Humber’s film courses include an advanced diploma in Film and Television Production and a Bachelor of Film and Media Production. This review separates the two, examines student experiences and explains what to check about costs, practical teaching, equipment and placements.
Compare the programs
Information checked October 31, 2026. Compare Toronto film schools and check the exact Humber program named on your offer.
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Humber film training at a glance
| Route | Main distinction | Placement listed by Humber |
|---|---|---|
| Film and Television Production advanced diploma | Three-year diploma route; different from the bachelor’s degree. | 140 hours. |
| Bachelor of Film and Media Production | Degree route with a wider academic commitment. | 420 hours. |
| Broadcast Television/Videography diploma | A separately named broadcast/video course. | 140 hours. |
| Post-Production graduate certificate | A separate post-focused qualification. | 150 hours. |
The placement figures come from Humber’s work-integrated learning table. They are curriculum requirements, not promises of paid work or employment after graduation. Acting courses are separate again and are not rated by the production feedback below.
Our assessment: Humber merits a serious comparison for practical film training, but its published opportunities should be tested against what students actually receive. The selected diploma accounts include strong praise for hands-on learning and substantial criticism of teaching consistency and value. Choosing the diploma or degree requires more than comparing the institution’s reputation.
What the different courses mean for your decision
Use the official advanced diploma page and degree page to obtain the current course sequence and entry requirements. Do not use a degree review to assume the diploma has identical classes, kit access or placement arrangements.
For a student interested in broadcast operations, examine studio production, multicamera work and live workflows. For narrative filmmaking, look closely at scene work, directing actors, cinematography, location sound and post-production. For editing, investigate how much material students cut, how often they receive feedback and whether projects continue through sound, colour and delivery.
Ask Humber to show where your intended craft appears in compulsory teaching. An appealing course title is not enough if the practice you need is optional, brief or available only after selection.
Student reviews of Film and Television Production
These accounts concern the diploma or a thread explicitly discussing it. They are not a review sample for the bachelor’s degree.
Hands-on learning and a heavy production workload
A contributor in a November 2020 discussion describes useful camera, lighting and sound training, growing confidence on sets and substantial production paperwork. They also describe stress, demanding schedules and limits on directing opportunities. The account was written during pandemic disruption; its equipment list and role-allocation rules should not be assumed current.
Basic foundations, uneven assessment
In a June 2021 discussion, a contributor describes introductory lighting, camera, sound, scripting and editing, followed by documentary and drama projects. They consider most instructors satisfactory but report inconsistent explanations of marking and differences in how much classes taught. This is a historical account of course delivery, not a current syllabus.
Connections valued, teaching criticized
A self-described student in a March 2024 thread values the large peer network and Toronto location but criticizes recycled teaching, assignments and the amount of meaningful practical learning. These are that contributor’s judgments; HTFS has not independently established their claims about staff or class delivery.
A graduate questions the value for entering set work
A commenter identifying as an alumnus in a July 2025 reply says they felt poorly prepared when starting as a trainee and would have preferred another route into production. That is a useful challenge to investigate, rather than proof that all graduates feel the same. Their recommendation to work unpaid should not be treated as a condition for entering the industry.
The disagreement is substantial: some students valued structured production practice, while others expected stronger teaching or a better transition to work. Ask recent graduates specifically what they could do independently after the course and which promised resources they actually used.
Degree feedback belongs in a separate assessment
The accounts above do not establish the teaching quality of the Bachelor of Film and Media Production. Its longer placement requirement is a confirmed difference in Humber’s published table, but more placement hours alone do not establish better supervision, hosts or employment outcomes.
Ask degree students about academic workload, specialist courses, production budgets and the placement process. Compare their finished work with diploma projects while checking which roles they performed. A polished group film can conceal very different learning experiences among its crew.
Tuition and the full cost
Get a current fee calculation from Humber for the exact credential, start date and domestic or international category. HTFS is not presenting an unconfirmed first-year estimate as a full-program total. The diploma, degree, broadcast diploma and graduate certificates have different durations and charges.
Ask for a breakdown covering:
- Tuition and compulsory fees for every term, including summer or placement terms where applicable.
- Equipment, materials, software and required personal computing or storage.
- Student-production contributions, transport, locations, insurance and outside rentals.
- Placement travel, accommodation and any period without paid income.
- Living expenses over the actual course length.
- Deposit, withdrawal and refund dates for your intake.
Compare total borrowing with a realistic repayment budget. A bursary can reduce an eligible student’s bill, but an advertised maximum award should not be deducted until you know you qualify and what the offer covers.
Equipment and individual practical time
The older reviews mention particular cameras and software. Those references describe their attendance period, not a verified current inventory. Ask to tour the relevant campus, see the current equipment list and review borrowing conditions.
Ask how many usable kits a class shares, how students qualify for them and what happens during peak shoot weeks. Check whether access differs between the diploma and degree. Establish the procedure for testing kit at collection, recording existing damage and reporting a failure during a shoot.
The central question is how much practice you get. For camera and lighting, ask about individual setup and operating time. For location sound, ask about supervised boom work, recording and troubleshooting. For post, ask how instructors review successive cuts instead of only the final submission.
Work placements and career support
Humber lists 140 hours for the advanced diploma and 420 for the bachelor’s degree. Ask who is responsible for finding the host, how the work is approved, what supervision is required and whether the placement is paid. Establish what happens if a placement falls through.
The Creative Talent Booking Centre also describes opportunities connecting students and recent graduates with work. Ask which activities your program can access and how selection works. Job postings, a placement requirement and a guaranteed position are different things.
For outcomes, request the specific program and reporting year, cohort and response counts, and employment in the field separately from any employment. A list of possible job titles does not show what proportion of graduates obtained them.
What to watch out for
| Concern | Practical check |
|---|---|
| Diploma and degree being discussed interchangeably | Obtain separate curricula, fees and access rules. |
| Uneven teaching reported in selected accounts | Ask recent students how often they receive useful individual feedback. |
| Large collaborative projects | Establish role selection, crew sizes and support when a teammate does not contribute. |
| Placement expectations | Get the hours, host-search responsibility, payment and assessment arrangements in writing. |
| Assuming the course makes you ready for every crew job | Ask which entry-level tasks graduates can perform independently. |
How to get more from Humber
- Prepare before practical classes so equipment time is spent making and reviewing work.
- Learn production paperwork properly. A usable schedule, breakdown or call sheet supports the shoot as much as technical enthusiasm.
- Ask for precise assessment feedback and keep examples of improvements between projects.
- Build relationships across roles, including production, sound, art and post. Dependable collaboration is more useful than everyone wanting to direct.
- Start placement planning early and keep a realistic record of your skills and availability.
- Use the HTFS Department Guides alongside practical work to understand how professional departments divide responsibilities.
Humber versus other Toronto film schools
Compare the degree with York Film Production and TMU Image Arts: Film. Compare shorter practical routes with Toronto Film School and relevant George Brown programs.
Make comparisons for your intended job. The strongest option for a student seeking a degree and creative development may differ from the best fit for someone seeking a shorter route into a specific department.
Common questions
Is the Humber diploma the same as its film degree?
No. They lead to different credentials and have different course and placement arrangements. Read the individual program documents.
Does a work placement guarantee a film job?
No. Ask how the placement is found and assessed, then request separate evidence about graduate employment.
Are the critical reviews enough to reject Humber?
They identify issues worth checking, particularly feedback and practical depth. Speak to recent students and inspect current provision before deciding whether those concerns apply to your intake.
Is Humber worth considering?
Yes, but ask hard questions about the exact course. The review sample is mixed enough that a tour and recent graduate conversations matter. Compare the diploma and degree on teaching, access, complete cost and placement quality, then use the Film School Reality Checklist before paying a deposit.
Sources and review method
Checked October 31, 2026: Humber’s placement requirements, Creative Talent Booking Centre and the linked dated student discussions. Four accounts are summarized for the diploma; they do not constitute a representative survey or a degree rating. Attendance is self-reported and historical kit references are not a current inventory. Current fees and detailed intake arrangements should be confirmed with Humber.
HTFS reader-review guidelines
Review guidelines
- Name your exact program and attendance years first. For example: Film and TV Production, Acting for Film, Television and Theatre, or Video Production. Share only your own experience — no second-hand stories or hearsay.
- Do not name or identify individual instructors or staff (keep feedback general).
- No accusations of criminal activity — describe experiences, not allegations.
- Be honest and specific about what worked and what didn’t.
- No harassment, threats, or abusive language.
- Do not share confidential or internal documents.
- All reviews are moderated before being published.
- Reviews must reflect your personal opinion, not speak for others.
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