Welcome information

For welcome week there will be a range of exciting sessions including an initial filmmaking challenge. This will be all organised for you, so you don’t need to prepare a task. 

However, we will be discussing your favourite films and filmmakers, so come ready with a sense of your own influences and inspirations. Some general reflections on films you have seen over the summer would be good to have in mind. 

Here are some online resources that can help you prepare for the course: 

• You can look at previous work from our course on our Vimeo Channel 

• Mubi’s 100 films to watch for film students 

• BFI guide to distribution and exhibition 

• Course Leader, Dario Llinares, produces a very successful film podcast – The Cinematologists – you can listen on Spotify 

Here are book recommendations for preparatory reading related to different aspects of the course. This is just for you own preparation if you are interested in reading up on any of these topics, you won’t be tested! 

• Film Art: An Introduction by David Bordwell and Kristin Thompson 

• Shooting Better Movies by Paul Dudbridge 

• Directing: Film Techniques & Aesthetics (Fifth Edition, 2013) by Michael Rabinger and Mick Hurbis-Cherrier 

• Sound Design: The Expressive Power of Music, Voice and Sound Effects in Cinema by  David Sonnenschein   

• The Five Cs of Cinematography: Motion Picture Filmmaking Techniques by Joseph V. Mascelli 

• The Tools of Screenwriting by David Howard and Edward Mabley 

Course equipment 

This course does not require specialist equipment other than a laptop.  

Laptop requirements 

Please see our laptop requirements document to ensure you have a device that will be suitable for your studies.

Your course welcome week activities will be taking place on the following dates. This is a really important time for you to meet fellow students, your course team and become part of the Ravensbourne community. These sessions will cover key information about your course and everything you need to set you up for your studies.  

Monday 18 September: 10.00am – 5.30pm, room 404 & 405

Tuesday 19 September: 9.30am – 12.00pm, room 404 & 405

Wednesday 20 September: 10.00am – 5.30pm, room 404 & 405

All activities will take place at our main campus: Ravensbourne University London, 6 Penrose Way, London, SE10 0EW  

Students’ Union Welcome Festival 

Your Students' Union team is currently working on putting together a fantastic Welcome Festival, full details of all events will be released by Monday 11 September. To keep track of all SU events and to buy tickets visit: rave.native.fm

International Welcome Week runs from Tuesday 12 September - Friday 15 September. If you’re an international student, it is important that you attend in this week to complete your enrolment, get all the information you need to best prepare your for studying in the UK and meet fellow international students on your course. 

Tuesday 12 September: 11.30am - 12.30pm - In-Person Enrolment

Wednesday 13 September: 9.30am - 4.30pm - International Induction

See our in-person enrolment page for details of what to bring with you.  

All activities will take place at our main campus: Ravensbourne University London, 6 Penrose Way, London, SE10 0EW  

Your teaching starts in the week commencing Monday 25 September. In semester one you will have three teaching sessions each week between 9.00am – 6.00pm, Monday – Friday.

Due to the size and set up of your course it is not possible to share your timetable information prior to your enrolment. Once you have completed enrolment you can find out how to check your timetable here  

If you have any questions ahead of joining us, our online drop-in sessions will take place on Tuesdays and Fridays, 1.00pm - 2.00pm UK Time, starting Friday 11 August through to Friday 30 September 2023.

Members of our friendly Student Services team will be on hand to answer any questions you may have at the start of your journey with Ravensbourne. Join here.