Student review [#104624] for Film and Television Producing
at University of Greenwich - UoG

I study Film and Television Production at the University of Greenwich, and one of the things I’ve liked most about the course is how practical it is. We don’t have traditional exams. Most of our assessments are projects and essays, and we started working hands-on with equipment from the very first term.

Something I think gets underestimated when looking at film courses is what equipment students will actually be allowed to use. Greenwich has some really good kit available to undergraduate students. For example, students can use ARRI cameras for their final graduation films, which is not something I expected to have access to at undergraduate level, especially when comparing the fees with some specialist film schools.

I’m particularly interested in sound, so that’s the area I know best. We have access to equipment such as A10 transmitters and A20 receivers, Sennheiser MKH 416 boom mics, Sound Devices 633 recorders and MixPre-6 recorders, alongside a lot of other kit. We also have three sound studios which are useful for Foley recording, ADR and post-production sound design. Because the course is so hands-on, having the equipment and spaces to actually practise rather than only learn the theory makes a big difference.

Another thing I’ve really appreciated about Greenwich is the amount of paid work available to students alongside their studies. There is a Student Ambassador scheme where students can work at open days, Welcome Week, graduations and other university events, and these are paid opportunities. There are also internal vacancies and placement opportunities. I chose to do my placement year within the university, so I was able to gain a full year of professional work experience while completing my degree. I’ve also had the opportunity to do paid research work with the university’s Sound/Image Research Centre.

There are definitely things I think could be better. One of the biggest for me has been financial support. I found the number of scholarships and bursaries available to me quite limited, but the more frustrating part was trying to work out which ones I might actually be eligible for. I contacted the university for guidance but found it difficult to get clear advice on where I should be looking or what would be most suitable for my situation, and eventually I stopped pursuing it. I think having clearer and more personalised guidance around financial support would make a real difference.

Another challenge, particularly on Film and Television Production, is that students can come into the course with very different levels of experience, motivation and commitment. Since filmmaking is so dependent on group work, this can sometimes make projects difficult, especially in first year when you don’t really know who you work well with yet. I found this improved a lot in second year as people started finding their areas of interest and forming stronger working relationships, but there can still be quite a mix.

Overall, the strongest part of Greenwich for me has been the practical experience. I haven’t only studied Film and TV academically; I’ve been able to work with professional equipment, make productions, use specialist facilities and build paid professional experience alongside my degree. I think it’s particularly suited to someone who learns by doing and is willing to be proactive about finding opportunities and making the most of what is available.