BA

Film and Television Studies

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You are viewing this course for September start 2024

Whether you are interested in the moving image as an art form or an industry, our diverse degree in Film and Television Studies at Aberystwyth University will give you the space to explore different technical and critical approaches in a creative environment.

Here in the Department of Theatre, Film and Television Studies in Aberystwyth University, we offer specialist teaching on documentary film-making, fiction film-making, experimental film-making, multiplatform production, studio production and scriptwriting, as well as art cinema, horror and cult cinema, Hollywood, gender studies, television aesthetics, digital cultures, and video games.

Designed to equip you with a combination of practical skills, creative confidence and critical awareness, this versatile course opens up multiple pathways into an exciting industry.

Course Overview

Why study Film & Television Studies at Aberystwyth?

  • You will be taught and mentored by a team of internationally known experts and practitioners.
  • We are a vibrant and creative department where drama and theatre, film and media, and scenography and theatre design collide.
  • You will benefit from our complementary learning experiences where theory and practice are designed to feed into each other.
  • As a department, students benefit from our connections with key industry partners, such as the BBC, S4C, BAFTA Cymru, Tribeca Film Festival (New York), Fiction Factory, Tinopolis, Edinburgh International Film Festival, the National Broadcast Archive of Wales at the National Library of Wales and Avid. These partners provide an excellent opportunity to network and liaise with those in the industry before graduation.
  • You will have access to our superb facilities and resources for practical work: three rehearsal studios, each with flexible technical facilities; two large professionally-equipped studios with digital lighting rigs controlled via ETC Congo and Strand Lighting consoles; Yamaha and Soundcraft PAs; Sanyo AV systems; Strand lighting; two NXAMP; and costume and wardrobe facilities.
  • On our campus and situated next door to the Department is one of the largest Arts Centres in Wales, which regularly presents screenings, talks, master classes, exhibitions and film festivals.
  • Aberystwyth University is known for having a large number of clubs and societies, so be assured that your time will be occupied with your studies and taking part in your chosen club / society's activities.
  • If you're looking for an experience beyond Aberystwyth, all students will have the opportunity to take part in a study abroad placement with one of our partnered Universities in Europe or further afield through our International Exchange programme. Find out where your adventure could take you!
Our Staff

All academic staff at the Department of Theatre, Film and Television Studies are research active and/or involved in Knowledge Transfer projects and have either relevant academic qualifications at doctoral level or equivalent professional experience and expertise.

Modules September start - 2024

Please note: The modules listed below are those currently intended for delivery during the next academic year and may be subject to change. They are included here to give an indication of how the course is structured.

Core

Module Name Module Code Credit Value
Making Short Films 1 FM11420 20
Studying Film FM10120 20
Studying Television FM10220 20

Options

Module Name Module Code Credit Value
Making Short Films 2 FM11240 40
Movements in Film History FM11120 20
Studying Communication FM10720 20
Studying Media FM10620 20
Writing Continuing TV Drama FM17320 20

Core

Module Name Module Code Credit Value
Work in the Media Industries FM23820 20

Options

Module Name Module Code Credit Value
Art Cinema FM24420 20
Digital Culture FM25520 20
LGBT Screens FM20120 20
Media, Politics and Power FM22620 20
Stardom and Celebrity FM21520 20
Television Genre FM20620 20
Youth Cultures FM22320 20
Creative Documentary FM26520 20
Creative Fiction: Horror FM20920 20
Creative Studio FM25420 20
Writing for Film and Television FM21620 20
Theatre Design Project TP22620 20

Core

Module Name Module Code Credit Value

Options

Module Name Module Code Credit Value
Contemporary Film and the Break-Up of Britain FM30020 20
Contemporary TV Drama FM30320 20
Cult Cinema: Texts, Histories and Audiences FM38220 20
Experimental Cinema FM34520 20
Gender and the Media FM38320 20
Independent Research Project FM36040 40
Media Law FM36720 20
Videogame Theories FM38420 20
Documentary Production FM33740 40
Experimental Media Production FM33540 40
Fiction Film Production FM34240 40
Scriptwriting 1 FM37020 20
Scriptwriting 2 FM37120 20

* Also available partially or entirely through the medium of Welsh

Careers

What can I do with a Film and Television Studies degree?

Many of our graduates have been successful in finding employment in these fields:

  • research, editing, floor management, camera work, designing and directing for film and television production companies
  • film distribution
  • freelance film-making
  • marketing and public relations
  • film festival programming
  • advertising
  • arts administration
  • education.

What skills do I gain from this degree?

You will gain transferable skills that are sought after by employers. These include the ability to:

  • apply creative, imaginative and problem-solving skills in a variety of situations
  • research, evaluate and organise information
  • structure and communicate ideas effectively in a variety of situations and using a variety of means
  • work independently and with others
  • effectively organise your time and deploy your skills
  • listen to and make use of critical advice
  • be self-motivated and self-disciplined
  • use a range of information technology skills and resources
  • be entrepreneurial in developing cultural projects.

Are there any work experience opportunities whilst studying?

  • We have strong partnerships and connections with many organisations by whom our students have been offered work placements. These include the BBC, Tinopolis and the Edinburgh International Film Festival.

Teaching & Learning

What will I learn?

The breakdown below will provide you with an illustration of what you may study during the four year degree scheme.

In your first year you will study:

  • practical modules that develop skills in all stages of the production process: scriptwriting, shooting, directing, and editing
  • core introductory modules in the history, theory and analysis of film and television
  • other modules chosen by you, for example: Movements in Film History, Studying Communication, and Studying Media.

In your second year you will have the opportunity to:

  • develop skills in studio production, documentary film-making and writing for film and television
  • gain knowledge and key critical skills in a range of complementary theoretical modules that span mainstream cinema, documentary film-making, art cinema and contemporary issues in digital culture 
  • increase your employability prospects and transferrable skills through the core work placement module.

In your third year you will be able to:

  • specialise in documentary production, fiction film, experimental media or scriptwriting and build advanced skills in these areas
  • study specialist subject areas that deal with contemporary film, histories of technology, experimental film, cult cinema, and television in the 20th Century
  • embark on an independent research project, leading to a dissertation on a film and television-related topic of your choice 
  • benefit from extensive support and guidance whatever pathway you decide on.

How will I be taught?

You will be taught through a variety of lectures, seminars, screenings, technical demonstrations and group-based project work. The diversity of activity is an essential part of our philosophy, and creates a uniquely exciting and productive learning environment.

How will I be assessed?

You will be assessed through:

  • individual and group-based film and video projects
  • production diaries, screenplays and scriptwriting
  • reflective journals and blogs 
  • video essays and traditional essays 
  • seminar presentations and pitches.

All of these materials could be used to generate a working portfolio to present to potential employers.

More information:

You will be assigned a personal tutor throughout your degree scheme, who will help you with any problems or queries, whether these are academic-related or personal issues. You should feel free to contact them at any time for help and advice.

You will also have the opportunity to complete a Personal Development Plan (PDP) at Aberystwyth. This is a structured process of self-appraisal, reflection, and planning, which will enable you to chart your personal, academic and professional development throughout your time at university. By recording your academic performance, and highlighting the skills you already have and those you will need for future employability, the PDP portfolio will equip you with the necessary tools to plan effectively, develop successful approaches to study, and consider your future career options and aspirations.

Student Testimonials

What I love most about Film and Television Studies is the teaching staff. They are experienced professionals who are dynamic, enthusiastic and most importantly, approachable; it makes learning fun and my confidence has improved as a result. I also enjoy the various modules on offer. The practicals are great as they allow me to experiment with my own ideas but at the same time they teach me valuable skills. My favourite modules so far are Scriptwriting and Writing for Film & Television. I love to write creatively and these modules enable me to develop my imagination. 

Angela Wendy Rumble

Film and Television Studies at Aberystwyth University is brilliant. The course has a great atmosphere which you can tell from how well-connected the students and lecturers are. The academic side of the course is illuminating, touching on a wide variety of topics and dealing with each of these in detail, which works well even for those students who want to focus more on the more practical modules. In addition the department provides plenty of opportunities for work experience as well as chances for students to hone their skills out of the classroom with departmental equipment. There is also a well-supported film society. 

Joe Williams

Typical Entry Requirements

UCAS Tariff 120 - 96

A Levels BBB-CCC

GCSE requirements (minimum grade C/4):
English or Welsh

BTEC National Diploma:
DDM-MMM

International Baccalaureate:
30-26

European Baccalaureate:
75%-65% overall

English Language Requirements:
See our Undergraduate English Language Requirements for this course. Pre-sessional English Programmes are also available for students who do not meet our English Language Requirements.

Country Specific Entry Requirements:
International students whose qualification is not listed on this page, can check our Country Specific Entry Requirements for further information.

The University welcomes undergraduate applications from students studying the Access to Higher Education Diploma or T-level qualifications, provided that relevant subject content and learning outcomes are met. We are not able to accept Access to Higher Education Diplomas or T-levels as a general qualification for every undergraduate degree course.
Our inclusive admissions policy values breadth as well as depth of study. Applicants are selected on their own individual merits and offers can vary. If you would like to check the eligibility of your qualifications before submitting an application, please contact the Undergraduate Admissions Office for advice and guidance.

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