Film, Media and Language

Film, media, and language is a degree that brings together three ways of making and understanding meaning in the modern world. Film and media studies examines the texts, industries, technologies, and audiences that constitute contemporary screen culture, asking how films, television programmes, and digital media are made, how they circulate, and what effects they have on the people who consume them. Language study develops genuine proficiency in another language alongside engagement with the cultural and intellectual traditions of the countries and communities that use it.

The combination invites you to think about film and media both in the original English-language context and across different linguistic and cultural traditions, developing the comparative perspective that distinguishes serious film scholarship from mere consumption.

Studied part-time at Birkbeck College in London, this degree is ideal for students who want to combine language learning and cultural study with a rigorous engagement with film and media. You will choose from French, German, Italian, Japanese, or Spanish as your language, developing practical proficiency alongside engagement with the film traditions and media cultures of that language community. The film and media component develops knowledge of film history, theory, and criticism alongside practical skills in film and media content creation, building both analytical and creative competence.

Birkbeck's reputation for innovative, politically engaged film and screen media teaching gives the degree a distinctive critical character.

Graduates enter careers across the creative and cultural industries, journalism, translation, education, arts administration, and cultural organisations. The combination of film and media knowledge, language competence, and creative production skills is valued across broadcasting, publishing, digital content creation, and international cultural institutions. Many graduates continue to postgraduate study in film studies, media studies, translation, or cultural studies, building specialist expertise for academic or advanced professional careers in these intersecting fields.