Graduate Certificate in Film and Television
Degree Level Postgraduate
Year 2020
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You're considered an Australian student if you are any of the following:
- Australian or New Zealand Citizen
- Australian Permanent Resident (including Humanitarian Visa holders)
Program Code
MCFT
Study as
Full-time
Mode
On-campus
Fees
$AU 16,400 per 0.5 EFTSL for students enrolled in 2020
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Entry requirements
Applicants seeking entry to the program will have:
a) a completed three year Bachelor degree from a recognised higher education institution in film, television or a related discipline OR
b) a completed Advanced Diploma in Screen and Media or equivalent from an accredited Registered Training Organisation.
Alternatively, applications will be considered from applicants holding a completed three year Bachelor degree from a recognised higher education institution in an unrelated field who are able to demonstrate substantial experience in film and/or television, demonstrable in the showreel and curriculum vitae submissions.
All applicants are required to submit a showreel of their own work and a curriculum vitae outlining their relevant experience. Details of showreel and curriculum vitae requirements and submission process will be provided to you on application. Please contact CILTeaching@unisa.edu.au for further information.
Degree overview
- Study a one-of-a-kind qualification unique in Australia, and develop the technical skills and knowledge to transition straight into your film and television career.
- Develop your technical skills with award-winning Matchbox Pictures studio creatives in this immersive, fully workplace-based qualification taught in a creative, real-world environment.
- Graduate with a professional portfolio of work.
- Benefit from the unique networking opportunities that come from working alongside skilled film and television professionals.
Snapshot
This one-of-a-kind, industry-based qualification will see you developing your technical skills in association with one of Australia’s most successful production companies, Matchbox Pictures, named by Screen Producers Australia as Media Production Business of the Year for three consecutive years.
All of your learning will be in an immersive, creative, real-world business environment. It is an intensive 12-week course that will give you the practical and technical skills to hit the ground running in the film, television and media industries.
What you'll learn
In this practice-based qualification, you will undertake all of your studies with highly skilled film and television industry professionals. Your qualification will comprise of four courses:
The Screen Industry – Business, Creativity and Content: Learning about the industry as a business and creative enterprise, such as the role of the creative producer; idea generation; pitching and financing through to sales and distribution; budgeting; pre-production; production; post-production; and marketing.
Screen Content Project (1 & 2): Undertaking a specific role on an industry project, such as taking responsibility for the preparation of pre-production; budgets; ancillary materials or marketing plans; or working to a producer or supervisor.
Professional Film and Television Practice: Keeping a record of the professional practice concepts and processes you learn, and critically reflecting on your learning outcomes.
Study hours
For each course you study, you will need to allocate time for various classes such as lectures, tutorials, workshops, seminars and practicals. Plus you will need additional hours to study in your own time to complete assignments, readings and projects and contribute to online discussion forums. So as a general rule, if you are studying full-time you would need to allocate 12 – 26 hours of study when at university and 14 – 28 hours of independent study per week.
Assessment
You can expect your assessments to include:
- journals, reports and projects
- continuous assessment and supervisor evaluation
Global opportunities
Enrich your studies and your life – make overseas study part of your qualification. Australian and international students may have the option to do an exchange, short-term program or study tour overseas. We have links with universities worldwide. You can choose short-term or semester-long study from a range of universities and countries depending on your area of study and cultural interests.
Take a look at the global opportunities available.
Why Graduate Certificate in Film and Television
This qualification will give you an enormous edge in the job market. It has been specifically designed to support the needs of the creative industries in South Australia and beyond, within an industry where finding graduates with the necessary professional knowledge and skills can be challenging.
You will graduate on a first name basis with prominent industry executives from Matchbox Pictures.
You will be one of the few graduates with a practical, hands-on understanding of and experience in the industry, and you’ll have the specific business knowledge and skills to start working as soon as you graduate.
Your career
As a graduate of this qualification and having worked with a nationally and internationally recognised company such as Matchbox Pictures, you’ll understand the specific workflow and production demands of the industry.
This qualification provides an opportunity for you to connect with industry in a career-changing way. You will be face-to-face with industry ‘hirers’ as you pitch your professional, industry-standard portfolio to major broadcaster, ABC iview.
At the end of the qualification, you will be on first name terms with some of Australia’s most prominent industry executives, significantly increasing your career prospects.
Industry facts
Applications are via UniSA's Apply Online portal.
All applicants are required to submit a showreel of their own work and a curriculum vitae outlining their relevant experience. Details of showreel and curriculum vitae requirements and submission process will be provided to you on application. Please contact CILTeaching@unisa.edu.au for further information.
Scholarships
Every year, over 2,500 UniSA students are supported in their studies through scholarships and grants worth millions of dollars. Check out the scholarships below. One of them may be perfect for you. Visit our scholarships page for more.
Scholarship for student leadership
$7,000 for a full year is available for students who are interested in undertaking specified activities with the aim of enhancing the overall student experience at UniSA.
International travel grants
Receive up to $2500 total in travel grants to participate in our Study Overseas programs. UniSA has agreements with over 80 institutions globally.
Your study experience and support
Our campuses have fantastic facilities including modern lecture theatres, libraries, workshops, laboratories, tech zones, and areas that simulate real work environments. You’ll also find student gyms and campus sport activities to keep you active. We also offer flexible study options, with online resources available for accessing lecture recordings, virtual classrooms, library resources and learning support.
Adelaide has a variety of accommodation options to suit different requirements and budgets. Options include dedicated student accommodation or private rentals. See our long-term accommodation pages for plenty of options. If you need somewhere to live, our new student accommodation by urbanest is on Bank Street in Adelaide’s lively cultural precinct, a perfect location for students. It is within easy reach of UniSA’s city and metropolitan campuses, Rundle Mall shopping, the Central Market, Chinatown, and the West End’s vibrant nightlife. It is also across the road from the Adelaide train station, and on bus and tram routes.
Student services
Our student support services can make your life at university easier. We provide a full range of support services including academic and personal counselling. You can also access a range of services through our students association, USASA. When you become a UniSA student you can contact Campus Central for help with anything related to your degree. They will help you with your enrolment, ID cards, fees, timetables and any other questions you might have.
24/7 digital environment
Our learnonline facilities include a personal learning environment with virtual classrooms, lecture recordings, emails, learning support, administration, library access and results. The environment is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, so you can tailor your learning to your life. We are continually investing in innovative digital technologies for a high-quality student learning experience.
Your program director
Wilson Main is an experienced TV producer, writer, and director who has produced over 800 episodes of TV and consulted to numerous films and TV pilots. He has worked in London, Europe, Australia, Africa and New Zealand and has licensed programs from and to the United States. He has created new programs for the Nine and Ten Networks in Australia and consulted to new program development in numerous countries. Many of the productions involved large amounts of underscore, themes and featured songs, and these have led to him being involved in the executive production of well over 1000 pieces of screen music. He has regularly attended the TV markets every year from 1997- 2010, including MIPTV, MIPCOM and MIPJunior in Cannes, Kidscreen in New York and on several occasions NATPE (USA). Wilson has also toured USA and Europe several times as a musician (guitar and bass). He continues to develop program concepts, several of which have been optioned in the UK and USA over the last few years.
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How do I apply?
There are a number of ways to apply to study UniSA's undergraduate and postgraduate coursework degrees.
Applications for admission into the University of South Australia’s undergraduate and most postgraduate degrees are made via the South Australian Tertiary Admissions Centre (SATAC). Visit satac.edu.au and follow the links.
For the MBA degrees please apply through the UniSA MBA Application Portal. Applications for a small number of degrees are submitted direct to UniSA through our Apply Online portal. It will be noted on the degree page if you need to apply via Apply Online.
Postgraduate study by research
For information on applying to do postgraduate study by research, including Masters by Research, PhDs or Doctorates, please visit unisa.edu.au/resdegrees. -
Is there a closing date for applications?
Undergraduate
Yes. The deadline to apply to study a degree at UniSA for semester one (commencing late February) and be given equal consideration is in early December. While you may be able to apply after this date, you are not guaranteed to be considered equally with other applicants and your application may not be assessed in time for the main round of offers (mid January). Some degrees will not make any offers after the main offer round. Please click here find all of the key dates for applications here.Postgraduate
Most postgraduate degrees do not have a closing date for applications. However, there are exceptions, so it is best to check – either on the SATAC website, Apply Online or the degree homepage. Postgraduate offers are normally ‘rolling’, meaning they may be sent out at any time up until the program starts. This also means that applications may close at any time without warning, if the quota is filled earlier. For this reason, postgraduate applications should be submitted without delay. For more information, please contact our Future Student Enquiries team on (08) 8302 2376 or via the online enquiry form. -
What credit can I receive for previous studies?
Credit transfer or advanced standing
You may be eligible to receive a credit transfer or advanced standing for your chosen UniSA degree based on your previous studies, if they are in a related area at an equivalent or higher level. Receiving a credit transfer will reduce the number of courses you undertake within the degree, and may also reduce the overall duration of your degree.
Recognised prior learning
If you have related industry experience, you may also be eligible to receive recognised prior learning for this experience. Receiving recognised prior learning will normally reduce the number of courses you undertake within the degree, and can reduce the duration of the degree.
How do I get credit?
Credit transfer and recognition of prior learning is assessed on a case-by-case basis by the Program Director who will discuss your prior learning and experience with you to ascertain what credit you may be eligible for.
Many of our credit transfer arrangements are listed on our online Credit Assessor.
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Can I speak to someone regarding my study options?
UniSA welcomes the opportunity to speak with you regarding your study options. Our staff are able to talk to you about degree information, career outcomes and pathways, entry requirements, applications, and student life, so that you are able to make the best study decision for your future.
Click here to book a 1:1 appointment with one of our enquiries team.
If you are interested in studying an MBA please contact admissions@unisa.edu.au and our Future Student Enquiries team will contact you regarding your enquiry.
Alternatively, you can complete a MyCareerMatch career profile. MyCareerMatch is an online career profiling tool that you can use free-of-charge through UniSA. MyCareerMatch specialises in career profiles and provides you with a personalised career report outlining information about your personality style and a list of career options, which are complementary to your natural strengths and talents.
We have many events throughout the year where you can speak with a lecturer or tutor about your degrees of interest. You can find out what is happening at UniSA by visiting our events page or by signing up to our mailing list, so you're the first to know about careers events, information sessions, degree requirements, scholarships and more!
There are also many career counsellors external to the University that you can discuss your career options with. If you are unsure where to start your search, you can contact the Government's Work Ready team (formally Skills for All). Visit skills.sa.gov.au or call 1800 506 266.
You may also find Job Outlook a helpful resource in your decision-making.
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Where can I get further information?
It can be difficult to decide what degree you would like to do and where. You might find information from government organisations will help to weigh up your degree and provider options.
Find a course or a provider
TEQSA is a regulatory body for higher education providers. Use the TEQSA national register of higher education providers to search for a course or a provider. Compare courses and providers for undergraduates and postgraduates using the Quality Indicators for Learning and Teaching (QILT) online comparison tool.
More information on university admission
Visit the SATAC website to find out important news, events and information on applying to university in South Australia. Visit Study with Us to find out everything you need to know about studying at UniSA, admissions and the application process.
Questions about your application
If you have any questions or concerns regarding your application you should contact the Future Students Enquiries team in the first instance.
What others are saying
The Graduate Certificate in Film and Television is a must-do for aspiring film producers, writers and directors searching for an effective route to bridge university studies with industry employment and engagement. The course provided me with the perfect opportunity to form many important industry connections in a one-on-one intimate environment, and the advanced knowledge I have attained is far beyond any other course of its kind. From ideas on paper, to the distribution and broadcast of a project – every single step of the film and television production journey is explained in immense detail. This truly unique program has left me with an extremely clear vision of how to best pursue my individual film and television industry dream, and along the way has formed life-long allies with my classmates and mentorships within the heart of the industry.
Lewis Kennedy
Graduate Certificate in Film and Television
To be honest I enrolled in the graduate certificate in film and television at Uni SA on the basis of Matchbox involvement. There is nothing quite like exposure to the ‘now’ that Matchbox can provide. Key members of the Matchbox team joined other guest speakers who are all at the top of their game, sharing their expertise across writing, contracting, budgeting, pitching, production and much much more. Add the tailored course coordinator and director’s support with the access to equipment and graduate student crew and it all adds up to ‘fantastic’. I've renewed my confidence, met future collaborators, gained a rare insider’s view, and obtained a vital snapshot of the industry right now. Highly recommend.
Sharon Cleary
Graduate Certificate in Film and Television
“There is no other course like this in Australia! The highlight was meeting and learning from some of the film and television industry’s top producers, directors, executives and writers in Australia, which is invaluable. I was also able to pitch my short documentary to ABCiView, which gave me an incredible real-life opportunity to pitch to the industry. This enabled me to prepare for a scenario that occurs all the time in the industry and was a fantastic experience.”
Meg Martin
Graduate Certificate in Film and Television
My time at UniSA massively set me up for the challenges ahead; especially on how to work on multiple projects at once. My biggest piece of advice for film students is to get your hands dirty! As a producer, I still make sure that all of my camera, audio, lighting and editing skills are up to date because then I can help out on the low budget projects in all aspects. It also gives you some scope as to how long something takes to be able to schedule correctly, and also how stressful or taxing each task might be on your crew so you can plan ahead. I love working in film, it’s crazy, it’s stressful, it’s collaborative and you end up with an amazing piece of work to show the world at the end!
Jodie Kirkbride
Graduate Certificate in Film and Television
Employment: KOJO
Role: Producer's Assistant
