Media, Film & Television Studies

The degree in Media, Film and Television Studies is taught by a dedicated staff team from a range of academic and media industry backgrounds. You will therefore encounter diverse perspectives and evaluations of the role of the media in contemporary cultures.

Investigating the visual style and aesthetics of media forms, you’ll examine how modern audiences engage with a variety of genres, texts and productions, as well as studying the relationship of film and media to society.

You’ll examine and analyse films and media texts in depth, learning to use appropriate language for academic writing on film, television and digital media. Our lecturers are friendly and approachable and are published experts in their individual fields, so you’ll benefit from both their passion and expertise.

You will develop a range of subject specific and essential transferable skills in research, analysis and referencing, useful in many walks of life once you have graduated. You will gain an insight into the culture of other nations through their use of film television and other forms of media, and an in-depth knowledge of how the film and media industries work.

We will teach you to communicate effectively in both spoken and written language, enabling you to enhance your own creative and critical judgement. Media, Film and Television Studies classes consist of lectures, often followed by a seminar and/or screening of a film or television programme and a discussion on the work, either in small groups or among the whole class. You will take six modules every year, three before and three after Christmas.

In your second year you have the opportunity to engage in a work placement, and in your final year you can choose either to do a further work placement, or a written project, producing a piece of research for an external organisation. We currently provide local producers and directors with pre-production research, and after-hours film clubs in local schools and colleges. Other placements have involved organising film premières, securing project funding and assisting with scriptwriting and editing.

Several large organisations, such as BBC Birmingham, have continued to provide work placements and we always endeavour to expand our database of placement organisations to include dynamic and innovative local filmmakers. Alternatively, you can write a dissertation on a subject of your choice which you are passionate about.

Modules and assessment

There are many forms of assessment:

• Essays
• Seen and open book examinations
• Independent project / dissertation
• Annotated bibliography
• Analysis of reviews
• Creative screenwriting
• Online database citation
• Online tests / quizzes and discussions
• Oral presentations as an individual
• Oral presentations as a group

Typically you will complete two assessments per module.

Why not check out what our students got up to for their final projects at our annual Degree Show 2018