Film and Media

Building on Birkbeck’s radical reputation in film and screen media, this BA Film and Media is ideal if you are looking to gain knowledge of film and media from different periods and parts of the world and are keen to develop your creative practice skills in film/media content creation and screenwriting.

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.

• The course takes a unique, interdisciplinary approach to equip you with multiple skillsets essential for employment in the media and cultural heritage sectors.

• It is ideal if you consider yourself a film/media practitioner seeking to enhance your career opportunities and deepen your understanding of the wide variety of forms, styles and histories of film and media.

What you will learn

You can follow a pathway of particular modules to finish with one of the following awards:

• BA Film and Media: combining film, TV and media history and theory with the study of contemporary trends and developments in the screen media industries

• BA Film and Media Practice: combining film, TV and media studies with the study of cinematography, sound design and digital editing from both practical and critical points of view

• BA Film and Media with Screenwriting: combining film, TV and media studies with screenwriting, script editing and development.

If you wish to study a language alongside your film and media studies, apply directly for the BA Film, Media and Language.

How you will learn

Learning on this course is especially collaborative. You will put your learning into practice using audiovisual equipment and editing software and host class presentations.

To help prepare you for a professional, media working environment you will also manage timeframes and engage in teamwork to deliver film/media projects. Your learning will be complemented by annual guest lectures and workshops by media professionals.

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

• Birkbeck was ranked as one of the top four universities in the UK for its Art and Design research in the 2021 Research Excellence Framework.

• The award-winning Birkbeck Cinema is central to the course. Located in central London, Birkbeck is also within easy reach of many cinemas and galleries, as well as the British Film Institute and British Library.

• We offer an extensive portfolio of internationally recognised courses that engage with the latest debates and techniques in film, TV, screenwriting, digital media design and journalism.

• Birkbeck’s Institute for the Moving Image runs a programme of events, including conferences and screenings. We have just launched an annual Birkbeck Student Film and Media Festival where you will have the chance to showcase your creative practice work.

Careers and employability

On successfully graduating from this BA, you will have gained transferable skills, including:

• the ability to work effectively as part of a team

• high-level oral and written communication skills

• skills in research and evaluating different types of information.

This degree will help prepare you for careers including:

• film/video editor

• curator/programmer

• digital content provider/creator

• screenwriting and script-editing roles in film/TV

• in film and media marketing, publicity material production and advertising

• web editor and designer for film/media organisations and projects

• media education roles (teaching, consultancy).

Course modules

For information about course structure and the modules you will be studying, please visit Birkbeck’s online prospectus.