University of South Australia

Film and Television

Interested in Film and Television?

Combine your creativity with our advanced technologies and enter the exciting world of film, television and visual effects (VFX).

Film and Television at UniSA combines practical production, workplace experience and theory taught by professionals, and provides students with a comprehensive degree in film, television, VFX, and media production. All of our Film and Television qualifications are created in close consultation with leaders in the creative industries so your studies are always professionally relevant. You’ll learn using industry-standard facilities, including television, radio, production and sound studios. 

Through internships and industry placements you’ll gain collaborative, real-world experience and you’ll finish your studies with a professional standard portfolio of work. You even have the opportunity to undertake a full year placement with Rising Sun Pictures, as part of the Bachelor of Film and Television. Or, further your qualifications and networks and study a postgraduate VFX qualification on location with the team at Rising Sun Pictures studios in the CBD.

As a Bachelor of Film and Television student, you will also have the opportunity to participate in the unique Film Concept Lab. This one-of-a-kind initiative in Australia offers UniSA students the opportunity to work on live film productions, learning and working directly with industry professionals. You’ll even see your name in the film credits at the film’s premier at a major film festival. 

Or, if you're an experienced film producer and wanting to expand your knowledge and networks, studying with UniSA will have you in the room with prominent industry execs with our Graduate Certificate in Film and Television

The currency and relevance of our Film and Television qualifications means you will graduate career-ready, and be a valuable asset in an industry that is constantly changing and adapting. With a qualification in Film and Television you’re set to educate, entertain and inspire the world. 

Key features

  • Work on real-world projects with industry professionals.

  • Graduate career-ready, with your own portfolio of work. 

  • Learn in industry-standard television, production and radio studios - UniSA is home to one of SA’s largest green screens.

  • Choose to study part of your degree overseas as part of our international exchange and in-country study programs.  

  • We have world-class research in Creative Arts and Writing1.
  • 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*.
  • Work with the latest software, hardware and technologies, including industry-standard cameras, and our new motion capture and VR studios. 
  • Study at SA's No.1 university for Graduate Careers2.

12018 Excellence in Research for Australia (ERA)
2ComparED (QILT) Graduate Outcomes Survey 2018-20 – Full-time Employment Indicator (Undergraduate). Public SA-founded universities only.
*as part of the Bachelor of Film and Television

Why UniSA?

UniSA is an unstoppable university for unstoppable people. As one of the World’s Top Young Universities1, 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.

Building your career is our business – and we are very good at it. We're number one in South Australia for graduate careers2. You will learn in our on-campus TV studio, radio studio, sound studio and editing suites, and our collaboration with Rising Sun Pictures and Matchbox Pictures means you will gain real-world experience and be in the room with industry executives and hirers.

You’ll be taught by professionals who lead the pack in their industry. Our academics and tutors have a very practical approach to learning, and you’ll work on real issues and get real experience. We’ve invested millions of dollars in new buildings and facilities, so you’ll use the latest technologies and learn in ultra-modern teaching spaces.

Our people are inspired by challenges and opportunities. We partner with local icons and international industry professionals to focus on real-world projects.

1UNSTOPPABLE® is a Kellogg Company trade mark used under licence. Ranked #46, 2022 THE Young University Rankings, Ranked #29, 2021 QS Top 50 Universities Aged Under 50.
2ComparED (QILT) Graduate Outcomes Survey 2018-20 – Full-time Employment Indicator (Undergraduate). Public SA-founded universities only.  

UniSA offers the following Film and Television degrees

Choose your level of study

Picture perfect

Picture perfect

One summer afternoon back in 1995, Wayne Lewis and a group of mates were drinking at the pub. Little did they know that this meeting would fundamentally change the trajectory of the South Australian film industry.

That day, Rising Sun Pictures was born, and this UniSA grad and UNSTOPPABLE force has been creating some of Hollywood’s most memorable moments ever since, including visual effects for Jungle Cruise, Black Widow, Mortal Combat, X-Men: Dark Phoenix and the Harry Potter series.

Start your unstoppable career in Film and Television

  • Wayne Lewis

    Wayne Lewis
    Co-founder of Rising Sun Pictures
    Bachelor of Visual Arts

Back to stories   Hear more from our unstoppable people

World-class partners

We are a globally connected university with over 2,500 industry and professional relationships that support student internships, research and community engagement.

Unreal Engine
Jam Factory
Matchbox Pictures
Rising Sun Pictures
Festivals Adelaide
Communikate
KOJO
We Made A Thing Studios Logo
Channel 44
Solstice
Guildhouse
Writers SA
Adelaide Film Festival
Match Studio
Government SA - Department for Innovation and Skills
Helpmann Academy
MOD.
Samstag

Your career

Film and Television studies can lead to all kinds of exciting and diverse careers. Here are just a few:

  • Director / Filmmaker: create, direct or produce feature or short films for cinema, television or online
  • Visual Effects artist: work as a compositor, FX artist, lighting artists, VFX animator, editor, or production coordinator
  • Animator: create images, animations and illustrations – using software and/or by hand – for media such as film, television, video games and advertising
  • Video Editor: part of the post production process, video editing can also include working with special effects
  • Television Producer: can be in charge of everything from scheduling and budgeting to creative control of a program
  • 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
Your Career

Global networks

We are a globally connected university and our staff and students come from over 90 countries. We have more than 2,000 industry and professional relationships that support student internships, research and community engagement. Our students have had placements and internships with organisations like: 

  • Disability SA
  • Royal Society for the Blind
  • Seven Network
  • Nine Network
  • Network Ten
  • Australian Broadcast Corporation
  • Channel 44
  • Rising Sun Pictures 
  • Matchbox Pictures
  • We Made a Thing Studios

Industry facts

job-listings

Employment for performing arts technicians in Australia is projected to increase by 15.9 per cent by November 20201.

1Australian Government Department of Employment, Occupational Employment Projections 2015

line-graph-growth

Between now and 2020, the total Australian media and entertainment market will reach $47.4 billion1.

1PwC Media and Entertainment Outlook report 2016

column-chart-growth

By 2020 employment for film, television, radio and stage directors in Australia is projected to increase by 14 per cent1

1Australian Government Department of Employment, Occupational Employment Projections 2015

UniSA's leading art museums and galleries

Ask UniSA

anchor-arrow
More FAQs

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)

Grace Miles.jpg

Grace Miles

Bachelor of Media Arts (now called the Bachelor of Film and Television)

Why study at UniSA?

As one of the most innovative universities in Australia and Asia, there are many reasons to study with us. Here are just three:

ipad-tablet-ebook-reading-studying-learning-ebook

Accessible, helpful and flexible

We have six campuses, a 24/7 online learning environment, and we offer flexible study options like online and evening courses.

graduate-cap

Graduate success

UniSA is South Australia's number one university for graduate careers.*
*ComparED (QILT) Graduate Outcomes Survey 2019-21 – Full-time Employment Indicator (Undergraduate). SA public universities.

ribbon-blue-commerce

A five star university

Five stars for research, employability, teaching, facilities, internationalisation, inclusiveness and innovation*
*2022 QS Stars Ratings