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

Carmarthen
3 Years Full-time
120 UCAS Points

Our Set Design and Production programme aims to provide you with creative, technical and professional skills relevant to developing a career in the creative industries. Highly practical and industry-focused, the programme embraces a multi-skilled approach to the development of design methodologies and construction methods.

With a strong emphasis on creative collaboration, the programme works with industry professionals across all levels to ensure working practices are current, relevant, agile and sustainable. You will be continuously developing your ‘toolkit’ of skills and industry connections.

There is a focus on nurturing and training you as a professional practitioner, to develop in-depth knowledge and understanding of current working practices within the creative industries. This is achieved through a variety of skills-based practical modules that use industry professionals throughout the programme. The skills and training embedded in the programme will equip you for a portfolio career in a variety of design, scenic arts, self-employment and entrepreneurship roles. The vocational nature of this programme reflects current trends in the creative industries.

UWTSD ranked first in Wales for Drama, Dance and Cinematics.
Complete University Guide 2023.

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 2023/24 and 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

The first year of the Set Design and Production programme focuses on developing basic building blocks in the production process, where you establish your ‘toolbox’ of skills that will carry you through your degree.

You will explore topics such as scenic construction, drawing, design, lighting, sound, scenic art plus much more.

Students are supported throughout the degree as they build their confidence whilst improving their skills. Importantly, their individual creativity as designers, makers and technicians is nurtured.

The second year concentrates on the application of these skills in a variety of practical projects and installations. These include design process, design realisation and production projects, plus the opportunity to work on third year productions or industry work placements.

The final year centres upon applying your training to a professional production process. You will get the chance to explore a major project and a studio or site performance. Exposure to these types of processes, along with Professional Practice which develops your portfolio, CV, tax awareness, interview technique, SWOT and personal development plans, will prepare you for your career in the Creative Industries.

Compulsory 

Learning in the Digital Era

(20 credits)

Contemporary Challenges: Making a Difference

(20 credits)

Principles of Design

(20 credits)

Props and Production Roles

(20 credits)

Scenic Construction and Drawing

(20 credits)

Optional 

Production Technologies

(20 credits)

Scenic Art and Costume

(20 credits)

Personal Project

(20 credits)

Compulsory 

Changemakers: Creativity and Value Creation

(20 credits)

Changemakers: Building your Personal Brand for Sustainable Employment

(20 credits)

Design Realisation

(20 credits)

Production for Screen

(20 credits)

Production Project

(20 credits)

Design Process

(20 credits)

Optional 

Personal Project

(20 credits)

International Study Abroad

(20 credits)

Work Placement

(20 credits)

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)

International Independent Study Abroad (L5)

(60 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 assessments and feedback (NSS 2023) meaning the comments you get back from your work will help you learn. Our commitment to your learning has seen our students us as Top 10 in the UK for Lecturers and Teaching Quality. Find out more about our academic staff who teach across our courses. 

Accommodation

Carmarthen Accommodation

Carmarthen Accommodation

Carmarthen has a variety of accommodation and we guarantee accommodation for 1st Years with availability for your 2nd and 3rd Years. Based on our Carmarthen campus you will be right in the middle of everything, with options to suit all budgets. 

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…