Film, TV and Digital Media

Film, television and digital media studies examines the moving image in all its forms, from the cinematic traditions of the twentieth century to the streaming platforms, social media video and interactive content that now dominate how people consume moving images. The discipline asks how film and television work aesthetically and narratively, what social and cultural meanings they produce and reflect, how media industries are structured and how they are changing, and what the shift to digital distribution and user-generated content means for the relationship between media and society.

At the University of Southampton you will develop the critical tools needed to analyse moving-image media across its forms and contexts, engaging with film theory, television studies and the emerging field of digital media criticism. You will examine how today's media are reshaping social life, political communication and cultural identity both locally and globally, developing an understanding of these changes that is grounded in both theoretical frameworks and close analysis of actual texts and platforms. The programme runs full time over three years.

You will develop skills in textual analysis, cultural criticism, media industry research and academic writing. The ability to think carefully about how media shape and reflect society is increasingly valuable in a professional landscape where media literacy and the capacity to communicate across digital platforms are expected of graduates across many sectors.

Graduates from film, TV and digital media programmes pursue careers in broadcasting, film production, digital content creation, media journalism and criticism, communications, public relations, arts administration and research. Many also move into digital marketing, content strategy and the broad range of roles in the creative economy where media analysis and production skills are relevant. Postgraduate study in film studies, media production, digital humanities or cultural studies is also a well-established route for those seeking specialist expertise.