Film Studies

Film Studies takes seriously what many people do casually: it asks you to look at films with genuine rigour, to understand not just what they show but how they show it, and to situate them within the aesthetic, historical and cultural contexts that shaped them. Cinema is one of the dominant art forms of the past century, and Film Studies gives you the theoretical and critical tools to analyse it properly, from early silent cinema to contemporary blockbusters, world cinema to experimental work, documentary to genre film.

At the University of the West of England, Bristol, the three-year full-time degree develops your skills in film analysis, film history and film theory. You will study the formal elements of cinema, including cinematography, editing, sound design and narrative structure, and learn to apply a range of critical perspectives to the films you watch. The programme also considers the industrial and economic conditions in which films are made and distributed, which shapes your understanding of why particular kinds of films get made at particular moments.

The course includes both a sandwich year and a work placement, giving you the opportunity to connect your academic study with professional experience in the screen industries, film exhibition, journalism, education or related fields.

Bristol is an appropriate city for this kind of study, given its strong creative industries sector and connections to film, television and animation. The proximity to professional environments enriches the degree and supports the placement opportunities on offer.

Graduates of film studies move into careers in the screen industries, including production, development, distribution, programming and exhibition. Journalism, criticism and arts writing are common paths, as are roles in education, museums and cultural heritage organisations. Marketing, communications and public relations in creative industries are also strong destinations.

Many graduates go on to postgraduate study in film studies, cultural studies, media or creative writing.