Factual Development and Production at National Film and Television School - UCAS

Course summary

Application deadline 31 October 2023 Equip yourself with the skills to take your Factual Development ideas to the next level. It’s an exciting time to be working in factual television! Factual programmes are at the heart of the UK television schedules, whether it’s The Great British Bake-Off, The Repair Shop, Married at First Sight, 24hrs in A&E or Gogglebox. The market for factual programmes has never been more diverse - be it the multitude of available platforms for factual content, the range of form and content, or the new opportunities and initiatives for talent of all kinds. The Factual Development and Production Diploma is a year-long, part-time blended learning diploma, which seeks to capture the dynamism of mainstream factual television in 2023 and provide you with the skills you need to make your own professional contribution to it. Learning from industry professionals, including channel commissioners and top producers in production and development, this course plots the evolution of factual programmes from the initial idea to transmission and beyond. The Factual Development and Production Diploma is supported by Discovery. Each year, the course culminates with the students pitching an idea for a series to a Discovery commissioner. The winning pitch is optioned by the channel, securing £5,000 for further development and the support of a Discovery executive producer. On leaving the course, you could join many of our former students who are now successfully working in the Industry in senior positions.

Modules

The curriculum has a specific focus on programme development - on brainstorming ideas, writing proposals/creating decks, producing sizzles, pitching to commissioners - and embraces all kinds of factual programmes: from low-cost, high volume daytime formats to premium peak-time series. This blended learning course is delivered from the NFTS hubs in London and Cardiff, but is available to students across the UK and features a stimulating combination of weekly online sessions and occasional in-person workshops (including a 2-day camera course). Across the year, students are required to complete six assignments. The course is made up of a number of modules and workshops, participants learn by ‘doing’ as well as understanding theory and developing a variety of practical and creative skills.

Assessment method

Graduation project.


Entry requirements

This course is open to UK applicants and EU/EEA Nationals with UK pre-settled/settled status (subject to meeting residency requirements) and applicants who are currently in the UK on a valid visa for the full duration of the course. You do not need to work in television or have a formal qualification to apply for this Diploma, but you must be able to demonstrate a genuine passion for, and informed interest in, factual television. If you have any questions, please email [email protected]


Fees and funding

Tuition fees

England £6350 Whole course
Northern Ireland £6350 Whole course
Scotland £6350 Whole course
Wales £6350 Whole course

Additional fee information

Students with EU settled / pre-settled status are still eligible to apply. Fees are confirmed/updated in June each year for the following intake date. A non-refundable deposit of £500 is required against the cost of your fees on confirmation of your place. The NFTS is committed to ensuring it is open to students of genuine ability, no matter what their background or financial circumstances, which is why we award more scholarships and bursaries to British students, relative to the size of our student body, than almost any other educational institution in the UK.

Sponsorship information

NFTS Bursary available for UK Students.

Factual Development and Production at National Film and Television School - UCAS