Is an Online Filmmaking Degree Worth It?

Filmmaking is about as hands-on as creative work gets. You’re lugging gear, working with a crew, shouting “cut” on a cold street at midnight. So it’s fair to ask: can you really learn it through a laptop?

The real benefits of an online filmmaking degree

1. You can keep working and earning

This is the big one. Most online film degrees are part time and built around people with jobs, families or freelance work. You keep your income and can often apply what you learn on paid shoots straight away.

2. You don’t have to move to an expensive city

Film schools tend to be in places like London, Los Angeles or New York, where rent alone can cost more than tuition. Studying online means you skip relocation, visas and big-city living costs.

3. It’s often cheaper overall

Online tuition isn’t always lower, but the total cost usually is once you take away rent and travel. Some UK online MAs cost around £8,500–£12,000 for the whole course, compared with much higher full-time fees plus living costs for an on-campus place.

4. You learn to make films with what you have

Online students usually shoot their projects locally with their own kit and their own crews. That sounds like a limitation, but it builds exactly the problem-solving that independent filmmakers need every day. Some programmes, like Full Sail’s online cinematography degree, even send you a gear package to work with.

5. Remote collaboration is now an industry skill

A lot of film and TV work, especially editing, colour, sound and development, already happens remotely. Learning to pitch, share files, give notes and work with people across time zones is genuinely useful preparation.

6. You meet people from all over the world

Online classes often include students from many countries. That gives you a wider network than a single campus, which can lead to co-productions and work in markets you’d never otherwise reach.

7. You can study at your own pace

Many courses have several start dates a year and flexible weekly hours. If life gets busy, you’re less likely to have to drop out completely.

The downsides you should know about

Less hands-on time with professional kit. Campus film schools have sound stages, cinema cameras, lighting rigs and grading suites. Online, you’re mostly working with whatever you can buy, borrow or rent.
Crewing up is harder. Filmmaking is a team sport. On campus, your crew is down the corridor. Online, you’ll need to find local collaborators yourself.
Networking takes more effort. A lot of film careers start with the friends you made at school. You can build those relationships online, but you have to work at it.
You need real self-discipline. Nobody notices if you skip a week. Plenty of online students fall behind simply because life gets in the way.
Quality varies a lot. Some online degrees are excellent; others are mostly recorded lectures with little feedback. You have to check carefully.
The degree alone won’t get you hired. This is true of any film degree. Employers care most about your reel and your experience.

Examples of online filmmaking degrees

Here are a few established programmes to give you a sense of what’s out there and what it costs. Always check the latest fees on the university’s own site.

Programme	Level	Length	Cost (latest listed)	What stands out
Falmouth University, MA Film & Television (Online)	Master’s	2 years, part time	About £12,150 total	Covers screenwriting, pitching, production and editing; optional face-to-face events
Arts University Bournemouth, MA Film Practice (Online)	Master’s	2 years, part time	About £8,500	Focus on experimental and personal filmmaking, with mentorship from working filmmakers
Full Sail University, BS Digital Cinematography (Online)	Bachelor’s	Accelerated, often about 2 years	Around $65,000 total (check current rates)	Ships you a gear package for hands-on learning
Southern New Hampshire University (Online)	Bachelor’s	About 4 years	See SNHU’s tuition page	Large, accredited online university with film and writing-focused degrees

Notice the gap between UK online MAs and US online bachelor’s degrees. If you already have a degree in any subject, an online master’s can be a much cheaper route into structured film training.

Careers and pay

A filmmaking degree, online or not, can lead to roles like video editor, camera operator, director, producer, colourist, content creator, or corporate and documentary filmmaker.

To give a sense of earnings, the US Bureau of Labor Statistics puts the 2024 median pay for film and video editors and camera operators at $70,570 a year, with about 6,400 openings a year expected over the decade. It also notes that most of these roles typically need a bachelor’s degree in a film or broadcasting-related subject. Pay varies hugely by country and by how established you are, and many filmmakers work freelance, so treat this as a rough guide rather than a promise.

Who an online filmmaking degree is right for

It’s a good fit if you:

Already work and can’t take one to three years off
Live far from a major film city
Are disciplined and happy to organise your own shoots
Have, or can get, basic gear: a camera, a microphone and a laptop that can edit
Want a recognised qualification, for example to teach or to apply for jobs that ask for a degree

It’s probably not for you if you:

Need daily structure and face-to-face teaching to stay motivated
Want to work on big, crewed productions with professional equipment from day one
Are mainly hoping the certificate will open doors on its own.

How to choose a good online programme

Check accreditation. Make sure the degree is awarded by a recognised university, so it counts with employers and for further study.
Look at student films. If graduates are making work you admire, that’s the best sign there is.
Ask how feedback works. Find out how often tutors review your work, and whether there are live sessions rather than only recorded videos.
Ask about kit and crewing. Do they lend equipment, send a gear package, or help you find local crew?
Look for in-person options. Some online courses run optional residencies or face-to-face events, which are great for networking.
Work out the full cost. Include gear, software and any travel for residencies, not just tuition.

FAQ

Do employers respect online filmmaking degrees?

In film, employers mostly look at your reel, your credits and your attitude on set. If your degree comes from an accredited university, being online rarely matters. What matters is the work you made while studying.

Can you really learn filmmaking online?

You can learn the theory, storytelling, editing, and a lot of production skill online. You’ll still need to get out and shoot, so the best courses build in real projects you make in your own area.

How much does an online filmmaking degree cost?

It varies widely. UK online master’s courses can cost around £8,500–£12,000 in total, while some US online bachelor’s degrees run to tens of thousands of dollars. Budget for gear and software too.

Is an online degree better than just teaching myself?

Not always. Self-teaching with YouTube, short courses and lots of shooting can work. A degree adds structure, expert feedback, deadlines, a qualification and a network, which is worth paying for if you’ll actually use them.

What equipment do I need?

At minimum, a decent camera (even a good phone to start), a separate microphone, a tripod and a computer that can run editing software. Many courses tell you exactly what’s required before you enroll.

The verdict

An online filmmaking degree is worth it if you treat it as a framework for making lots of films, not as a ticket into the industry. Pick an accredited programme with real feedback, shoot as much as you can, build your own local crew and use the online network. Do that, and you can come out with a strong reel, useful contacts and a qualification, without giving up your job or moving across the world.

Is an Online Filmmaking Degree Worth It?

If you’re also thinking about studying in person, see our guide to studying wildlife filmmaking at UWE Bristol.