Name: BA (Hons) Production Design for Screen & Film | MetFilm School | Previously Screen and Film School
Author: Tom Picken

Overview

This degree course has been developed to prepare you for a successful career in all areas of the art department in the film, television and related industries. The course is designed in close collaboration with Industry practitioners and teaches a broad and exciting range of relevant specialist skills. Fundamental to the delivery of this BA is the teaching of production design within the wider film school environment. This unique arrangement enables you to experiment and hone their skills in purpose-built design studios and test them out on live film projects. This helps you understand the role of design within film production whilst building a network of peers with whom you can progress through education and on, into industry. The course projects are designed to help you build of a strong and relevant portfolio of work, combining hand and digital skills which are essential for a career in today’s growing industry.

Students studying Production Design undertake a rich mix of speculative and live film projects in collaboration with Filmmaking, Film Business and Hair & Makeup students in all three years of study.

This course is offered through our partnership with BIMM University. UK students on this course may be eligible for the maximum Tuition Fee Loan amount, which covers the full tuition fee. Please check the Fees & Finance section for more information.

Why Take the Course?

Practical: Each year combines a mix of speculative and live film projects, with collaborations across departments such as Filmmaking, Film Business, and Hair & Makeup. You’ll work on a variety of design aspects, from model making and costume design to digital design and set decoration. This hands-on experience, supported by purpose-built design studios, allows you to develop and refine your skills while building a strong portfolio that reflects the demands of today’s industry.
Comprehensive: This course has been developed in close collaboration with industry practitioners, ensuring that the skills you learn are directly relevant to the film, television, and related industries. By working within a dedicated film school environment, you’ll gain a thorough understanding of the production design process, from concept to execution, while learning to integrate your designs within the broader context of film production.
Industry-facing: The course is delivered by both educators and industry specialists, with all lecturers bringing extensive industry experience. Regular visits from production designers and art directors, as well as strong industry ties, ensure that your learning is vibrant, up-to-date, and directly aligned with current industry practices. You’ll also have access to work placements between years 2 and 3, and continued support after graduation.
Real-life Experience: Throughout the course, you’ll work on live projects, including participating in graduate films that are screened at the end of the course. These projects offer real-world experience, allowing you to apply your skills in professional settings while building a network of peers and industry contacts.

*For a selection of the tutors who teach across our campuses, please see Our People.

Awarding body: BIMM University

Programme Aims

Equip students with comprehensive art department skills for successful careers in the film, television, and related industries.

Provide a broad foundation of production design skills, allowing for specialisation based on individual interests.

Develop creative, technical, and collaborative skills essential for effective and authentic design work.

Support a smooth transition into the industry with work placements, industry connections, and ongoing professional development.

Module Overview

First year projects cover a broad range of fundamental design skills including set design for studio and location, model making, drafting, costume design, graphic prop making, digital design, set decoration, set builds and on set work. By introducing you to wide-ranging skills and art department roles in Year one, this enables you to make informed decisions about your individual interests and strengths which you will develop and refine as you progress through the course. Year one projects are a balance of personal design work and cross-course collaborations on live films shoots.

Moving into your second year, your knowledge will deepen, and you will be encouraged to become more exploratory as your skills and confidence grow. The introduction of Option Modules such as Prop and Modelmaking and Digital Design & Concept enables you to tailor the course to your personal interests and strengths. As with the first year, projects are a balance of personal studio-based design work and cross-course collaborations on live films shoots. In the summer break between Level 5 and 6 you are encouraged to apply for work placements which are managed by our Creative Futures team.

During your three years you will have explored a broad range of art department roles and skills and will be ready, by Level 6, to focus on specialised role or roles of your choice. The third year is steered by you, and your focus might be production design or art direction, film graphic design, prop design or prop makes. In this final year you will undertake a personal project of your choice, alongside design work on live film shoots for a Graduate Film. The course is designed to prepare you for the workplace and by the end of Year three you will have a strong portfolio of work with which you can proceed into the Industry. The course culminates in Graduate Film screenings at the Duke of York’s cinema alongside a final Graduate Exhibition where you publicly display your work, offering valuable exposure to industry professionals.

We include a diverse range of teaching methods which include:

Productions
Seminar-style Group Teaching
Tutorials
Practical Group Work
Formative Feedback through Critiques, Pitches, Screenings, and Reflective Sessions
Work-integrated Learning
Authentic Assessment

We use a wide range of assessment which include portfolios, performances, research, presentations, and reflective work.

Entry Requirements

UCAS Tariff: 64 points
A-Level: CC
Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diploma: MPP
GCSE: Three GCSEs at a minimum grade C/4, including English Language or Level 2 Equivalents
IELTS: 6.0 with a minimum of 5.5 to be achieved in each band

UK applicants need to apply through UCAS using codes:

Course code: W492
Institution code: B39 (BIMM University)
Campus name: MetFilm School Brighton (Campus Code is 5)

Applicants may also provide an equivalent Level 3 qualification such as a Baccalaureate or International Baccalaureate.

If you meet certain criteria, you may be eligible for a contextual offer with reduced entry requirements.

Find out more about our contextual offers

For more information, please check Equipment in the Study with Us section for your chosen course, and the Location sections for the range of Equipment and Learning Resources available on each of our campuses.

For more information on BA (Hons) Production Design for Screen & Film entry requirements, language requirements, funding, and the application process please visit:

Study with Us

Dates & Prices

Apply

14 September 2026 - 18 May 2029

£9,535 (per year) – UK Students

£15,950 (per year)* – EU/EEA Students

£15,950 (per year)** – International Students

Apply via UCAS

*EU, EEA and Switzerland Student Discount
An automatic discount of £6,000 per year of study will be applied to all applicants holding a valid passport from these countries.

**Early Acceptance Discount
International students from outside the EU/EEA can save £2,000 per year of study by accepting their offer and paying their deposit by 15 June 2026.

International students who require a VISA to study in the UK are also welcome to apply for this course directly through our website. Applicants must meet the requirements set by UKVI.