Film Studies 2012
"I know how everything you need is on campus and easy to reach; it provides a real sense of community."
Gemma Heath
Film is a special medium which inspires a loyal following, but it is also part of a wider media landscape. This is why we have designed a programme in Film Studies which integrates the study of contemporary film-making as well as film history into the broader study of culture and the mass media.
Studying film at Surrey also allows you to gain practical insights into the process of creating moving images. You will be able to use the Department’s digital filming and editing equipment and the professional studio located on the campus. Three, two, one, action!
Factfile
| Minimum Entry Requirements | A level grades ABB All applicants should also adhere to the University's General Entrance Requirements. |
|---|---|
| Required Subjects | Film Studies: preference given to candidates having studied at least one of the following – Media Studies, English Language/Literature, Theatre Studies, Sociology or any modern language. Film Studies with Creative Writing: English Language/Literature required. |
| English Language Requirements | An IELTS score of 6.5 or equivalent for non-native-English-speaking applicants. Please note that the University of Surrey offers English language programmes and is also an IELTS Test Centre. |
| Other Suitable Qualifications | BTEC National Diploma - DDM A wide range of other qualifications will be considered on an individual basis. |
| Selection Process | Offers are made in terms of grades. We do not include General Studies in our offers. We invite suitable candidates to visit the University to find out more about the programme and meet staff and students. |
Degrees
Degree Programmes
BA (Hons) Degrees
| Degree | UCAS code | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| * Programme includes a professional training year | ||
| BA (Hons) Film Studies | W620 | 3/4* years full-time, 6 years part-time |
| BA (Hons) Film Studies with Creative Writing | W6W8 | 3/4* years |
Degrees
Degree Programmes
BA (Hons) Degrees
| Degree | UCAS code | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| * Programme includes a professional training year | ||
| BA (Hons) Film Studies | W620 | 3/4* years full-time, 6 years part-time |
| BA (Hons) Film Studies with Creative Writing | W6W8 | 3/4* years |
Our Degrees
The Film Studies programme at Surrey enables you to specialise in the study of audiovisual media and particularly film. You will study methods of film analysis, film theory and the history of film, and develop an understanding of the historical evolution of particular genres, aesthetic traditions and forms, as well as their current characteristics and possible future forms.
In the first year of the programme you learn how to plan and make a short digital film, and you will be able to further develop these skills in subsequent years by producing more short films and a final-year video project. You will be able to use our filming, editing and studio equipment, and will learn about the industrial framework for film-making as well as the ethical and legal issues involved in film-making practice.
Our teaching staff have particular expertise in the study of documentary film and world cinema including European, South American and Chinese cinema. This allows you to gain an insight into the development of audiovisual media and cultural forms in a local, regional, national, international or global context. Further modules focus on screenwriting, adaptations of literature in film and animation.
We also offer Film Studies with Creative Writing.
Other degrees you may be interested in:
Programme
Programme Overview
The Film Studies programme at Surrey will provide you with a structure to learn about the increasing importance of the moving image. Throughout your degree you will learn about film from a variety of different perspectives and develop your skills in film analysis, writing and reviewing, and your filming and editing skills.
Level 1 will provide you with the foundation for your next two years of study. The modules are designed to give you an overview of film studies. You will study film history, film production and film analysis. You will also be introduced to the study of mass media as part of the relationship between art and society. By the end of Level 1 you will have written reviews and essays, and given some presentations. You will also have planned and made a short digital film.
Level 2 will concentrate on developing and strengthening your skills in interpretation and analysis. You will study two compulsory modules: one in world cinema, and one on Concepts and Methods in Film Research. You will then choose from a list of core options such as History of Chinese Cinema, Documentary Film Practice and Dance on Screen. You may also choose from a list of modules in related disciplines to complement your growing expert knowledge.
At Level 3 you will either write a dissertation based on a film studies topic, or put together a short documentary video on a topic relating to the programme as a whole. You will also choose four to six optional modules in areas such as Film and Activism, Bollywood to Hollywood or Developing a Showreel.
Programme Structure
Level 1
Modules include:
- Film History
- Film Analysis
- Arts and Society
- Films from Latin America
- Introduction to Audiovisual Media Practice
Level 2
Modules include:
- Concepts and Methods in Film Research
- Adaptations: Film and Literature
- Documentary Film History
- Developing Film Narratives
- Spanish Cinema
- Visual Representations of the Past
- Documentary Film Practice
- History of Chinese Cinema
- Screenwriting
Level P
- Optional professional training year
Level 3
Modules include:
- Dissertation
- Video Project
- Bollywood to Hollywood
- Film in Western Europe
- Fans and Audiences
- TV Studio Practice
- Animation
Professional Training
The professional training year offers you the opportunity to develop a range of relevant transferable skills and enhance your future employment prospects. The Department of Dance, Film and Theatre will help and support students who wish to undertake a professional placement in the third year of their programme.
Your tutor will advise you on how to go about organising your placement, work with you to ensure that you are fully prepared to make the most of your placement period, and may, in a small number of cases, be able to help identify an appropriate employer.
Why Surrey?
Key reasons to study Film Studies 2012 at Surrey
- Rated the twelfth best department in the UK by The Times Good University Guide 2011
- An exciting programme in Film Studies blending practical, historical and theoretical learning
- Strong focus on graduate employability with industry-related modules, career planning and placement year
- Staff specialising in the study of documentary, world cinema and film industries
- Option to spend a year on a professional placement in a film/media/marketing organisation
- Opportunity to be part of a lively arts community on campus with student collaborations across disciplines and the new Ivy Arts Centre which opens in 2011
- Benefit from good transport links to London and access to one of the world’s leading cultural and media centres
Careers
Top for Jobs
This programme has developed from our expertise in media and cultural studies. It will offer employment opportunities in a diverse range of jobs, particularly in the media and culture industries.
Career Opportunities
A degree in Film Studies will provide you with a choice of exciting career opportunities. You will have acquired specialist skills to draw upon for careers in film and television, journalism, professional writing, advertising and editing, and our programme also offers excellent preparation for postgraduate studies.
If you are keen to develop a career in production after graduation, you will need to use your degree to gain entry to further education and training in order to specialise in a particular area. Having this comprehensive knowledge and training will enable you to develop a career as a film or video producer, an editor or even a researcher.
Many students also become involved with the University newspaper or radio station as this helps them build up a strong portfolio of work. This experience can then be used to demonstrate to future employers their passion for the industry.
Whatever direction you choose, the University has an excellent Careers Office which has helped us to maintain our reputation as a top university for graduate employment prospects. You can use the resources at the Careers Office as soon as you join the University and at any stage during your time at Surrey.
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Teaching
Our Film Studies programme is designed to ensure that you get the most out of every individual module. Each module of the Film Studies programme has its own learning outcomes and our teaching and assessment is carefully designed to help you achieve great results. For modules where you are learning about examples from film history, teaching will involve lectures including viewing and discussing film clips in groups.
This will relate directly to teaching and practising your writing skills in film studies. Here, practice followed by individual and group feedback is key to our teaching and learning process. Theory will also be taught through examples, linking the learning of terminology with an understanding of how the words are applied.
To be a successful student in film studies, and a qualified employee in the industry, you will need research and presentation skills. Much of the teaching focuses on developing and practising these.
You will be introduced to Library and Internet resources available at the University at the beginning of the programme. Throughout the programme you will learn how to use these resources for research, and practise various forms of presentation of your results in class or as part of your coursework. Again, written and spoken feedback on your work will guide you in your development.
Facilities
The University has recently equipped most teaching rooms with projection facilities to show films and film clips from video and DVD. For work on the history of film and critical analysis, we use these facilities. You will be able to view films in the media room in the main Library for individual study or in a group room for study with fellow students. You will also have 24-hour access to the University’s computing and media labs.
For the filming and editing modules at each level, we use Canon M2 camcorders with 3 CCDs and Fluorite 20x optical zoom lenses. We have an edit suite with 24-hour access for teaching, individual and group work. The computer equipment and software in the edit suite is Apple MacPro Quad Cores with 24" Apple Cinema Displays. These run Final Cut studio Pro HD non-linear editing software and can output to MiniDV cassette or DVD.
For multicamera and studio work, we use Surrey TV which has a three-camera TV studio with an autocue and a comprehensive lighting rig. There are non-linear editing facilities for both standard definition and high definition projects, as well as a sound-isolated recording booth.
Assessment
You will be assessed through your written work such as your reviews, essays or reports, or you will sit examinations where your ability to write during a set time will be tested. You will also have the chance to be assessed through presentations by demonstrating how well you can use aids such as PowerPoint and film clips. You will quickly progress through practice with the help of feedback from your tutorial sessions and from your module leaders, who will assess your strengths and help you to work on any weaknesses.