Course description

Film is one of the most widely consumed forms of mass media. It shapes how we see the world, influences our leisure time, and is often quoted in daily life. With global audiences in the billions, film is a major cultural force. It is a huge cultural phenomenon that has continued to develop and change since the first movies were screened in the late 1800s. This MA in Film Studies recognises the importance of film as a cultural and artistic medium, and you’ll think critically about films, their history and their production and reception contexts.

Two core modules form the foundation of your MA in Film Studies, helping you build essential postgraduate skills. You'll study alongside students from Arts, Media and Communication in Introduction to Postgraduate Study and Researching Film History, developing research skills and project ideas. Researching Film History explores different ways to analyse film using primary sources like scripts and shooting schedules. In Writing About Film, you’ll experiment with film criticism and specialise in either journalistic or academic writing based on your interests.

Film is constantly evolving within dynamic social and industrial landscapes. Our program explores these changes through modules like Global Cinemas, Digital Cinema, and Gender and Genre. Global Cinemas introduces films from the Global South and examines how they intersect with issues like censorship, stardom, and streaming platforms. Digital Cinema looks at the shift from celluloid to digital technology and its impact on film theory. You’ll also create a video essay using professional editing software, applying theory through practice. In Gender and Genre, you'll explore how gender and sexuality shape on-screen representations and influence production and reception. This module critically examines how contemporary social and gender politics impact cinema, offering insights into film’s role in both reflecting and challenging societal norms.

Your Film Studies MA will culminate in an extended dissertation project, allowing you to bring together all the skills and approaches you have learned and apply them to a topic and project of your choosing that can either be presented as a written or video dissertation.

Throughout your degree you will be taught by experts in film studies: our team have published world-leading research across a range of topics including British film, film finances, popular American cinema, stardom, Chinese cinema, women filmmakers and Turkish-German cinema. All of our teaching is research-inspired and your lecturers will draw upon their own research methods and findings. Our School is ranked 11th in the UK according to the latest Research Excellence Framework (REF21); – whereas other people get to read what our experts think, you will be learning from them directly and questioning them in seminars.

Entry requirements