Film Studies
UCAS code P303
- Study mode
- Full-time
- Duration
- 3 years
- Start date and application deadlines
-
- Start date
About this course
Films have been vital cultural outputs for over one hundred years. The context in which they are produced and distributed is constantly changing but their importance as documents of our times remains, as does the pleasure they give to audiences across the world and their potential influence on the way those audiences may see the world.
Introduction
Film Studies at Liverpool offers you the chance to study with recognised scholars of film cultures and industries around the world, offering a wide-ranging and sophisticated academic programme in this critical field.
Our students have an interest in world cultures and a desire to fully appreciate the ways in which these cultures have expressed themselves through film. We encourage you to become an independent learner and can offer a variety of support to aid this development.
Students develop a high level of creative, intellectual, analytical, digital and interpersonal employability skills as well as intercultural and transnational awareness.
What you'll learn
- An understanding of the economic forces framing film production and the film industry, and the role of the film industry in contemporary political and cultural life
- The historical evolution of film, its genres, aesthetic traditions and forms, and their current characteristics and possible future developments
- Knowledge of the social, cultural and political history of the film industry in a local, community, regional, national, international or global contexts and of the relations which exist between different national cinemas and film industries
- Knowledge of how a film is produced and of the practical considerations pertaining to production, distribution, circulation, reception and exploitation (this course however does not include practical filmmaking)
- Development of creative, intellectual, analytical, digital, cognitive and research skills
- Acquisition of transferrable skills including confidence, digital fluency, and global citizenship
Course content
Discover what you'll learn, what you'll study, and how you'll be taught and assessed.
Year one
Year one introduces you to film language, approaches to film and a variety of introductory language modules.
Students take 45 credits of required modules and 15 credits of optional modules in each semester.
Language modules must be taken in pairs.
Modules
Programme details and modules listed are illustrative only and subject to change.
Year two
Year two gives you the opportunity to specialise your interests and start to focus your degree into specific areas that you would like to learn more about.
Students take 15 credits of required modules and 45 credits of optional modules in each semester.
Students cannot take more than 60 credits of COMM and/or MUSI optional modules per year. An additional 15 credits may be taken from COMM and/or MUSI optional modules or from cognate subjects elsewhere in the School of Histories, Languages and Cultures with prior permission from the Subject Lead.
Normally, students wishing to take MUSI205 should have taken MUSI109 or have equivalent experience.
Students wishing to take MUSI206 must have taken MUSI106, MUSI107, and/or MUSI109 or have equivalent experience as approved by the Module Convenor.
FILM200 is subject to a suitable placement being sourced. Students cannot register for this module directly.
Registration onto HLAC220 is only for students planning to undertake a Work Placement Year.
Modules
| Compulsory modules | Credits |
|---|---|
| CRITICAL APPROACHES TO SCREEN STUDIES (FILM204) | 15 |
| THE CINEMATIC CITY (FILM201) | 15 |
Programme details and modules listed are illustrative only and subject to change.
Year three
Year three modules allow you to specialise further; you will either undertake a research project or dissertation, undertaking detailed and independent research.
Students take 60 credits of optional modules in each semester.
Students must take one of MODL321, MODL322 or MODL307.
MODL307 is a ‘year-long’ module and represents 15 credits in each semester. Students should normally have a year two average of 60% to undertake this module.
Modules
Programme details and modules listed are illustrative only and subject to change.
Combined degree
Choosing this subject as a combined degree
You can take Film Studies as part of a combined degree. If you study Film Studies and another subject (50/50) you will take 60 credits in Film per year.
In year one you will take FILM101, FILM104, FILM102 and MUSI170.
In year two you will take 15 credits of required and 15 credits of optional Film Studies modules in each semester. FILM201 and FILM204 are the required modules.
In year three you will take 30 credits of optional Film Studies modules in each semester. In year three you may do a dissertation module in Film Studies or in your other joint subject (but not both).
Teaching and assessment
How you'll learn
You will experience a mix of lectures, seminars, workshops and tutorials, with no modules being taught entirely through lectures. Most teaching takes place in small groups where you’ll share and explore ideas with your tutors and peers. You’ll also attend workshops and lectures and self-direct study through the course reading list and conducting research for your essays and projects. Academic staff are available on a weekly basis for one-to-one feedback and support through designated office hours. Course material is available 24-hours a day on Canvas, our online learning platform, and study support is available from our dedicated student services team.
Audio-visual materials are obviously inherent in a film studies course: all films are shown to students once in quasi-cinema conditions, and DVD copies are available for subsequent private study.
Students are also expected to make regular use of our fully-refurbished Language Lounge which houses a range of Film Studies material to enhance their own study. We encourage our students to become independent learners, and support them through our dedicated library resources in the Sydney Jones Library which is open 24-hour in term time.
How you're assessed
Assessment strategies vary with different modules; apart from traditional written examinations and assessed essays, assignments may include close analysis of short pieces of film text, sometimes in exam conditions; presentations undertaken either individually or as part of a group; the preparation of case studies around a particular audio-visual project; blog entries; brief reports; literature reviews and others. We are constantly reviewing our assessment strategies with the aim of offering a variety which allow students to develop different skills. The length and complexity of coursework assessments increases from year one, where written work is brief and skills are developed at a basic level, to year three when students are expected to produce quite complex work involving substantial individual initiative.
Liverpool Hallmarks
We have a distinctive approach to education, the Liverpool Curriculum Framework, which focuses on research-connected teaching, active learning, and authentic assessment to ensure our students graduate as digitally fluent and confident global citizens.
The Liverpool Curriculum framework sets out our distinctive approach to education. Our teaching staff support our students to develop academic knowledge, skills, and understanding alongside our graduate attributes:
- Digital fluency
- Confidence
- Global citizenship
Our curriculum is characterised by the three Liverpool Hallmarks:
- Research-connected teaching
- Active learning
- Authentic assessment
All this is underpinned by our core value of inclusivity and commitment to providing a curriculum that is accessible to all students.
Entry requirements
The qualifications and exam results you'll need to apply for this course.
| Qualification | Details |
|---|---|
| A levels |
BBC |
| BTEC Level 3 national extended diploma |
DDM. |
| BTEC combinations |
BTEC National Diploma DM plus B at A level; BTEC National Extended Certificate M plus BB at A level. |
| Welsh Baccalaureate Advanced |
C in the Welsh Baccalaureate, plus BB at A level. |
| Access |
Pass relevant Access to HE Diploma with 45 Level 3 credits with 27 at Distinction and 18 at Merit. |
Course options
Studying with us means you can tailor your degree to suit you. Here's what is available on this course.
Global opportunities
University of Liverpool students can choose from an exciting range of study placements at partner universities worldwide. Choose to spend a year at XJTLU in China or a year or semester at an institution of your choice.
Year in China
Immerse yourself in Chinese culture on an optional additional year at Xi'an Jiaotong Liverpool University in stunning Suzhou.
- Learn Chinese
- Study in a bustling world heritage city
- Improve employment prospects
- Study Chinese culture
- 30 minutes from Shanghai
- Learn new skills
Year abroad
Broaden your world by spending an additional year of study at a partner university abroad following your second year of study.
- Choose from up-to 26 countries
- Experience another way of life
- Inspire your future career or studies
- Improved prospects of earning a 2:1 or First
- More likely to earn higher salary
- More likely to be employed after graduating
Where can I spend a year abroad on this course?
- Australia
- Canada
- Hong Kong
- Malaysia
- Singapore
- South Korea
- USA
Semester abroad
Take a semester of your second year of study at one of our worldwide partner institutions.
- Inspire your future career or studies
- Improved prospects of earning a 2:1 or First
- More likely to earn higher salary
- More likely to be employed after graduating
Summer abroad
Spend a summer abroad on a study placement or research project at one of our worldwide partner institutions.
- Spend a summer abroad in addition to your degree programme
- Study abroad without adding an extra year
- Choose any summer between your first and final year of study
- Get the chance to study subjects outside your discipline
Where can I spend a summer abroad on this course?
- Hong Kong
- Japan
- South Korea
Language study
Every student at The University of Liverpool can study a language as part of, or alongside their degree. You can choose:
- A dedicated languages degree
- A language as a joint or major/minor degree
- Language modules (selected degrees)
- Language classes alongside your studies
Combine this subject
With a combined degree, you can study two subjects as part of the same degree programme.
- Choose from 30 subjects and over 300 combinations
- Choose joint or major minor subjects
- Adjust the weight of your subjects at the end of your first year
- Same number of credits as single honours students
- Same classes as single honours students
- Appeal to a wide range of employers
Explore combined degrees for Communication, Film and Media courses
Your experience
Film Studies is part of the Department of Languages, Cultures and Film, based in 1-7 Abercromby Square. Students experience teaching across a number of departments, and have access to a variety of Film Studies resources in the department’s Language Lounge for independent study.
Explore where you'll study
Supporting your learning
From arrival to alumni, we’re with you all the way:
- Careers and employability support, including help with career planning, understanding the job market and strengthening your networking skills
- A dedicated student services team can help you get assistance with your studies, help with health and wellbeing, and access to financial advice
- Confidential counselling and support to help students with personal problems affecting their studies and general wellbeing
- Support for students with differing needs from the Disability advice and guidance team. They can identify and recommend appropriate support provisions for you.
Chat with our students
Want to find out more about student life?
Chat with our student ambassadors and ask any questions you have.
Careers and employability
The industry specific knowledge that you can acquire from a Film Studies degree will prepare you for a wide range of film-related careers in production, distribution, marketing, film writing and more broadly in media-related careers locally, nationally and internationally.
The programme more broadly allows students to develop transferable skills – critical thinking, writing and communication skills, presentation skills, independent research – which are crucial for a variety of careers beyond film and media.
Career paths could include:
- Film and media companies (development, finance, marketing, distribution, exhibition, retail)
- Writing for film related publications (trade press, newspapers, journals, blogs)
- Film-related organisations (film festivals, film offices, film institutes, film libraries, film archives).