Bachelor of Film and Television
Degree Level Undergraduate
Year 2024
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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 Permanent Humanitarian Visa holders)
Program Code
MBME
SATAC Code
444471 (Internal)
444531 (Packaged)
Study as
Full-time
or part-time
Entry Scores
2024 Guaranteed Entry
Year 12 (ATAR-based): 65.00
Year 12 (Grades-based): B,B,C
TAFE/RTO: DIP
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2023 Cut-Offs
Year 12 (ATAR-based):
- Internal: 65.00
TAFE/RTO: Cert IV
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Entry requirements
Admission criteria
The admission criteria have been grouped to assist you to easily find the information most relevant to your circumstances. However, you may fit into more than one and the university will consider applicants against each of the relevant criteria.
Certain conditions apply. For more information refer to Appendix 4 of the University's Selection and Entry policy.
Applicants are required to meet one of the following criteria with a competitive result, and demonstrate that they fulfill any prerequisite requirements and essential requirements for admission:
Recent secondary education
Meet any prerequisite requirements with a minimum grade of C- or equivalent
AND- Qualify for the South Australian Certificate of Education (SACE), and achieved a competitive Selection Rank (ATAR), or
- Complete secondary qualifications equivalent to SACE, or
- Complete the International Baccalaureate Diploma with a minimum score of 24 points
Applicants who have not achieved the Selection Rank required for automatic selection may be selected for any remaining places based on the grades of their year 12 subjects.
OR
Higher education study- Complete or partly complete a recognised higher education program at a recognised higher education institution, or
- Complete at least four Open Universities Australia (OUA) courses at undergraduate level or above
OR
Vocational Education and Training (VET)- Complete an award from a registered training organisation at Certificate IV or above
OR
Work and life experience- Qualify for Special Entry, or
- Complete a 12-month UniSA Foundation Studies program or equivalent, or
- Hold completed secondary qualifications equivalent to SACE obtained more than 2 years in the past
Essential requirements for admission
Prerequisites
NoneAssumed Knowledge
None
Degree overview
- Study Film, Television and Visual Effects.
- Specialise in Film and Television Production or Visual Effects.
- Gain an understanding of the professional production cycle from conceptualisation through to production and post-production.
- Work on real-world projects with industry professionals.
- Have the opportunity to be selected for a full year placement with Rising Sun Pictures.
- Learn in state-of-the-art television and radio studios - UniSA is home to one of SA’s largest green screens with motion capture technology.
- Work with the latest industry standard software, hardware and technology.
- Have the opportunity to study the entire third year of your degree with Rising Sun Pictures*
- Second and third-year students can participate in the Film Concept Lab*, working alongside We Made A Thing Studios on films for festival release.
- You will be industry ready and industry engaged with the opportunity to study up to 40% of your degree with Rising Sun Pictures or up to 25% of your degree with We Made a Thing Studios.
- Apply for the Bachelor of Film and Television/Master of Teaching (Secondary) packaged option– it’s a pathway straight into postgraduate study.
- Graduate career ready, with your own digital portfolio of work.
- We have world-class research in Creative Arts and Writing, Language, Communication and Culture1.
- UniSA is an unstoppable university for unstoppable people. As one of the World’s Top Young Universities2, we’ll ensure you get the experience your future profession demands so it’ll feel like you’re studying one minute and in a career the next.
*Entry is competitive and skills and performance may be taken into account.
12018 Excellence in Research for Australia (ERA)
2UNSTOPPABLE® is a Kellogg Company trade mark used under licence. Ranked #52, 2023 THE Young University Rankings.
Snapshot
The Bachelor of Film and Television is an innovative degree that puts you at the cutting edge of film, television and visual effects (VFX) production and theory.
You'll develop the technical knowledge and experience needed to enter the exciting world of screen production and content creation. While you study, you will develop the skills and network you need for a successful career in the creative industries, graduating with a digital portfolio of work and practical industry experience.
You also have the opportunity to specialise in visual effects in your third year of study at world-renowned VFX studio Rising Sun Pictures, where you will study alongside industry professionals and mentors.
Second and third-year students have the opportunity to participate in the Film Concept Lab and work alongside We Made A Thing Studios and other industry professionals in the production of films for festival release.
After completing your degree, you can opt to amplify your screen production industry skills and knowledge by continuing into our 12-week Graduate Certificate in Film and Television. Or if you finish your degree with a credit or higher grade point average (GPA), you could be eligible for the one-year Bachelor of Creative Arts (Honours) degree.
You could also continue your studies with a Master of Teaching and become a media arts teacher. If this interests you, please read How Do I Become a Teacher before selecting your courses. If you would like to apply directly into the Bachelor of Film and Television/Master of Teaching (Secondary) packaged option, please apply via SATAC using 444531.
What you'll learn
Throughout the degree, you will explore theory and practice combining traditional and digital forms required by industry. You will gain an understanding in all stages of the professional production cycle from conceptualisation and script writing, through to production and post-production.
You will analyse film and media from around the globe to gain insight into different creative contexts, forms and practices. You will develop professional knowledge in screenwriting, cinematic design, and the production of documentary, experimental and narrative film and television, and VFX, while understanding different media platforms and the end-user experience.
In the Film and Television Production specialisation, you will complete a series of industry, production and screen theory courses, and will have the opportunity to apply for the UniSA/WeMAT Film Concept Lab. In the Visual Effects specialisation, you will study the third year of the degree at Rising Sun Pictures, working alongside world-class visual effects artists who have created hundreds of sequences for motion pictures, including Thor: Love and Thunder, Elvis, Hawkeye, and Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings.
You will engage with industry leaders across all disciplines, work on real-world projects and use the latest production software and technologies, graduating career ready with your own portfolio of production work, showcasing your practical skills and creativity across a variety of media forms.
You'll work autonomously and collaboratively throughout the degree - just like in industry! You’ll work across a range of different roles, preparing you for a move into national and international industries when you graduate.
You can gain an extra qualification and broaden your career prospects by completing a Diploma in Languages.
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, as well as to contribute to online discussion forums (independent study). 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
Your studies will incorporate practical, professionally focused and research-based learning, so assessment types will vary. There may be essays, assignments and occasional exams. You could also expect:
- industry-relevant projects
- oral or online presentations
- finished work such as films, animations or VFX sequences
- journals outlining your experiences working on a project
Global opportunities
Enrich your studies and your life – make overseas study part of your qualification. You may have the option to undertake an exchange, short-term program or study tour overseas while you study. We have links with universities worldwide, as well as a range of travel grants available to make going overseas much more accessible.
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 Bachelor of Film and Television
This degree provides you with transferable ideas, skills and a broad body of professional knowledge in the discipline strands of Film and Television Production, and Visual Effects.
Our graduates include a winner of the South Australian Film Corporation Young Filmmakers of the Future Award, Tropfest finalists, Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts (AACTA) Award nominees, and over 170 professionals currently working in the VFX industry. The Bachelor of Film and Television puts you at the cutting edge of screen production development, combining theoretical learning with hands-on production in creative media. You will:
- work on real-world projects with industry professionals
- learn in state-of-the-art television and radio studios that boast industry-standard equipment including motion capture technology and 8K studio cameras
- use the latest industry-standard software, hardware and technology
Within the Visual Effects specialisation, you have the opportunity to spend the entire third year of the degree studying at award-winning VFX company Rising Sun Pictures*. You will receive practical training in the core skills of entry-level VFX artists, produce an industry-standard showreel of work, and establish valuable industry networks. Within the Film and Television Production specialisation, you have the opportunity to study alongside award-winning production company We Made a Thing Studios and gain a credit on festival released films, or complete an 80-hour internship^ with an employer of your choice.
*please note that you will need to apply for this opportunity and entry is competitive. Courses will be delivered at the RSP studios based in the Adelaide CBD.
^GPA of 5.0 or above is required.
Hear from graduate, Keachie Manalastas, as she talks about her experience studying UniSA's Bachelor of Media Arts (now called Bachelor of Film and Television) which equipped her for work experience with Mighty Kingdom where she now works.
Your career
Film and television professionals are curious and observant; they are creative and dedicated to expressing their experience of the world. Our students are passionate about the television, film, visual effects, game design, and digital production industries. Career outcomes include:
- Director / Filmmaker: create, direct or produce feature or short films for cinema, television or online
- Creative Content Producer: shoot and edit content for any industry including sports, real estate and advertising
- Visual Effects Artist: work as a compositor, FX artist, modeller, lighting artist, VFX animator, editor, or production coordinator
- Video Editor: part of the post-production process, video editing can also include working with visual effects
- Screenwriter: develop ideas and scripts for film and television productions
- Cinematographer / DOP: Coordinate and manage film crews and develop the ‘visual look’ of a production
- Film or Television Producer or Production Manager: can be in charge of everything from scheduling and budgeting to creative control of a program.
Industry facts
Applying to study with us:
- go to the top of this page and make note of the relevant SATAC code*, then click Apply
- you will be redirected through to the SATAC website to continue your application
*There are two SATAC codes – one for this degree, and one for this degree packaged with the Master of Teaching. You can apply to study this degree on its own. However if you already know you would like to combine it with a Master of Teaching, you can apply for both together.
Alternative Pathways
Australian
There are other pathways you can follow to study this degree, including:
- UniSA College Diploma in Creative Studies (Screen)
- UniSA College Undergraduate Certificate in University Studies (Creative Studies)
- SAIBT Diploma of Arts
International
There are other pathways you can follow to study this degree, including:
Deferment
This degree is available for deferment. This option is made available by responding to your offer during the application process via the SATAC website. Applicants who receive an offer into a midyear degree are eligible to defer for six months.
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.
UniSA Excellence Scholarships
$5,000 scholarship for South Australian students with an ATAR of 99 who enrol to study a UniSA undergraduate degree.
UniSA Outstanding Achievement Scholarship
Up to $10,000 per annum (full time) for South Australian students who obtain an ATAR of 99.95 or IB equivalent and enrol to study at UniSA.
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Your study experience and support
Our campuses are home to fantastic facilities including modern lecture theatres, libraries, workshops and laboratories, as well as spaces that simulate real work environments. But you’ll also discover that your journey at UniSA is about social experiences, healthy living and getting involved. You’ll find student sports and fitness facilities, community clinics, tech zones and chill-out spaces. There are campus sport activities to keep you active, and if you are keen to explore the social side of university life, there are movies, cooking demonstrations, parties and loads more.
Adelaide also has a variety of accommodation options to suit different requirements and budgets. Options include dedicated student accommodation and private rentals. See our long-term accommodation pages, or explore our student accommodation by Scape on Bank Street in Adelaide’s lively cultural precinct, an ideal 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.
Film and Television students also have the opportunity to get involved in the online student radio station, UniCast, and our TV studio, where various Community Channel 44 TV shows broadcast live from our Magill campus.
Student services
Our student services provide you with all the support you need at university. We want you to succeed, and if you need help, we're here to assist. You can access a full range of support services, including:
- academic counselling
- personal counselling
- social support services, including family support and nearby childcare
- common rooms
- prayer rooms
- security officers
- career services and mentoring
- Wirringka Student Services, offering Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students a supportive place to study
- as well as services offered through our student association, USASA.
When you become a UniSA student, you can also contact Campus Central for help with anything related to your degree. They will help you with your enrolment, ID cards, fees, timetables and more.
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 study spaces
As a Film and Television student you will have access to:
- dedicated computer/editing suites with state-of-the-art software, so you can work on high-end VFX and animation projects
- industry-standard facilities including an online TV studio, radio studio and sound studio
- one of South Australia’s largest green screens with motion capture technology and 8K studio cameras.
Your program director
Carolyn is the Program Director for Film and Television at the University of South Australia. She has oversight of the Bachelor of Film and Television, Graduate Certificate in Film and Television, Graduate Certificate in Dynamic Effects and Lighting and Graduate Certificate in Compositing and Tracking. She is also the Coordinator for the Documentary Film course. Carolyn is a Documentary filmmaker with recent broadcast credits for Marjorie Lawrence: The World At Her Feet (ABC), Paris or the Bush: the story of the Cods (9 Network and Foxtel) and Tour de Legacy: the Western Front (SBS).
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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 Master of 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
I love that my degree has both theory and practical components. The teachers are fantastic – they are great at explaining things and are passionate about the topics we study. I was really impressed by the available film equipment UniSA has to offer, as well as the television and green-screen studios.
Grace Miles
Bachelor of Media Arts (now called the Bachelor of Film and Television)
The skills I learnt at UniSA really helped me succeed in my role, as the software programs we used were exactly the same. I have also freelanced as a graphic designer, and the practical learning from my Digital Media courses really helped ground my designs.
Chelsea Mirus
Bachelor of Media Arts (now called the Bachelor of Film and Television)
Production Coordinator | Rising Sun Pictures
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
Bachelor of Media Arts (now called the Bachelor of Film and Television)
Producer's Assistant | KOJO
I have really enjoyed working with and learning from teachers that are, or have been, active in the film industry. Whether it is using a sophisticated camera for the first time, or working with industry-recognised CGI and VFX programs, there is no match for learning from experienced professionals.
Lachlan Doherty
Bachelor of Media Arts (now called the Bachelor of Film and Television)
2022 University of South Australia Bachelor of Film and Television student showreel
2019 University of South Australia Undergraduate VFX Reel
