These reputable and top film schools in London are the ideal choices of schools recommended by professionals in the film industry if you’re looking to enroll in a film school and want to learn more about their film degree programs.
The list of top film schools you will find here is the ideal selection of London film schools to attend if you intend to attend one to further your career in the film industry.
London, the country’s largest city and capital, is home to many of the best film schools in the world. The nation has many prestigious and top-ranked schools, making it the preferred and chosen nation for film schools.
There are many film school options, but if you want a fun way to pursue a career in the film industry, picking the best film schools in London is a good choice.
Additionally, pursuing your dream of becoming a filmmaker by enrolling in one of London’s top film schools, which offers competitive degree programs at reasonable prices.
The opportunity to work for a prestigious film company and the development of a professional network are what matter most.
Have you always wanted to attend film school but find it difficult to choose the best London film school and the programs that are right for you?
We at College Reporters have taken on the duty of assisting you in locating the top film schools in London so that you can start your career. Read on!.
Top 8 Best Film Schools in London
- Website: http://www.metfilmschool.ac.uk
- Location: According to Google Maps, Bldg. E Ealing Studios is located in Ealing Green.
- Fees: Two-day introductory courses cost £300 ($460), a typical three-year BA costs £15,750 ($23,950), and one-year postgraduate degrees cost £17,500 ($26,700).
The MET, whose advertisements you’ve probably seen all over the internet, comes in first on the list of the best film schools in London. Established in 2003, the Met relocated in 2005 to the Ealing neighborhood of west London, where its facilities are housed inside one of the oldest film studio complexes in the world, Ealing Studios.
The school is well-regarded, has a contemporary outlook, and provides a variety of curricula and convenient study times.
There are classes available in documentary as well as acting, cinematography, post-production, screenwriting, producing, special effects, and more. In addition to two-day introductory courses, one can complete some diplomas in as little as three months and an Honours BA in practical filmmaking can be completed full-time in three years. Postgraduate (MA) courses are also offered.
This variety does bring up one nagging question, though: Can the school offer so many courses while still upholding a high standard of instruction?
The school has extensive access to Ealing Studios’ resources and tools, including use of one of its sound stages, providing students with a realistic learning environment. Additionally, the institution runs a production company that creates movies for theaters.
Their website has a professional appearance, is very informative, is easy to navigate, and has a search feature. Detailed guidance and downloadable forms are provided for applicants. Additionally, you can follow the school on nearly all of the popular online social networks. There’s a brash flavour of commercial ambition throughout, however.
LONDON FILM SCHOOL
- Website: http://lfs.org.uk
- Location: 24 Shelton St, London WC2H 9UB (Google Maps)
- Costs: Good things cost money. For instance, the two-year MA in filmmaking currently costs £9,047 ($13,5750), or £54,282 ($82, 510) overall. The website provides a thorough breakdown of all fees.
The granddaddy of British film schools, founded in 1956. It has fewer course options and is less comfortable and modern than the Met. However, LFS is more well-known and respected in the world of international cinema.
The school is conveniently close to Soho, the center of London’s entertainment district, making it a great place to network or invite producers and agents over to check out your coursework. Its slogan, “a tradition of innovation,” effectively captures the company’s culture and outlook.
The school’s emphasis on experienced film students, rather than undergraduate, part-time, or introductory studies, reflects its serious tone. It offers MA and even PhD courses, as well as workshops. The courses are immersive for aspiring directors, producers, and writers but do not include anything for actors. They generally run over one or two years.
On the school’s website, students can browse and reserve short-term housing at competitive rates for workshops and summer courses.
In addition to offering students access to the London Metropolitan University Library, LFS has a sizable film collection. The school claims to screen its productions at 150 film festivals around the world as part of its active support for sales of its students’ work to national and international broadcasters and distributors.
Well-known former alumni include Mike Leigh, director of Mr. He is also the head of the school and has directed and produced films like Miami Vice, Heat, Ali, and The Last of the Mohicans. Turner, Vera Drake, and Secrets and Lies are among his many other credits.
Their website has a very professional tone, is extensive, and is filled with interesting content, including examples of student films. Similar to perusing in a good bookstore, you could lose hours to distraction.
LONDON FILM ACADEMY
- Website: http://www.londonfilmacademy.com
- Location: 52a Walham Grove, Fulham, London SW6 1QR (Google Maps)
- Fees: Fairly reasonable, certainly by comparison with LFS. Casting for Screen, a two-day (full-time) introduction course, costs just £250 ($380), while a one-year diploma is typically £19,500 ($29,650) and a two-year MA in filmmaking is only £12,000 ($18,250) for the second year. The website provides comprehensive information on costs for each course.
LFA, like the London Film School, focuses on training professionals who work behind the camera. The only offering for actors is a five-day workshop. The school was established in 2001 and is located in Fulham in west London. I came to appreciate its air of enjoyment and empathy during my research on it.
Although it offers a variety of formats, its course selection is relatively limited when compared to that of the Met. These formats include one-day introductory sessions, workshops, certificates (4-6 weeks), diplomas (6-12 months), and a full range of undergraduate (BA) and postgraduate (MA) options (mostly two years). Documentary-making is taught at introductory, certificate, and diploma levels.
Like the Met, LFA is a relatively new organization, so it hasn’t had much time to develop a strong list of successful former alumni, but some of them have found work as script developers and first assistant directors. The school enjoys a good reputation in the television and film industries.
Their website is also clear, easy to navigate, and helpful. The tone is friendly and inviting, in keeping with the school’s claim that it is “a family,” but it contains all the information that a person could reasonably need, including a number of student film examples.
In addition, I believe that these videos, when made available, are a useful indicator of a school’s effectiveness and urge you to carefully review them.
CITY ACADEMY FILM SCHOOL
- Website: http://www.city-academy.com/film-school-london
- Location: 38 Rosebery Avenue, London, EC1R 4RN (Google Maps)
- Fees: The foundation course is probably the most interesting. It costs £1,199 ($1,825) for ten weeks of weekly three-hour sessions, which can be paid in full or in four installments of £312. 50 ($475) each.
City Academy, whose programs have previously been highlighted on our site, comes in fourth on the list of top film schools in London. City Academy was established in 2006 and now has over 40 locations throughout London, but its main campus is in Islington, to the north of the city center. It is not to be confused with the publicly funded City of London Academy because it is privately funded.
City University’s dedicated film school offers a small selection of primarily technical courses like DSLR filmmaking, Final Cut Pro X editing, and Photoshop (the latter for stills photography). The intensive foundation course for beginners also offers a course on creating short films. There is no full-time curriculum; foundation classes are small, held in a professional film/TV studio close to Piccadilly, and typically offered in the evenings or on weekends.
Of all the sites listed on the list of the best film schools in London, theirs is one of my favorites. It has clear information, helpful course descriptions, and straightforward navigation. YouTube has videos, and the academy also has accounts on Twitter, Linkedin, Facebook, and Google.
GOLDSMITHS, THE SCREEN SCHOOL
- Website: http://www.gold.ac.uk/media-communications/programmes/screen-school
- Location (according to Google Maps): 8 Lewisham Way, New Cross, London SE14 6NW
- Fees: Although reasonable for an MA-only school, especially one with such a distinguished history, they are not particularly low. The general-interest film ticket
East London’s artistic New Cross is home to the public research university Goldsmiths, which was established in 1891 and is a division of the University of London. The recently established Screen School seems to be a complementary extension of its resources because it is well known for its arts and social science faculties.
The college’s Department of Media and Communications, which has a specially constructed media facility, houses the school. The focus is on film production, not acting. The selection of courses is limited to, primarily, one-year full-time MA programs in filmmaking. These are also available as two-year part-time studies. There are no short courses, diplomas, or BA degrees.
There are no fewer than nine different MA programs available: Sound Recording, Screen Documentary, Cinematography, and Fiction Directing. A one-year MSc in Computer Games is also offered.
The school’s affiliation with Goldsmiths has given it immediate credibility in the media and arts industries, allowing it to provide a year of mentoring with influential people and organizations in those fields. High-profile guests like Danny Boyle, Stephen Frears, Tim Bevan, Alan Parker, and Paul Greengrass are drawn to its events and discussions.
An important note regarding costs: The Screen School, which is a part of a university, provides housing for students. Starting at around £115 ($175) per week and going up to £180 ($275), rooms come with all bills and wireless internet access. That’s affordable by London standards, especially given how close it is to the city center.
The only thing on their website, which is a text-only page on the Goldsmiths website, is a summary of the services the Screen School provides. However, by clicking around and using search engines occasionally, you can learn everything you need to know about courses, costs, applications, and other topics.
RAINDANCE
- Website: http://www.raindance.org
- Location: 10 Craven St, London WC2N 5HE (Google Maps)
- Fees: Flexibility, choice, and value characterise the Raindance offering. While the Saturday Film School lists at £198 ($300), a single evening course can be as cheap as £48 ($73). A modest one-year full-time or two-year part-time MA/MSc costs £9,450 ($14,365) and can be paid in full or over the course of the tuition period. One can attend a free introductory session before committing.
Raindance, which is distinct from Robert Redford’s Sundance, was established in 1992 as a film school before launching its now-famous festival of independent films the following year. It operates in London, New York, Los Angeles, Toronto, Vancouver, Montreal, Berlin, Brussels, and Budapest with the goal of showcasing British filmmaking talent. It’s the place to go if independent film is your thing, whether you’re an enthusiast or a student.
The school’s philosophy has a punk element that brings to mind a London fanzine from the late 1970s that featured three hand-drawn chord diagrams with the captions: “This is a chord, this is another, this is third.” Now form a band”. Although Raindance has a similar philosophy, it is undoubtedly a more professional organization.
The Charing Cross location of the London school puts theaterland within a 10-minute stroll. It provides a wide range of seminars, workshops, events, and short courses (one, two, or three days, evenings, part-time, full-time, etc.) on every imaginable subject, all falling under the broad category of filmmaking. Some are held over a single evening.
A few current examples include pitching techniques, marketing, character creation, and music licensing. The list of topics is extensive and too varied to cover in this blog. No acting courses are offered, however.
The Saturday Film School is the most well-known program offered by Raindance. It is a one-day event held at King’s College London and intended to be a rigorous but enjoyable introduction to directing, producing, writing, and filmmaking. It was “inspiring,” “engaging,” “a gift from the gods,” and, above all, “fun,” according to attendees.
For those who are more dedicated, the school provides a variety of evening certificate programs, typically spread out over five weeknights. Complete several and you get a diploma.
Full-time and part-time studies are available at the top of the learning tree, as well as an online MA or MSc (via Skype). The majority of these postgraduate degrees’ curricula are created by the students themselves in consultation with industry professionals who serve as mentors.
Their website is engaging, enthusiastic, and educational, but there is so much content available (courses, events, seminars, videos, a newsletter, client testimonials, etc.) that it’s simple to get distracted. I advise subscribing to the free weekly newsletter because it will keep you updated on courses, events, offers, and a lot more. A premium membership costs £50 ($76) per year and entitles you to discounts on courses and event tickets.
UNIVERSITY OF WESTMINSTER
- Website: http://www.westminster.ac.uk/courses/subjects/television-film-and-moving-
- Location: 309 Regent St, Marylebone, London W1B 2UW (Google Maps)
- Fees: Pretty reasonable. A one-year MA program costs £14,000 ($21,300), while a three-year BA program costs £12,250 ($18,620)/year. Aside from the fact that it’s a university, Harrow offers housing for students attending film schools, with single rooms costing between £163 ($248) and £179 ($272) per week, including all utilities and internet access.
The campus for film, moving, and TV studies at this university is not located in either Westminster or the City of London, which together make up the capital city of England. It is situated in Harrow, which is near Greater London and far to the north of the primary attraction.
The university has 22,000 students and is spread across four campuses, with a preference for the arts and technology It was established in 1838 as the first polytechnic college in the UK and was given university status in 1992.
The university has a distinguished history of “firsts,” including the first degree programs in photographic science, photography, and media studies (1960s–1970s), the first public photography studio in Europe (1841), and the location of the Lumière brothers’ 1896 public movie premiere.
Westminster, like all the other schools on this list, focuses on the majority of aspects of film and TV production but excludes acting. Even though their focus is more academic than practical, the courses seem well-designed. Under such course titles as Contemporary Media Practice, Film, Imaging Art, undergraduate (BA, full-time only), postgraduate (MA, part-time only), and research (PhD, MPhil, DProf, MRes) studies are provided. Serious stuff, indeed.
There are two sound stages, a workshop for building sets, a TV studio, and a mastering suite, among other excellent facilities, according to reports.
Their website is functional, attractive, well-organized, and has a search feature. The film school is active on social media, including YouTube, but there are no student films available to watch. Instead, there are a number of introductory videos.
CENTRAL FILM SCHOOL
- Website: http://www.centralfilmschool.com
- Location: According to Google Maps, Universal House is located at 88–94 Wentworth St.
- Fees: A typical two-year BA costs £18,500 ($28,150) per year, while a one-year MA costs £15,000 ($22,800). An intensive one-month diploma costs £2,095 ($3,185), while fees for six-month courses are around £7,500 ($11,400).
The last school on this list is a small, recent (founded in 2009) institution that emphasizes the practical, as evidenced by its motto, “Practical Training in Filmmaking.” It is situated in Whitechapel, east London, a hip and artistic neighborhood with a diverse population that is reasonably close to central London and theaterland.
The institution provides brief (City
There’s a cutting-edge feel to some courses, e. g. Disruptive Media is a postgraduate option that teaches web-based marketing strategies and how to integrate new technology into everyday work processes. Recently, the school also held a 3D workshop.
When compared to the other websites on this list of the top film schools in London, theirs is not my favorite. It’s slow to browse because it’s heavy, and there’s too much empty space, so you have to scroll a lot to find the important information. Although the majority of the information one might need is there, it is also overly promotional. It would be helpful to have more student film clips, especially given that the school doesn’t seem to want to make a big deal out of its social media presence, with only three tiny links at the bottom of the Contact page.
That’s a wrap, then. The most surprising thing about the list is its variety. There should be something for everyone here, from the edgy cool of Raindance to the academic hauteur of Goldsmiths and the commercial brashness of the Met.
360° Virtual Tour of London Film Academy | LFA Student Personal Project
FAQ
Is London Film Academy good?
London Film School is one of the best film schools in the UK, according to theory.
How do you get into London Film Academy?
- Three A-levels with a minimum of two B grades and one C or higher are required (preferred subjects: art).
- GCSE: three or more GCSEs with a grade of C or higher, including English and mathematics.
What is the acceptance rate for film school?
Top 15 Best Colleges for Film MajorsSchool NameLocationAcceptance Rate (2019)1. University of Southern California (USC)Los Angeles, CA11. 4%2. UCLALos Angeles, CA12. 3%3. Chapman UniversityOrange, CA53. 6% (2018)4. New York University (NYU)New York, NY15% (2020).
Is it hard to get into film school UK?
Entry into the best film schools in the UK is competitive. Only a select few students out of the thousands of applicants are accepted, making it extremely competitive.