Film and Screen Studies

Film and Screen Studies aims to produce graduates who have an informed, critical and creative approach to both understanding film and screen in contemporary society and to their own forms of critical, reflective and communicative practice. You’ll develop intellectual, analytical, research and creative skills that will help you to prepare for employment and have the opportunity to engage in practical filmmaking projects if you wish.

Year one
In the first year there are two cores modules. The first is Introduction to Film in which you’ll investigate film as a specific academic discipline and how meaning is conveyed through film form and content. As part of your work you’ll analyse how films are constructed and be introduced to ways of writing effectively about film. The second core module is Understanding Hollywood, which offers an advanced investigation of key theoretical and methodological issues involved in the study of cinema, and explores film as a commercial, cultural and aesthetic institution.

Years two and three
In Years 2 and 3 you can design your programme from a range of exciting modules including film theory, Hollywood cinema, video games, film and national identity, stardom and celebrity, Asian cinema, European cinema, film genres such as westerns and horror, games, Short film  production, and documentary filmmaking. You can also take part in organising LineUP, the annual Student Film Festival at Bath Spa University.

Assessment includes essays, research reports, journals, group presentations and portfolios.

Our modules have well-defined teaching structures consisting of lectures, seminars, workshops and tutorials, which give you wide opportunities to learn progressively, stretch your capabilities, test your ideas and methods and interact positively with staff and other students in the department.

As you would expect, Film and Screen Studies modules also use parts of the new media in their teaching practice. Students are encouraged to make use of the University's virtual learning environment, 'Minerva' and of the web in seminars and workshops.

Opportunities are available through the Erasmus Scheme. Choose from 25 partners across Europe, including Denmark, Spain, Italy, Finland and Germany. The University also has 15 exchange partners across the world.

Visits include tours of famous UK film studios such as Pinewood and key film centres such as the BFI.

The main focus of interest for our Film and Screen Studies graduates is the creative and cultural industries in the UK. These industries include advertising, journalism, publishing, film and film-related employments, television, radio and the heritage sector. However, there are also employment opportunities in local and central government and the voluntary sector.

Since 2011, employers such as BBC Bristol, Argonon and The Sheffield International Documentary Festival have recruited graduates from this course. Students have also gone into roles including Unit Assistant, Festival Assistant and Film Location Manager.

Work placements are available within the programme through the second year Work Placement model. They can also be facilitated on an extra-curricular basis through members of the teaching team.

We encourage our filmmaking students to enter material for film competitions and festivals.

This optional placement year provides you with the opportunity to identify, apply for, and secure professional experience, normally comprising one to three placements over a minimum of nine months. Successful completion of this module will demonstrate your ability to secure and sustain graduate-level employment.

By completing the module, you'll be entitled to the addition of “with Professional Placement Year” to your degree title.

Before your Professional Placement Year, you'll work to secure your placement, constructing a development plan with your module leader and your placement coordinator from our Careers and Employability team.

On your return to University for your final year, you'll submit your Placement Portfolio, detailing your development on your placement.

You'll be taught on our Newton Park campus, with access to a range of facilities including:

• Commons building
• Newton Park Library
• Our Virtual Learning Environment
• Studio and post-production facilities