BA Film and English Studies

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This programme brings together innovative approaches from Film Studies and English Studies, drawing on a range of critical tools vital for the analysis of texts, histories and institutions relevant to both disciplines, and placing them within broader social and cultural contexts.

There is a strong emphasis on British cinema and television in modules offered by the School of Film, Television and Media Studies, in addition to the opportunity to study the wider world of films, television and filmmaking. The English Studies component offers lots of choice, drawing on expertise in literature, creative writing and drama. You can also choose to engage in some creative and production work as part of your studies, with a wide range of modules offered in creative writing and performance by the School of Literature, Drama and Creative Writing and further modules in the School of Film, Television and Media Studies dealing with screenwriting and film and television production.

While there are certain fixed points during the course, and certain minimum requirements, there is also a great deal of flexibility allowing you to create your own pathways, in consultation with your personal tutor. You may also choose to specialise in particular aspects of either subject. Thus, if you have a special interest in British cinema or television, then you can opt to do a range of increasingly specialised modules in these areas during your degree course. Or, you may prefer to build into your course an emphasis on Shakespearean studies, on women's studies, or on theories of representation in literature and film. This list by no means exhausts the possibilities! While there is a generous range of options in film and television history, theory and criticism, and in film and video production, there is also an extensive range of options in English Studies.

School of Film, Television and Media Studies degrees make use of a wide range of learning technologies, with film screenings provided for many modules, as well as innovative assessments that use blogs, twitter, online discussions and other new forms technology, in addition to hands-on modules where students can learn to use filmmaking equipment. The School also has a close relationship with the East Anglian Film Archive, a large local archive of high quality audio-visual materials.

The School uses research-led teaching, which means we encourage you to explore your own interests wherever possible, going from set work in the first year, to guided project work on many second year modules, to more independent research projects in the final year. Many of our modules deal with British cinema and television, particularly British Cinema and the Past, British Cinema since 1990, Film Authorship, Women in British Cinema, Selling Spectacle and Celebrity. From within the School of Literature, Drama and Creative Writing too, there are a large number of modules is on contemporary popular literature, period literature and history, a wide range creative writing options across Years 2 and 3 including poetry, writing for journalism and prose fiction and other modules specifically about English dramaturgy, such as Early English Drama, complementing and expanding student learning in Film Studies. Other modules aimed at broadening student horizons are also available within and beyond the School, including a range of modules relating to television, world cinema and gender studies.

The first year is made up of foundation modules in Film and English Studies, with introductions to the subject area and academic study skills in Analysing Film and Television, and further grounding in film and literary history offered in What is Film History? and Studies in Film History, and also in Literature in History I and II. Writing Texts, introduces you to the skills for critical and creative writing that you will need for your degree.

In Year 2 you take Film Theory and Research Training, the latter of which helps you to develop the independent research skills you will need for project and dissertation work in Year 3. In addition to this, you can take any from a wide selection of Film and English Studies modules. In your final year you undertake a dissertation on a film or television topic of your choosing which is independently researched and written under appropriate supervision. Additionally, you will undertake more specialist modules on both Film and English Studies topics.

Additionally, you have two Defined Choice modules at your disposal (in Year 2) which you can use to take further modules in Film or English or to explore unfamiliar subjects. You might turn to other, related Humanities subjects (art history, drama, philosophy, creative writing), or choose to learn a language. Defined Choice modules give you access to the widest possible selection of modules deemed relevant to your degree.

Assessment

Academic study skills, key concepts, issues and ideas are introduced in lectures and seminars throughout your studies. In Years 2 and 3 there is a greater emphasis on seminar-based modules, which allow students to have time together with tutors to discuss new topics. Modules are chosen from a range offered within the School and across the University. You will spend time studying and researching in the library and you are also likely to spend time on creative work or projects.

Assessment types vary, but it is normal for students to undertake research essays, projects, examinations and presentations across their degrees. Assessments usually take place during and on the completion of modules. In your final year, you will also write a dissertation on a topic of your choosing and with the advice of tutors. There is no final examination. Your final degree result is determined by the marks you receive in years two and three.

All students joining degrees in the School of Film, Television and Media Studies would find it helpful to read Timothy Corrigan's A Short Guide to Writing about Film (2010, 7th Edition, New York: Longman) over the summer prior to joining the University of East Anglia.

Course Organiser:Dr. Rayna Denison

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Entry Requirements Qualification: BA (Hons) A Level: AAB-ABB including B in English Literature or English Language and Literature International Baccalaureate: 33-32 including 5 in Higher Level English Literature Scottish Highers: Must have Advanced Higher in English Literature or English Language and Literature Scottish Advanced Highers: AAB-ABB including B in English Literature or English Language and Literature Irish Leaving Certificate: AAAABB-AABBBB including B in English Literature Access Course: Please contact the university for further information HND: Please contact the university for further information European Baccalaureate: 80-75% including English Literature Students for whom English is a Foreign language

We welcome applications from students from all academic backgrounds. We require evidence of proficiency in English (including writing, speaking, listening and reading). Recognised English Language qualifications include:

• IELTS: 6.5 overall (minimum 6.5 Writing with no less than 6.0 in any component)
• TOEFL: Internet-based score of 92 overall (minimum 21 in Speaking component, 21 in Writing component, 20 in Reading component and 18 in Listening components.
• PTE: 62 overall (minimum 62 Writing component with no less than 55 in any component).

If you do not meet the University's entry requirements, our INTO Language Learning Centre offers a range of university preparation courses to help you develop the high level of academic and English skills necessary for successful undergraduate study.

Interviews

The majority of candidates will not be called for an interview. However, for some students an interview will be requested. These are normally quite informal and generally cover topics such as your current studies, reasons for choosing the course and your personal interests and extra-curricular activities.

Students will have the opportunity to meet with an academic individually on a Visit Day in order to gain a deeper insight into the course(s) you have applied for.

Gap Year

We welcome applications from students who have already taken or intend to take a gap year.

Deferred Entry - We welcome applications for deferred entry, believing that a year between school and university can be of substantial benefit. You are advised to indicate your reason for wishing to defer entry and may wish to contact the appropriate Admissions Office directly to discuss this further.

Special Entry Requirements

As part of the A level entry requirements, you should have at least a grade B in A level English Literature or English Literature and Language.

Intakes

The School's annual intake is in September of each year.

Alternative Qualifications

If you have alternative qualifications that have not been mentioned above, then please contact the University directly for further information.

GCSE Offer

Students are required to have GCSE Mathematics and GCSE English Language at Grade C or above.

Assessment

For the majority of candidates the most important factors in assessing the application will be past and future achievement in examinations, academic interest in the subject being applied for, personal interest and extra-curricular activities and the confidential reference.

We consider applicants as individuals and accept students from a very wide range of educational backgrounds and spend time considering your application in order to reach an informed decision relating to your application. Typical offers are indicated above. Please note, there may be additional subject entry requirements specific to individual degree courses.

UEA was one of the first British universities to develop the study of cinema and television.

The Student Experience Survey ranks UEA third in the country - two places higher than last year's result and overtaking both Oxford and Cambridge... Read More >

We have 12 dedicated members of academic staff, with several more colleagues contributing on a part-time basis. More than 40 graduates of the MA and PhD programmes hold teaching posts at universities in the UK and elsewhere. In the most recent quality assessments by the High Education Funding Council, teaching at undergraduate and postgraduate level was adjudged excellent (with a score of 23 out of a possible 24) and our research was placed in the top three of UK institutions.

Each year, some 60 undergraduates are registered for one of the Film and Television Studies degrees (BA Media Studies, BA Film and English Studies, BA Film and American Studies and BA Film and Television Studies). Teaching deals mainly with the history and current shape of British and American cinema and television and with film theory and criticism. We also run modules on other world cinemas and on television, video and film production. The BA degrees in Film and English Studies and Film and American Studies are interdisciplinary, with Film or Television Studies taking up between a half and two thirds of the course. The BA in Film and American Studies is a four year course with the third year spent studying at a university in the USA or Australia.

We have hosted a number of very successful events in recent years, including major conferences on British cinema (1988), Buffy the Vampire Slayer (2002), Post-Feminism and popular culture (2004), Going Cheap: Female Celebrity in the Tabloid, Reality and Scandal Genres (2008), and the Anglia TV and the History of ITV conference (2008).

To find out more about why we think you should choose our degree programmes, please follow the links below:

Why Study in the School

What Our Students Say

UniStats Information Fees and Funding University Fees and Financial Support: UK/EU Students

Further information on fees and funding for 2012 can be found here

University Fees and Financial Support: International Students

The University will be charging International students £11,700.00 for all full time School of Film, Television and Media Studies undergraduate programmes which start in 2012.

Please click to access further information about fees and funding for International students.