Film Studies and French

Film studies and French is a degree that combines a comprehensive engagement with global cinema as an art form and cultural phenomenon with genuine bilingual competence in one of the world's most influential languages. Film studies uses critical, theoretical, and historical approaches to examine how films are made, how they create meaning, and what they tell us about the cultures and historical moments that produce and receive them. French, meanwhile, is not only one of Europe's great languages but also the key to a film tradition, from the Lumière brothers and the French New Wave to contemporary cinema, that has shaped the history of the medium worldwide.

At the University of St Andrews, this four-year, full-time MA programme offers a comprehensive study of global film cultures alongside development of French language, literature, and culture to a high level. A year abroad is incorporated into the programme, giving you direct experience of the French-speaking world and often of different cinematic and cultural environments. The combination of film theoretical rigour with French linguistic and cultural expertise is rare and valuable in a range of professional contexts.

The programme carries no specific tariff requirement, reflecting the individual assessment of each applicant's profile.

Graduates of film studies and French go on to work in film distribution and marketing, international broadcasting, journalism and criticism, translation and subtitling, cultural diplomacy, arts organisations, publishing, and education. The French language opens particular doors in Francophone film distribution, arts management, and cultural institutions. Postgraduate study in film, French, translation, or cultural studies is a well-supported further step for those seeking specialist expertise or academic careers.