Film Studies

Film studies is the critical and theoretical analysis of cinema as an art form, cultural practice, and industrial product. Unlike film production, which is concerned with making films, film studies is concerned with understanding them: how films work visually and narratively, what they mean in their cultural and historical contexts, how they relate to other art forms and to broader social forces, and what the study of cinema reveals about the societies that make and watch it. Film studies draws on visual analysis, semiotics, psychoanalysis, cultural theory, gender studies, postcolonial studies, and genre theory to develop sophisticated ways of reading films that go far beyond simply describing a plot or expressing personal preference.

At Sheffield Hallam University you will study this three-year full-time programme, which includes a foundation year, a sandwich year, and a work placement. The foundation year prepares you academically for the demands of degree-level film studies, the sandwich year gives you extended professional experience in a relevant organisation such as a film production company, cinema, broadcaster, arts organisation, or cultural institution, and the placement adds further professional engagement. Sheffield has a lively arts and culture scene and the university has strong connections to the creative industries in the city and beyond.

Across the programme you will develop your ability to analyse films closely, to situate them historically and theoretically, and to communicate your interpretations through critical writing. The typical entry tariff is 104 points.

Graduates from film studies programmes work in arts and cultural journalism, film programming and distribution, cinema and arts management, broadcasting, publishing, education, and the screen industries more broadly. The analytical, writing, and communication skills developed through the degree are valued across many professional fields. The sandwich year and placement experience are particularly valuable for those aiming to work in the film and screen industries.

Further study in film studies, cultural studies, media studies, or film production is taken by some graduates who wish to specialise further.