AFDA Undergraduate Bachelor of Arts

AFDA Undergraduate Bachelor of Arts

  • Overview
  • First Year:
    First Year is essentially about discovery and inspiration. Students are exposed to the 13 discipline electives on offer and use the year to identify and test their aptitudinal strengths and weaknesses.
    There are no limitations on the number of electives that students may attend. Elective choices and outcomes are governed by the student’s personal ambition, work ethic and enthusiasm. However, certain timetable logistics, elective choice combinations and minimum assessment requirements may limit the student’s choices.
    These elective choices are done in combination with the five core course subjects and the Assist programme.
    Second Year:
    Second Year is essentially about coming to terms with the ‘nuts and bolts’ of the entertainment and media industries, particularly with regard to the personal elective choices for which the student has qualified from first year.
    A minimum of two discipline electives is required for second year, but this year is characterised by its rigour and intensity. Second year is often referred to as the ‘boot camp year’ in which students’ aptitudinal strengths and weaknesses are revealed and tested to the maximum.
    As part of their final choice and qualification in a particular elective for 3rd year specialisation, the student is required to meet the formal assessment requirement of the Core Course and deliver discipline outcomes in their areas of elective specialisation.
    Third Year:
    Third Year is called ‘the year of the artist.’ It is in this year that students develop their personal artistic expression in their particular area of specialization and the early deepening of artistic relationships within their peer group.
    The experimental film productions and public festival at Ster Kinekor cinemas are used as a means for students to manifest and understand the challenges and opportunities that exist in both. However, it is the exhibition and promotion of a ten to twelve minute dramatic narrative that meets the needs and wants of the intended audience that provides the true test of the year.
    It is here that students experience the realities and visceral qualities of the audience’s response to their work, creating the first formal step towards the demands of creating commercial entertainment content for the market.
  • Outcomes

First Year:
Term 1: Cell phone movie
Term 2: YouTube movie
Term 3: In-flight movie
Term 4: Internet Protocol TV first episode
Second Year:
Term 1: 5 minute narrative for DVD Sell Through Project
Term 2: 3D movie with development of gaming characters
Term 3: (a) product promotion movie (b) public service announcement film (5 minutes)
Term 4: First episode for a TV series for co-production release
Third Year:
Term 1: Experimental film for the Experimental Film Festival
Term 2: (a) Product production and festival promotion (b) Talent promotion (Experimental Film Festival and Star Shoot)
Term 3: 10-15 minute narrative for theatrical exhibition

  • Requirements

FIRST YEAR: Just Starting Out
The minimum requirement to enter an AFDA Bachelors degree is a National Senior Certificate (matric) or National Certificate (Vocational) with exemption/admission to bachelor’s degree, or equivalent.
OR the student may write an Entrance Exam at AFDA (View RPL Process). The AFDA Entrance Exam is a selection process approved by AFDA Senate for degree access. To give a candidate alternative access to degree, s/he can sit for the Entrance Exam and there must be record of it, the recommendation on the individual student from the registered psychometrist must be signed off by Senate or its subcommittee, as per AFDA Entrance Exam policy (in accordance with Higher Education Act (Act 101 of 1997) Amendment No 1317 in Government Gazette of 5 Dec 2008 number 31674 clause 31). Such access will apply only to AFDA’s programmes, its entrance exam is not valid to another university, and vice versa.
Requirements for Botswana campus
The minimum requirement to enter an AFDA Bachelors degree is BGCSE, IGCSE, O Level, with a minimum credits accumulation of 34 points for all degree or A Level.
SECOND YEAR: Recognised Prior Learning
You need to have completed your first year degree studies at a recognised institution and have a portfolio or evidence of work to motivate your discipline choices. You will also have to have a full interview.

  • Discipline Selection

AFDA first year students have the choice of selecting the following combinations of schools and disciplines for 1st year.

School Choice:

    1. Film School (2 semesters)
    1. Film & Television School (1 semester of each)
    1. Film & Performance School (1 semester of each)
    1. Performance & Television School (1 semester of each)

1.Business Innovation & Enterprise School (2 semesters)
 

Discipline Choices:

The Film School offers 12 disciplines in first year. A minimum of 2 disciplines is selected per semester from within the following departments:

    1. Production: Screenwriting, Producing, Directing and Animation Directing
    1. Image Production: Cinematography, Data Management, Image Grading & Enhancement and 360 Degree Virtual Reality (Cape Town Only)
    1. Screen Design: Production Design (includes stage and theater design) and Costume, Make-up & Styling (includes production photography)
    1. Post Production: Editing, Sound Design, Visual Effects and Media Music & Composition

The Performance School offers 3 disciplines per year and a compulsory Integrated Voice & Movement subject:

    1. Screen Acting
    1. Musical Performance
    1. Stage Acting

The Television School offers 4 compulsory disciplines in first year:

    • TV Scriptwriting
    • TV Production
    • TV Technical
    • TV Post Production
  • Disciplines Offered

AFDA first year students have the choice of selecting the following combinations of schools and disciplines for 1st year.

School Choice:

    1. Film School (2 semesters)
    1. Film & Television School (1 semester of each)
    1. Film & Performance School (1 semester of each)
    1. Performance & Television School (1 semester of each)
    1. Business Innovation & Enterprise School (2 semesters)

 
Discipline Choices:
The Film School offers 12 disciplines in first year. A minimum of 2 disciplines is selected per semester from within the following departments:

    1. Production: Screenwriting, Producing, Directing and Animation Directing

Image Production: Cinematography, Data Management, Image Grading & Enhancement and 360 Degree Virtual Reality (Cape Town Only)

    1. Screen Design: Production Design (includes stage and theater design) and Costume, Make-up & Styling (includes production photography)

Post Production: Editing, Sound Design, Visual Effects and Media Music & Composition
The Performance School offers 3 disciplines per year and a compulsory Integrated Voice & Movement subject:

    1. Screen Acting
    1. Musical Performance
    1. Stage Acting

The Television School offers 4 compulsory disciplines in first year:

    • TV Scriptwriting
    • TV Production
    • TV Technical
    • TV Post Production