Film Studies
Film studies is an academic discipline that examines cinema as an art form, cultural phenomenon, and industry. It asks how films are made, how they generate meaning through their formal and aesthetic choices, how they relate to the societies and cultural contexts in which they are produced, and how they are received by diverse audiences. It is a field that requires both close analytical engagement with individual films and a broader understanding of the institutional, economic, and social frameworks within which cinema operates.
At the University of Portsmouth, this three-year full-time programme examines film and its related institutions from a contemporary perspective, guided by an internationally recognised team of researchers and academics. You will explore film's interrelationships with society, culture, markets, and identity, engaging with areas ranging from fandom and popular culture to gender representation, global cinema, and the politics of distribution and exhibition. The programme also offers opportunities to engage in film marketing, curation, and production, ensuring that your critical understanding is connected to the practical dimensions of how film is made and consumed.
A sandwich year, a year abroad, and a work placement are built into the programme, giving you substantial professional and international experience before graduation. With a typical entry tariff of 104 UCAS points, the programme is accessible to students with genuine cinematic enthusiasm and critical curiosity.
Film studies graduates work across a wide range of careers. Film criticism and journalism, arts administration, museum and gallery curatorial work, broadcasting, cultural policy, film marketing and distribution, education, and academic research are all natural destinations. The analytical and communication skills developed during the degree are also valued in many other professional contexts.
Postgraduate study in film studies, media and communications, or cultural studies is a natural option for those who wish to specialise.