Program Overview

Overview of the BA (Hons) Film and Journalism Program

The University of Essex offers a joint honors BA degree in Film and Journalism, providing students with a creative and flexible program that balances the disciplines of film and journalism. This degree is designed to offer a strong foundation for employability, with a 50-50 split between the two disciplines. Students will have the opportunity to develop their craft in writing and broadcasting, as well as gain technical skills in film production.

Program Structure

The program is structured over three years, with the option to add a placement year or a year abroad. The typical timetable involves a one-hour lecture and a one-hour seminar or a two-hour seminar for each module every week. However, there may be variations depending on the module.

Year 1

• Approaches to Film and Media: Analyzing moving images, innovations in cinema, and key moments in film history.
• Essential Journalism (Joint Honours): Basics of news and storytelling, core skills for jobs in journalism.
• Introduction to Film Production: Hands-on experience of the film process, from pre to post-production.
• The Journalistic Imagination: Contemporary Issues in Journalism: History of journalism in Britain, impact of printing, and the role of press barons.
• Practical Podcasting: Advanced production skills, telling great stories through sound.

Year 2

• Audio and Video for Broadcast and Online (Joint Honours): Operating effectively in different news and features platforms.
• Feature Writing and Magazine Journalism: Developing technical and production skills, producing content for print, online, radio, and television.
• Documentary Filmmaking: Examining different documentary forms, gaining key production skills.
• Optional modules include film options and LiFTS (Literature, Film, and Theatre Studies) options.

Year 3

• Advanced Practical Journalism: Building on writing, reporting, and production skills, with an emphasis on broadcast media.
• Optional modules include LiFTS options and specialist modules like LT317-5-SP or LT242-5-AU.

Placement and Year Abroad

• Placement Year: Gaining relevant work experience within an external business or organization.
• Year Abroad: Experiencing other cultures and languages, broadening the degree socially and academically.

Teaching and Assessment

• Teaching mainly takes the form of lectures and classes of about 20 students.
• Assessment is a mixture of coursework and examination, with a mark for class participation included in the coursework mark.

Fees and Funding

• Home/UK Fee: ｣9,790 per year.
• International Fee: ｣21,500 per year.
• Fees will increase for each academic year of study.
• Scholarships, bursaries, or discounts may be available to help with the cost of the course.

Entry Requirements

UK Entry Requirements

• A-Levels: BBB - BBC or 120 - 112 UCAS tariff points from a minimum of 2 full A-levels.
• BTEC: DDM - DMM or 120 - 112 UCAS tariff points from a minimum of the equivalent of 2 full A-levels.
• Combined Qualifications on the UCAS Tariff: 120 - 112 UCAS tariff points from a minimum of 2 full A-levels or equivalent.
• IB: 30 - 29 points in the IB Diploma or 120 - 112 UCAS tariff points to include a minimum of 2 Higher Level subjects.

International & EU Entry Requirements

The University accepts a wide range of qualifications from applicants studying in the EU and other countries. Details of English language requirements and other qualifications can be found on the University's website.

English Language Requirements

• English Language Requirements for Applicants Whose First Language is Not English: IELTS 6.0 overall, or a specified score in another equivalent test.
• Details of English language requirements, including component scores and the tests accepted, can be found on the University's website.

Additional Notes

• The University makes every effort to ensure that the information on its program specification is accurate and up-to-date.
• Changes to courses may be necessary, and the University will endeavor to keep such changes to a minimum and inform students appropriately.