BA in Films

Hi, I am in the process of studying film in the UK and I am looking for some advice on which of the following uni's I should make a final decision for (I have already been accepted into these universities):
1. University of Westminster for BA Film
2. UAL for BA in film practice
3. London Film Academy
I have a decent background after studying film for a few years prior. I like practical work and I'm looking for a uni that has good connections and access to industry equipment.
Thanks so much!

I graduated from a similar Film Production course (in terms of respectability) in 2023 and I have only just found a part time retail job after spending almost two years unemployed beforehand. I think going to university to undertake a Film degree is basically useless, and I enjoyed my course (somewhat) and gained a First Class Degree.
Personally London Film Academy would be your best option, presuming you could afford the tuition fees of course.

Ah okay I see. I am an international student so being able to continue working in the UK is something I want to do. If you don't mind me asking, which course at what uni did you do? Did your uni help you look for job prospects and networking at all? My only reservation about LFA is it being not as big as the other unis, so securing a job may be difficult if the network is not as known. If I were to go to LFA it would be the 2 year BA Course. Thanks so much for your reply!

Hi, I am in the process of studying film in the UK and I am looking for some advice on which of the following uni's I should make a final decision for (I have already been accepted into these universities):
1. University of Westminster for BA Film
2. UAL for BA in film practice
3. London Film Academy
I have a decent background after studying film for a few years prior. I like practical work and I'm looking for a uni that has good connections and access to industry equipment.
Thanks so much!

LFA hasn’t been offering undergraduate film courses for long. They’re really better for postgraduate degrees not undergraduate.
Of your options Westminster is the most established for undergraduate film courses.
For film smaller and shorter courses aren’t necessarily a beneficial thing. It will limit your choices of projects to work on if the class size is small and if the course is short then that will limit the number of projects that you can work on and massively reduce your time to gain experience on film sets during holidays and alongside your studies (because you won’t have holidays).
For film careers your portfolio of work and your breadth of experience is what’s going to help you get a foothold in the industry.

Makes sense... At the moment my family is leaning towards Westminster over the other two as UAL's infrastructure also seems very similar to Westminster but UAL is also almost double the price 😅. If you have any other advice before I make my decision that would be greatly appreciated!
Thank you!

Just wanted to mention that given the new immigration rules the chances of you studying and then staying in the UK after you graduate is basically zero.

Something to contemplate before you make your final decision.

If you're talking about the white paper then that is just a white paper and not legislation yet
And the white paper still leaves Graduate Route visas available for 18 months post degree so hardly zero

If you're talking about the white paper then that is just a white paper and not legislation yet
And the white paper still leaves Graduate Route visas available for 18 months post degree so hardly zero

Just because you are on the graduate visa does not mean you will be eligible for a skilled worker visa when you graduate . I have friends in this situation and they all say it is borderline impossible to stay in the UK after your graduate visa expires unless you go into a very niche and highly paid industry, spoiler alert, this is not any role related to the Film Industry.
OP will most likely finish their degree, receive their graduate visa and have to leave. I can appreciate that the proposal is a white paper but it looks more and more likely to become law and take place.

Just because you are on the graduate visa does not mean you will be eligible for a skilled worker visa when you graduate . I have friends in this situation and they all say it is borderline impossible to stay in the UK after your graduate visa expires unless you go into a very niche and highly paid industry, spoiler alert, this is not any role related to the Film Industry.

OP will most likely finish their degree, receive their graduate visa and have to leave. I can appreciate that the proposal is a white paper but it looks more and more likely to become law and take place.

Yes the idea is to find employment in the time given with the student visa. I realise the risk, I have siblings studying there. Also who knows if I would like to move elsewhere or maybe pursue a masters, which would definitely impact my stay. In this case I think the benefits outweigh the costs like I mentioned above, so like I said it is the best option I have at the moment. Once I apply for the visa in the next few weeks, I don't believe it is subject to change (specifically the time I have after graduating to look for employment). The risk is present in every industry, (agreed that film is of higher risk), but I'm not willing to give up studying there because of a potential outcome. By going in pessimistic and assuming I will not find employment will not do me any good. I've chosen to work in an industry that is incredibly risky so I will have to take some risks to make it happen.

A white paper is specifically written for discussion. It hasn’t even started the process of becoming law.
The contents of any eventual legislation are likely to be very different.
It’s misleading and cruel to advise potential students as if the content of a white paper will become law in its current state.