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Full-time Certificate Program Details

The following outlines the program structure and requirements of the Full-Time program.

See Industry testimonials below...

Check out the Curriculum for a closer look at study topics.

Program Overview

Entertainment Administration is the framework behind any great film or television show. Without a solid team knowing the dos and don'ts, costly mistakes can be made and time can be wasted. The British Columbia entertainment industry is thriving and the challenge exists to take the level of production in Canada to a new height in quality. You can rise to this challenge with your talents, energy and the knowledge gained in this certificate program.

The UBC Certificate in Entertainment Administration was developed in response to an industry need for highly trained entertainment professionals who have an interest and desire to work in entertainment business management in the film and television industry.

The certificate is designed to teach the essentials of entertainment administration and business skills including producing, distributing, marketing and funding of entertainment made in Canada for a local and international audience. A short list of some of the topics includes global entertainment, pitching ideas and projects, film and TV proposals, script breakdown and production management, entertainment financing and the Canadian funding system, entertainment law, and entertainment marketing and distribution.

Industry testimonials...

“The UBC Certificate in Entertainment Administration program helped me to more clearly define my niche, which helped me set my career goals. By the end of the program I was able to distill my skills, experience, and everything that I learned into a few sentences that I could use to market and brand myself.”Christine Larsen, program graduate and Business Analyst, BC Film

“The RBC Film and Entertainment team is proud to support the UBC Certificate in Entertainment Administration program. We've seen first hand how the program curriculum has assisted two of our Film Finance employees who are alumni. The knowledge and industry insight they gained from the course instructors and guest speakers enabled them to quickly enhance their skills and expertise to better serve our clients. A further testament to the value of the program is the large number of former students who I often see working at our clients' film companies.”John Genzel, Manager, Media & Entertainment, Royal Bank of Canada

“British Columbia Film has had the privilege of being invited to participate as guest speaker and as an internship sponsoring organization to the UBC Certificate in Entertainment Administration. As guest speaker over the past 8 semesters I have been impressed with the level of knowledge and enthusiasm by the students. The skills obtained through this program have set up the graduates to be job ready. In fact, British Columbia Film currently has hired four alumni from the program in the past and they have all excelled in their roles. British Columbia Film continues to support the UBC Certificate in Entertainment Administration as it provides excellent opportunities for their grads within the BC film industry.”Robert Wong, Vice President, Tax Credits and Development, BC Film

“During its more than 20 years in business, Omni Film has worked with many interns from numerous programs. I’m pleased to say that the interns from the UBC Certificate in Entertainment Administration  have been some of the best. The combination of experience and skills they’ve gained through this program make us eager to work with them. Many times we’ve been so impressed we’ve gone on to hire them!”Heather Hawthorn-Doyle, Omni Life, Executive Producer, Omni Film Productions

“I've had the pleasure of being invited to speak about the film industry to several cohorts in the UBC Entertainment Administration Certificate program, over the past few years. I'm happy to say that I've always found the respective groups well informed, prepared and highly engaged. I think one of the strengths of the program is that students come to it from diverse backgrounds - the majority of them have considerable experience in other industries, and are looking to transition into the film and television business.  The students therefore bring an interesting mix of skill sets and experience into the classroom, which in-turn enriches the discussion and experience for all concerned.  I've had several students follow-up with me subsequent to my presentation(s), and they invariably come well prepared.”John Dippong, Western Region, Telefilm Canada

Who Should Take This Program

This program is ideally suited to students who would like to gain specialized knowledge in entertainment business management for the film and television industry, and who want to feel more confident or pursue a new career direction within the industry. Participants may have many years of experience in a focused segment of the industry and want to expand their perspective or may hold junior positions and are seeking career advancement. Participants may have experience in the creative or production side of filmmaking, work for a film company or organization or have experience in business (marketing, sales, accounting, law, financial management) and want to apply those skills to the film and television industry.

This program is also suitable for students who have managerial and business skills in another field and need training that will allow them to cross over to the field of entertainment. This is not an entry-level program; however, mid-career professionals from other disciplines who have complimentary and compatible skills will be considered.

On completion of the program, students can pursue a career as an independent producer (or producer's assistant), an administrative or finance officer in a film organization or service company, a marketing or distribution assistant or manager, an independent production coordinator or manager, or other careers involving the business side of film & TV productio

Full-time Program

The full-time certificate program (approximately 310 hours, 20 hrs/week minimum, evenings and weekends) is delivered over 13-14 weeks, which includes a two-week internship or project assignment. Full-time students may be eligible for student loan funding.* For funding purposes it is defined as a 13-week program.

*STUDENT LOAN APPLICANTS: Please note that should you choose to do your internship outside of the Vancouver area, you will not receive additional funding for the added travel and relocation expenses.

Internship (full-time certificate program only)

Internships are offered to qualified students where opportunities are available. Internship opportunities are unpaid and will last for a duration of approximately 2 weeks. Internships are subject to the availability of host companies and the personal suitability of the student. As such, internship placement is not guaranteed.

In instances where students may already have significant industry experience or where a internship opportunity is not available, this component of the program may be replaced with an approved practical project component or additional course work.

Students must make a reasonable effort to cooperate in the internship placement process, which is modeled on the job interview process. Students accepted for an internship will be considered "placed", and alternative options will not be considered unless there are extenuating circumstances.

If you are an International Student, specific requirements need to be met in order to take part in an internship program.  Please visit our FAQ's on Visa and Work Study Permits here.

Fees and Schedule

Note: Fees are based on the current academic year and are subject to change. No deferral of the non-refundable deposit or program fees are allowed. Text and materials related to courses may constitute an additional cost. There is no fee to submit an application form.

How to Apply for Admission to the UBC Certificate in Entertainment Administration

Read through this site and download the Entertainment Administration Certificate Handbook. Once you have read all the information, you can apply online using our Application Form.

If you have any questions, refer to our FAQ or contact Client Services.