Screen Performance with Integrated Foundation Year BA (Hons)

This is a four-year version of our popular BA (Hons) Screen Performance course, with an integrated foundation year. Perfect performance for TV and film. Equip yourself with a range of performance skills. Gain experience that will launch your media career in front of the camera.

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Learning, teaching and assessment in 2021/22

Course overview

Explore the practical, theoretical and contextual aspects of the highly specialist areas of screen performance with this exciting course. Learn skills and techniques for television and film; and prepare for a career in the screen industry.

Gain professional practice in screen performance, including: multi-camera acting and directing, scriptwriting, production skills, and multi-platform performance.

Throughout your studies you’ll be guided and supported by our experts, all of whom are working or researching in media and performance. You’ll study alongside actors, directors, agents, casting directors and independent film makers who will share their experience and encourage you to build your network.

Why us?

Acclaimed independent production company Fulwell 73 – makers of Netflix show ‘Sunderland ‘Til I Die’ – has launched a new regional office in our David Puttnam Media Centre. Get direct experience and insight into a leading production company and how it operates. Read more about Fulwell 73's new regional office, Fulwell North.
Our Drama & Dance courses are ranked 14th in the UK (The Guardian University league tables, 2022)
Get hands-on in our high-quality TV studios, using industry standard TV drama sets

Learn from experts who are professionals in their fields, from actors, to directors, and film makers. Participate in regular masterclasses.
Film hard-hitting, gripping content for our award-winning film projects in collaboration with Northumbria Police
Enter your work into the Royal Television Society Awards

Course structure

In the first year – the foundation year – you will study five modules; a module about the foundations of art, design, performance and media production, an essential study skills module, a foundation project module, practical numeracy skills, and an introduction to creative practice module. After completion of this foundation year, you will then move onto the Screen Performance honours degree course.

Alongside your practical work, teaching methods include lectures, demonstrations, workshops, seminars, screenings, group and individual projects, and independent learning. The course has been designed to include a number of employability initiatives and links to industry, which are embedded throughout the course.

As you progress through the course, you’ll develop the core skills in screen performance. The course culminates in a major screen project that supports your individual preference and/or career interests.

You will be assessed in a variety of different forms, with learning outputs mirroring industry outputs in terms of showreels, audition and on-set standards and etiquette, video essays, adverts, jingles as well as developing essay writing, research and presentation skills.

Foundation Year

The Creative Industries: Arts, Design, Performance, Media Production Integrated Foundation Year includes five modules:

Foundations of Art, Design, Performance and Media Production (40 credits)
Essential Study Skills (20 credits)
Foundation Project (20 credits)
Practical Numeracy Skills (20 credits)
Introduction to Creative Practice (20 credits)

Some modules have prerequisites. Read more about what this means in our Help and Advice article.

Year 1 (national level 4):

Core modules

Production Skills (20 credits)

Understand the key concepts and practical skills required to produce and edit a video advertising campaign. Learn how to use the cameras, lights, sound recording equipment and editing software.

Scriptwriting (20 credits)

Develop and write a short film script. Learn about genre, narrative, structure, character, and how to create and correctly format a film script.

Acting for Screen 1 (40 credits)

Gain an understanding of techniques and skills relevant to the screen actor. Learn practical skills through an experiential exploration of capturing acting on camera. Explore the impact of practitioner-inspired methods on work that takes place on film and TV. Gain a practical understanding of the voice and body’s place in creating work for this medium.

Drama for Live TV 1 (40 credits)

Develop a practical understanding of the role and importance of drama for live TV. Gain production skills through an experiential exploration of key strategies associated with capturing work for TV. Explore the impact of performance and production decisions in TV studios.

Year 2 (national level 5):

Core modules

Acting for Screen 2 (20 credits)

Progress your understanding of techniques relevant to film and TV. Gain a toolkit of skills to help you to become an emerging artist in the screen industry. Explore the impact of practitioner-inspired methods on work that takes place on TV and film.

Drama for Live TV 2 (20 credits)

Understand the role and importance of drama for live TV. Develop practical and production skills through an experiential exploration of key strategies associated with capturing work for the medium of TV, within and external to a live TV studio. Explore the impact of performance and production decisions on work that takes place in a TV studio, and when filming on location.

Guerilla Filmmaking (20 credits)

Gain knowledge of guerrilla filmmaking, in terms of camera operation/techniques, dramatic lighting, sound recording, video editing, colour grading and production management.

Optional modules (choose 60 credits):

Post Production (20 credits)

Build on the post-production knowledge and skills acquired at Level 1. Develop your technical understanding of Avid Media Composer and Pro Tools, and how this software is used to craft a video project. Develop your critical understanding of editing and audio mixing from a dramatic/artistic perspective.

Film Making For Film Festivals (20 credits)

Create a short film, in groups, geared towards the short film festival marketplace. Develop your critical understanding of dramatic techniques and technical ability in a variety of production roles such as Director, Cinematographer and Editor.

Scriptwriting (20 credits)

Gain an introduction to the concepts and techniques employed in writing drama or comedy suitable for television or steaming service such as Netflix or Amazon. Learn how to develop an idea through the treatment stage, and finally into a script.

Moving Camera (20 credits)

Develop your understanding of moving cameras, their images and the impact of those images on screen. Explore and learn to control moving camera equipment including Steadicams, Track and Dollies, Jib-arm, and sliders in order to create professional moving compositions.

Experimental Practices (20 credits)

Explore experimental practices in performing arts. Discuss the importance of, and connection between, social ideologies and performance activity.

Arts, Identity and Industry (20 credits)

Focus on current topics and issues in the arts industry, for example, identity, performing bodies, arts and disability, arts and health, arts and education, effective preparation and application, and corporate arts.

Final year (national level 6):

Core modules

Multi-Platform Performance (20 credits)

Take part in workshops that explore diverse areas of screen performance such as virtual reality, TV presenting and motion capture. Analyse and evaluate the challenges and advantages of your selected multi-platform performance.

Creative Enterprise Project (20 credits)

Plan and implement a small-scale project and experience a work placement aligned to a possible career. Develop a professional online portfolio/digital CV which showcases some of your best work to take forward as a way of self-promotion, self-branding and identifying key skills and competencies as a graduate and creative practitioner.

TV Drama Project (20 credits)

Examine acting for TV, and develop your knowledge surrounding video/TV production. Cover screen context and participate in workshops looking at on-camera acting techniques, planning, rehearsing and shooting a range of dramatic scenarios for video/TV. Take part in the award-winning film projects in collaboration with Northumbria Police.

Optional modules (choose 60 credits):

Practical Final Project (60 credits)

Create a high-end video project for a client of your choosing such as an individual, a business, or a band. Demonstrate your technical ability/skills in creating highly composed compositions, effective audio, and professional editing/grade.

Final Showcase (40 credits)

Extend your artistic practice and/or demonstrate creative innovation. Depending on the role you select, you'll develop: artistic competence, choreographic, compositional, devising and directorial processes, performance skills and creative use of small scale staging techniques.

Moving Camera 2 (20 credits)

Expand on the practical skills and theoretical understanding of the Steadicam, Track and Dollies, Jib Arm and other camera conveyance through lectures, workshops, exercises, screenings and discussions. Develop your critical awareness and understanding of conceptual issues and how these relate to your practical work.

Screenwriting for Film and TV 2 (20 credits)

Look at adapting existing narratives. Study a variety of forms and sources and develop them into your own narrative in screenplay form (up to 30 minutes). Develop your work through treatment stage to final screenplay. Cover subjects including adapting character, plot, narrative voice and thematic choices.

Film and Feeling: Music, Performance and Genre (20 credits)

Connect with the role played by music, performance and genre in the evocation of emotion in cinema. Examine these in relation to a rich variety of films drawn from international cinema. Study TV drama and the music video.

More about BA (Hons) Screen Performance with Integrated Foundation Year at Sunderland

Discover more articles

The library is your gateway to information resources and services both on and off campus, all through a single search box. We have resources and support tailored for your course including: Dance in Video, hours of dance productions and documentaries from the most influential performers and companies; International Bibliography of Theatre and Drama the definitive research tool for theatre and performing arts; and Box of Broadcasts (BoB) an on-demand TV and radio streaming service. See the performing arts key resources for more information.

Access 1400 study places, including quiet and silent zones, 300+ PCs, group work hubs, online module reading lists and study skills support, all in our quality learning environments. You’ll have full use of two libraries, both with extensive opening hours. And ‘Live Chat’ enables you to access library support and help, from anywhere, 24/7.

We’re much more than a library, the University Library and Study Skills team are on hand to guide you throughout your studies on and off campus from embedded skills sessions, digital skills support to one-to-one and drop-in advice on research and academic skills.
Library Services - performing arts
The library is your gateway to information resources and services both on and off campus, all through a single search box. We have digital resources and support tailored for your course including Box of Broadcasts (BoB) an on-demand TV and radio streaming service; Kanopy to access films; and a collection of DVDs for you to borrow, you're welcome to film in the library too. See the media key resources for more information.

Access 1400 study places, including quiet and silent zones, 300+ PCs, group work hubs, online module reading lists and study skills support, all in our quality learning environments. You’ll have full use of two libraries, both with extensive opening hours. And ‘Live Chat’ enables you to access library support and help, from anywhere, 24/7.

We’re much more than a library, the University Library and Study Skills team are on hand to guide you throughout your studies on and off campus from embedded skills sessions, digital skills support to one-to-one and drop-in advice on research and academic skills.
Library support for Media
The University’s facilities for Performing Arts include:
- Our own 200-seat cinema with 7.1 surround sound facility
- Two production studios with 4.6k camera system complete with green room and changing facilities
- Eight Steadicam rigs plus dolly, track, drone and mini crane
- Field camera systems, comprising 4.6k Blackmagic Ursa, Blackmagic Ursa Mini Pro and Canon EOS 5D Mark III, with associated location kits, lighting, field monitors and audio mixers
- Five radio studios including a Radio Drama Studio and transmission suite for Spark Sunderland
- Avid Learning Partner (ALP)
- Avid Certified Instructors (ACI) on staff for Avid Media Composer and ProTools
- 60 post-production workstations all with Avid Media Composer, Avid Protools, Adobe CC, DaVinci Resolve and Baselight
- Designated colour grading rooms and Avid S6 audio mixing room
- Digital audio post-production area with voiceover booths
- Local TV channel, a BBC reporter and a University owned community radio station on campus
- Engagement with enterprise teams to encourage entrepreneurship
Performing Arts Facilities
Learn in our 200 seat cinema and 7.1 surround sound facility. Get hands-on in our two broadcast-quality production studios complete with green room and changing facilities. Access four Steadicam rigs plus dolly, track and mini crane. Our field camera systems, comprises Blackmagic Ursa, Blackmagic Ursa Mini Pro, Blackmagic 4K Production Camera and the Canon EOS 5D Mark III, with associated location kits, lighting, field monitors and audio mixers.

Get experience with Made in Tyne & Wear, based in the Media Centre providing placements to students and jobs to several of our graduates.

Go on-air in one of five radio studios, including a larger radio drama studio and a transmission suite for Spark, our award winning student-run community radio station. Spark has a target audience of 15 to 24 year-olds and broadcasts 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

Develop your skills in our digital audio post-production area with voice-over booths and 70 workstations with state-of-the-art HD Edit systems, including Final Cut Pro, Avid Media Composer and Premier Pro. You'll also use DaVinci Resolve for colour correction.
TV and radio studios
Map and directions

Facilities

The David Puttnam Media Centre is a thriving place to study and experience media. Rub shoulders with BBC Newcastle and Made in Tyne & Wear, who are both based in the building. Volunteer with award winning Spark Sunderland, write for one of our suite of websites or edit Spark Magazine in our mediaHUB. Get hands on in TV and Radio Studios, Journalism and Digital editing suites. Learn from experts in this centre of excellence for training.

Entry requirements

We don’t currently display entry requirements for United States. Please contact the Student Admin team on studentadmin@sunderland.ac.uk or 0191 515 3154.

Entry requirements are provided for guidance only and we may offer you an entrance interview which will help us determine your eligibility for your chosen degree. This enables us to consider making you an offer if you are perhaps a mature student who has been out of education for a period of time, or you have gained significant knowledge and skills through employment rather than traditional education.

Eligible entry qualifications:

1. Normally a minimum of three Level 2 qualifications (NVQ, GCSE or equivalent), including Maths and English at grade C or above** and a minimum of 40 UCAS tariff points from Level 3 qualifications (e.g. A or AS Levels, BTEC certificates/diplomas, access courses or equivalent)
OR
2. Demonstrable evidence of appropriate knowledge and skills acquired from at least three years of post-school work experience.

If you are unsure of whether you think you might be suitable for the course, please contact us!

** If you have studied for a GCSE which has a numerical grade then you will need to achieve a grade 4 or above. Equivalent alternative qualifications are also accepted, such as Level 2 Key Skills in Communication and Application of Number. If you have not achieved a grade C in Maths and English we may be able to work with you to ensure that you are able to gain these in the first year of the course, depending on your experience.

If English is not your first language, please see our English language requirements.

Is your qualification not displaying here? For international qualifications, search our full list of international entry requirements for this course.

Fees and finance

The annual fee for this course is £9,250 if you are from the UK/Ireland/EU settled/pre-settled.

If you are a full-time UK/Irish/EU settled/EU pre-settled student you may be eligible to receive financial support to cover your fees for the full four years. UK and EU settled students may also be eligible to receive a maintenance loan.

Please note, this course is not available to international students.

Learn more about settled status, pre-settled status, special discounts, visa requirements and Common Travel Area (CTA) agreements for the Republic of Ireland applicants in our Help and Advice article.

Take a look at the Your Finances section to find out about the scholarships and bursaries that may be available to you.

This information was correct at the time of publication.

Student in the Sunderland Futures department

Career ready

This degree prepares you for a career in front of the camera. You will gain highly transferable skills in communication, presentation and collaboration with others which will be very relevant to roles in TV, new media and performance.

Work experience

We actively encourage you to gain relevant work experience while at university. In every year of your course, you'll be guided and encouraged to gain meaningful experience that will fit around your studies.

You'll undertake a number of practice modules throughout your course, which can include live briefs from clients from outside the University. Get the opportunity to gain production experience with independent production company Fulwell 73 and build up a portfolio of work to show future employers.

Industry links

We frequently invite guest speakers to run workshops and master classes, allowing you to relate your learning to real-life experience. Previous masterclasses have been delivered by: Lord David Puttnam; Leo Pearlman (Fulwell 73); Bhasker Patel (Emmerdale, Thunderbirds, Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom); Liam Fox (Emmerdale, Dinnerladies); Coronation Street’s first disabled actress, Cherylee Houston; Terence Maynard (Coronation Street, Edge of Tomorrow, Revolver, Reign of Fire); Principal Costume Coordinator in film and TV, Carol Machin (The Hitman's Bodyguard, 13 Hours, Judy, Dune); Director, Ian Bevitt (Coronation Street and Emmerdale); Senior Production Manager, Lee Rayner (Coronation Street); and Bessie Williams, who set up casting recruitment agency NE1 4.TV, (Vera, Beowulf and CCBC’s The Dumping Ground).

We have excellent links with national employers such as the BBC and ITV, and strong links with regional productions like Vera and the Dumping Ground.

Creative Industries Week

Creative Industries Week gives everyone in the Faculty of Arts and Creative Industries the opportunity to participate in a range of projects, workshops, talks, industry visits and career events. This exciting week encourages interdisciplinary working, broadens your experience, to build your confidence and help develop your career path.

Related courses

Contact

Come and see for yourself; speak to our academic team and feel at home in our facilities. For further information about studying at the University of Sunderland contact the Student Helpline:

0191 515 3000

student.helpline@sunderland.ac.uk

View Programme Specifications for the Faculty of Arts and Creative Industries.

Page last updated: 22 September 2021

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Screen Performance with Integrated Foundation Year BA (Hons)

Course overview

Why us?

Course structure

Foundation Year

Year 1 (national level 4):

Core modules

Year 2 (national level 5):

Core modules

Optional modules (choose 60 credits):

Final year (national level 6):

Core modules

Optional modules (choose 60 credits):

More about BA (Hons) Screen Performance with Integrated Foundation Year at Sunderland

Five tips to get the most out of your Screen Performance degree

Increasing awareness of serious crimes through drama and film making

Puttnam Scholars: Get support from an Oscar-winning Producer

Facilities

Entry requirements

Fees and finance

Career ready

Work experience

Industry links

Creative Industries Week

Related courses

Contact

Sign up to receive more information