Film Studies - BA (Hons)
This cutting edge BA (Hons) Film Studies degree course will develop your awareness of key film studies debates, production practices and industry conventions. You will be taught by noted film professors, cinema scholars and established practitioners, who will all provide you with their knowledge of international film debates and practice perspectives....
Studying with us in 2021/22
It is possible that the 2021/22 academic year may be affected by the ongoing disruption caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Any arrangements put in place by the University for the 2021/22 academic year will be in accordance with the latest government public health advice, pandemic-related/health and safety legislation, and the terms and conditions of the student contract.
- Level Undergraduate
- Study mode Full Time
- Location City Centre
- Award BA (Hons)
- Start date September 2021
- Fees View course fees
- School Birmingham School of Media
- Faculty Faculty of Arts, Design and Media
Course overview
This cutting edge BA (Hons) Film Studies degree course will develop your awareness of key film studies debates, production practices and industry conventions. You will be taught by noted film professors, cinema scholars and established practitioners, who will all provide you with their knowledge of international film debates and practice perspectives.
The course is part of Birmingham City University’s Film Futures suite, designed to develop graduates with the theory, practice and industry trends that will enable them to succeed in a rapidly changing film environment.
What's covered in this course?
This course explores a wide range of debates within film studies, with the opportunity for you to apply key concepts to your own creative cinema practices.
You will be taught by leading film professors and scholars in the field, who will explore cinema patterns in their generic, representational and global contexts. Not only will you gain an understanding of Hollywood cinema conventions (from the silent cinema era to modern blockbuster spectaculars), but you will be able to apply these filmic techniques to a variety of production scenarios. As well as looking at American cinema, you will also be introduced to other international trends that range from European film and TV patterns and global considerations of cult media to Bollywood film traditions and beyond.
A focus of the course will be on combining film theory debates with filmmaking practices and industry conventions. As well as receiving foundational film training, you will be able to create documentary films as part of a wider examination of debates within this field. In addition, modules on film festival programming and film entrepreneurship provide key skills relevant to the film industry.
How you will learn
You will be taught in a range of lectures, seminars, writing workshops and production sessions, while regular film screenings help you contextualise cinema traditions against your own creations.
Your formal studies will be enriched by the possibility to work on a range of external events, such as the Cine-Excess International Film Festival. This annual event attracts visiting international filmmakers, as well as hosting UK theatrical premieres on a regular basis. Having previously operated in London’s West End and Brighton, the festival has relocated to BCU to operate as a central resource for the course.
Why Choose Us?
- The course combines theory, practice and industry approaches to film studies and includes training in documentary film techniques and film festival programming.
- You will be taught by noted film professors, cinema scholars and established practitioners. Staff on the programme work together to ensure that you receive a balanced understanding of theory, practice and industry skilling relevant to the field.
- You will be taught at the city centre campus, home to an impressive range of media resources, studios and edit suites.
- You will have the opportunity to work on a range of established film festivals that are associated with the BA. These include the annual Cine-Excess International Film Festival, which features visiting international filmmakers, UK theatrical premieres and industry mentoring sessions.
- You will also have the opportunity to work on film projects completed for the Cine-Excess festival. One recent production completed by BCU students and staff was the award winning documentary Tax Shelter Terrors (2017).
- You will have access to film collections that will enrich your course of studies. These include the Cult Film Archive, a collection of 4,000+ resources (including films, screenplays and promotional materials) that have been donated directly from leading filmmakers and distribution companies in the field.
- We have a partnership with BFI, which offers students free access to the BFI player and research, work placement and masterclass opportunities.
Similar Courses
Entry Requirements
We accept a range of qualifications, the most popular of which are detailed below.
Essential Requirements
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112 UCAS points |
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| LEVEL 2 QUALIFICATIONS | ||
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| GCSE |
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| Irish Leaving Certificate (Ordinary Level) | See level 3 entry under Irish Leaving Certificate for full details | |
| Scottish National 5 |
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| IELTS |
Minimum overall score of 6.0, with 6.0 in writing and no less than 5.5 in the remaining three skills. |
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| Plus one of the following Level 3 (and above) Qualifications | ||
| A Level and Advanced VCE |
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| AS and AS VCE |
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| Access to HE Diploma |
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DMM | |
| Foundation Studies (Art and Design, and Art, Design & Media) |
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| IBO Certificate in Higher Level |
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| International Baccalaureate Diploma |
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| Irish Leaving Certificate (Highers) | Pass the Irish Leaving Certificate with a minimum of 112 tariff points, achieved in five Higher level subjects. This must include English Language taken at either Ordinary Level (minimum grade O1-O4 (or A-C/A1-C3)) or Higher level minimum grade H1/H7 (or A-D / A1-D3 up to and including 2016 | |
| OCR Cambridge Technical Extended Diploma | DMM | |
| Scottish Advanced Higher |
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| T-Levels | Merit overall | |
| UAL Extended Diploma in Art & Design | Merit overall | |
| UAL Extended Diploma in Creative Media Production & Technology | Merit overall | |
| UAL Extended Diploma in Performing and Production Arts | Merit overall | |
| Other qualifications | ||
| If you have a qualification that is not listed in the table please refer to our full entry requirements on UCAS. Further guidance on tariff points can be found on the UCAS website. |
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Additional information for EU/International students
| Essential | ||
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Please see your country page for further details on the equivalent qualifications we accept. In addition to the academic entry requirements listed above, international and EU students will also require the qualifications detailed in this table. |
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| EU/Non-EU (International) Qualifications | Requirements | |
| IELTS |
Minimum overall score of 6.0, with 6.0 in writing and no less than 5.5 in the remaining three skills. If you do not meet the required IELTS score, you may be eligible for one of our pre-sessional English courses. Please note that you must have a Secure English Language Test (SELT) to study on the pre-sessional English course. More information. |
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| International Baccalaureate Diploma (or equivalent, including internationally accredited Foundation courses). | ||
International students who cannot meet the direct entry requirements can begin their degree studies at Birmingham City University International College (BCUIC).
Mature Applicants
Applications from mature students (21+) with alternative qualifications and/or considerable work experience will be considered on their merits.
Fees & How to Apply
- UK students
- International students
Award: BA (Hons)
Starting: Sep 2021
- Mode
- Duration
- Fees
- Full Time
- 3 years
- £9,250 per year
- Apply via UCAS
Award: BA (Hons)
Starting: Sep 2021
- Mode
- Duration
- Fees
- Full Time
- 3 years
- £13,200 per year
If you're unable to use the online form for any reason, you can complete our PDF application form and equal opportunities PDF form instead.
Guidance for UK students
UK students applying for most undergraduate degree courses in the UK will need to apply through UCAS.
The Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS) is a UK organisation responsible for managing applications to university and college.
Applying through UCAS
Register with UCAS
Login to UCAS
Complete your details
Select your course
Write a personal statement
Get a reference
Pay your application fee
Send UCAS your application
International students
There are three ways to apply:
1) Direct to the University
You will need to complete our International Application Form and Equal Opportunities Form, and submit them together with scan copies of your original academic transcripts and certificates.
2) Through a country representative
Our in-country representatives can help you make your application and apply for a visa. They can also offer advice on travel, living in the UK and studying abroad.
3) Through UCAS
If you are applying for an undergraduate degree or a Higher National Diploma (HND), you can apply through the UK’s Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS).
You can request a printed form from your school or nearest British Council office. You will be charged for applying through UCAS. Birmingham City University’s UCAS code is B25 BCITY.
Personal statement
UK / EU students are required to submit a personal statement as part of their application for this course.*
The personal statement gives you a crucial opportunity to say why you’re applying and why the institution should accept you.
Here are the key areas you’ll need to address:
Course choice
Why does this course appeal? What areas are of particular interest?
Career plans
If you have a specific career in mind, say how your chosen course will help you pursue this goal.
Work experience
Mention any work that is relevant to your subject, highlighting the skills and experience gained.
School or college experience
Highlight skills gained at school/college, eg summer schools or mentoring activities.
Non-accredited skills or achievement
eg Duke of Edinburgh Award, Young Enterprise scheme.
You should also mention your future plans – if you’re planning to take a year out, don't forget to give your reasons. Talk about any subjects you’re studying that don’t have a formal assessment and any sponsorships or placements you’ve applied for. And don't be scared to add in details about your social, sports or leisure interests.
Get more information on writing personal statements.
*Non-EU students are not required to submit a personal statement when applying for this course.
Course in Depth
Year one
In order to complete this course you must successfully complete all the following CORE modules (totalling 120 credits):
40 credits
This module introduces you to Hollywood film through its early, classical and post-classical traditions. The module is structured around the examination of these three stages of development, with a range of debates that also allow you to evaluate American cinema through its stylistic, generic, industrial and historical features.
20 credits
This module introduces you to the key debates that have been central to the development of film studies as a subject. The module begins by considering the development of film theory in its historical and critical traditions, before continuing to discuss a series of topics that will be relevant to both the module and your wider studies on the degree as a whole.
20 credits
A key aspect to understanding filmmaking, is the actual process. This module will provide you with an introduction to conventional filmmaking techniques, such as lighting, camerawork and sound recording. This also includes an introduction to pre-production operations. This will be in the form of visual and sound acquisition techniques, as well as strategies to plan for this. You will be expected to operate a range of equipment, reflecting typical processes to do with narrative and documentary filmmaking. This foundation can be built upon to support future production endeavours.
40 credits
In this module you will explore the development of the film and television documentary by critically investigating the medium through a range of lectures, readings and screenings, and applying this to produce your own short documentary. We will consider different genres of documentary, such as direct cinema, mockumentary, investigative, ethnographic, docu-soap, experimental, docu-drama, reconstruction and the music documentary, as well as some of the contemporary issues facing documentary film makers. We will engage with a variety of academic debates that relate to the documentary, which include realism, representation, ethics and ideology, and the social, political, economic and technological contexts in which documentary can be critically located.
Year two
In order to complete this course you must successfully complete all the following CORE modules (totalling 80 credits):
20 credits
This module builds on the skills of critical and contextual analysis you have previously developed on the course and applies them to an analysis of European film and television. This module will prepare students who wish to develop expertise and knowledge in European film and television history and their cultural, distribution and funding contexts.
40 credits
This module looks at what it takes to create, manage and draw audiences to a film festival or screening event. The aim is to develop your appreciation of the complexities of event management from establishing goals and selection through to the logistics of programming, managing budgets and executing a marketing campaign to draw audiences.
20 credits
The module is an opportunity to learn and critically reflect on the skills of collaboration by enabling you to create an interdisciplinary project with students from complementary disciplines, or with academic staff. Collaboration is a vital employability skill within the Creative Industries and this module allows you to develop these skills, making use of University facilities and with the support of academic staff. Within this module framework, several kinds of collaborative opportunities are available. For example, with the approval of your supervisor, you can determine a project based on your own interests; your supervisor may set you a predetermined project to enable you to work with other students in a way that is appropriate to your subject area; or there may be opportunities for you to collaborate with staff on research projects. In all cases, you must apply your subject skills to an interdisciplinary project which will be agreed in advance with your supervisor.
In order to complete this course you must successfully complete at least 40 credits from the following indicative list of OPTIONAL modules.
20 credits
This module will provide students with an overview of the cultural relevancy of 1970s cinema. Initially exploring the context of the decade and the fragmented nature of film narratives at the time the module will discuss the emergence and demise of ‘American New Wave/New Hollywood’ but also explore further the style, substance and aesthetics of the varying sub-genres of the time as well as the cultural and creative impact they had on both cinematic presentation and other aspects of the media industry.
20 credits
This module offers an introduction to some of the ongoing academic debates on media fandom and subcultures. This is a broad-ranging topic, and as such in this module it will be primarily be considered from an audience and reception perspective, including your own. You will have opportunities to interrogate your own fan and/or subcultural identity in class and your own participation in fandoms and subcultures will form a part of class discussion and analysis.
20 credits
This module is designed to explore issues surrounding sexuality in cinema. The module deals with issues surrounding censorship and control, the relationship between sexuality and identity through an approach informed by Feminist and Queer Theory and the ongoing pornography debate, which brings many of the themes of the module together. The module will enable students to place the representation of sexuality in a broader historical, social and cultural context and engage critically with the varied and sometimes polarised popular and scholarly debates that shape discussion of these issues.
20 credits
This module builds on previous work around national/European film undertaken on the course, and takes as its focus a type of production that has been interchangeably termed as popular, marginal, extreme and ‘trash’ cinema. As well as exploring some of the hierarchies and taste boundaries that underpin the distinction between Europe’s ‘trash’ and ‘legitimate’ cinemas, the module also explores these tensions in classification through a series of case-studies in post war Italian, German, British and Spanish film. As well as considering the specific styles, themes and aesthetics of European ‘trash’ cinema, the module will also situate these texts within wider social cultural and historical tensions. Other issues explored in the module include the modes of production associated with European trash film, as well as its representations of race, gender and sexuality.
Core modules are guaranteed to run. Optional modules will vary from year to year and the published list is indicative only.
Year three
In order to complete this course you must successfully complete all the following CORE modules (totalling 80 credits):
20 credits
The module introduces you to the key debates related to the study of global cinema traditions, which have emerged over the last twenty years as a distinct aspect of critical interest within film and media theory.
60 credits
The purpose of the module is to enable you to undertake a sustained, in-depth and theoretically informed research project exploring an area that is of personal interest to you. It is important that we can support you appropriately, so you will be guided towards choosing a research topic which is relevant to your discipline and in which your lecturers have expertise. The outcome may take the form of a written dissertation or a practice-based portfolio.
In order to complete this course you must successfully complete at least 40 credits from the following indicative list of OPTIONAL modules.
20 credits
This module builds on previous film textual analytical skills and theoretical studies undertaken at previous levels of the course and applies them to the critical, historical and theoretical study of Bollywood cinema (aka popular Hindi cinema) and related cultural industries. This is an option module for all students with an academic interest in the analytical and theoretical field of reading films closely, and will prepare students who wish to develop expertise and knowledge in areas that focus on historical and contemporary issues of culture, diaspora and globalization.
20 credits
The module introduces you to the key debates related to the discipline of cult film studies, which has emerged over the last twenty years as a distinct aspect of critical interest within film and media theory.
20 credits
This module provides an opportunity to engage with and consider films that explore the perspectives and experiences of minority groups in western societies. The module will consider the intersectional barriers faced by those attempting to work within the film industry (both historically and in the current context) as well as the ways in which technology has democratized the form. The core consideration of this module will be who has been excluded from mainstream cinema, or had their work overlooked, and how in the current context this can be addressed. Further to this we will also focus on experimental film and video work and how non-mainstream contexts may provide an alternative place for film practitioners to explore their ideas.
20 credits
This module builds on the work you have been producing at previous levels of your course by encouraging you to develop innovative and entrepreneurial solutions to recognise professional challenges. It will explore the concept of enterprise in relation to film, exploring what it is like to work as a freelance worker in the contemporary film business. Through a range of teaching approaches, which include interactive lectures, field trips, and guest speakers, you will investigate the techniques, processes and practices of innovation and enterprise.
20 credits
You will build on your previous studies by developing skills in connecting research and practice. Through set readings, class discussions, e-learning and directed study tasks, we will identify and explore key debates, theoretical perspectives and concepts in studies of science fiction, so that you can develop your familiarity with this theoretical field. You will engage critically with a specific science fiction text by drawing on weekly course topics to expand your text through creative, experimental and innovative transmedia storytelling. Through this work, you will offer research-based, critical reflection on the relationship between science fiction texts and their wider social, cultural, political and technological contexts, on both a national and an international scale.
Core modules are guaranteed to run. Optional modules will vary from year to year and the published list is indicative only.
During the first year of the BA (Hons) Film Studies course, you will be introduced to core debates in the field through modules such as Introduction to Film Theory. This unit presumes no prior knowledge of film studies, and your introductory film skilling will be further expanded in the module Hollywood: Early Film to Blockbusters, which considers a wide range of American film formats. Further modules such as Foundations of Filmmaking allow you to experiment and develop your own short film styles and techniques, while Documentary: Theory and Practice offers you the opportunity to create your own realist films based on documentary debates in the field.
The second year of the course allows you to expand you knowledge of film studies through more detailed modules such Europe on Screen, which considers film and TV patterns in a range of national contexts. As well as being able to undertake a range of optional modules around topics such as Fandom and Subcultures and Gender, Sexuality and the Body, this second year of study also provides a dedicated module on Festival programming, which outlines the key industry skills associated with the staging of cinema events.
During the final third year of study, your knowledge of film studies debates and techniques will focus on both specific film genres and national cinema traditions. For instance, the module Global Cinema Narratives will outline the features and importance of non-Western variants of film. This module will be complimented by optional modules on Bollywood Film, Cult Film and Horror Narratives which all consider issues of film genre within global contexts. In addition, an optional module on Film Entrepreneurship allows you to assess key business practices that are relevant to the current cinema industry. As the culmination of your final year of study you will also undertake the Major Project module, which allows you to carry out an independent study of an aspect of cinema theory, film practice or an industry convention that has interested you as a result of your time on the BA (Hons) Film Studies course.
Classroom projects
During your studies there will be practice-based opportunities to engage with a regional film festival such as Cine-Excess, an annual international film festival and conference on global cult film cultures. You will also be able to access film collections such as the Cult Film Archive during the course of your studies.
The Birmingham School of Media also has an established and inclusive research culture that promotes dialogue and collaboration between staff and students. The Birmingham Centre for Media and Cultural Research (BCMCR) in the School of Media welcomes visiting researchers from across the world and holds regular research seminars which mix presentations from staff, PG students and speakers from a range of our collaborative partnerships. BCMCR welcomes all students to research seminars, which are free to attend.
Further study
For successful graduates there is a natural progression from the BA Film Business and Promotion to the MA Film Distribution and Marketing, focused on nurturing entrepreneurial producers and distributors, or the MA and MSc Future Media focused on exploiting digital media and marketing opportunities through emerging technologies and advertising agency techniques.
Alternatively, Birmingham School of Media at Birmingham City University offers a wide range of MA courses, allowing you to specialise in such areas as Multiplatform and Mobile Journalism, Data Journalism, PR, Event, Festival and Exhibition Management and Media and Cultural Studies.
Details can be found on the postgraduate section of the website.
Employability
The BA (Hons) Film Studies course is located within the Birmingham School of Media, which has an excellent track record for graduate employment.
Within the School, the majority of graduates going into media-related roles. The course builds upon the School’s employability driven reputation, by opening avenues for students interested in potential careers in film research, film journalism, film archiving, marketing & PR, advertising and teaching film/media studies.
As well as gaining course-specific skills, you could also gain broader tools through our Graduate+ programme, which will help enhance your employment options by helping with careers development, employability activities, volunteering and part-time work experience.
Allied with this course-specific experience, you will also have access to a range of support staff and services from the University’s Careers Service, who can help with:
- Reviewing CVs, covering letters and application forms
- Career planning and decision making
- Preparing for interviews and assessment centres
- Developing portfolios
- Networking with employers
- Advice about self-employment and entrepreneurship
Placements
During your second year, you will have the opportunity to work as part of a mixed discipline team to respond to a brief, as part of an in-house placement element of the course.
In addition to this, there are regional opportunities for visiting and volunteering at film festivals, such as Cine-Excess, and Flatpack, and for networking with producers and distributors who function as guest speakers at such events.
OpportUNIty
OpportUNIty: Student Jobs on Campus ensures that our students are given a first opportunity to fill many part-time temporary positions within the University. This allows you to work while you study with us, fitting the job around your course commitments. By taking part in the scheme, you will gain valuable experiences and employability skills, enhancing your prospects in the job market.
It will also allow you to become more involved in University life by delivering, leading and supporting many aspects of the learning experience, from administration to research and mentoring roles.
International Students
Birmingham City University is a vibrant and multicultural university in the heart of a modern and diverse city. We welcome many international students every year – there are currently students from more than 80 countries among our student community.
The University is conveniently placed, with Birmingham International Airport nearby and first-rate transport connections to London and the rest of the UK.
Our international pages contain a wealth of information for international students who are considering applying to study here, including:
- Explore some of the good reasons why you should study here.
- Find out how to improve your language skills before starting your studies.
- Find all the information relevant to applicants from your country.
- Learn where to find financial support for your studies.
The UK remains one of the world's leading study destinations
The UK remains one of the world's leading study destinations for international students.
The first-class experience offered by universities are reflected in the world’s largest survey of international students. International students are more likely to recommend the UK than any other leading English-language study destination.
Facilities and Staff
Our Facilities
When you join Birmingham City University, the first thing you will notice is the high standard of our campuses.
With an investment of £340 million across our buildings and facilities, we are committed to giving you the very best learning environment to help shape your experience.
State-of-the-art facilities
You will learn in our state-of-the-art facilities - including the £62m fully-digital Media Centre - located on the City Centre Campus. You will enjoy access to extensive studio and workshop space including four TV studios, six radio studios and broadcast-standard edit suites, as well as cutting-edge equipment and software.
Facilities include the largest TV floor of any university in the UK, a ‘green screen’ and the MILO motion control camera - we are one of just two universities in Europe to offer MILO technology.
Our staff
Andy Conway
Lecturer in Creative Writing
Andy is a prolific screenwriter and novelist with 30 years’ experience of the writing industry. He’s worked as a screenwriter on many films, both produced and lost in development hell, for over 20 years, and runs the Shooting People Screenwriters’ Network, with 11,000 worldwide members. He also co-founded the West Midlands Screenwriters’ Forum, and the new independent publishing collective, New Street Authors.
His feature film, Arjun & Alison, a campus revenge thriller set in Birmingham, toured film festivals around the world and was released in UK cinemas in spring 2014. He currently divides his time between the three feature films he has in pre-production, writing his series of historical fantasy novels, Touchstone, co-writing a guide to the world of self-publishing, and lecturing in Screenwriting at Birmingham City University.
More about AndyOliver Williams
Deputy Head of the Birmingham Institute of Creative Arts
Oliver is Associate Director at the New Technology Institute (NTI), an industry-facing school within Birmingham School of Media that specialises in developing industry-led academic courses. He is also the Studio Director for Gamer Camp, a Masters-level video game development programme.
Oliver’s 16-year career spans product development, project management, software development, marketing, management and solution selling. He is an expert in project managing complex interactive media products.
More about Oliver