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MA Film Studies

University of Essex

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University of Essex

Course options

3 options available

  • Qualification

    MA - Master of Arts

  • Location

    Colchester Campus

  • Study mode

    Full time

  • Start date

    01-SEP-25

  • Duration

    1 year

Course summary

Explore and make creative connections between film analysis and film practice.

Our course has a distinctive focus on international, alternative, and documentary cinemas, while also providing a solid foundation in key elements of film history and theory, including Hollywood. This critical appraisal of such a wide range of genres gives you a solid understanding of what makes film work well, enabling you to improve your own production skills in camerawork, editing, lighting, screenwriting, and production management.

You gain a strong sense of independent filmmaking practice, and learn to apply your academic knowledge of film through exploring topics including:

  • The formal, social, cultural, and political dimensions of films from both within and beyond Hollywood
  • Fiction film production, including pre-production, camera, lighting, and sound
  • Classics of the documentary form, docufictions and mockumentaries
  • Collective and individual filmmaking projects
  • Storyboarding and editing

You also benefit from a series of masterclasses conducted by invited industry professionals which focus on the craft of filmmaking: developing your technical understanding of cinematography, directing and editing/postproduction.

These also introduce you to potential employment routes and industry career pathways, from setting up your own production company, to identifying and tapping into distribution networks, and preparing and marketing your completed films.

Your future

We actively encourage and assist you to find appropriate internship and work placement opportunities during your studies, allowing you to practice and develop your skills and experience as well as enhancing your graduate employment prospects.

Several our Department of Literature, Film, and Theatre Studies graduates have gone on to undertake successful careers as scholars, university lecturers, teachers, publishers, journalists, arts administrators, theatre artistic directors, drama advisers, filmmakers, film editors and translators.

Tuition fees

Students living in United States
(International fees)

£ 21,700per year

Tuition fees shown are for indicative purposes and may vary. Please check with the institution for most up to date details.

University information

University of Essex

University of Essex

  • University League Table

    30th

  • Campus address

    University of Essex, Wivenhoe Park, Colchester, Essex, CO4 3SQ, United Kingdom

VIEW PROFILE
The careers team offer dedicated international careers advice and support throughout studies and after graduation.
Central London is easily accessible from all of the university's campuses.
Gain access to the curriculum from nine European universities through the YUFE (Young Universities for the Future of Europe) virtual campus.

Subject rankings

  • Subject ranking

    Drama, Dance & Cinematics

    27th out of 95 4

  • Entry standards

    / Max 198
    148 75%

    21st

  • Graduate prospects

    / Max 100
    62.0 62%

    27th

    38

  • Student satisfaction

    / Max 4
    3.24 81%

    10th

    4

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