Pathways to the NFTS
Looking for more experience before you choose to specialise or not quite old enough to apply for an NFTS course?
Here we've listed some options that can help you feel a bit more confident for your application to study with us in the future!
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There is no single recommended route into the NFTS, although some previous experience is important if you are thinking of applying for one of our courses. Typical pathway routes include studying an undergraduate course at another institution and/or independently developing work in your chosen specialism for your portfolio.
For some specialisations, you may get sufficient experience from a college or undergraduate course or from applying your skills in a non-film context. Many applicants have learnt filmmaking basics and then made short films of their own.
We also are interested with people with a background in new media, advertising, theatre and other parts of the creative and cultural industries.
The NFTS have teamed up with Disney to run a residential for 16 – 19 year olds – where young filmmakers will work with top industry professionals to make short films. The NFTS Academy is open to all applicants who have the necessary talent and enthusiasm, and can demonstrate their passion for filmmaking.
The NFTS Academy covers the following craft specialisms:
- Directing
- Producing
- Screenwriting
- Cinematography
- Sound
- Editing
- Production Design
The Academy is a great way to prepare yourself for life in the Industry, enhance your showreel, begin your journey into filmmaking and see how life at the NFTS could look for you!
Our blended learning Certificate in Filmmaking is a great entry route into the School. Whether you want to be a writer, director, cinematographer, VFX artist or sound recordist this course is for you. In just six months, you will graduate with an insight into practical filmmaking from one of the top film schools in the world, with a much more developed and well-rounded understanding of the industry and how films are made, setting you up for a long and successful career in the industry.
You may be a recent BA graduate wishing to further their knowledge with access to NFTS industry specialists or perhaps you’re an up and coming filmmaker focused on your area of specialism but wish to know more about other departments involved in the filmmaking process. It could be that you want to have an overview of the filmmaking process before applying to one of our specialist Diplomas or MAs. Whatever your circumstance, check out this course page to find out if it's right for you!
If you complete this course and then successfully secure a place on an NFTS Diploma or MA, we will refund you half the certificate course fee on taking up your MA or Diploma place at the School.
This 6-month online, part-time course is designed to help you to feel confident to create your own video games independently, and ready to launch your independent games business or decide to progress your learning to MA level. It aims to help you develop and discover your own strengths and areas of interest by drawing on Industry professionals who will share their invaluable knowledge and advice.
If you complete this course and then successfully secure a place on an NFTS Diploma or MA, we will refund you half the certificate course fee on taking up your MA or Diploma place at the School.
The NFTS do require volunteers throughout the year, in role such as production assistant (runners), drivers or within our art and camera departments.
We advertise the majority of our volunteering opportunities on the My First Job In Film website.
If you are over the age of 18 and are interested in being added to the volunteer database, please send a CV with an email explaining your desired volunteering role to volunteers@nfts.co.uk. Your details will then be added to a database and you may be contacted with future opportunities to help on student exercises and productions.