Bachelor of Film and Television

View course information for local students.
Am I a You are a local student if:
you are an Australian citizen, or
you are a New Zealand citizen (excluding TAFE courses), or
you are an Australian permanent resident.
You are an international student if:
you are not an Australian citizen, and
you are not a New Zealand citizen (excluding TAFE courses), and
you are not an Australian permanent resident.local or an international student?
This information is for international students.

Overview
Course in detail
Graduate outcomes
Course experience
Entry requirements
Apply

This course provides students with the essential creative skills, technical knowledge and theory to make high quality cinema, television and digital media productions. Students collaborate to make films through research, screenwriting, direction, project management and production skills such as cinematography and sound. Creative outcomes include narrative film, documentary, music video and television commercials. Further study opportunities to enhance filmmaking such as study tours and international exchange are available.

Information sessions

Visit our Meet Us page to see when we are visiting your home country (or here in Australia).

For further information on this course, please visit the faculty web page at: http://www.swinburne.edu.au/design/courses/film-television-course.html

Duration

3 Year/s

Campus and intakes

Prahran -

Semester 1

Course code

DFMTV10

CRICOS code

064721D

Fees*

A$25,450 (annual for 2013)*

*The indicative course fees shown in Course Search apply to international students studying on-campus in Australia for the relevant year only. They are based on a standard study load per year. However, please note that fees are assessed according to a student's study load in each semester, and variation to study load will result in an adjustment to tuition fees. All fees are subject to annual review and may be adjusted.

Related courses

Course description

Note: This course information is for students commencing from 2010.

If you enrolled as a commencing first-year student in 2009 please refer to the previous course information Bachelor of Film and Television. Students enrolled in the 2009 structure will have the opportunity to transition to the 2010 structure. Students enrolled prior to 2009 please refer to the Bachelor of Film and Television course structure on the faculty website.

This degree provides the creative, practical and critical processes that define film and television production today and which will open up new possibilities in the future. The program emphasises, through collaborative projects and lectures, digital media production, particularly in relation to advanced production skills, creative direction and project management.

Course structure

This program (commencing in 2010) has a Flexible Degree Structure providing you with a wider and more flexible choice in combining studies from different disciplines to add either depth or breadth to your degree. An Industry Placement year may also be applied for.

Prior to enrolment students will be required to attend degree planning information sessions.

For completion of the Bachelor of Film and Television students are required to undertake:

The Film and Television professional major of 16 units of study (200 credit points), and
A co-major of 8 units (100 credit points) or 2 minors of 4 units (50 credit points) each

Students may select co-majors or minors subject to timetable availability. Students may also undertake Electives Plus Minors, Options Plus, Student Exchange or other approved options.

Note: Students cannot enrol in a Co-Major or MInor in the same discipline as their Professional Major.

Students will normally be enrolled in a Recommended Study Sequence and must successfully complete a minimum of 300 credit points; 50 credit points per semester for full-time students*. To qualify for the award, a student must complete, or have been granted an exemption for the units of study listed below. Students initially enter into the three-year bachelor program. At the end of that program students may exit with an undergraduate bachelor degree or continue with further study. Work expected outside normal timetabled contact hours, in keeping with related design courses, will usually be no less than a minimum of two for one.

* Please note that international students on a student visa must study full-time as part of their visa requirements.

Careers in the Curriculum (CIC) (Prahran students only)
In addition to the above, students must complete a compulsory unit of study HDD0009 Careers in the Curriculum to be awarded the degree. Careers in the Curriculum is an innovative unit designed to assist Swinburne students to enhance their employability and career prospects. Careers in the Curriculum has been developed by Swinburne Careers and Employment who provide advice and feedback on completing job applications and undergoing interviews, directed at obtaining graduate employment. Careers in the Curriculum is a compulsory unit usually undertaken in second year. Students will not incur a HECS or fee debt as the cost will be met by the university as part of an initiative to enhance students' employability skills.

Electives Plus sequences
Electives Plus sequences provide Swinburne degree students with options to broaden their career skills and strengthen their employability by selecting from units of study outside their degree discipline.

Students undertaking this course can choose to study Electives Plus sequences from one of the following themes:

Electives Plus sequences are available in all Swinburne degree programs subject to timetabling constraints, with the exception of double degree programs, specialist double major degrees, and where entry has been approved with advanced standing.

Options Plus
Students will also have access to a small set of approved individual Options Plus units of study which provide either a distinctive learning experience or targeted study support. This could include optional study tours. In some cases, students may be required or request to take specially targeted Options Plus units, for example, the Analysing and Writing English unit to be offered for credit in Winter Term for NESB students. Students undertaking a full 300cp course are allowed to substitute at least one Options Plus unit for one existing unit within their Co-Major or Minor but not in their Professional Major. They will be advised by their Faculty on which unit(s) of their sequence.

Summer and Winter Term
The Faculty of Design is offering an optional six-week Winter and Summer term allowing you to complete extra study between the standard semesters. These terms are not mandatory. However, if you wish to vary your study load you may want to consider this option.

International Study Programs - Study Abroad
Students can apply to participate in an exchange program or a study tour program as part of their degree.

Major specialisations

To qualify for the award of Bachelor of Film and Television students must complete the required units in their Professional Major of Film and Television listed below. With the diversity of Professional Major, Co-Major and Minor studies available to students there may be overlap in the units of study between some Professional Majors, Co-Majors and Minors. Where such overlap occurs a unit can only be counted for credit once.

Film and Television Professional Major units:
Film and Television Major - 2010 on

A Co-major can be undertaken in one of:
These co-majors are available to all Swinburne students, timetable permitting.
Communication Design Co-Major - 2010 on
Digital Media Design Co-Major - 2011 on
Industrial Design Co-Major - 2010 on
Interior Design Co-Major - 2010 on
Co-majors can be taken from any discipline across the university, timetable permitting. See the co-majors 2010 page for more information.

Minors (timetable permitting) can be undertaken in the following recommended streams:
Note: Some minor sequences do require knowledge of specific software.

Minors available to Film and Television students
Minors can be taken from any school across the university, timetable permitting. See the minors 2010 page for more information.
These include:
Film and Television Theory Minor - 2010 on
3D Animation and Modeling Advanced Minor - 2010 on
Design Studies Minor - 2010 on
Communication Design Minor - 2010 on
Digital Media Design Minor - 2011 on
Interior Design Minor - 2010 on
Industrial Design Minor - 2010 on

Remaining units may consist of Electives Plus, Study Tours, Student Exchange or other approved options.

Units of study

All units of study have a value of 12.5 credit points unless otherwise indicated (50 credit points per semester).
Note: For students commencing at mid-year, units may be offered in a different sequence.

Swinburne Prahran Film and Television Professional Major units
HDFTV111 Scriptwriting and Directing Narrative Film
HDFTV112 Production Techniques
HDFTV113 Postproduction and Editing
HDFTV2222 Classic Film Screening Series - Production and Direction
HDFTV1222 Film Screening Series - Contemporary Cinema
HDFTV123 Production Management/ Sound Design
HDFTV121 Documentary Production
HDFTV223 Screen editing techniques and DVD Authoring
HDFTV212 Cinematography and Lighting: Film Production HDFTV211 Scriptwriting & Directing: Film & TV Production
HDFTV221 Cinematography & Lighting: Broadcast Tape
HDFTV313 Sound Design for Screen
HDFTV311 Scriptwriting and Directing: Major film and TV productions

HDFTV312 Research Project: Development
HDFTV322 Advanced Postproduction and Digital Outcomes
HDFTV324 Major Film and Television Production

Plus, throughout the length of your degree you will select eight units from your chosen co-major or minor sequence or free elective unit.

HDD0009 Careers in the Curriculum (Prahran students only). This is a zero credit point unit of study which is compulsory for students in the second or third year of their course.

In Year 3 students may undertake Industry Placement (Prahran students only)
HDP050 Industry Placement 1 (37.5 credit points)
HDP055 Industry Placement 2 (37.5 credit points)
Any two 12.5 credit point subject from Stage 3 units of study

By selecting to undertake Industry Placement students then must continue into a fourth year Honours degree.

Students undertaking Industry Placement interstate or overseas are required to advise student administration at the Faculty of Design.

Aims and objectives

The structure of, and the units of study within the Bachelor of Film and Television degree conforms to the AQF Guidelines for a bachelor degree by allowing students to:

Acquire a systematic and coherent body of knowledge, the underlying principles and concepts, and the associated communication and problem-solving skills
Develop academic skills and attributes necessary to undertake Film and Television research, comprehend and evaluate new information, concepts and evidence from a range of sources
Develop the ability to review, consolidate, extend and apply the knowledge and techniques learnt, including in a professional context
Gain a foundation for self-directed and life-long learning
Gain interpersonal and teamwork skills appropriate to employment and/or further study

Career opportunities

You may wish to explore a career in cinematography, directing, editing and sound firms, scriptwriting, film production companies, production roles within the film and television industry, broadcast film and video post-production. Opportunities for graduates may also be found in advertising agencies, games development and animation companies and television studios.

Professional recognition

On completion of this qualification students may be eligible to become memberse of the following industry bodies and should confirm their eligibility with the association.

Australian Screen Editors Guild
Screenservices Association of Victoria
Australian Graphic Designers Association (AGDA)
Design Institute of Australia (DIA)
Melbourne Art Directors Club (MADC)
Australian Cinematographers Society
Screen Producers Association of Australia

Industry learning

Industry Placement is a program in which students are placed in paid, supervised employment, for 24 or 48 weeks, relevant to their studies as part of their degree. It aims to provide experiential, discipline-specific learning in an authentic, real-world environment. Through observation, enquiry and practice under the supervision and guidance of professional practitioners and an academic mentor, students will engage in professional experiences and test and critically assess their learning to date. The experience contextualises existing design skills within an understanding of the impact of client, customer, team dynamics and direction in the design process. The Industry Placement program is part of the Honours stream. In order to graduate students are required to return to complete their fourth year.

Industry Placement gives students practical experience to add to their academic studies, and is a proven advantage in the graduate job market. All Industry Placements are subject to availability of places. For further information please enquire at the faculty office.

Honours

All students undertake first and second year of their Film and Television course. Prior to the commencement of third year students choose to continue with coursework (third year) and complete their degree, or apply for Industry Placement (third year) followed by the Honours program as fourth year. An Honours year requires a further 100 credit points of study consisting of all coursework.

Students may continue into the Bachelor of Film and Television (Honours) program through the following avenues, these include a selection process:

Students who have successfully undertaken an Industry Placement in Year 3 are required to complete their Honours (fourth) year by Coursework in order to graduate
Students who did not participate in an Industry Placement in third year, and who have maintained a grade average of Credit or above may apply towards the end of their third year, to study in the Honours program by Coursework. Students with equivalent qualifications wishing to apply for their Honours year by coursework may be required to attend an interview and submit a folio.

Application forms can be obtained from the faculty office or ring 9214 6755.

Swinburne Abroad

Swinburne offers International Exchange Programs as well as other Education Abroad Programs to help internationalise your degree. International Exchange is an academic program allowing you to study at a Swinburne Partner Institution for one or two semesters during your degree. Swinburne's Partner Institutions offer many relevant subjects as well as a secure base to explore a different culture. Your studies whilst on exchange can be credited towards your Swinburne degree, provided they are relevant and approved by Swinburne. For further information visit the Swinburne Abroad website.

Academic requirements

To assess eligibility for entry to Swinburne, visit the Academic Entry Requirements page.

English language requirements

Swinburne College English for Academic Purposes Certificate: EAP 5 Advanced: 70%; OR, obtaining a minimum IELTS overall band of 6.5 (Academic Module) with no individual band below 6.0; OR, a TOEFL (Paper-based) minimum score of 550 (with Test of Written English (TWE) score of 5); OR, a TOEFL (Internet-based) minimum score of 79, with no individual band below 18. Refer to the English Language Requirements website for further information.

How to apply

Apply for this course by following the step-by-step process on our How to Apply page.

Course fees*

A$25,450 (annual for 2013)

Scholarships

A range of scholarships are available to international students, visit our Scholarship Page for details.

Find out more

Submit an Online Enquiry
Tel: +613 8676 7002 (outside Australia)
Freecall: 1800 897 973 (within Australia)
Email: international@swinburne.edu.au

Course Search

Site Search