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Whether you want to be behind the camera or its focus, writing the script or bringing it to life - find your place among the action.

Would you like to develop the practical, intellectual and creative skills required to become critical and reflective arts practitioner?

Acting as a gateway to degree-level study, the Film, Media, Theatre and Performance Foundation Year course allows you to study a broad range of creative arts disciplines across all aspects of film, media and theatre.

You will work practically and intellectually to acquire key transferable skills such as effective communication, teamwork, time and project management, research and digital literacy, all of which can prove vital to achieving at university and gaining employment after graduation.

But more than this, you will learn from leading academics to develop the practical and theoretical grounding needed to become a future cultural industries leader, with particular focus on Film, Media and Performance. The degree is dynamic, interdisciplinary, and addresses real world challenges, ensuring you will have the best possible foundation for future study and continued success.

 

Why choose Northumbria to study Film, Media, Theatre and Performance?

Top University: Northumbria is ranked 2nd in the UK for Film, Production & Photography (Guardian University League Table, 2024).

Research Powerhouse: Art and Design at Northumbria is ranked 4th in the UK for research power (REF, 2021). This is a rise of 6 places compared to 2014.

Experts in the Field: You will be taught by a team of world-leading artists and academics who will equip you with the skills needed to successfully take your learning to the next level.

Industry Connections: Northumbria recently teamed up with the British Film Institute to provide live-brief and projects for students. We also have connections with performance venues, such as Northern Stage and Alphabetti Theatre.

Graduate Prospects: Communication & Media Studies at Northumbria is ranked 9th in the UK for overall Student Experience (Times Good University Guide, 2024).

What is the learning experience like on this course?

This course is delivered through a mix of classroom and studio-based learning, with engagement with the cultural centres in the region available to further enhance your learning.
You will be encouraged to think independently, understand, and justify your own opinions, and will recognise the need to challenge your thinking, and the thinking of others.

 

What can I study after this Foundation Year?

Upon successful completion of the foundation year, you will be able to progress into any of the following undergraduate programmes. 

BA (Hons) Media and Communication

BA (Hons) Film

BA (Hons) Theatre and Performance

Whether you want to be behind the camera or its focus, writing the script or bringing it to life - find your place among the action.

Would you like to develop the practical, intellectual and creative skills required to become critical and reflective arts practitioner?

Acting as a gateway to degree-level study, the Film, Media, Theatre and Performance Foundation Year course allows you to study a broad range of creative arts disciplines across all aspects of film, media and theatre.

You will work practically and intellectually to acquire key transferable skills such as effective communication, teamwork, time and project management, research and digital literacy, all of which can prove vital to achieving at university and gaining employment after graduation.

But more than this, you will learn from leading academics to develop the practical and theoretical grounding needed to become a future cultural industries leader, with particular focus on Film, Media and Performance. The degree is dynamic, interdisciplinary, and addresses real world challenges, ensuring you will have the best possible foundation for future study and continued success.

 

Why choose Northumbria to study Film, Media, Theatre and Performance?

Top University: Northumbria is ranked 2nd in the UK for Film, Production & Photography (Guardian University League Table, 2024).

Research Powerhouse: Art and Design at Northumbria is ranked 4th in the UK for research power (REF, 2021). This is a rise of 6 places compared to 2014.

Experts in the Field: You will be taught by a team of world-leading artists and academics who will equip you with the skills needed to successfully take your learning to the next level.

Industry Connections: Northumbria recently teamed up with the British Film Institute to provide live-brief and projects for students. We also have connections with performance venues, such as Northern Stage and Alphabetti Theatre.

Graduate Prospects: Communication & Media Studies at Northumbria is ranked 9th in the UK for overall Student Experience (Times Good University Guide, 2024).

What is the learning experience like on this course?

This course is delivered through a mix of classroom and studio-based learning, with engagement with the cultural centres in the region available to further enhance your learning.
You will be encouraged to think independently, understand, and justify your own opinions, and will recognise the need to challenge your thinking, and the thinking of others.

 

What can I study after this Foundation Year?

Upon successful completion of the foundation year, you will be able to progress into any of the following undergraduate programmes. 

BA (Hons) Media and Communication

BA (Hons) Film

BA (Hons) Theatre and Performance

Course Information

UCAS Code
P325

Level of Study
Undergraduate

Mode of Study
1 year Full Time followed by a further 3 years Full Time or 4 years with a placement (sandwich)/study abroad

Department
Northumbria School of Design, Arts and Creative Industries, Arts

Location
City Campus, Northumbria University

City
Newcastle

Start
September 2025

Fees
Fee Information

Modules
Module Information

Delve Deeper / Discover more about life at Northumbria

Find out what are students and staff are getting involved in.

Entry Requirements 2024/25

Standard Entry

80 UCAS Tariff points

From a combination of acceptable Level 3 qualifications which may include: A-level, T Level, BTEC Diplomas/Extended Diplomas, Scottish and Irish Highers, Access to HE Diplomas, or the International Baccalaureate.

Find out how many points your qualifications are worth by using the UCAS Tariff calculator: www.ucas.com/ucas/tariff-calculator

Northumbria University is committed to supporting all individuals to achieve their ambitions. We have a range of schemes and alternative offers to make sure as many individuals as possible are given an opportunity to study at our University regardless of personal circumstances or background. To find out more, review our Northumbria Entry Requirement Essential Information page for further details www.northumbria.ac.uk/entryrequirementsinfo

Subject Requirements:

There are no specific subject requirements for this course.

GCSE Requirements:

Applicants will need Maths and English Language at minimum grade 4/C, or an equivalent.

Additional Requirements:

There are no additional requirements for this course.

International Qualifications:

We welcome applicants with a range of qualifications which may not match those shown above.

If you have qualifications from outside the UK, find out what you need by visiting www.northumbria.ac.uk/yourcountry

English Language Requirements:

International applicants should have a minimum overall IELTS (Academic) score of 6.0 with 5.5 in each component (or an approved equivalent*).

*The university accepts a large number of UK and International Qualifications in place of IELTS. You can find details of acceptable tests and the required grades in our English Language section: www.northumbria.ac.uk/englishqualifications

Entry Requirements 2025/26

Standard Entry

80 UCAS Tariff points

From a combination of acceptable Level 3 qualifications which may include: A-level, T Level, BTEC Diplomas/Extended Diplomas, Scottish and Irish Highers, Access to HE Diplomas, or the International Baccalaureate.

Find out how many points your qualifications are worth by using the UCAS Tariff calculator: www.ucas.com/ucas/tariff-calculator

Northumbria University is committed to supporting all individuals to achieve their ambitions. We have a range of schemes and alternative offers to make sure as many individuals as possible are given an opportunity to study at our University regardless of personal circumstances or background. To find out more, review our Northumbria Entry Requirement Essential Information page for further details www.northumbria.ac.uk/entryrequirementsinfo

Subject Requirements:

There are no specific subject requirements for this course.

GCSE Requirements:

Applicants will need Maths and English Language at minimum grade 4/C, or an equivalent.

Additional Requirements:

There are no additional requirements for this course.

International Qualifications:

We welcome applicants with a range of qualifications which may not match those shown above.

If you have qualifications from outside the UK, find out what you need by visiting www.northumbria.ac.uk/yourcountry

English Language Requirements:

International applicants should have a minimum overall IELTS (Academic) score of 6.0 with 5.5 in each component (or an approved equivalent*).

*The university accepts a large number of UK and International Qualifications in place of IELTS. You can find details of acceptable tests and the required grades in our English Language section: www.northumbria.ac.uk/englishqualifications

Fees and Funding 2024/25 Entry

UK Fee in Year 1: £9,250

* The maximum tuition fee that we are permitted to charge for UK students is set by government. Tuition fees may increase in each subsequent academic year of your course, these are subject to government regulations and in line with inflation.


International Fee in Year 1: £18,250


Please see the main Funding Pages for 24/25 scholarship information.

 


ADDITIONAL COSTS

There are no Additional Costs

Fees and Funding 2025/26 Entry

UK Fee in Year 1*: TBC

* Government has yet to announce 25/26 tuition fee levels. As a guide, 24/25 fees were £9,250 per year. 



International Fee in Year 1: £19,350


Please see the main Funding Pages for 25/26 scholarship information.

 


ADDITIONAL COSTS

There are no Additional Costs

If you’d like to receive the latest updates from Northumbria about our courses, events, finance & funding then enter your details below.

* At Northumbria we are strongly committed to protecting the privacy of personal data. To view the University’s Privacy Notice please click here

Modules

Module information is indicative and is reviewed annually therefore may be subject to change. Applicants will be informed if there are any changes.

AD3042 -

Critical Cultural Encounters (Core,40 Credits)

This interdisciplinary module will enable you to synthesise learning from across the programme locating practices of film, media, theatre and performance, and fine art within wider artistic, cultural, and geopolitical contexts and current debates. On this module, you will develop and utilise a broad range of key skills for university. These will include demonstrations of cogent academic prose, accurate academic citation, research skills, independent learning, oral presentation, and teamwork. The module fosters employability through enabling you to develop foundational knowledge in transferable skills such as time management, IT skills, critical thinking, and evaluation.

More information

AD3043 -

Culture and Society (Core,20 Credits)

This module will develop your core knowledge and understanding of the connections between culture and contemporary society. You will explore those ideas at the intimate personal and local level by reflecting on, for examples, your own cultural engagements and how said engagements are facilitated (e.g. through various media platforms). Equally, you will connect said engagements to broader debates, spanning out to the international context. The module will introduce you to major concepts and approaches in cultural studies, supplemented with examples from the contemporary mediasphere. You will explore, for example, how media representations are influenced by external factors such as regulation, ownership, and audience behaviours, but also how media has transformed our social relations, altered our understandings of world events, and impacted on what matters to us (our cultural and societal values). You will also examine how culture and the study of which has developed over time and how technology has altered how social subjects communicate with each other. You will also develop your skills in critical thinking by analysing examples taken from the contemporary world, and by discussing ideas with your tutors and your peers.

More information

AD3044 -

Film Foundations (Core,20 Credits)

The module introduces you to a range of core practical film production and creative skills, as well as developing transferable personal skills to support your future study and employability. You will also build your knowledge and understanding of the processes, trends and issues in the contemporary media landscape.

You will be introduced to practical and creative skills including pitching, writing, production research, production logistics, scheduling, storyboarding and directing, in addition to the creative and technical fundamentals of camera, sound and editing operations. You will learn essential softer skills such as time management, interpersonal skills, risk assessment, presentation and negotiation skills – all of which help to prepare you for your choice of degree path. You will also acquire critical and reflective skills, as you respond to your own work and that of others, reflect on your own personal development, and set yourself goals for improvement.
Your knowledge will grow to include an understanding of different styles and approaches to storytelling and film content, across a range of film activities, sitting your work alongside that of other filmmakers and increasing your awareness of the range of formal approaches across a wide range of media production. You’ll also progress with a solid grounding in principles of risk assessment, to ensure safe filming practice.

More information

AD3045 -

Media Genres (Core,20 Credits)

The module develops your understanding of the significance of genre within the production, reception and analysis of screen media. It explores what we understand by the term genre through an analysis of the codes and conventions of major screen types and how said codes and conventions are conveyed through promotional discourse and received by media audiences. It considers how genres change over time according to evolving aesthetic, social, technological and industrial contexts. You will learn about key developments in genre scholarship, and how critical and theoretical approaches can be applied to specific examples. In so doing, you will gain an appreciation of the importance of textual, contextual and critical analysis to an appreciation of screen media production and culture.

More information

AD3046 -

Performance Practices (Core,20 Credits)

Performed representations are everywhere. Whether you are interested in making plays and performances for the stage, creating film or TV dramas or documentaries, or more broadly in understanding the importance of mediated representations, ‘performance’ is a critical aspect of the contemporary world. This module will introduce you to a range of performance practices, both as a maker of performance and from critical perspectives. Exploring (indicatively) ‘theatre sports’, improvisation, play, contemporary performance techniques, staging of scenes from plays, the module will help you to understand why performed representations matter in the world, and how you might go about making them. Designed to be an active, fun, dynamic and engaging learning experience, through the module you will not only develop an enhanced understanding of performance practice but will also acquire enhanced communication, team work, and problem-solving skills that will be relevant to all aspects of your studies.

More information

Modules

Module information is indicative and is reviewed annually therefore may be subject to change. Applicants will be informed if there are any changes.

AD3042 -

Critical Cultural Encounters (Core,40 Credits)

This interdisciplinary module will enable you to synthesise learning from across the programme locating practices of film, media, theatre and performance, and fine art within wider artistic, cultural, and geopolitical contexts and current debates. On this module, you will develop and utilise a broad range of key skills for university. These will include demonstrations of cogent academic prose, accurate academic citation, research skills, independent learning, oral presentation, and teamwork. The module fosters employability through enabling you to develop foundational knowledge in transferable skills such as time management, IT skills, critical thinking, and evaluation.

More information

AD3043 -

Culture and Society (Core,20 Credits)

This module will develop your core knowledge and understanding of the connections between culture and contemporary society. You will explore those ideas at the intimate personal and local level by reflecting on, for examples, your own cultural engagements and how said engagements are facilitated (e.g. through various media platforms). Equally, you will connect said engagements to broader debates, spanning out to the international context. The module will introduce you to major concepts and approaches in cultural studies, supplemented with examples from the contemporary mediasphere. You will explore, for example, how media representations are influenced by external factors such as regulation, ownership, and audience behaviours, but also how media has transformed our social relations, altered our understandings of world events, and impacted on what matters to us (our cultural and societal values). You will also examine how culture and the study of which has developed over time and how technology has altered how social subjects communicate with each other. You will also develop your skills in critical thinking by analysing examples taken from the contemporary world, and by discussing ideas with your tutors and your peers.

More information

AD3044 -

Film Foundations (Core,20 Credits)

The module introduces you to a range of core practical film production and creative skills, as well as developing transferable personal skills to support your future study and employability. You will also build your knowledge and understanding of the processes, trends and issues in the contemporary media landscape.

You will be introduced to practical and creative skills including pitching, writing, production research, production logistics, scheduling, storyboarding and directing, in addition to the creative and technical fundamentals of camera, sound and editing operations. You will learn essential softer skills such as time management, interpersonal skills, risk assessment, presentation and negotiation skills – all of which help to prepare you for your choice of degree path. You will also acquire critical and reflective skills, as you respond to your own work and that of others, reflect on your own personal development, and set yourself goals for improvement.
Your knowledge will grow to include an understanding of different styles and approaches to storytelling and film content, across a range of film activities, sitting your work alongside that of other filmmakers and increasing your awareness of the range of formal approaches across a wide range of media production. You’ll also progress with a solid grounding in principles of risk assessment, to ensure safe filming practice.

More information

AD3045 -

Media Genres (Core,20 Credits)

The module develops your understanding of the significance of genre within the production, reception and analysis of screen media. It explores what we understand by the term genre through an analysis of the codes and conventions of major screen types and how said codes and conventions are conveyed through promotional discourse and received by media audiences. It considers how genres change over time according to evolving aesthetic, social, technological and industrial contexts. You will learn about key developments in genre scholarship, and how critical and theoretical approaches can be applied to specific examples. In so doing, you will gain an appreciation of the importance of textual, contextual and critical analysis to an appreciation of screen media production and culture.

More information

AD3046 -

Performance Practices (Core,20 Credits)

Performed representations are everywhere. Whether you are interested in making plays and performances for the stage, creating film or TV dramas or documentaries, or more broadly in understanding the importance of mediated representations, ‘performance’ is a critical aspect of the contemporary world. This module will introduce you to a range of performance practices, both as a maker of performance and from critical perspectives. Exploring (indicatively) ‘theatre sports’, improvisation, play, contemporary performance techniques, staging of scenes from plays, the module will help you to understand why performed representations matter in the world, and how you might go about making them. Designed to be an active, fun, dynamic and engaging learning experience, through the module you will not only develop an enhanced understanding of performance practice but will also acquire enhanced communication, team work, and problem-solving skills that will be relevant to all aspects of your studies.

More information

To start your application, simply select the month you would like to start your course.

Film, Media, Theatre & Performance Foundation Year

Home or EU applicants please apply through UCAS

International applicants please apply using the links below

START MONTH
YEAR

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Any Questions?

Our Applicant Services team will be happy to help.  They can be contacted on 0191 406 0901 or by using our Contact Form.

 

All information is accurate at the time of sharing. 

Full time Courses are primarily delivered via on-campus face to face learning but could include elements of online learning. Most courses run as planned and as promoted on our website and via our marketing materials, but if there are any substantial changes (as determined by the Competition and Markets Authority) to a course or there is the potential that course may be withdrawn, we will notify all affected applicants as soon as possible with advice and guidance regarding their options. It is also important to be aware that optional modules listed on course pages may be subject to change depending on uptake numbers each year.  

Contact time is subject to increase or decrease in line with possible restrictions imposed by the government or the University in the interest of maintaining the health and safety and wellbeing of students, staff, and visitors if this is deemed necessary in future.

 

Accessibility and Student Inclusion

Northumbria University is committed to developing an inclusive, diverse and accessible campus and wider University community and are determined to ensure that opportunities we provide are open to all.

We are proud to work in partnership with AccessAble to provide Detailed Access Guides to our buildings and facilities across our City, Coach Lane and London Campuses. A Detailed Access Guide lets you know what access will be like when you visit somewhere. It looks at the route you will use getting in and what is available inside. All guides have Accessibility Symbols that give you a quick overview of what is available, and photographs to show you what to expect. The guides are produced by trained surveyors who visit our campuses annually to ensure you have trusted and accurate information.

You can use Northumbria’s AccessAble Guides anytime to check the accessibility of a building or facility and to plan your routes and journeys. Search by location, building or accessibility feature to find the information you need. 

We are dedicated to helping students who may require additional support during their student journey and offer 1-1 advice and guidance appropriate to individual requirements. If you feel you may need additional support you can find out more about what we offer here where you can also contact us with any questions you may have:

Accessibility support

Student Inclusion support

If you’d like to receive the latest updates from Northumbria about our courses, events, finance & funding then enter your details below.

* At Northumbria we are strongly committed to protecting the privacy of personal data. To view the University’s Privacy Notice please click here

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Open Days are a great way for you to get a feel of the University, the city of Newcastle upon Tyne and the course(s) you are interested in.

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Virtual Tour

Get an insight into life at Northumbria at the click of a button! Come and explore our videos and 360 panoramas to immerse yourself in our campuses and get a feel for what it is like studying here using our interactive virtual tour.

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