Introduction to the Film BA (Hons) Program

The Film BA (Hons) program at the University of Kent is designed for students who are passionate about cinema, film, and visual storytelling. This program allows students to explore their passions and realize their ambitions for a future career in TV, film, and broadcasting.

Program Overview

The Film BA (Hons) program is a three-year full-time course that combines hands-on creative practice with rigorous academic study in a truly interdisciplinary environment. Students will develop skills in directing, screenwriting, cinematography, editing, sound design, film analysis, curation, film programming, and marketing.

Course Structure

The program is divided into three stages, each with its own set of compulsory and optional modules.

Stage 1

• Film Theory: This module tackles big questions about film and introduces students to the systematic exploration of film offered by film theory.
• Film Histories: This module explores the historical, cultural, political, and economic determinants of film histories and considers their influence within domestic and international contexts.
• Film Style: This module helps students understand how films tell stories and why they move or excite us.
• Film & Media Practice #1: This module introduces students to moving image production and the principles of audiovisual language.
• Film & Media Practice #2: This module expands students' practice-based and technical skills, allowing them to produce various forms of narrative-based and non-fiction creative outputs.

Stage 2

• Screenwriting: This module offers an introduction to the concepts, terms, and skills involved in writing screenplays and to the craft of screenwriting.
• Documentary Filmmaking: This module introduces students to the essential components of non-fiction filmmaking through practical exercises and analysis of film texts.
• World Cinema: This module studies the historical, cultural, political, and economic determinants of 'world' or 'national' cinemas and considers their influence within domestic and international contexts.
• Optional modules may include:
  • Disability and the Arts
  • Psychology of the Arts
  • Cinematography
  • Hollywood Studios
  • Sound, Music and Cinema
  • Podcasting
  • Social Media and Digital Platforms
  • Video Gaming: Play and Players
  • Genre Filmmaking

Stage 3

• Film, Politics & Identity: This module focuses on the vital aspect of cinema, exploring how film feeds into and explores identities and the political implications of this.
• Optional modules may include:
  • Directing Theatre, Staging Ideas
  • Arts Internship
  • Film & TV Adaptation
  • Film Criticism
  • Film Marketing and Distribution
  • Microbudget Filmmaking
  • Screen Space and Location Scouting
  • Specialist Areas in Film Studies
  • Factual Entertainment
  • Fans and Fandom
  • Media, Gender and Sexuality
  • Stars and Celebrity Culture

Teaching and Assessment

Teaching involves lectures, small group seminars, and film screenings in the university's dedicated cinema. Collaborative work-based projects mirror real-world production environments, developing essential skills in teamwork, project management, and creative problem-solving. Industry experts contribute to the curriculum through guest lectures, masterclasses, and workshops.

Assessment is split between exams and coursework, with some modules assessed entirely by coursework. Coursework varies from essays to films, documentaries, or video essays, and through digital portfolios.

Entry Requirements

• Typical offer: 104-120 UCAS points
• A level: BBB
• BTEC Nationals: DMM
• International Baccalaureate: 120 tariff points
• International Foundation Programme: Pass
• T level: The University will consider applicants holding T level qualifications in subjects closely aligned to the course.
• Access to HE Diploma: Obtain Access to Higher Education Diploma with 45 credits at Level 3 with 24 credits at Distinction and 21 credits at Merit.

Fees and Funding

• Tuition fees for 2026 entry:
  • UK: Ł9,790
  • International: Ł23,500
• Fees for year in industry: Ł1,905
• Fees for year abroad: Ł1,430

Career Prospects

Graduates of this course are well-prepared to navigate and contribute to a rapidly evolving media and cultural landscape. Recent graduates have gone on to work in film and TV production, arts organizations, film and TV archives, film marketing and distribution, business, and local government.

Why Study at Kent?

• Join the student film society to connect with other film fanatics outside of your course.
• Visit the on-campus cinema and theatre, the Gulbenkian Arts Centre, which has its own cinema and theatre with film screenings and performances that are open to the public.
• Learn from creators and makers who are working practitioners with their own specialist areas of interest.
• Connect with industry professionals through guest lectures, workshops, and placements.

The program aims to:

• Produce graduates with a well-informed, critical, analytical, and creative approach to understanding film as a cultural and aesthetic expressive medium.

• Develop students' creative, intellectual, analytical, and research skills.

• Develop existing and new areas of teaching in response to the advance of research and scholarship within the subject as well as new developments in film.

• Widen participation in higher education among a diverse body of students.

• Develop students' knowledge and skills in film studies.

• Encourage students' critical, analytical, and creative skills in relation to film study and, where undertaken, in relation to screen production.

• Develop students' ability to think independently and flexibly.

• Enhance awareness of, and sensitivity to, the contexts of production and consumption of film.

• Develop students' interpersonal skills and interaction and their reflexiveness in individual and group work.

---

Outline:

The program offers a flexible structure, allowing students to tailor their studies to their interests. Students can choose to focus on film theory, film history, or film practice, or a combination of all three.

---

Course Structure:

• Year 1: Introduces core concepts and theories in film studies, including film history, genre, and critical analysis.
• Year 2: Offers a wider range of modules, allowing students to specialize in areas of interest, such as film production, screenwriting, film criticism, or international cinema.
• Year 3: Focuses on independent research and project work, culminating in a dissertation or a final film project.

---

Modules:

The program offers a wide range of modules, including:

• Film History: Explores the development of film from its origins to the present day, covering key movements, genres, and directors.
• Film Theory: Examines major theoretical approaches to film, including psychoanalysis, feminism, and postmodernism.
• Film Production: Provides practical experience in filmmaking, covering aspects such as scriptwriting, directing, cinematography, editing, and sound design.
• Screenwriting: Focuses on the craft of writing for film and television, covering narrative structure, character development, and dialogue.
• Film Criticism: Develops students' skills in writing about film, including critical analysis, interpretation, and evaluation.
• International Cinema: Explores the diverse range of film traditions from around the world, including European cinema, Asian cinema, and Latin American cinema.
• Beyond Cinema: Examines the relationship between film and other media, including television, video games, and the internet.

---

Assessment:

Assessment methods vary depending on the module, but typically include:

• Essays: Written assignments that require students to demonstrate their understanding of key concepts and theories.
• Film Projects: Practical assignments that involve the creation of short films, documentaries, or video essays.
• Presentations: Oral presentations that allow students to share their research and ideas with their peers.
• Seminars: Offer a more interactive learning environment, where students can discuss and debate key concepts and theories.
• Film Screenings: Provide students with the opportunity to view and analyze a wide range of films.
• Workshops: Offer practical training in filmmaking techniques.

---

Careers:

The BA (Hons) Film program prepares graduates for a variety of careers in the film industry, including:

• Film and TV Production: Working as a director, producer, screenwriter, cinematographer, editor, or sound designer.
• Arts Organizations: Working in film festivals, museums, galleries, or archives.
• Film and TV Archives: Working as a curator, researcher, or archivist.
• Film Marketing and Distribution: Working in film marketing, distribution, or sales.
• The program offers a placement year option, allowing students to gain valuable work experience in the film industry.
• The program also offers a year abroad option, allowing students to study or work in another country.

---

The 2024/25 annual tuition fees for this course are: Full-time UK £9,250 EU £22,700 International £22,700

---

Fees for year in industry

Fees for undergraduate students are £1,850.

---

Fees for year abroad

Fees for undergraduate students are £1,385. Students studying abroad for less than one academic year will pay full fees according to their fee status.

University of Kent

---

Overview:

The University of Kent is a public research university located in Canterbury, Kent, England. It is known for its commitment to ambition and providing a supportive environment for students to thrive.

---

Services Offered:

Guaranteed Campus Accommodation:

First-year students are guaranteed a place in campus accommodation upon accepting their offer.

Free Gym and Fitness Membership:

First-year students receive a free sport and fitness membership.

Campus Tours:

Prospective students can book tours to explore the campuses and learn more about accommodation options.

Clearing Support:

The university provides comprehensive support for students applying through Clearing, including a dedicated website with information and resources.

---

Student Life and Campus Experience:

The university emphasizes a vibrant student life with opportunities for community building, fitness, and social activities. Students can expect a welcoming and supportive environment.

---

Key Reasons to Study There:

Guaranteed Campus Accommodation:

Ensures a comfortable and convenient living experience.

Free Gym and Fitness Membership:

Promotes a healthy lifestyle and fosters a sense of community.

Comprehensive Clearing Support:

Provides reassurance and guidance for students applying through Clearing.

Vibrant Student Life:

Offers a range of opportunities for social interaction, personal development, and community engagement.

---

Academic Programs:

The context does not provide specific details about academic programs.

---

Other: