Contemporary Film Making in the Highlands and Islands BA (Hons)
Course code W600
What is special about this course?
Set the scene for your future amongst the beautiful and diverse rural landscapes of Scotland. Write, capture, and produce creative films in collaboration with local communities; involve experts in the arts and cultural fields, and cultivate healthy industry links that will stand you in good stead for your future career.
Study craft skills, editing and production, film studies, documentaries, and cultural archiving and recording, in an environment that encourages personal development and learning. Gain valuable knowledge in small business planning and research, while acquiring the technical ability and hands-on, intensive experience needed to succeed in this rewarding industry.
Special features
- You will be taught by industry experts
- Collaborations with local communities and industry experts will help you set up realistic links for your future career
- A blend of theory, technical and project-based learning is applied throughout the course
- You will receive hands-on learning and immediate experience, and develop skills in business planning and research
- Residentials will enrich your experience
Accommodation
We offer modern student accommodation at a number of our locations.
Entry requirements
- 3 Scottish Highers at grade C or above, one in a literary subject, eg English, History, Psychology OR
- 2 A levels at grade C or above, one in a literary subject AND
- Standard Grade Credit level, National 5 Computing Science at grade C or above, or equivalent
- Alternatively, Foundation Apprenticeship Creative and Digital Media PLUS an additional Scottish Higher in either English, History or Psychology, at Grade C or above
- Relevant industry experience or understanding of the requirements of film-making is also required
- You will be required to attend an interview to assess your technical ability
- Applicants with other qualifications or experience will be considered on an individual basis
- Advanced entry to year two may be possible with a relevant HNC (with a B in the graded unit) such as: Creative Industries: Television; or Creative Industries Radio, Audio Visual Technology or Interactive Media
Access routes
SWAP Access courses
If you are eligible to undertake Scottish Wider Access Programmes (SWAP), please visit our SWAP access list for further information on grade profiles and available subjects.
Year 1 - CertHE
Core modules are:
- Writing for film: introduction to screenplay
- Single camera production
- Stories from the highlands and islands, making a film: pitch
- Moving images: history and development of film
- Stories from the highlands and islands, making a film: production
- Introduction to post-production
Year 2 - DipHE
Core modules are:
- Moving images: visual literacy
- Remote and rural film making in a highlands and islands community
- Creating work for clients: developing the brief
- Writing for film: writing a screenplay
- Creative work for clients: production
- Post-production
Year 3 - BA
Core modules are:
- Documentary film: development
- Factual film project
- Fictional narrative film project
- Film production: techniques and aesthetics
- Live event production (mandatory residential in Shetland)
- Scotland in film
Year 4 - BA (Hons)
Core modules are:
- Critical commentary
- Post-production: advanced techniques
- Freelancing skills for the digital film-maker
You will also undertake a major film project (60 credits).
How will I study my course?
- Full-time
- Part-time
- Part-time modular (standalone modules)
- This course is mainly delivered online with scheduled sessions and tutorials. You may also be able to access sessions online from your local campus - please contact them directly for more information
- You will also study in-person, on campus, with filmmaking equipment available to hire and a Mac lab for access to NLE
- Online study will be done via the university's virtual learning environment (VLE), with support from your tutors
- You will take part in a mandatory 2-day in-person induction, in Alness or Inverness, at the beginning of your 1st year studies. You will also have mandatory 1-day inductions, either in-person at Alness or online, at the beginning of each Academic Year (August) in years 2-4
- You will undertake a mandatory residential that requires travel to Shetland for 3-days in your third year
- Accommodation: Alness Reception may have details of private landlords.
- You are advised to apply early for Student Halls of Residence at UHI North, West and Hebrides' Dornoch campus, to avoid disappointment
How long will my course last?
- Full-time: 4 years @ 40 hours per week
- Part-time: 8 years @ 20 hours per week
- Part-time modular: variable for continuing professional development (CPD)
Number of hours per week indicates the total number of hours you should dedicate to the course, which includes time spent in tutor-supported learning and your own time spent on individual study and research.
Where can I study my course?
- North, West and Hebrides - Alness campus
- Shetland
Start date
- September
Fees
For students normally domiciled in Scotland, with a term-time address in Scotland, the following fees apply:
This includes
- EU nationals with settled or pre-settled status in the UK,
- EEA/Swiss nationals with settled status in the UK
- EEA/Swiss nationals with pre-settled status who are self-employed or migrant workers in the UK.
| Degrees | 2024-25 | 2025-26 |
|---|---|---|
| Full-time (120 credit modules) per year | £1,820 | £1,820 |
| Part-time (structured) (3 x 20 credit modules) per year | £915 | £915 |
| Part-time (unstructured per module) (per 20 credit module) | £305 | £305 |
Rest of UK students
For students normally domiciled in the rest of the UK (England, Wales and N. Ireland, including Channel Islands and the Isle of Man) and with a term time address in Scotland studying this course full time, the following fees apply:
| Full-time | Level | 2024-25 | 2025-26 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | CertHE | £9,250 | £9,250 |
| Year 2 | DipHE | £9,250 | £9,250 |
| Year 3 | Degree | £9,250 | £9,250 |
| Year 4 | Honours | free | free |
4th year free only for students studying full-time, on continuous study, who have paid for the previous three years at the University of the Highlands and Islands.
Part-time (per 20 credit module) - £1,542.
Fees are payable in advance each academic year unless otherwise agreed.
There are a number of funding options available to UK students to help you pay for your studies and your cost of living while studying.
EU/EEA and Swiss nationals without settled or pre-settled status in the UK
Following the UK’s departure from the European Union, the Scottish Government confirmed that EU/EEA and Swiss nationals, who do not have settled or pre-settled status, will be considered as international for fee purposes. Students will get an automatic scholarship of £3,000 per annum and the 4th year of study will be free for those studying full-time, on continuous study, who have paid for the previous three years at the University of the Highlands and Islands.
This includes EEA/Swiss nationals with pre-settled status who are not self-employed or migrant workers in the UK.
| Year | Level | 2024-25 Full-time | With scholarship | 2025-26 Full-time |
With scholarship |
| Year 1 | CertHE | £14,988 | £11,988 | £15,870 | £12,870 |
| Year 2 | DipHE | £14,988 | £11,988 | £15,870 | £12,870 |
| Year 3 | Degree | £14,988 | £11,988 | £15,870 | £12,870 |
| Year 4 | Honours | £14,988 | Free | £15,870 | Free |
Students will need Student Route visa sponsorship to study on the UK.
International students
For students who do not normally reside in the UK or European Union and with a term-time address in Scotland, the following fees apply:
| 2024-25 | 2025-26 | |
|---|---|---|
| Full-time (120 credit modules) per year | £14,988 | £15,870 |
| Part-time (structured) (3 x 20 credit modules) per year | £7,494 | £7,935 |
| Part-time (unstructured per module) (per 20 credit module) | £2,498 | £2,645 |
Part-time study is not open to international students requiring Student Route visa sponsorship to study in the UK.
Further information on international course fees.
A no fee increase guarantee is available for self-funding full-time and structured part-time rest of the UK, EU and international undergraduate students for continuous study for the same award, up to the permitted standard time limit for the relevant award.
Funding
UHI has a number of scholarships, bursaries, awards, and discretionary fund opportunities available to new and current students. Please use the A-Z of funds or use the filter to see which ones may be relevant to you. All students are welcome to apply.
Further information on funding your studies is also available, please see the attached link or contact the relevant UHI partner.
Additional costs
Residentials take place twice each year and you will be required to self-fund any travel to these and cover accommodation and subsistence costs.
There is a mandatory residential in the third year for the Live Event Production module assessment, which requires travel to Shetland for 3 days. You will be expected to cover costs (including overnight ferry, hostel accommodation and subsistence), which are expected to be upwards of £250.
Please be aware that you will incur costs during the making of your films for assessments. You should work within your means and make use of existing inter-disciplinary working relationships with drama and music students at UHI.
What can I do on completion of my course?
On successful completion of this degree, you might like to consider an enhanced career in:
- Digital arteface production
- TV or film production
- Video production
- Post-production editing
- Camera operation
- Photography
- Production assistant
- Runner
- Location or props manager
- Programme researcher
Is there more information available online?
You can use the above QR code to connect directly to the course details.
Creating and learning as a filmmaker is the whole point of the course and having the ability to express ourselves tops a lot of other courses.
I’ve had great support both as a class member and as an individual. The course is being run fantastically, with the course leader listening to our concerns and using this feedback to improve the programme for future students.
Andy is studying the BA (Hons) Contemporary Film-making in the Highlands and Islands.
Apply for Contemporary Film Making in the Highlands and Islands BA (Hons)
We are delighted that you are thinking about studying at the University of the Highlands and Islands. We operate a fair and open admissions system committed to equality of opportunity and non-discrimination. We consider all applications on merit and on the basis of ability to achieve, without discrimination on grounds of gender, age, disability, ethnicity and socio-economic background. We welcome applications from all prospective students and aim to provide appropriate and efficient services to students with disabilities.