Bachelor of Film and Television (Honours)

Overview

Gain the essential creative skills and technical knowledge to make high-quality cinema, television and digital media productions. You'll use state-of-the-art workstations, a purpose-built green screen room, high-end cameras and more. You could also opt for an International Study Tour to attend the Berlinale Film Festival in Germany or go on a creative residence in Italy. 

Learning outcomes

Students who successfully complete this course will be able to:

• analyse, evaluate and apply critical thinking and knowledge to articulate creative concepts and solve problems in the field of Film and Television and in preparation for higher degrees, whilst taking responsibility and accountability for their own learning and practice
  
• apply cognitive and technical skills to demonstrate a broad understanding of theoretical concepts in Film and Television, in addition to an advanced understanding of film production, research and scholarship in the production of cinema, broadcast and media content
• apply research principles and methods to exercise critical thinking and judgement to develop new understandings of Film and Television
• demonstrate tacit knowledge, creative and technical skills to embed research practice through independent research into a professional project and/or piece of scholarship with some independence
• demonstrate communication skills and the ability to work collaboratively in the development, production and management of Film and Television project work
• exercise critical thinking in adhering to the principles of sustainability and respectful production principles and knowledge to new and diverse contexts in Film and Television production.

Career opportunities

You may wish to explore a career in scriptwriting, directing, cinematography, editing or sound design with the opportunity to work in film production companies, post-production facilities and freelance production roles within the film and television industry. A diverse range of opportunities for graduates may also be found in advertising agencies, online content providers, broadcast networks and television studios.

Professional recognition

On completion of this qualification students may be eligible to become members of the following industry bodies and should confirm their eligibility with the association: Australian Cinematographers Society (ACS), Australian Directors Guild (ADG), Australian Screen Editors Guild (ASE), Australian Writers Guild (AWG), and Screen Producers Association of Australia (SPAA).

Course rules

To qualify for the award of Bachelor of Film and Television (Honours), students must complete:

• eight [8] core units of study (100 credit points)
• fourteen [14] major units of study (200 credit points); and
• eight [8] units of study (100 credit points) comprising a co-major, advanced minor, minor, and/or electives.
   

Students cannot use more than 150 credit points of Level 1 units towards the award outcome.

A unit of study can only be counted once, where units are shared between majors and/or minors, students must choose an approved alternative.

Students also have an opportunity to undertake a Work Integrated Learning (WIL) Professional Placement.

Professional placements

Professional placements are subject to a competitive selection process. International students may be eligible for a professional placement where a relevant professional degree exists. International students who successfully gain a placement through the selection process will be required to change courses to the relevant professional degree, in order to complete a placement and should consider any visa and extended study duration implications prior to applying.

Students who undertake a 12-month professional placement are subject to the following course rules and must complete 475 credit points comprising:

• eight [8] core units of study (100 credit points)
  
• fourteen [14] major units of study (200 credit points); and
• four [4] units of study from the Professional Placement Co-Major (100 credit points); and
• six [6] units of study (75 credit points) comprising an advanced minor, minor and/or electives.
   

Students who elect to undertake a 6-month professional placement are subject to the following course rules and must complete 437.5 credit points comprising:

• eight [8] core units of study (100 credit points)
  
• fourteen [14] major units of study (200 credit points); and
• two [2] units of study from the Professional Placement Minor (50 credit points); and
• seven [7] units of study (87.5 credit points) comprising an advanced minor, minor and/or electives.

Honours merit calculation

An honours merit calculation will be based on the averaged results of 100 credits points of major discipline Film and Television units of the course with the following descriptive outcomes:

• Bachelor of Film and Television (Hons) with High Distinction; for students who achieve 80 or above
  
• Bachelor of Film and Television (Hons) with Distinction; for students who achieve 70 – 79
• Bachelor of Film and Television (Hons) with Credit; for students who achieve 60 – 69
• Bachelor of Film and Television (Hons); for students who achieve less than 60.
   

For students who enter with exempted credits, a minimum of at least 100 credits within discipline units is required to be eligible for an award and for an honours merit calculation. At least 75 out of the last 100 credits comply with AQF level 8.

This honours merit calculation will be based only on units completed at Swinburne. If a student has not completed the specified units, they will graduate with a Bachelor of Film and Television as an award title, but not be eligible for a merit based honours description.

The following units will be used in the Honours merit calculation:

• FTV30014 Major Project: Screenwriting
  
• FTV30013 Major Project: Directing and Development for Screen
• FTV40007 Major Project: Production
• FTV40005 Film Theory and Research Methods
• FTV40001 Major Project: Post-Production and Distribution
• FTV40003 Screen Research and Writing

Maximum Academic Credit

The maximum level of credit that can be granted for the Bachelor of Film and Television (Honours) is 200 credit points (normally 16 units).

B. Applicants with higher education study

Educational history

An applicant's entire academic history, including results from previous higher education study will be considered for entry into this course. If previous higher education qualifications are incomplete, results must have been obtained in the last seven years.

Meeting course prerequisites

As for Year 12 or equivalent.

STAT/Bridging courses

Applicants who do not meet the English prerequisites can sit STAT Written English. STAT results are valid for two years.

C. Applicants with vocational education and training (VET) study

Educational history

An applicant's entire academic history from the past seven years, including complete and/or incomplete post-secondary VET studies, will be considered for entry into this course. Only graded results will be considered.

Meeting course prerequisites

As for Year 12 or equivalent.

STAT/Bridging courses

Applicants who do not meet the English prerequisites can sit STAT Written English. STAT results are valid for two years.

D. Applicants with work and life experience

Entire academic record

This course uses an applicant's entire academic record as part of its selection considerations, including an applicant's ATAR results from the last seven years can be considered for entry into this course.

Meeting course prerequisites

 As for Year 12 or equivalent.

STAT/Bridging courses

Applicants who do not meet the English prerequisites can sit STAT Written English. STAT results are valid for two years.