BA(Hons) Film Studies

Content

Year one

Over the course of the first year, you'll be introduced to a number of key terms and concepts that will help you to analyse films in detail. 

This will include the development of your close textual analysis skills, but will also focus on how films tell us different stories, how they construct realistic worlds and how they incorporate spectacle. You'll also learn about some of the key roles involved in the production of a film, about different audiences for different films and about the role of cinemas and other places of exhibition.

Year two

During the second year, you'll deepen your knowledge in a number of key areas. You'll study cinematic traditions, including Hollywood and British cinema, as well as other cinema industries around the world. You'll also explore the notion of film genre and look in detail at the representation of marginalised identities in film, focusing on diversity and inclusion both on screen and in the industry. In addition, you'll practice different forms of film writing, by producing professional examples of film criticism and completing a screenwriting project. 

Placement year (if applicable)

If you study on the four-year (sandwich) course, you'll spend a year away from the University on a work placement after year two. As a part of this, you'll complete a placement learning module.

Please see the Placements and Fees sections for more information.

Final year

Over the course of your final year, you'll complete a year-long independent project geared towards your specific interests – this may be a dissertation, but could also take the form of for example, an AV essay, a screenplay or portfolio of professional writing.

In addition to the project, you'll focus on contemporary cinema and the contours of the film industry today, as well as exploring other cinematic practices and gaining additional specialised knowledge. This may include a focus on cult cinema and fandom, on the relationship between film and music, on the role of affect in our cinematic experience, or on film stardom. 

This structure is for full-time students only. Part-time students study the same modules but the delivery pattern will be different.

The University continually enhances our offer by responding to feedback from our students and other stakeholders, ensuring the curriculum is kept up to date and our graduates are equipped with the knowledge and skills they need for the real world. This may result in changes to the course. If changes to your course are approved, we'll inform you.

Learning and Teaching

Learn through a mix of lectures, screenings, seminars, workshops, individual and small-group tutorials, and technical instruction sessions.

You'll study independently and in groups, defining your own research questions and focusing on the issues and ideas that interest you most. You'll be guided and supported by a team of leading film scholars.

Learn to write about film in different contexts, and to present your ideas in various different formats, including audio-visual essays, magazine features, reviews and blogs, as well as traditional academic essays.

Become adept at using programs and platforms that will be valuable in your career, such as Powerpoint, Adobe Premiere, Wordpress and screenplay-writing software.

Take part in workshops to build your critical reading, writing and information gathering skills. Develop your expertise as a researcher. Learn to pitch ideas, develop proposals, write scripts, design blogs and plan festivals. Work with active researchers shaping new thinking in the field.

In your Final year, you can opt to write a traditional dissertation, screenplay or portfolio of reviews and critical writing. Or you can make an audio-visual essay, design a film festival, or develop a project based on your summer work experience.

See our full glossary of learning and teaching terms.

Get involved

Look forward to plenty of opportunities to network, take part in projects, and collaborate in Bristol and beyond.

Set up your own social and creative enterprises, such as websites, blogs, zines and events. Post film reviews and write about film for UWE Bristol's magazines, newspapers and blogs. And indulge your love of the arts and help bring creative works to life at our Centre for Music.

UWE Bristol staff, students and graduates founded Bristol Radical Film Festival and Compass Presents. We also introduce films for South West Silents and The Bristol Bad Film Club, and help to organise Cary Grant Comes Home for the Weekend.

Join UWE Bristol's Anime, Bad Film and Filmmaking societies, enjoy free films at the campus SceneIT cinema, and participate in regular film festivals and events across the city.

Assessment

You'll be assessed in a number of ways honing your critical, creative and practical skills. You'll be assessed through essays and exams, audio-visual essays, festival programming and different kinds of film writing - from publicity materials and reviews to features and blogs.

Learn more about assessments.