Program Overview

Film and Screen Studies BA (Hons)

Key Facts

• UCAS Code: BA: P300, BA with Foundation: P304
• Level: Undergraduate UG BA (Hons)
• Duration: Full Time: 3 years, Full Time Foundation: 4 years, Part Time: 4 - 5 years
• Starting: September
• Entry Requirements: BCC at A-Level or, DMM at BTEC/Cambridge Technical or, Pass (C and above) at T Level
• UK Fees 25/26: Full Time: £9,535, Part Time: £1,585 per 20 credit module, Integrated Foundation Year: £9,535
• International Fees 25/26: Full Time: £15,700, Integrated Foundation Year: £15,700
• Location: Waterside

Overview

The University of Northampton’s BA Film and Screen Studies degree is an exciting and forward-facing programme of study that gives you the opportunity to explore both the art and the industry of modern screen media. From Superhero Cinema to South Korean Television, Indie videogames to Disney fandom, British teen dramas to cult science fiction, the diversity that at the centre of the course means you get the chance to investigate the narrative, artistic, cultural, economic and political implications of a range of both nationally and internationally significant screen texts.

Highlights

• Covers a diverse range of film and screen media – from traditional Hollywood cinema to Netflix and Disney+ and the latest cutting-edge video games.
• Engage with vital contemporary issues concerning diversity and social justice movements
• One of the only film studies degree programmes in the UK to teach students in a working independent cinema.
• Opportunity to visit free UK sites and trips, and partake in masterclasses with industry practitioners.
• Taught by staff with internationally recognised expertise
• Guaranteed paid internship with the Northampton Employment Promise.
• HP Laptop and software included with this Film Studies course. Terms and Conditions apply

Entry Requirements

• A typical offer for Film and Screen Studies would be:
  • BCC at A-Level or,
  • DMM at BTEC/Cambridge Technical or,
  • Pass (C and above) at T Level
• Other Entry Requirements:
  • We welcome international applications and applications from students with a range of non-traditional educational or professional qualifications, and also applications from students with a mix of A levels and BTEC/Cambridge Technical qualifications.
• Integrated Foundation Year Entry Requirements:
  • Admission to this foundation programme is normally:
    • DEE at A-Level or,
    • MPP at BTEC or,
    • Pass (D or E) at T Level
  • However, we would also like to hear from you if you have professional or industry experience instead, a range of other qualifications or self-developed subject knowledge that relates to the programme you wish to study.
• English Language Requirements:
  • All International and EU students applying for a course with us must meet the following minimum English language requirements:
    • IELTS 6.0 (or equivalent) with a minimum of 5.5 in all bands for study at undergraduate level.

Course Content

• Course Details:
  • Focusing on the study of the moving image, the Film and Screen Studies BA programme enables students to analyse how screen media creates meanings through particular forms, techniques, and styles; how industrial organization affects the way films are produced and received; and how the social context in which they are made and consumed influence the way we understand and make meaning.
  • The curriculum covers a diverse range of media formats, with emphasis upon popular and contemporary screen media (film, television, streaming services, mobile and digital screen media.)
• Year 1:
  • Modules you might study include:
    • From King Kong to The Godfather: Introduction to Hollywood Film (20 credits)
    • Marketing Stardom: Celebrity on Screen (20 credits)
    • Truth, Justice and Adaptation: Superheroes on Screen (20 credits)
    • Beyond the Disney Princess: Representation and Animation (20 credits)
    • Youth on Screen (20 credits)
    • Studying the Modern Auteur (20 credits)
    • A History of a Thousand Faces: Hair, Makeup and Prosthetics (20 credits)
• Year 2:
  • Modules you might study include:
    • Genre: Fantasy, Robots and Monsters (20 credits)
    • Fan Cultures (research module) (20 credits)
    • Screen and the Self (20 credits)
    • Global Cinema: Europe (20 credits)
    • Working in Screen Media (20 credits)
    • Gender, Race and Sexuality in Contemporary Media (20 credits)
    • Scriptwriting (20 credits)
    • It’s Alive!, It’s Alive!: Studying Contemporary Character Design (20 credits)
• Year 3:
  • Modules you might study include:
    • Global Cinemas: East Asia (20 credits)
    • An Offer You Can’t Refuse? Contemporary Crime on Screen (20 credits)
    • Cult Media (20 credits)
    • Video Games (20 credits)
    • Hollywood and Beyond (20 credits)
    • Long Dissertation (Can involve Advanced Scriptwriting option) (40 credits)

Student Perks

• At the University of Northampton, everything we do, from funded trips to paid internships, is to give you everything you need to make a difference when you leave.
• If you join this full time Film and Screen Studies degree at the University of Northampton, you will receive a laptop when your course begins*. The laptops are built to a bespoke custom specification ideal for use in the seminar room, collaborative group work or studying at home.
• Whatever your ambitions, we’re here to help you to achieve them. We’ll support you to identify the skills you’re learning during your film studies course, find your strengths and secure practical experience so that when it comes to applying for jobs or further study you’ll feel confident in standing out from the crowd. We’ve created the Northampton Employment Promise because we are so confident that if you focus on your studies and complete one of our awards you’ll be highly employable by the time you graduate. Putting you in a great position to secure employment or continue your studies.

Integrated Foundation Year (IFY)

• The Integrated Foundation Year (IFY) offers a new and exciting route into studying for a film studies degree, attracting ambitious and driven students who are willing to learn and advance.
• If you have non-standard qualifications or do not quite meet the admissions requirements we can offer you a fantastic opportunity to study a four year programme which includes an Integrated Foundation Year. The Integrated Foundation Year will help you develop the theoretical/practical and academic skills you need, in order to successfully progress to the full award.
• Our four-year courses will enable you to successfully follow the degree pathway of your choice while gaining essential study skills. The foundation year of your chosen degree will be studied on a full-time basis and is aimed at supporting the transition to higher education. Years two, three and four are then studied as a standard degree programme.

FAQs

• How will I be taught on Film and Screen Studies BA?
  • We aim to bring out the best in all our undergraduates and we recognise that employers are increasingly demanding that graduates are well equipped with a range of transferable skills. You will be taught via a variety of lectures, seminars, and workshops, augmented by online blending learning content.
• How will I be assessed on the Film and Screen Studies degree?
  • You will be assessed in a variety of ways; alongside more traditional assessment methods such as essays, presentations, and projects, you will also engage in innovative technology-supported assessment, such as video essays and podcasts, via the University virtual learning environment. Throughout your film studies degree, we will offer you the best support available to allow you to get the most from your independent and team-based learning.

Fees and Funding

• 2025/26 Tuition Fees:
  • UK – Full Time: £9,535
  • UK – Part Time: £1,585 per 20 credit module
  • UK – Integrated Foundation Year: £9,535
  • International – Full Time: £15,700
  • International – Integrated Foundation Year: £15,700
• Scholarships and Bursaries:
  • For information on the scholarships available to you, please see our scholarships page.
• 2024/25 Tuition Fees:
  • UK – Full Time: £9,250
  • UK – Part Time: £1,540 per 20 credit module
  • UK – Integrated Foundation Year: £9,250
  • International – Full Time: £15,200
  • International – Integrated Foundation Year: £15,200

Staff

• Lecturer in Screen Studies: Tom Brassington
• Senior Lecturer in Media Production: Abigail Webber
• Senior Lecturer in Media & Cultural Theory: Anthony Stepniak
• Associate Professor in Film & Screen Studies: Mike Starr
• Senior Lecturer in English & Screen Studies: David Simmons

Careers and Employability

• Students take Film and Screen studies for a great variety of reasons; whether you wish to pursue a career in the creative industries, or simply explore your passion for screen media, the course will provide you with skills which open up a range of career opportunities. The most common sectors you may find work in are the media, creative, cultural and heritage industries. As well as traditional destinations in the film and broadcasting industries, you may also be interested in other media sectors such as publishing and research.
• Recent graduates from our film studies degree have secured jobs with Disney, The BBC, and Channel 4, while others have formed their own independent media companies, have pursued careers in web design, publishing, teaching, or gone on to further academic study.

Related Courses

• Creative Film, Television and Digital Media Production BA (Hons)
• Hair, Make-Up and Prosthetics for Stage and Screen BA (Hons)