Course information
Typical offer BBB
UK fee ÂŁ9,250
UCAS code P300
International fee ÂŁ19,700
Institute code L34
Taught by HistoryArtFilm
Course description
Course description
At Leicester you will explore the history, theory and art of film – the most universal of all the popular arts. During your time with us you will gain a thorough grounding in the history of cinema as a social practice and an understanding of a wide range of different national and transnational cinemas, film cultures, styles and genres. You will also look beyond the screen to learn about the process of making films – including making your own film – and to understand the role that film plays in society and culture.
Our Film Studies BA provides you with the necessary skills to critically analyse film. You will gain an understanding of how directors and producers approach their work, how critics and other audiences consume film and give voice to their opinions, and of the place of cinema within different social, cultural, historical and industrial contexts.
Leicester is ranked among the top 12 places in the UK for Film Studies*. We offer an exciting and wide-ranging approach to the study of film, television and other visual arts. You will study filmmaking from the silent era to the twenty-first century, from Hollywood to the avant-garde, and different national and transnational cinemas.
Practical experience and employability are also core elements of the degree; you will gain hands-on experience in programming and promoting a ‘film and art’ event, and have the opportunity to work as part of a team to produce a short video.
Your first year is designed to equip you with the key skills and concepts to study film as an art form. During your second year you will work in groups to create your own short film, using your firm grounding in film theory. You will also augment your focus on film through modules in which you study television and in which you will work with other students in the School of Arts mastering key critical concepts.
*Complete University Guide 2024 (Communication and Media Studies)
Entry requirements
Entry requirements
- A/AS-levels: BBB. Two AS-levels considered in place of one A-Level. General Studies is accepted
- EPQ with A-levels: BBC + EPQ at grade B
- Access to HE Diploma: Pass relevant diploma with 45 credits at level 3, 24 of which must be at distinction
- International Baccalaureate: Pass Diploma with 28 points
- BTEC Nationals: Pass Diploma with DDM
- T Levels: Merit in Management and Administration
Other official national and international qualifications considered from across the world. You can review some of the qualifications we accept on our countries page and English Language equivalencies.
If your qualification or country is not listed, please contact us for more information, including the name and result of the qualification you have studied.
If you do not meet the entry requirements for this course, you can apply for the International Foundation Year – Society and Culture run by the Global Study Centre. The GSC provides academic support to help you progress to your chosen undergraduate degree at the University of Leicester.
Second Year Entry may be possible with suitable qualifications.
Contextual offers
The University of Leicester is committed to providing equitable opportunities for all applicants from all backgrounds. We make contextual offers to support students who may be impacted by the area they live in, their personal circumstances or who have completed one of our progression programmes. These offers are usually one or two grades lower than the standard entry requirements. To qualify for a contextual offer, you must apply for an eligible course and meet specific criteria – check if you’re eligible.
Selection Process
When considering your application, we will look for evidence that you will be able to fulfil the objectives of the course and achieve the standards required. We will take into account a range of factors including previous exam results.
Applicants are not normally interviewed. If you receive an offer you will be invited to visit the department.
English Language Requirements
IELTS 6.5 or equivalent. If your first language is not English, you may need to provide evidence of your English language ability.
If you do not yet meet our requirements, our English Language Teaching Unit (ELTU) offers a range of courses to help you to improve your English to the necessary standard.
International Qualifications
Find your country in this list to check equivalent qualifications, scholarships and additional requirements.
Countries listFees and funding
Fees and funding
UK Students
Starting in 2024
- £9,250 in your first year. Tuition fees are subject to government regulations and may change in future years
- Year Abroad: your fee will be £1,385 for that year
Find out more about scholarships and funding.
International Students
Starting in 2024
- £19,700 per year
- Year Abroad: £4,925, which is 25% of the full-time tuition fee
If you are resident outside the UK and the Republic of Ireland, you will need to pay a deposit of £3,000 to secure your place. This will be subtracted from your total tuition fee.
From 2022 onwards, EU nationals will pay the International fee. If you are an EU national with settled or pre-settled status under the EU settlement scheme, you may qualify for the UK fee (subject to criteria).
Find out more about scholarships and funding.
Careers and employability
Careers and employability
Our curriculum includes employability and practical modules such as 'Film and Art: Academic Study and the Workplace', 'Film Production' and 'Film and Art Journalism'.
Skills acquired on this course have equipped our students to go into film preservation and curating, teaching, and other creative aspects of the film and media industries. It also provides a foundation for careers in film journalism and other cultural management positions.
Graduate destinations
Our graduates have found work with companies such as:
- British Board of Film Clasification
- Sky Cinema
- MUBI
- Phoenix Cinema
- Leicester Neulion
- CBRE Group
Careers and Employability Service
Get career-ready at Leicester with guidance from our award-winning Careers and Employability Service. We're here to give you a lifetime offer of support, even after graduation. Our team of specialist careers advisers and mentors will help you every step of the way. From supporting you with CVs and interviews, to volunteering opportunities and placements, we're here to help you reach your professional goals.
Related courses
Related courses
Sustainable Development Goals
Sustainable Development Goals
We are committed to providing skills and knowledge to help prepare you tackle global challenges. We have mapped our undergraduate degrees for learning which aligns to the 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals.
This degree includes learning which relates to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals:
- Goal 5: Gender equality
- Goal 10: Reduced inequalities
- Goal 16: Peace, Justice and Strong institutions
Course structure
Year 1
Year 1
Your introductory modules will provide a grounding in film analysis and the history of film and television. You will learn how to appreciate film beyond the typical viewing experience. Studying the diverse methods, styles and techniques employed by directors and producers will help you develop a critical understanding of film.
Core modules
- American Film and Visual Culture (double module)
- Film and Art: Academic Study and the Workplace
- Introduction to Film History 1
- Introduction to Film History 2
- Reading Film
- Reading Television
Modules shown represent choices available to current students. The range of modules available and the content of any individual module may change in future years.
Year 2
Year 2
During this year you will widen your scope of film knowledge with modules that explore different stylistic, theoretical and cultural traditions. You will also gain practical film making experience.
Core modules:
- Critical Perspectives 1
- Documentary Film and Television
- Film Production
- Film, Reception and Consumption
- Researching World Cinemas
- Independent Research Project: Video Essay
Modules shown represent choices available to current students. The range of modules available and the content of any individual module may change in future years.
Year Abroad (optional)
Year Abroad (optional)
We’ll make sure you have everything you need for your future career: not just by awarding you a high quality degree, but also by helping you to develop the skills, knowledge and confidence you need to make your mark in the world as a Citizen of Change. One way you can do this is by opting to take a Year Abroad between Years 2 and 3 of your degree.
Studying abroad is not just for people who are interested in travelling and meeting new people. It is about acquiring life skills that are becoming increasingly significant for a wide range of jobs in our modern globalised society. Whether you go on to a career in the private, public or third sector - or plough your own furrow as an entrepreneur – you will find the experience invaluable.
For more information, including a list of destinations, please visit our Study Abroad website.
Please note
- A year spent abroad still incurs a tuition fee, but this is much lower than for a normal year at Leicester. See the Fees and Funding tab of this page for details.
- You may be eligible for a travel grant from Student Finance England.
- Places are offered on a competitive basis, and eligibility is dependent on your academic performance in Years 1 and 2.
- Language courses, at beginners or advanced level, are available through our Languages at Leicester scheme.
Modules shown represent choices available to current students. The range of modules available and the content of any individual module may change in future years.
Final Year
Final Year
During your final year you will have the chance to write a 10,000 word dissertation on an area of film that most fascinates you. The rest of your learning will be entirely decided by you. A wide range of optional modules will allow you to tailor your degree according to your interests and our expertise.
Core module
Option modules
Choose 2 option modules from:
- New Chinese Cinemas
- Contemporary European Cinema
- Norms and Margins in French Cinema
- Containment and Resistance in 1950s and 1960s American Film
- The Cinema of Luis Buñuel
Then choose 2 option modules from:
- Contemporary Hollywood
- Hitchcock and Film History
- Postwar Italian Directors
- Cinematic Representations of Latin America
- Weird Fiction/ Weird Film
- Women in Cinema
- Stardom and Identities in Chinese and American Cinemas
- Film and Art Journalism
- British Popular Culture Since 1945
Modules shown represent choices available to current students. The range of modules available and the content of any individual module may change in future years.
Why Leicester?
Our course combines practical and vocational elements with the theoretical study of film. Get hands-on experience of filmmaking and creative processes that go on behind the camera with our Film Production module.
Our teaching staff have specialist knowledge in some fascinating areas, including female Hollywood directors, Turkish-German cinema, Chinese and transnational cinemas, American B-movies and James Bond.
You will definitely want to join the Students' Union's Film Society to watch and discuss all your favourite movies.
Reading list
See the types of texts you might read, over the summer, to get a feel for the course and arrive prepared and ready to go.
Teaching and learning
Teaching
Our teaching and learning strategy is designed to help you adjust to the demands of higher education and to develop the knowledge and skills that are valued by employers.
The first year of your degree provides a foundation for the increasingly challenging and focused modules you will take in subsequent years. First-year introductory modules, taught through lectures, screenings, and seminars, provide a grounding in film analysis and film history, as well as preparing you for your career beyond university.
The second year includes the study of World cinemas, as well as modules on diverse modes of filmmaking from documentary to realism. The second year also offers practical filmmaking experience.
In the third year you will select from a range of more specialised options and write a dissertation on a topic of your choice. Dissertation support is provided by one-to-one supervision from a member of staff.
Assessment
You will be assessed through a combination of essays, exams, review writing, group work and oral presentations. These assessments are designed to help you build confidence in a range of skills and to provide prospective employers with evidence that you can work effectively both as an independent researcher and as a team member. Your final degree result will be based on the work you do in the second and third years of your degree.
You will have regular meetings with your personal tutor to discuss progress in your studies. Your personal tutor will also provide a sympathetic ear for all matters of personal concern, whether academic, financial, housing, career, or social.
Independent learning
When not attending lectures, seminars or other timetabled sessions you will be expected to continue learning independently through self-study. Typically, this will involve reading journal articles and books, working on individual and group projects, undertaking research in the library, preparing coursework assignments and presentations, and preparing for exams. To help with your independent learning, you can access the Library and our social study spaces in halls of residence.
Academic support
Our Centre for Academic Achievement provides help in the following areas:
- study and exam skills
- academic writing
- presentations
- dissertations
- numerical data skills
- referencing sources
Our AccessAbility Centre offers support and practical help for students with dyslexia or other specific learning difficulties, including physical, mental health or mobility difficulties, deafness, or visual impairment.
Teaching staff
You will be taught by an experienced teaching team whose expertise and knowledge are closely matched to the content of the modules on the course. PhD research students who have undertaken teacher training may also contribute to the teaching of seminars under the supervision of the module leader. Our teaching is informed by the research we do. You can learn more about our staff by visiting our staff profiles.
Apply now
| Course | Qualification | Duration | UCAS Code | Availability |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Course Film Studies | Qualification BA | Duration 3 years full-time | UCAS Code P300 | Availability How to apply |
| Course Film Studies with Year Abroad | Qualification BA | Duration 4 years full-time | UCAS Code P300 | Availability How to apply |
Data about this course
The best part of studying Film at the University of Leicester is being able to surround yourself with people with the same passion and enthusiasm for the subject, and being able to see different interpretations and reactions to the films we view.