Film, Media and Language (French, German, Italian, Spanish, Japanese, Korean, Chinese) with Foundation Year

This BA Film, Media and Language is ideal if you are keen to combine studying a modern language and its associated culture with film and media studies. You will gain knowledge of film and media from different periods and parts of the world while developing your creative practice skills in film/media content creation.

Why choose this course?

• Classes are run by world-leading academics and industry professionals with links to organisations such as the BFI, BBC and Disney.

• This course will equip you with multiple skillsets essential for employment in global, multilingual media environments.

• It is ideal if you wish to enhance your career opportunities and deepen your understanding of forms, styles and histories of film and media.

• The study of languages allows you to better understand other people, cultures and the world in which we live.

What you will learn

You will combine film, TV and media history and theory with the study of contemporary trends and developments in the screen media industries. You will then be able to choose from option modules on film, media and visual culture from across the globe.

For the languages component, you will gain a high level of proficiency in your language of choice and study the literature, history, film and visual culture associated with your language.

You can choose French, German, Italian, Japanese or Spanish, starting at the level of language learning that suits you, whether you are a complete beginner or a native speaker. Korean and Mandarin Chinese are offered from beginner level. If you decide to take either of these languages, your final degree award will be a ‘with’ degree, so for example BA Film and Media with Korean.

How will you learn

Learning is through lectures, seminars and practice-based work. You will also engage in teamwork to deliver film and media projects. Your learning will be complemented by annual guest lectures and workshops by media professionals.

Language teaching is delivered in the target language.

This course is available to study full- or part-time. Classes take place in the evening.

Foundation Year

If you opt for the Foundation Year route, this will fully prepare you for undergraduate study. It is ideal if you are returning to study after a gap, or if you have not previously studied the relevant subjects, or if you didn't achieve the grades you need for a place on your chosen undergraduate degree.

Highlights

• The award-winning Birkbeck Cinema is equipped with 35mm and state-of-the-art digital projection. It is housed in a historic building that was a former home to key members of the Bloomsbury Group.

• Birkbeck Institute for the Moving Image (BIMI) runs a busy, intellectually stimulating programme of events, including conferences, screenings and film-related events of all kinds. You will have the opportunity to participate attend the Essay Film Festival, jointly run by BIMI and the ICA, with free admission to events hosted at Birkbeck.

• Birkbeck fosters a research-intensive environment and offers courses in journalism, media and cultural theory, arts policy and management, film and television studies, creative marketing, digital culture and East Asian cultural studies.

Careers and employability

This courrse will equip you with core knowledge and practice-based skills for work in film and media organisations, and in the creative industries. You will also develop key employability skills in advanced communication and intercultural awareness and transferable skills including:

• teamwork

• research skills

• evaluating and assessing different types of information

• the ability to present yourself and an argument.

Graduates can pursue career paths in film and television companies, museums and galleries, arts administration and teaching. Possible professions include:

• programme researcher

• museum/gallery curator

• arts administrator

• higher education lecturer.