forms for you to download and send to your referees for completion.

Entrance requirements

Our admissions processes are designed to be fair, transparent and efficient. The audition/interview approach serves the dual nature of allowing the panel to assess first-hand an applicant’s suitability for their chosen programme and it also affords the applicant the opportunity to gain a deeper insight into the nature of that programme and the opportunities offered by the RCS.

In arriving at its recommendation, the audition/interview panel will take account of all aspects of the applicant’s profile i.e.:

• Performance at audition/interview
• Commitment to the particular programme
• Potential to benefit from the programme
• Academic qualifications
• Personal statement
• Performance qualifications
• Performance/practical experience
• References
• Contextualised data

General Academic entrance requirements

• Scottish Highers – 3 passes (grade C or above)
• A Levels – 2 passes
• International Baccalaureate – minimum score of 24 with 3 subjects at Higher Level
• Recognised equivalences (EU and International Entry Requirements)

We welcome the Scottish Baccalaureate and will accept combinations of Highers and Advanced Highers.

We offer a flexible approach to students taking Higher over more than one academic year and/or who achieve their qualifications in more than one sitting.

Language of Study

The language of study is English. Applicants who first language is not English will be required to provide evidence of proficiency in English. We accept the International English Language Testing System (IELTS). Level 6.5 (with no component below 5.5) is required.

Direct Entry

Applications for direct entry beyond Year 1 will be considered on a case-by-case basis and in accordance with the Royal Conservatoire’s Recognition of Prior (Experiential) Learning policy. If you wish to apply for direct entry, please mark the point of entry on UCAS Conservatoires application as 2 or 3.

Non-standard Entry

We welcome applications from individuals whose academic qualifications or English language qualifications do not match (in terms of equivalence) or fall short of the normal entrance requirements, where specified*. Having satisfied the Audition Panel that they meet the selection criteria and demonstrated that they have the capacity to pursue the proposed course of study, such applicants will be considered through examination of contextualised data provided in accordance with the Non-Standard Entry Policy. The appropriate Head of Department/ Programme will make a case in support of the applicant for consideration by the Directors of the Schools and Convener of the Quality and Standards Committee.

*Note that UK Visa and Immigration (UKVI) imposes minimum English Language qualifications in respect of international (non-EU) applicants who require a Tier 4 Visa to study in the UK.

Mature Students

RCS welcomes applications from mature students, i.e. students over the age of 21 at entry to the programme. Whilst the selection procedures will still be applied, consideration will be given to appropriate artistic experience not normally expected in school leavers, which is deemed to compensate for any lack of traditional entrance qualifications. Successful mature applicants, as for all other applicants, must convince auditioning panels that they have the ability and potential to cope with the demands of the programme. Their progress, especially in the early stages of the programme, will be closely monitored and appropriate advice and support given.

Selection process

Applicants who apply on time (before 15 January) are invited by email, approximately three weeks before the audition date, to RCS to undertake an audition/interview. All auditions/interviews will take place at RCS in Glasgow unless you have chosen another location.

Please note that RCS is only obliged to offer one audition/interview date per application. Alternative dates will only be provided (subject to availability) in exceptional circumstances. If you are unable to make your allocated audition date, you should email us immediately stating the reason.

BA Film Making interviews will take place from mid November to June.

The BA Filmmaking course is looking for individuals who have something to say about the world and want to use the visual medium to say it. Storytelling is at the heart of what we do and a keen sense of story and ideas is vital as well as the ability to collaborate.

Once the interview process begins we will hold interviews at least every week and at stages in the process – probably around every six weeks – we will be in a position to offer a number of places on the programme. You will have to wait to hear from us but the good news is that you shouldn’t have to wait too long; we do not believe in asking people to put their lives on hold.

We may also ask you to submit additional context but this will be indicated at those six-week break points.

Audition

As part of your application, we invite you to submit a Film Studies written component and portfolio submission 10 days prior to your interview (further details will be emailed to you at least three weeks prior to your interview date and time).

Panels will judge applications strictly on the level of creativity shown in the completion of the interview tasks and the ability to tell a story with a finished piece of film. The film studies element of the interview must display an ability to view a film from a creative perspective and not as simply a member of the audience.

The film studies written element

In this programme, we value creativity and critical thinking as highly as we do technical ability. Critical thinking is especially important because by evaluating the work of others you will learn how to improve your own craft.

As an indication of your critical ability, you will be asked to submit a short piece of written work (250–300 words) from a list of films that the interview panel has compiled. Further details regarding this will be sent with your interview date and time.

Portfolio submission

We require you to create a short, scripted drama based on the guidelines given below. The short must be between two and three minutes in length (including titles and credits) and be based on a script.

Both the script and the finished film will be submitted to the interview panel prior to your interview date.

At RCS our core work is in scripted drama and we invite you to create a short scripted drama film on the theme of Secrets.

Your short should be creative and visually interesting to the viewer and not simply a record of what the word means to you. Your script and film should adhere to the following guidelines:

• Script should be a maximum of three minutes in length (it can be shorter but no longer)
• Maximum of three actors
• There must be at least one line of sync dialogue (sync dialogue mean we need to be able to see the actor’s mouth move in sync with the line. It is not narration or voice-over, although these may be used in other parts of the film)
• Minimum of two locations – one exterior and one interior location must be used
• No animation – ideas must be live action

We will not accept any finished films over the three minute limit. The time limit includes credits and title.

All films must fall within the bounds of compliance rules in terms of taste and decency. The Royal Conservatoire of Scotland has the right to reject a script or film submission that it deems not in compliance with taste and decency regulations.

We hope you find this brief exciting and it challenges your imagination.

The written components and the film have to be with us at least ten days before your interview date. If either is missing, the interview will not go ahead. The interview will also feature a few questions designed to benchmark your film knowledge and viewing habits.

If you cannot attend a live interview, please select your audition location as ‘telephone interview’. You will be emailed further details regarding the film studies written element and portfolio submission at least three weeks prior to a telephone interview date. We would recommend that all non-UK applicants choose telephone interviews; there is no advantage to be gained by interviewing face to face.

UK Auditions

We will also be holding interviews in Belfast for BA Filmmaking on Saturday 29th February 2020. Interview spaces are limited and are allocated on a first come, first served basis. For more information on our UK auditions, please e-mail our Admissions team at admissions@rcs.ac.uk.

Following your audition

All decisions will be posted on UCAS Conservatoires following your audition via UCAS Conservatoires Track,  (you will need your username and password). You will also receive notification from UCAS Conservatoires when decisions on all your choices are available.

Please see below for an explanation of UCAS Conservatoires codes:

Guaranteed Unconditional (GU) RCS is satisfied from the information you have given, that you have already met the conditions for entry. Unless your application and/or qualification are subsequently shown to be fraudulent, a guaranteed unconditional offer is binding.

Guaranteed Conditional (GC) RCS has made the offer subject to you meeting certain conditions such as examination results. Conditions can be viewed via UCAS Conservatoires Track. Unless your application and/or qualifications are subsequently shown to be fraudulent, the offer is binding if you accept the offer and meet the conditions. You must meet the conditions of the offer by 31 August 2020, unless an earlier date is specified. If your conditions include obtaining IELTS (English Language test), you must meet this condition by 31 May 2020.

Reserve Unconditional (VU) RCS is satisfied from the information you have given, that you have already met the conditions for entry and you have been offered a place on our reserve pool.

Reserve Conditional (VC) RCS has offered a place on its reserve pool subject to you meeting certain conditions such as examination results. Conditions can be viewed via UCAS Conservatoires Track.

Unsuccessful (R) RCS does not wish to offer you any type of a place.

Replying to offers

As soon as a decision is made, UCAS Conservatoires will let you know. You must reply online via UCAS Conservatoires Track. Your reply date is displayed on Track. If you do not reply by the date given, your offers will be declined automatically. The reply date may be different to other applicants as it is based on when you receive your last decision.

Last decision by	Your reply date is
3 January 2020	31 January 2020
16 March 2020	14 April 2020
14 July 2020	30 July 2020
4 August 2020	8 September 2020
After 4 August 2020	22 September 2020

Please see the UCAS Conservatoires website for more information on replying to offers. If you make an application through UCAS Conservatoires, UCAS or UCAS Teacher Training, you cannot hold more than one confirmed place. A confirmed place in UCAS Conservatoires is a guaranteed unconditional offer as your first choice (GU1) and in UCAS and UCAS Teacher Training it is an unconditional firm (UF) place. If you receive more than one confirmed place, UCAS will ask you to accept one offer and withdraw from any others.

Policy

We have a number of policies and statements which you should read when applying to study at the Royal Conservatoire.

Please select the links below to read each policy.

• Feedback policy
• Equality and diversity
• Applicants with disabilities
• Guidance for applicants with criminal convictions
• Admissions policy