BA (Hons) Creative Producing
(Theatre and Short Film)
Overview
What is the BA (Hons) Creative Producing (Theatre and Short Film)?
East 15's BA (Hons) Creative Producing (Theatre and Short Film) is a three-year, industry-focused degree for entrepreneurial artists with an interest in creating, producing, administrating and promoting theatre and film.
From 2026-27, this course will be based at our Colchester Campus, offering bespoke East 15 studio spaces and other specialist facilities within a creative university environment set in 200 acres of parkland.
Why this course
The BA (Hons) Creative Producing (Theatre and Short Film) is a practical course that draws together the broad disciplines of theatre and film with business-focused aspects of the creative arts and associated industries.
Across the three years, you will secure the fundamentals and then develop the skills needed to produce both theatre and film. In your final year, this will come together in a realistic project plan that you could feasibly achieve in the future.
By the end of the course, you’ll be prepared for a career in the creative industries producing or facilitating works of theatre and/or film.
If you’re more interested in behind-the-scenes training for stage and production management, try our BA (Hons) Stage Management.
Who should apply
- Aspiring theatre-makers and filmmakers with a practical eye and keen vision
- Creative individuals with a strength in the administrative processes behind producing a piece of theatre and film
- Business-minded artists ready to lead and manage productions to completion
What you’ll learn
Disciplines of theatre and film
- Writing for performance
- Lighting and sound
- Theatre directing and directing for camera
- Screenwriting
- Film editing
- Location management
- Dramaturgy
- Digital set design
Business aspects of the arts
- Marketing
- Web design
- Social media
- Fundraising
- Arts management
Careers and outcomes
A BA (Hons) Creative Producing (Theatre and Short Film) prepares you for careers such as:
- Producer and facilitator
- Arts manager and administrator
- Lighting, sound and set designer
- Screenwriter and playwright
- Director
- Film editor
- Arts marketer and fundraiser
Where have graduates go on to work?
Graduates from this course will have developed their capacity to instigate projects across the digital, stage and screen sectors. They will also have finely-tuned transferable skills in communication, presentation, administration, leadership and critical analysis.
What is Colchester Campus like?
- Green campus setting: Located within 200 acres of parkland, offering an inspiring environment for creative practice, just two miles from Colchester city centre
- Performance and study facilities: Home to the 200-seat Lakeside Theatre, the Albert Sloman Library, rehearsal spaces and creative study areas
- Student life: Cafés, restaurants, street food outlets, SU bar, social spaces, sports centre, gym and a weekly food market
- Accommodation: A range of University of Essex student accommodation options within walking distance of campus facilities
- Future-focused facilities: East 15 is developing bespoke studio spaces and specialist performance facilities at Colchester to support conservatoire-style training
- Develop business and entrepreneurial skills in a creative environment
- Build an understanding of how to develop artistic projects into viable ventures
- Gain a strong introduction to stage, screen and live event production processes
Entry requirements
UK entry requirements
- A-levels: DD/EEE, or 48 UCAS tariff points from a minimum of 2 full A-levels.
- BTEC: MP, or 48 UCAS tariff points from a minimum of the equivalent of 2 full A-levels.
- Combined qualifications on the UCAS tariff: 48 UCAS tariff points from a minimum of 2 full A levels or equivalent. Tariff point offers may be made if you are taking a qualification, or mixture of qualifications, from the list on our undergraduate application information page.
- T-levels: Pass with E in core
- IB: two Higher Level certificates with 33
- IB Career-related Programme: We consider combinations of IB Diploma Programme courses with BTECs or other qualifications.
Successful interview, plus one of the following qualifications
International & EU entry requirements
We accept a wide range of qualifications from applicants studying in the EU and other countries. Get in touch with any questions you may have about the qualifications we accept. Remember to tell us about the qualifications you have already completed or are currently taking.
Sorry, the entry requirements for the country that you have selected are not available here. Please contact our Undergraduate Admissions team at ugquery@essex.ac.uk to request the entry requirements for this country.
English language requirements
If you do not require a student visa to study in the UK then we will assess your English language proficiency/ability at your interview or audition.
English language requirements for applicants whose first language is not English
IELTS 6.0 overall with a minimum of 5.5 in each component, or specified score in another equivalent test that we accept.
Details of English language requirements, including component scores, and the tests we accept for applicants who require a Student visa (excluding Nationals of Majority English Speaking Countries) can be found here
If we accept the English component of an international qualification it will be included in the academic levels listed above for the relevant countries.
Pre-sessional English courses
If you do not meet our IELTS requirements then you may be able to complete a pre-sessional English pathway that enables you to start your course without retaking IELTS.
Structure
Course structure
We offer dynamic and unique courses for actors, directors, producers, technical theatre specialists and students of theatre practice. Training at East 15 draws upon 50 years of tradition combined with a keen sense of the world of stage and screen today.
Our carefully selected modules will give you the chance to explore and develop your specialist training.
We understand that deciding where and what to study is a very important decision for you. We'll make all reasonable efforts to provide you with the courses, services and facilities as described on our website and in line with your contract with us. However, if we need to make material changes, for example due to significant disruption, we'll let our applicants and students know as soon as possible.
Teaching
Year 1
The first year of this course focuses on the fundamental elements of producing theatre and film to build the foundations of knowledge and skills that you will need to progress to more creative modules in years 2 and 3. Throughout the year you will:
- Gain an understanding of lighting and sound for performance
- Discover how to turn an artistic endeavour into a feasible, marketable product
- Work behind the camera to make short videos that can exist on their own as a narrative or support larger work as marketing material
Although this is a largely practical course, you will also develop requisite research skills required for the working world and understand the historical and cultural context to arts practice
Year 2
Throughout this year, you will further develop your new skills and learn new facets of the producing role by focusing on more specific tasks across media, theatre and film production. You will also:
- Develop your understanding of the skills required to write for film
- Develop your understanding of location management, fundraising, preparing grant proposals, touring a production, and filming live events
- Explore the role and practice of the director and dramaturg in theatre and film
Year 3
Your final year consists of one core unit, a written proposal, in which you plan a project that you could feasibly achieve in the future.
Alongside this, there are opportunities to practically engage with vocational pathways, for example, film production, theatre producing, writing for screen or performance, etc.
Fees and funding
Home/UK fee
£9,790 per year
Additional costs for materials and field trips of up to approximately £650 per academic year. Equipment lists are reviewed annually.International fee
£22,600 per year
Additional costs for materials and field trips of up to approximately £650 per academic year. Equipment lists are reviewed annually.Fees will increase for each academic year of study.
Scholarships and financial support
There may be scholarships, bursaries or discounts available to help with the cost of this course.
Fees and funding guide
What's next
Applying
You can apply to our full-time undergraduate courses through either the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS) or the University of Essex Direct Application Form.
If you choose to apply through UCAS, you can find step-by-step guidance on how to fill your UCAS undergraduate application. UK students (as well as some EU and international students) who are still in school or college may apply through their institution. Your school will help you complete and submit your UCAS application. The option to apply through UCAS is also available to independent UK and international applicants.
The UCAS code for the University of Essex is ESSEX E70.
For full details on how to apply, please visit the Applying for an Undergraduate Course page on the East 15 website.
Interviews
Applicants to this course will need to participate in an interview, either online or in person. Once you have submitted your UCAS or University of Essex application, you will receive an email from us with instructions on how to book your interview. There is no fee to attend the interview.
The interview is an opportunity for you to share your passion and enthusiasm for the creative industries, be it theatre, film, TV, radio, or events.
If you live in the UK, you'll have the chance to visit our campus and meet some of our staff in person during your interview.
Offers for this course are made only after a successful interview.
Visit Colchester Campus
Set within 200 acres of award-winning parkland - Wivenhoe Park and located two miles from the historic city centre of Colchester – England's oldest recorded development. Our Colchester Campus is also easily reached from London and Stansted Airport in under one hour.
Open Days
Our events are a great way to find out more about studying at Essex. We run a number of Open Days throughout the year which enable you to discover what our campus has to offer. You have the chance to:
- tour our campus and accommodation
- find out answers to your questions about our courses, student finance, graduate employability, student support and more
- meet our students and staff
Check out our Visit Us pages to find out more information about booking onto one of our events. And if the dates aren’t suitable for you, feel free to book a campus tour here.
Virtual tours
If you live too far away to come to Essex (or have a busy lifestyle), no problem. Our 360-degree virtual tour allows you to explore our University from the comfort of your home. Check out our Colchester virtual tour to see accommodation options, facilities and social spaces.
At Essex we pride ourselves on being a welcoming and inclusive student community. We offer a wide range of support to individuals and groups of student members who may have specific requirements, interests or responsibilities.
The University makes every effort to ensure that this information on its programme specification is accurate and up-to-date. Exceptionally it can be necessary to make changes, for example to courses, facilities or fees. Examples of such reasons might include, but are not limited to: strikes, other industrial action, staff illness, severe weather, fire, civil commotion, riot, invasion, terrorist attack or threat of terrorist attack (whether declared or not), natural disaster, restrictions imposed by government or public authorities, epidemic or pandemic disease, failure of public utilities or transport systems or the withdrawal/reduction of funding. Changes to courses may for example consist of variations to the content and method of delivery of programmes, courses and other services, to discontinue programmes, courses and other services and to merge or combine programmes or courses. The University will endeavour to keep such changes to a minimum, and will also keep students informed appropriately by updating our programme specifications. The University would inform and engage with you if your course was to be discontinued, and would provide you with options, where appropriate, in line with our Compensation and Refund Policy.
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