Film and Television

Whether you’re an aspiring director, a would-be producer, a creative and/or someone who wants to write innovative South African stories for film or television, the Bachelor of Arts in Film and Television (BAFT) offers exciting and creative learning opportunities.

Overview

You will benefit from theoretically informed and production-based learning in a range of formats, including documentary and fiction short films, music videos and experimental film-making, as well as specialised courses in cinematography, post-production, studio production and sound design. The four-year undergraduate programme allows you to interrogate multiple aspects of film-making, in addition to specialised technical training.

Career Opportunities

  • Director
  • Editor
  • Producer
  • Writer
  • Programme researcher
  • Script supervisor
  • Production Coordinator
  • Sound designer
  • Sound Mixer
  • Production Manager
  • Researcher
  • Set designer
  • Academic

Curriculum

First-year
  • Film, Visual and Performing Arts 1A AND IB
  • Visual Storytelling IA AND IB
  • Image Creation IA AND IB

AND

A student is required to complete two semester courses in one of the following languages: isiZulu or Sesotho or South African Sign Language (SASL). If a student is proficient in any two of the three languages (isiZulu, Sesotho or SASL), the student is advised to do one of the following:

  1. register in a first-language stream for two courses in isiZulu or Sesotho,
  2. register for two courses in any one of the following: French, German, Italian, Portuguese, or Spanish, or
  3. formally apply to the Dean for exemption from the requirement to register for a language subject. Where an exemption has been granted, students must add a course/s yielding at least 36 credits in a subject approved by Senate. A student may also be granted a credit if s/he has completed the same or an equivalent course.
Second-year
  • Image Creation IIA AND IIB
  • Visual Storytelling IIA

Select courses yielding 48 credits from:

  • Film, Visual and Performing Arts 1A: Storytelling across Media and Cultural contexts
  • Screen Studies IIB
Third-year
  • Directing Fiction III
  • Documentary Film-making III
  • Principles of Sound Design III
  • Principles of Studio Production III
  • Screen Writing IIIA AND IIIB

OR, select one course from the following:

  • Interactive Media IIIA
  • Animation IIIA
  • Theories of Art
  • Introduction to Cultural Policy and Management A
  • Funding Contexts in Cultural and Creative Industries

OR

Screen Studies IIIA

AND

  • Film, Visual and Performing Arts IIIA: Aesthetics Technologies and Commodity Cultures
  • Film, Visual and Performing Arts IIIB: Medium, Process and Criticality
Fourth-year

Select one course from the following:

  • Long Essay in Film and Television
  • Research Project in Film and Television

Select four courses from the following:

  • Fact and Fiction IV
  • Experimental Film IV
  • Fundamentals of Post-production IV
  • Fundamentals of Cinematography IV
  • Screenwriting IVA AND Screenwriting IVB

OR

Select three courses from the list above AND one appropriate fourth year course from the following:

  • Film Studies IVA AND IVB
  • Digital Humanities
  • Participatory Cultures
  • Cultural Entrepreneurship
  • Arts, Marketing: Context, Strategies and Practices
  • Animation IV
  • Interactive Media IV
  • Selected topic in Interdisciplinary Arts and Cultural Studies

Entry Requirements

APS 34+

English Home Language OR First Additional Language  Level 5

Wait-listing

An APS of 30-33 points may be wait-listed, subject to place availability. 

Additional Selection Criteria

Applicants have to submit a portfolio and may have to attend an interview. Click here for more information. Due to limited space, meeting the minimum requirements does not guarantee a place. Final selection is made subject to place availability, academic results and other entry requirements, where applicable.

University Application Process

  • The Student Enrolment Centre at Wits handles all student applications.
  • Please click here for an overview of the application process. 
  • Check the admission requirements for your degree. Check if any additional selection requirements apply. 
  • Submit your application, required documentation and application fee before the closing date.
  • Once you have applied, an admissions consultant will be assigned to your application.
  • Applicants can monitor the progress of their applications via the Self Service Portal.
  • If you are an international applicant and/or have a foreign qualification, please click here.

Compliance with the minimum requirements does not guarantee a place at the University. The University has a specific number of places for first year undergraduates, approved by the Department of Higher Education and Training. Final selection is made subject to the availability of places, academic results and other entry requirements where applicable.

University Fees and Funding

Click here to see the current average tuition fees for the first year of study. The Fees website also provides information about the payment of fees and closing dates for fees payments. Once you have applied you will be able to access the fees estimator on the student self-service portal. 

The Financial Aid and Scholarships Office provides information on student funding and scholarships. University-funded Scholarships include Vice-Chancellor's Scholarships, University Entrance Scholarships, Equality Scholarships, Sports Scholarships and National Olympiad winner awards. For information about NSFAS funding, please visit the NSFAS website. External bursaries portal: The Bursaries South Africa website provides a comprehensive list of bursaries in South Africa.