Film and Media Studies BA (Hons)

This course is for students who have a passion for watching and discussing film and for consuming and analysing the media, in all its many forms. Our students look at the way media is constructed for particular audiences, whether that’s a feature film, podcast or television programme.

You will have the opportunity to explore film, television, and other media from a variety of perspectives, examining key moments, movements and events that have impacted and shaped the dynamic creative industries.

Students can study specific directors in film history, to examine Hollywood’s dominance and explore contemporary cinema. You will also explore the role of media in society, its continuing transformation and the rapid development of forms and technologies.

Alongside the theoretical study, you will engage with a variety of practical workshops and sessions to develop creative and technical film and media production skills.

In the final year, students are encouraged to focus on aspects of film and media which they are keen to research independently. This is a great opportunity for students to pursue their own interests and specialism and understand its relevance to a career in the creative industries.

Graduates of this course could enter a range of careers in and beyond the creative industries. This could include working for independent companies or broadcasters and roles such as researchers, editors, or film reviewers.

The BA Film and Media Studies course contains core modules at each level of study. At Level 4, students are introduced to basic production skills, including camera operation, editing, audio recording and production management. Students develop an understanding of foundational media theories and analytical methods, as applied to a range of media texts. Creativity is at the heart of studies at Level 4 and students have the opportunity to express their ideas and develop them further.

As students move into Level 5, the curriculum builds on those foundational skills, with students engaging with a range of critical approaches to film and media to deepen their knowledge and understanding. Students continue to develop and enhance their production skills, creating a range of digital media products. Students will immerse themselves in the study of global cinemas and engage with key movements and theories.

At Level 6, students hone their theoretical knowledge and critical thinking skills as they continue to broaden and deepen their understanding of films and filmmakers. Students will engage and experiment with new technologies and specialist equipment including the opportunity to produce a short animation. The culmination of this course of study is a large-scale project (written or practice-based) enabling students to pursue their interest in a particular area of creative media, integrating all the knowledge and skills acquired throughout their studies.

The course offers students the opportunity to take an optional experiential module, in which they participate in the fulfilment of a live client brief. Alternatively, students may choose a work-based learning module in which they undertake a placement. Throughout the course, students have the opportunity to contribute to the dedicated online radio station (Chester Student Radio) and/or the website (Chester Student Media) as part of various modules.

The information listed in this section is an overview of the academic content of the course that will take the form of either core or option modules and should be used as a guide. We review the content of our courses regularly, making changes where necessary to improve your experience and graduate prospects. If during a review process, course content is significantly changed, we will contact you to notify you of these changes if you receive an offer from us.

This course shares a common first year with students on the Media and TV Production course.

This means that you’ll learn alongside students studying a similar discipline, helping to broaden your knowledge and exposure to other concepts, perspectives and professions in the first year of your degree.

As you learn and collaborate with students from other courses, you'll not only widen your social and professional network but also learn new skills that will set you up for success in your industry.

In your second and third years, you will progress to studying more specialist modules within film and media, developing your skills to become a World Ready graduate.

Job Prospects

Graduates of this course could enter a range of careers in and beyond the creative industries. This could include working for independent companies or broadcasters and pursuing a diverse range of roles such as researchers, editors or film reviewers. Students could also pursue postgraduate studies.

Careers service

The University has an award-winning Careers and Employability service which provides a variety of employability-enhancing experiences; through the curriculum, through employer contact, tailored group sessions, individual information, advice and guidance.

Careers and Employability aims to deliver a service which is inclusive, impartial, welcoming, informed and tailored to your personal goals and aspirations, to enable you to develop as an individual and contribute to the business and community in which you will live and work.

We are here to help you plan your future, make the most of your time at University and to enhance your employability. We provide access to part-time jobs, extra-curricular employability-enhancing workshops and offer practical one-to-one help with career planning, including help with CVs, applications and mock interviews. We also deliver group sessions on career planning within each course and we have a wide range of extensive information covering graduate jobs and postgraduate study.