Filmmaking BA(Hons): What our students say

"I come from a strong background in the visual arts, having pursued it throughout school and then gone onto a foundation course in Art and Design at a well-respected art college in Edinburgh, my hometown.

"While I'd always loved film, I hadn't until that point had the opportunity to truly experiment with it for myself. I found that, given the chance to do so in such an open and creatively buzzing environment, it became clear that film was the medium I wanted to move into.

"I'm delighted that Kingston's Filmmaking BA(Hons) course offers the same creative, open environment that I came from before – with tutors willing you to push your ideas further and try new things rather than letting you stagnate. It's a course that constantly challenges you to think outside the box, to try to find new solutions and ways to express yourself through the medium, all the while slowly but surely building up your technical expertise.

"With my personal background in art and art film, I've found that my films tend to have experimental leanings and, indeed, the tutors are encouraging of this approach – not that narrative or more traditional film approaches are frowned upon. It is this desire to challenge and experiment in whatever aspect of the medium you wish to explore that is really valuable about the course.

"Already I've had the previously unfathomable opportunity to show work at the British Film Institute, and the ties this course and the tutors have to filmmakers and artists in the UK are invaluable, frequently meaning students can get excellent experience in a variety of areas, or get their work shown in amazing locations.

"I'm looking forward to the next two years of my course, and whatever direction my work will go."

"This year at Kingston has really been really eye opening for me and I've really progressed by being given enough room to develop with my work whilst having a very strong safety net of tutors. I've also been able to learn through trial and experimentation without worrying too much of failure, as risk taking is encouraged.

"The course leader and staff team are made up of practitioners who themselves are well-founded in the filmmaking sector. They put in a lot of time to make sure you know what you're doing and help expand on your ideas, also offering a gateway into the industry that starts in the first year that I've had the privilege of taking part in. So far this year I have helped out on two professional film shoots in central London that involved the tutors, and that I've been able to capitalize on and receive further work off the back of the initial introductions set up by the course leader.

"In addition to work experience we get the opportunity to make regular visits to the BFI, for screenings of films that would not otherwise be available to me. These visits and other extra curricular day trips to galleries/events have helped expand my view on the idea of filmmaking and increased my vocabulary around it. The year as a whole has increased my confidence in my own work and given me the incentive to get out there and really go for it. The well thought out curriculum mixed with the friendly attitude of staff and classmates really helped me relax into the year. The resources are excellent and the course here also promotes dialogue between the year groups. A great choice for creative practitioners."