Have you thought about what you might want to do after you’ve completed your undergrad degree? A course at the UK National Film and Television School (NFTS) could be the jumpstart you’ve been searching for.
This institution is one of the leading film, television and gaming schools in the world, and offers courses that we guarantee you didn’t know existed, uniquely tailored to getting you the exact career you’ve been dreaming of without mid-way jobs wasting your time along the way.
We get it. You’ve had enough education by now and you’re ready to take on the creative world – so, why would you want to consider a postgraduate degree? It’s exciting when you finish your studies and have endless opportunities awaiting you, but hold your horses for a second and think if you really have all of the skills you need to pursue a creative career.
It’s no good lying on your resume, in the real world, you’ll need to prove that you have what it takes to get the job done, and that’s where the NFTS can help.
Based in Buckinghamshire, the main campus where the majority of courses are taught is the historical Beaconsfield Studios, but there are several other NFTS locations across the UK including facilities in Wales, Scotland, and Leeds (international students are considered too).
With a super high graduate employment rate of over 90%, alumni from NFTS are integral to the creation of high-profile film, television and games content across a large portion of the industry.
Applications are currently open for MA, Diploma, and Certificate courses starting in September/October 2023 and January 2024, and these applications can be made and submitted online via the National Film and Television School website, where you can discover a selection of world-class training in film, television and gaming industries, and browse rare courses that are still open for applications.
One of the most popular postgrad courses offered by the institute is the Games Design and Development MA course, which is celebrating its tenth anniversary this year. To commemorate this, and the important role of game designers, the NFTS has launched a new online six-month, part-time course in Indie Games Development which will award a certificate.
This is a great opportunity for students who don’t wish to be on campus or can’t justify accommodation costs for a course that’s only six months in duration.
Other notable degrees and certificates include Visual Effects, Motion Graphics and Titles, Cinematography, Screenwriting, Sound Design for Film and Television, Assistant Directing and Floor Managing, Sports Production, Casting, Writing and Producing Comedy, Marketing, Distribution, Sales and Exhibition, Post Production Supervision, Directing Animation, Creative Business, and plenty more courses that are all designed to fast-track graduates straight into the industry.
• Full course listings are available online via the Institute’s website.
The NFTS runs more behind-the-camera courses than any other film school in the world, and operates like a major studio with state-of-the-art production facilities that are essential for creating outstanding content.
You will benefit from advanced world-class tuition, exceptional facilities, and an outstanding programme of screenings and exclusive Masterclasses, where students will be able to hear from a range of significant and diverse voices in the industry. Some of the courses also include work experience and internships as part of the curriculum for hands-on industry experience.
Still not convinced? That’s okay. The decision to continue your education after graduation shouldn't be taken lightly, and you should think about your financial situation too as you’ll need to fund your studies for a further 1-2 years – The NFTS offers generous scholarship and bursary funding to UK students studying on full time MA and Diploma’s, so this is something to consider looking into.
As someone who has recently graduated from University with a Master's degree in Photography, I definitely do not regret my decision to study further education. Looking back, I wasn’t ready to enter the world of a full-time job just yet after finishing my undergrad, so completing a Master’s degree gave me the time and skills that I needed to reflect on what I really wanted to do with my career, which turned out to be journalism in relation to the creative industries and wider branches of online photography.
Had I not completed my postgraduate degree, I do feel that my application to my current job may have been overlooked or heavily compared and analysed against other resumes. Of course, it’s possible to succeed in employment without having a postgraduate certificate, but I’ve learnt from experience that having studied postgrad will definitely give you an edge and leg-up on the competition, and networking is absolutely essential in the creative industry too, as you need to prove you can communicate ideas.
Think it through carefully, and weigh out all of your options thoroughly – but if you do decide that you want to make high-quality, award-winning content for film, television and games, while guided by industry professionals every step of the way, then the National Film and Television School (NFTS) could be the place for you.
