Course summary
This course provides a thorough education in editing skills in a professional filmmaking environment – with every student working in their own editing suite. Head of Editing, Richard Cox ACE, edited Gentleman Jack which was awarded the Best Drama Series 2020 by the Royal Television Society (RTS). Students will have the opportunity to work on a wide range of practical projects, including animations, fiction films, documentaries, natural history programmes, and commercials. Students are encouraged to consider their craft as part of the whole process of film and television production and not merely as the final stage. They will collaborate with those in other specialisms to put into practice the skills they learn throughout the course – with all production costs met by the School. Editing graduates have a high rate of employment on feature films, shorts and television programmes. Many new graduates quickly become editors on independent productions or assistant editors on features or TV drama, while others gravitate to visual effects, promos and i-dents. All NFTS students can attend Masterclasses. Recent guests include David Fincher (Fight Club), Greta Gerwig (Little Women), Steve McQueen (12 Years A Slave), Edgar Wright (Hot Fuzz), Phoebe Waller-Bridge (Fleabag), Ben Wheatley (Free Fire), Rapman (Blue Story), Louis Theroux, Debra Granik (Winter’s Bone), Denis Villeneuve (Bladerunner 2049), Lynne Ramsay (You Were Never Really Here), Sam Mendes (1917), Asif Kapadia (Senna), Joanna Hogg (The Souvenir), Russell T Davies (Doctor Who) and Walter Murch (Apocalypse Now) The NFTS is an Avid Education Partner. This course is industry recognised by ScreenSkills, the industry-led skills body for the UK's screen-based industries, and carries the ScreenSkills Select quality-mark which indicates courses best suited to prepare students for a career in the screen industries.
Modules
The emphasis of the editing curriculum is firmly on storytelling and the relationship between editor and director. Students learn to apply their craft to the demands of fiction, documentary and animation, creating visual narratives while working with sound, music and, where appropriate, special effects. Workshops with other departments develop concepts of visual storytelling, mise-en-scène, storyboarding, sound design, music and scriptwriting. In the final year, students will collaborate to make a digital fiction short film, and three graduation films in animation, documentary and fiction.
Assessment method
Assessment is based on a dissertation and a graduation film.
Entry requirements
The Editing course is part of the Post Production department, where we are looking to assemble a group of students with diverse and varied backgrounds. There is no 'typical' student or perfect candidate who conforms to a mandatory list of qualifications. You are likely to have some industry experience or training in your chosen field. Your background may be in the arts or other media, you might be looking for a further professional qualification or wish to broaden your knowledge of film and video editing, taking you to a higher level of work. While many applicants will have a degree from a British or overseas university, we will consider applicants who do not have a degree if they have an impressive portfolio, a creative track record or an alternative qualification. For international students, more information about our entry requirements, including Visa and English language requirements, can be found on our What You Need To Know section of our Students From Abroad page. If you have any questions, please email [email protected].
Fees and funding
Tuition fees
| England | £14800 | Year 1 |
| Northern Ireland | £14800 | Year 1 |
| Scotland | £14800 | Year 1 |
| Wales | £14800 | Year 1 |
| Channel Islands | £14800 | Year 1 |
| Republic of Ireland | £14800 | Year 1 |
| EU | £26000 | Year 1 |
| International | £26000 | Year 1 |
Additional fee information
No additional fees or cost information has been supplied for this course, please contact the provider directly.
Sponsorship information
NFTS Scholarships available for UK Students.
Provider information
National Film and Television School
Beaconsfield Studios
Station Road
Beaconsfield
HP9 1LG