The Aberystwyth MA in Film Studies
Aberystwyth University’s MA in Film Studies focuses upon the advanced study of cinema. You will already have attained a degree of expertise before starting the course, and you will be ready to study film at a more sophisticated level by mastering theoretical, historical and material approaches to the subject.
This MA in Film Studies course is designed to give you an holistic overview of the development of film, taking in the development and intersections of both Hollywood and European cinemas, and popular and 'alternative' cinemas. You will also have the opportunity to study specific movements within cinema, such as the changing manifestations of German Expressionism, American film noir or 'neo-noir', and you will do so by studying both aesthetic influences and technological developments which affect these movements (such as the impact of different film formats).
This course will push you to interrogate a wide range of factors which direct the production and presentation of film, including the representation of class, ethnicity, gender and the construction of social reality. You will also engage with a number of other representational issues: space, place, historical accuracy and the importance of costume, design and geography. Throughout the course you will develop your own methods for analysis whilst studying established methodological approaches including semiotic theory and theories of discourse.
In short, by completing this MA, you will gain a systematic knowledge of theories and perspectives in the study of film and you will graduate confident in your improved abilities in the research and critical analysis of film, its cultural contexts and historical significance.
The minimum entry requirement for the MA in Film Studies is at least a BA Honours degree (2:1), but we will consider applicants with other experience which gives an equivalent basis for entry. Prospective Masters students should ensure that they have arranged with referees for their references to be available as required.
Overview
The Aberystwyth MA in Film Studies will provide an excellent opportunity for you to explore the broad ways in which films represent a variety of different processes, peoples, objects and other social phenomena. You will investigate how film mediates reality and presents aspects of this new reality in fresh contexts. You will also study film in context, looking at how an increasingly globalized postmodern society impacts upon the representation of localities in film and how marginalisation, exclusion and difference are examined in contemporary film.
This MA is superbly broad in the subject-matter it takes in, but fascinatingly specific in the case-studies and research opportunities it offers students. You will have the opportunity to conduct creative and rigorously-academic investigations into your chosen specialism, and in doing so you will develop your abilities as a researcher, analyst and specialist in film theory. You will become highly conversant in film as it relates to culture, identity, historical context and technology.
The MA in Film Studies is run by the Department of Theatre, Film and Television Studies, one of the largest and most significant departments of its kind. Based in Aberystwyth University’s Parry-Williams Building, the department is in the unique position of offering its courses in Welsh or English, and the department boasts superb facilities including: 36 digital and HD editing suites; over 40 industry standard HD and digital cameras: a new digital vision mixer and enhanced gallery facilities; three fully-equipped theatre spaces (seating approximately 100 people each); and much more.
The course is a full-time programme, taught over one year, and is divided into two parts over three semesters. In part one, you will establish a breadth of necessary skills in a number of core modules whilst directing your own study by choosing specialist modules, worth a total of 120 credits. In part two, you will apply your learning in the individual dissertation worth an additional 60 credits. The dissertation is a substantial piece of scholarly research totalling no more than 20,000 words. It will be on a subject of your own choice and chosen and discussed in detail with a supervisor in the department. The descriptions relating to all the study modules can be found
Upon graduation from the MA in Film Studies, you will have demonstrated personal excellence, academic rigour and cultural awareness which will define you as a thorough and thoughtful film specialist. You will be well-prepared for both further study and employment situations where a strong balance creative sensitivity, cultural awareness and analytical excellence is required.
Fact file
| Duration: | One year full-time. The academic year is divided into three semesters, but this course is administered in two parts: Part One runs from October to May; Part Two runs from June to September. |
|---|---|
| Contact Time: |
Approximately 10-14 hours a week in the first two semesters. During semester three you will arrange your level of contact time with your assigned supervisor. |
| Assessment: |
The taught part of the course (Part 1) is delivered and assessed through lectures, tutorials and essay projects. Successful completion of your dissertation (Part 2) leads to the award of an MA. |
| Entry Requirements: |
BA honours degree (2:1) in a related subject at undergraduate level and accompanying references. We will consider applicants with other experience which gives an equivalent basis for entry
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| English Language Requirements: |
If you have a Bachelor’s degree from a UK University, you do not need to take an English proficiency test. Non-native English speakers who do not meet this requirement must take a University-recognised test of academic English language proficiency: IELTS or TOEFL. The required IELTS minimum proficiency level is 6.5. For TOEFL, the minimum scores are as follows: 580 for the paper-based test; 237 for the computer-based test (with an essay rating of 5.0); and a score of 93 for the internet-based test. More information on IELTS can be found here and, for TOEFL, here. |
| Course Fees: |
For details of fees, please view this page. [Link: http://www.aber.ac.uk/en/postgrad/funding-fees/eu-taught/tuitonfees/ There are a number of Aberystwyth Scholarships and International Excellence Scholarships (AIES) to help fund the studies of students who meet specific criteria. In addition, accommodation is guaranteed to all international students. |
At a Glance (W693)
Year 1 Core (120 Credits)
Students must take all of the following modules
Career Development
Qualification: MA in Film Studies
This degree will suit you:
- If you wish to engage in the advanced study of cinema;
- If you are ready to take on the subject in theoretical, historical and material terms;
- If you aim to pursue a career in film journalism, criticism or analysis;
- If you wish to sharpen your academic rigour and develop a cache of marketable skills.
Employability
Every aspect of the Aberystwyth Master’s in Film Studies programme is designed to enhance your employability. The benefits of the course for employment are twofold: not only will you possess first-rate, subject-specific knowledge of film history, production and theory, but you will also be equipped with widely applicable skills and abilities that will suit many employment contexts.
Alongside the development of your subject-specific knowledge, an especially noteworthy strength of this course is the emphasis on personal development. As an emerging film academic, your strengthened research and critical faculties will make you a strong candidate for any post where ideas and topics need research, analysis, discussion, expansion and classification. The pattern of research and analysis you will undertake in this course creates highly marketable skills which will, upon graduation, stand you in excellent stead for entry into employment. Employers look for accuracy, thoroughness, an eye for detail and the ability to find and prove connections across broad subject matter, and you will have proven yourself simply by graduating from this prestigious MA course.
For example, the module entitled Research Project will expect you to develop and demonstrate an array of professional qualities and skills. You will do this by reflecting on the methods and approaches you have encountered in the study programme and then identifying and creating appropriate methodologies for your own research work. Success in this area of study proves to prospective employers that you take the initiative to develop and improve your valuable skills.
Whether your chosen path involves further study, film industry employment, film criticism, entertainment journalism or any of countless other routes, your Masters Degree in Film Studies from Aberystwyth University will signal to prospective employers your commitment to personal excellence, professional rigour and high academic quality. Though the course conditions and subject matter may be specific to films, you will learn widely applicable and highly marketable skills in the process.
Contacts
The Programme Leader for this course is Kate Egan kte@aber.ac.uk
Department of Theatre, Film and Television Studies
Aberystwyth University
Parry-Williams Building
Aberystwyth
SY23 3AJ
Tel: (01970) 622828
Fax: (01970) 622831
Email: tfts@aber.ac.uk
Department of Theatre, Film and Television Studies
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