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Set Design and Production (Full-time) (BA Hons)

Carmarthen
3 Years Full-time
120 UCAS Points

Are you interested in creating Theatre Sets, Film Sets, and Television Sets? Our Set Design and Production degree at ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø aims to equip you with the creative, technical, and professional skills needed to succeed in the creative industries. The programme is highly practical and industry-focused, embracing a multi-skilled approach to design methodologies and construction methods. 

The course emphasises creative collaboration, working with industry professionals to ensure that our teaching remains current, relevant, and adaptable. You will be continuously developing a ‘toolkit’ of skills and making industry connections. This hands-on experience is essential for understanding the latest working practices in the Film and TV Industry and other creative sectors. 

Our programme focuses on training you as a professional practitioner. You will gain in-depth knowledge of current working practices through a variety of skills-based practical modules taught by industry professionals. The skills and training embedded in the programme will prepare you for a portfolio career in various fields, such as design, scenic arts, self-employment, and entrepreneurship. 

Throughout your studies, you will develop technical skills and design aesthetics, crucial for roles in Art Departments. You will also gain experience in 3D form, prop making, and sculpting, which are essential specialist skills in this field. 

Our course is structured to provide you with the necessary work experience to be industry-ready when you graduate. We offer a collaborative studio environment, allowing you to engage in creativity and design while working on real-world projects. This experience will enable you to bring visual worlds to life, whether for stage and screen or for other TV & film set design projects. 

The programme also includes training in costumes and props, enhancing your ability to tell stories through your designs. You will learn the art of storytelling and how to apply it to different media, giving you a competitive edge in the job market. 

Our industry links ensure that you stay connected with professionals and trends in the creative sectors. This network will provide you with invaluable insights and opportunities for your future career. By the end of the programme, you will have a well-rounded skill set that includes niche skills, making you a versatile and sought-after professional in the creative industries. 

Located on our immersive Carmarthen campus, as a Set Design and Production student you will have access to our specialised workshops. Embracing the philosophy that everywhere is a classroom within our creative community, you’ll also engage in creative collaboration across the Performing Industries portfolio. 

Course details

Start date:
Study modes:
  • Full-time
Language:
  • English
  • Bilingual
Institution code:
T80
UCAS code:
SDP1
Course length:
3 Years Full-time
Entry requirements:
120 UCAS Points

Tuition Fees 24/25
Home (Full-time): £9,000 per year
Overseas (Full-time): £13,500 per year

Why choose this course?

01
Practical, hands-on teaching in workshop/studio environments.
02
Practical assessments with no traditional exams
03
Learn from and collaborate with experienced industry professionals who currently work on stage, TV, film and events, forging connections along the way.

What you will learn

Our Philosophy

We believe in a hands-on, industry-focused approach to learning, ensuring students gain the practical skills needed for the industry. Our teaching emphasises creativity, collaboration, and adaptability, preparing you for a successful career in the dynamic field of set design and production. 

In your first year, you will be introduced to the fundamentals of set design and production, developing basic building blocks in the production process, where you establish your ‘toolbox’ of skills that will carry you through your degree. You will develop your creativity through practical projects, learning about design aesthetics and the basics of theatre, film, and television production techniques including areas such as scenic construction and props. 

Compulsory 

Principles of Design

(20 credits)

Props and Production Roles

(20 credits)

Scenic Construction and Drawing

(20 credits)

Production Technologies

(20 credits)

Scenic Art and Costume

(20 credits)

Production, Performance and Genre

(20 credits)

Optional 

Personal Project

(20 credits)

Your second year will delve deeper into advanced design methodologies gaining hands-on experience in prop making, sculpting, and model making. This year emphasizes refining your technical skills and expanding your portfolio with real-world applications with opportunities for internships and industry networking to enhance your career prospects and international study.

Compulsory 

Design Realisation

(20 credits)

Production for Screen

(20 credits)

Production Project

(20 credits)

Design Process

(20 credits)

Creative Industry

(20 credits)

Virtual Production Practice

(20 credits)

Optional 

Personal Project

(20 credits)

Work Placement

(20 credits)

International Mobility Opportunity

(60 Credits)

This year is designed to smoothly transition you from university to the professional world. In your final year, you will focus on professional practice. You will undertake a major design project, often in collaboration with industry partners, showcasing your creativity and technical expertise. Alongside this, the Professional Practice module will help you develop your portfolio, CV, tax awareness, interview techniques, SWOT analysis, and personal development plans. This comprehensive preparation will ensure you are ready for your career in the Creative Industries. 

Compulsory 

Independent Project

(40 credits)

Professional Practice

(20 credits)

Site-Specific Theatre

(30 credits)

Major Project

(30 credits)

Optional

Personal Project

(20 credits)

Work Placement

(20 credits)

Individual Project

(20 credits)

International Mobility Opportunity

(60 Credits)

The Role of Assistant

(10 credits)

Course Disclaimer

  • We listen to student feedback and insights from industry and from professionals to ensure that course content is high-quality and up-to-date, and that it offers the best possible preparation for your future career or study goals. 

    For this reason, there might be modifications to the content of your course over time, to keep up to date with changes in the subject area or in the sector. If a module is no longer running, we’ll make sure to keep you informed, and work with you to choose a different suitable module.

Rankings

Staff

Our People

You will be taught and supported by a wide range of professional staff and teams here to help you get the university experience you are looking for. Our teaching staff were ranked 2nd in Wales for Teaching, Assessment and Feedback and Academic Support (NSS 2024) meaning that the support and feedback you get will help you learn and develop strong academic skills. Our students have placed us 1st in Wales for Learning Opportunities and Student Voice (NSS 2024) meaning that there are a wide range of opportunities available to enhance your studies and that students play an active role in shaping their learning experiences. Our commitment to your learning has seen our students place us as 1st in Wales and joint 3rd in the UK for student satisfaction (Times Higher Education, 2024, ‘Overall Positivity’ measure). Find out more about our academic staff who teach across our courses. 

Facilities

Facilities

As a performing industries student in Carmarthen, you’ll have access to an array of workshops, theatre spaces, studios and rehearsal rooms. 

A circle of seven students jump in synch in a dance rehearsal studio with mirrored wall.

Further information

  • You will be invited to visit the University to discuss the course and present a portfolio of your work (digital or physical).

    A minimum of 120 UCAS points is required for entry to this course. However, we are keen to judge each application on merit, and this entry is based on an individual basis.

  • Projects/Performances/Events
    Students regularly have opportunities to take part in performances and events, this assists their professional growth and application of skills and knowledge.

    Regular tutorials
    We hold formal and informal tutorials throughout the degree. Each student can discuss their work with the module tutor or Programme Directors during tutorials. We look at practical development, conceptual growth and future ambitions.

    Presentations
    Presentations normally take place at the end of a module, exhibition or performance, in order to measure a student’s performance against established assessment criteria.

    Process workbooks
    At levels four and five, students will document their process and practical output in a workbook that demonstrates their learning and individual pathway preferences. At level 6, students write about their work in written tasks.

    During this course, students may be required to explore texts containing themes and issues that may be perceived as intellectually, socially and emotionally challenging.

  • You will not be expected to pay for materials or studio fees.

  • You may be eligible for funding to help support your study. To find out about scholarships, bursaries and other funding opportunities that are available, please visit our Bursaries and Scholarships section.

  • Embrace the opportunity to spend a semester abroad at universities in the US or Canada. We have exchange links with the following institutions:  

    • California State University, Fullerton
    • California State University, Long Beach
    • Douglas College, Vancouver
    • University of North Carolina, Greensboro
  • Our graduates have gone on to a variety of careers and further study, including:

    • Arts management
    • Costume maker
    • Education
    • Events management
    • Postgraduate study/research
    • Scenic artist
    • Set construction
    • Stage management
    • Technicians
    • Theatre designer
    • Wardrobe supervisor

    Who have our students & graduates worked for?

    • Aztec Events
    • Bay Studios
    • BBC
    • Bush Theatre
    • Leviathan Workshop
    • Marigold Costume
    • National Theatre Wales
    • National Theatre, London
    • Netflix
    • Regents Park Theatre
    • RWCMD
    • S4C
    • Scamp Theatre
    • Theatr Na N’Og
    • Theatre by the Lake
    • Torch Theatre
    • Wales Millennium Centre
    • Welsh National Opera

    Plus many more…