BA (Hons)
Film
Degree Programme

Core courses

• FILM 4101 Introduction to Film Studies

  This course explores film as a medium across cultural and historical contexts. It covers films in its varied form, from the first projections in the late 19th century to online distribution today. Using examples of noteworthy films, it takes an introductory examination of the most important film theories and concepts, in the process examining how ideologies and meanings are imbedded in this vibrant medium.

• FILM 4102 Introduction to Filmmaking

  This course introduces students to key skills required for contemporary filmmaking in its various contexts. Students will experience working as part of a crew within a group, and be introduced to essential tools including video cameras, tripods and professional editing software. Using these tools, students produce short videos in response to specific briefs that each introduce different aspects of the filmmaking processes. By looking at noteworthy examples of other films, students are also introduced to the breadth of contemporary filmmaking practice and gain a basic introduction to relevant theoretical concerns.

• COMM 4102 Introduction to Content Creation

  This practical course introduces students to key aspects of contemporary media production through the creation of their own podcasts, short film and photographic essay. It focuses on the key skills of photography, audio and visual recording and editing using industry standard hardware and software. Students will learn and develop practical skills offering the opportunity to demonstrate creativity across a range of visual and sonic mediums. They will also be introduced to the history of visual and sonic media (alongside contemporary examples of professional work) and learn key strategies (such as media skills audits) to identify and plan practical work.

Complete L4 Academic Literacies required course:

• LIBA 4301 Academic Research and Writing

  This course is designed to develop students’ critical research and writing skills to be effective in the academic and professional world. It focuses on principles of good scholarship and academic practice that will be required throughout university study and in a future professional work environment. These skills are enhanced throughout the course. Upon completion of this course, successful students will become confident in using available resources to produce well-researched writing that demonstrates critical engagement with a self-selected research topic.

Choose one Data/Numeracy course from the following:

• DATA 4301 Data Literacy

  This course introduces the concept of data analytic cycles and their role in data analysis. Users will learn why data is important and explore how data is quantified to understand trends and patterns of data structure. They will understand types of data and include relevant statistical metrics and parameters used to describe data patterns and help to explain societal patterns and measure behaviour. Students will use primary tools for analysing exploring data analysis, learn about and the statistical processes underpinning this analysis, this will encourage wide-ranging debates about the ethical, sustainability and social implications of data analysis.

• MATH 4101 Probability and Statistics

  This course in probability and statistics includes theoretical and applied approaches which are primarily designed for business, data science, social science and psychology majors. The course coverage will include: descriptive statistics, elementary probability theory, random variables and expectations, discrete probability distributions (Binomial and Poisson distributions), continuous probability distribution (Normal distribution), sampling distributions, estimation and hypothesis testing about the mean and proportions of up to two populations, Chi-square tests, One-way ANOVA and F Distribution, linear, multiple and non-linear regression and Non-parametric methods. SPSS lab sessions will be included targeting applications of statistical concepts to business, data science, social science and psychology. All practical work will be produced using SPSS statistical software.

Choose one L4 Arts/Humanities course from the following:

• ARTS 4101 History of Arts and Visual Cultures

  Throughout history and across cultures, humans have always translated and projected their own natural, social and religious environment into images and artifacts. This course aims to explore the making, display, meaning and impact of images and artifacts within specific cultural and societal settings until the end of the 19th century. This course intends to focus on the analysis of objects, artifacts, images, photography, film, advertising and fashion that still shape our knowledge of the past and, therefore, the present. Students will also explore the differing nature and characteristics of art history and visual culture, learn basic principles of visual analysis and semiotics, and discuss fundamental ideas such as those of Canon, Tradition, Perceptions and Representations. Learning in the classroom will be integrated through ad-hoc specialist guest lectures and visits to the extensive international collections of London museums, galleries and archives.

• COMM 4103 Introduction to Intercultural Communication

  Reflecting strongly the University’s mission of unity in diversity, this course provides theoretical and practical understanding of the role communication plays within and between cultures to build cohesion and/or create division. It provides students with a strong sense of their own complex cultural identities before moving on to teach them the theories underlying the study of International Communication. There will be opportunities for practical applications of these theories in case studies, simulations, and project work.

• COMM 4101 Introduction to Communications and Media

  The course provides a comprehensive introduction to the evolution of mass media and communication in a constantly changing global landscape. Starting by looking at how this has evolved from physical forms such as print and broadcast to digital forms such as different iterations of the internet, social media and the use of AI. This will incorporate both production and consumption of media within industries such as advertising, public relations, journalism, television, film, music and gaming. Important contemporary issues will be addressed alongside recent events and tools and theories to understand these issues will be applied in order to develop student’s media literacy. This will also be applied to complex topics that circumvent the media and communication world such as media ownership.

• ADPR 4101 Introduction to Advertising, PR and Media

  This course explores fundamental concepts, principles and tools in advertising and public relations, specifically in relation to the broader media industries and the professional context of both disciplines. It traces the history and evolution of advertising and public relations and how they interconnect, as well as investigating the political, economic, social and cultural contexts that they operate within. In examining advertising and PR in practice, it identifies key persuasive and creative aspects and techniques used in these fields, along with the planning and skills used to produce them. It also addresses advertising and PR practices in relation to contemporary issues and developments, including criticisms of the industries’ role and a range of ethical debates.

• HIST 4103 World Cultural History

  This course surveys ancient cultures from the Bronze and Iron Ages, introducing students to the rich diversity of early civilisations and the parallels in their development. Students will explore how politics, religion, art, trade and beliefs influenced these civilisations, shaping their societies and cultures. Through analysis of both material and textual evidence, students will learn to engage critically with primary and secondary sources, enhancing their understanding of key historical processes, including the rise of states, the formation of empires and constructions of identity in the ancient world. The course will emphasize the study of early state formation, trade networks, and cross-cultural interactions, while fostering critical thinking and skills of historical analysis.

• LANG 4101 Korean Language and Culture 1

  This is an introductory course to Korean language and culture with an emphasis on oral communication in everyday situations and contemporary South Korean culture and society. This course introduces fundamental communication skills including the Korean alphabet and character construction, pronunciation, vocabulary, and essential speech patterns. It also explores contemporary South Korean popular culture with the aim to develop a keen awareness and broad understanding of how the Korean culture relates to the language.

Choose one L4 Social/Behavioural Sciences course from the following:

• POLS 4101 Rich World, Poor World

  Rich World, Poor World provides students with an introduction to development studies, seeking to explain both the existence of and persistence of a Poor World in the context of the international order. The course addresses numerous issues as they affect the Poor World, and studies relations both within and between Poor World and Rich World. Theories of development are reflected upon along with the legacies of colonialism, and a range of other social, political and economic themes in development studies.

• ENTR 4101 Introduction to Entrepreneurship

  This module is designed to provide students with a foundational understanding of the entrepreneur as an ‘agent of change’ within business and society. Students will develop knowledge around the role of entrepreneurs, the history of entrepreneurship, and the personal dynamics that lead people to embark upon an entrepreneurial journey. Students will be introduced to key entrepreneurial processes such as idea generation, idea evaluation, and idea execution. They will then explore different types of entrepreneurships, such as: apprenticeship, innovative entrepreneurship, corporate entrepreneurship, franchisee entrepreneurship, and social entrepreneurship. The course will conclude by looking at the role of entrepreneurial ecosystems. This module will emphasise active learning involving case studies, simulations, and practical exercises. At the end of the course, students will be better placed to decipher whether they themselves wish to embark on an entrepreneurial path.

• BUSM 4101 Introduction to Business Management and Marketing

  This module provides a foundational understanding of how businesses operate and effectively reach their target markets. Students will explore core management principles and marketing strategies, gaining insights into how organizations create value and build profitable customer relationships.

• FASH 4101 Business of Fashion

  This module provides a solid foundation in the basics of the global and fast-paced fashion industry. It provides an overview of the industry and the potential career paths in fashion, retail and associated industries. It introduces the fundamental tools to understanding fashion such as marketing theory, analysis of fashion customers and their needs, branding, the marketing mix and the importance of market research and trend analysis. The module also explores the implications of ethical and sustainable practices in the fashion industry.

• PSYC 4101 Introduction to Psychology

  This course introduces students to the major areas within the psychology discipline, through current empirical research and theoretical debate. Students discover how psychological research is conducted and how research findings can be applied to understanding human behaviour. Topics include scientific methodology in psychology, and key contemporary areas of research, such as biopsychology, brain functioning; sensation and perception; evolutionary theory, development, personality, memory, consciousness, stress, psychological disorders, language, learning and social psychology.

Choose one Science course from the following:

• ENVR 4103 Introduction to Environmental Science

  This course covers environmental science topics such as global warming/climate change, ozone depletion, acid rain, pollution, population issues, energy issues, land and water issues, and an introduction to environmental ethics. All topics are addressed from scientific, economic, politico-sociological and ethical standpoints. An awareness and appreciation of global, local, and personal environmental problems are developed, together with the implications of possible solutions. The concept of interrelatedness is a unifying theme throughout the course. Students are encouraged to become aware of/develop an understanding of their own environmental identity.

• ENVR 4102 Ecology and Conservation

  This course provides an examination of the principles of ecology and their application to conservation. Students will explore the complex relationships between organisms and their environments, including population dynamics, species interactions, ecosystems, biodiversity, and natural/anthropogenic causes of species’ decline and extinction. The course covers key topics such as habitat destruction, climate change, invasive species, and conservation strategies at local, regional, and global scales. Special emphasis is placed on understanding and addressing the threats to biodiversity and developing practical solutions for conservation. Through case studies students will gain the skills necessary to critically evaluate conservation challenges and design effective conservation strategies.

• ENVR 4101 Earth Systems Science

  This course introduces the major concepts studied in Earth System Science, addressing the Earth’s origins and evolution as an active planet within the solar system. The fundamental processes and interrelationships between the atmosphere, oceans, biosphere and lithosphere are investigated to serve as a basis for understanding natural systems, particularly near or at the Earth’s surface, and the ways in which human activities impact those systems. There is mounting concern about global warming, biodiversity, energy and sustainable development, all of which if not governed poses a threat to the delicate balance of the Earth system. Thus the need to understand the Earth as an interrelated system is more so than ever before.

• COMP 4101 Introduction to Programming

  This course provides the fundamentals of object-oriented programming. This will include usage of variables, objects, classes; assignment and control through statements, loops, functions, procedures, interaction between objects and inheritance. This course may introduce any current specialists programming topics, eg. programming for mobile applications.

• PSYC 4302 Biological Basis of Human Behaviour

  Exposes students to the relationship between biology and behavior. Students are expected to assess critically the extent to which biological explanations can be used to understand or explain human behavior. Topics covered include the nervous system, brain, emotion, vision, attention, sleep and motivational behavior, as well as psychopathology (for example language, eating, perceptual and memory disorders). In addition, the course also looks at discusses ethical issues in psychological research related to neuroscience.

Core courses

• FILM 5101 Video Production

  A ‘hands-on’ video course involving most aspects of production from camera work and sound recording to editing, audio design and working within a studio environment. The course develops students’ skills in both the theory and practice of video production through a series of group exercises and out of class individual assignments. During the class students will be encouraged to consider the contexts of their videos through responding to an open brief for one of the assignments. There will be multiple screenings of recent and historical videos as a means of understanding the language of the medium.

• FILM 5102 Genre Studies and The Film Industry

  This course investigates the development of genre films over a historical period. Students examine issues critical to genre studies, which can include iconography, key themes, authorship, and stardom. Specifically, through a study of film criticism and theory, students examine distinct genres from the 1920s to the present. The course also explores the idea that genre films necessarily retain basic similarities to reflect cultural concerns and to keep audience interest. In addition, the course provides an opportunity for students to examine and compare the perspectives of the Hollywood industry and non-Hollywood genre films.

• FILM 5103 Documentary Theory and Production

  This course gives students hands-on experience in producing their own short documentary films. Students will examine some of the major works of the genre and explore how documentaries, like other types of “factual” texts, can present evidence, argue persuasively, shape public opinions, as well as entertain. We will also analyze many theoretical debates posed by the documentary practices, including the blurring of fiction and nonfiction, the shifting definition of “documentary” through the last century and the problematic assumption of objectivity. Students have the opportunity to try the different ‘parts’ of documentary filmmaking, including researching and developing topics for a documentary production, writing a treatment or proposal for the film, shooting and interviewing in the field, as well as crafting a story during the post-production and editing process.

Choose one of the following Major Options:

• ADPR 5101 Visual Communication in Practice

  How do we convey meanings and messages through images? In this practical course using industry-standard design software, students first discuss the process of devising and critiquing creative ideas, and how these can be used to persuade and convince. Visual approaches to narrative and research are analysed before moving on to explore key design principles such as type, colour, layout and composition. Training in industry-standard software is provided, allowing students to produce images to a brief. No prior design or software experience is required.

• ARTS 5103 Studio Photography

  This course explores the technical and contextual possibilities of the photographic studio, an environment and set of tools that are as valid to contemporary photographers as they have been historically. During the course students will gain technical experience of using the studio for creating photographic images, including introductions to cameras, lighting and backdrops, and working with models and objects alongside introductions to industry-standard imaging software. The course will also introduce the historical and contemporary contexts for the studio as a site of image creation, from the early experiments with the medium, to contemporary fine art, fashion and advertising photography.

• ARTS 5102 Arts and Visual Cultures in Context and Practice

  This course builds on ‘History of Arts and Visual Cultures’ and focuses on the development of modern and postmodern arts and visual cultures in the 20th century. The course explores key ideas and practices that may be applied to the production and visualisation of art, objects, stories and histories during this period. Addressing both the local and the global, students will consider the rise of new media such as film, photography, installation, performance and conceptual art; the fraught relationship between ‘fine’ and ‘decorative’ arts; and the production, reproduction and fruition of images in an increasingly technological and mediatic world. Theoretical and methodological investigation will focus on socialist, semiological, queer, feminist, postcolonial and decolonial perspectives.

• ARTS 5101 Looking at Museums: Memory and Display

  This course is designed for students with an interest in art, visual culture, and careers in museums, heritage and cultural industries. Lessons will explore the nature of museums and galleries as well as their past and present purpose, role and function in society as meaning-making enterprises. In-class lectures will be paired with regular visits to the rich intercultural collections of local museums, galleries and heritage sites. These off-site trips are designed to offer students a unique opportunity to more directly engage with the meaning of objects and displays, while at the same time learn about a wide range of museum practices revolving around curatorship, education, conservation, management and design. Students will also meet curators, education officers, gallerists and other professionals, thus gaining a solid grounding for specific careers and professional figures in the museum and cultural sector.

• COMM 5102 Media Power

  This course offers a critical exploration of the complex and multifaceted relationship between media and power. By examining historical and contemporary issues, the course explores the media as a tool for propaganda, control, and influence by various entities, including governments, corporations, and social movements. Through an analysis of media structures, we investigate the impact of ownership and corporate control on the diversity of content, representation, and the democratic process. Engaging with the key theories of media power and hegemony, students learn how media contributes to the maintenance of dominant ideologies and the marginalization of alternative viewpoints, and also how it drives consumer culture, influences consumption patterns, and shapes individual and collective identities. On the flipside, the course also emphasizes the role of media activism and participation politics, examining how grassroots movements and alternative media challenge dominant narratives and create spaces for marginalized voices.

Complete L5 Research Methods required course:

• COMM 5301 Research Methods in Media and the Arts

  This course equips students with essential research skills tailored to the arts and communications fields. It covers qualitative and quantitative research methodologies, and also uses of interpretative frameworks. Students will learn various approaches to research processes, including formulation of research questions, types of research design, literature reviews, analysis and contextualization, and ethical research. Students will discuss cultural assumptions and biases in research and develop critical reflection and evaluation skills. By the end of the course, students will be prepared to undertake independent research projects relevant to academic and professional settings.

Choose one L5 Service-Learning course from the following:

• LIBA 5301 Service Learning: Global Citizenship and Migration

  This course helps students make a real difference in the world. Service Learning as experiential learning combines community service with academic study. This course will apply service-learning to the theoretical, political and sociological conceptions of citizenship and their limitations. Students will work on live projects and challenges to address real-world issues and critically reflect on their role as agents in communities and as legal and social citizens. Skills will be gained from working on a project with charities, NGOs, or non-profit organisations on citizenship concepts which will enable the student to critically reflect through service-learning. This course builds professional, entrepreneurial and personal skills to engage with a variety of stakeholders. This course is underpinned by JEDI approaches to justice, equality, diversity and inclusion across the global community.

• LIBA 5302 Service Learning: Leadership in a Globalised World

  This course helps students make a real difference in the world. Service learning as experiential learning combines community service with academic study. This course will apply service learning to global challenges and how to be a leader that creates positive change. Students will work on live projects and challenges to address real-world issues. Students will learn how to lead and work with diverse teams to make a positive impact. Skills will be gained from working on a project with charities, NGOs, or non-profit organisations on citizenship concepts which will enable the student to critically reflect through service-learning. This course builds professional, entrepreneurial and personal skills to engage with a variety of stakeholders. This course is underpinned by JEDI approaches to justice, equality, diversity and inclusion across the global community.

• LIBA 5303 Service Learning: Sustainability and Society

  This course helps students make a real difference in the world. Service learning as experiential learning combines community service with academic study. This course will apply service learning to the theoretical, political and sociological conceptions of citizenship and their limitations. Students will work on live projects and challenges to address real-world issues and critically reflect on their role as agents in communities and as legal and social citizens. Skills will be gained from working on a project with charities, NGOs, or non-profit organisations on citizenship concepts which will enable the student to critically reflect through service-learning. This course builds professional, entrepreneurial and personal skills to engage with a variety of stakeholders. This course is underpinned by JEDI approaches to justice, equality, diversity and inclusion across the global community.

• LIBA 5304 Service Learning: Digital Collaboration

  This course helps students make a real difference in the world. Service-Learning as experiential learning combines community service with academic study. This course will apply service-learning to the production of digital work engaging with organizations and communities outside of the university. It equips students to identify the ranges of opportunities for innovation and employment that digital skills offer. Students will work on live projects and challenges to address real-world issues and critically reflect on their role as agents in communities and as legal and social citizens. Skills will be gained from working on a project with charities, NGOs, or non-profit organisations on citizenship concepts which will enable the student to critically reflect through service-learning. This course builds professional, entrepreneurial and personal skills to engage with a variety of stakeholders. This course is underpinned by JEDI approaches to justice, equality, diversity and inclusion across the global community.

Plus two Level 5 electives from across the curriculum. These can be selected to support a minor in an area outside of your subject discipline.

Core courses

• FILM 6103 International Cinema

  This course examines global cinema while considering the extent to which cultural, political, and historical contexts have influenced the form and grammar of film during the last century. The overall focus of the course is broad, ranging across more than eight decades and many different countries; it aims to study a variety of approaches to and theories of narrative cinema. During the semester, many international film "movements" are covered, which can include the French New Wave, the Chinese Sixth Generation, and Italian Neo-Realism. In addition, the representations of non-Western cultures from an “insider” and a “Hollywood” perspective are compared.

• FILM 6101 Advanced Digital Video

  The contemporary practitioner is often called upon to deploy media technologies (filming, sound recording and editing software) in a range of new and unexpected ways and must understand not just the application of these tools but how to sophisticatedly exploit them in the service of a complex, often minimal briefs. The course gives students the space to design their own projects within an open brief that allows them to develop their own interests as a filmmaker and consider the context they intend to work within in the future. Alongside the student-led structure of the class, students will gain advanced skills in using the tools of contemporary production including cinematography, colour grading and audio production, and will need to carefully consider how they apply this new knowledge to their own projects. As part of the class students will need to consider the distribution of their projects, culminating in a collaborative public event.

• FILM 6102 From Script to Screen

  From Script to Screen will explore the creative and practical aspects of script writing and advanced video production. The course is intended for students who have experience of video production and want to expand their knowledge and skills. Students will create and produce a video, starting from the inception of the idea through to the realization of a finished film to be screened at the end of the course. Focusing on the journey from having an idea for a film through to writing a high spec script, students will learn how drama is represented in the written form, analyze and explore scripts from existing films or other forms of drama, and learn more about the film and TV industry and the place of screenwriting in it. In doing so, students have the opportunity to try the different ‘parts’ of filmmaking, from the creative and theoretical – writing, story boarding, workshopping, casting and directing, to the technical – camera operation, sound recording and video editing.

Choose one from:

• FILM 6111 Senior Project

  During Senior Project students will plan and execute a major self-initiated project that reflects the skills and knowledge they have gained during the earlier stages of their degrees. The projects will allow students to consider their future educational and employment destinations and to create a project that will become part of their portfolios and applications. Students will also develop the professional practice skills required to create a digital portfolio including the writing of bios, CVs, statements and documenting, editing and organising their work. Students are guided through the various stages of producing and revising their projects by a supervisor(s) in individual tutorials and gain regular peer feedback through group critique sessions. The course concludes with a student-curated public event at which they present their completed projects along with texts that further communicate their research and ideas.

• FILM 6110 Senior Dissertation in Film

  Senior Dissertation in Film is a capstone course of the major (if students decide not to take the Senior Project). Students produce a dissertation of between 6,000 to 8,000 words in length, on a topic relevant to the discipline. Students are guided through the various stages of the dissertation by a supervisor. Students orally present their research according to conference standards and engage in peer-feedback as they produce their final essay.

Plus EITHER:

• FILM 6401 Internship

  (Details of internship opportunities, structure and assessment will be provided separately by the department.)

Or TWO of the following Major Options:

• ARTS 6101 Contemporary Debates in Arts and Visual Cultures

  This course charts the developments, contexts, practices and enactments of global arts and visual cultures in the 21st century. Students will be encouraged to discuss, analyse and interpret visual forms and objects from around the world within their rightful geo-political and socio-economic contexts. With the aid of an array of established and emerging methodologies, they will also explore the ways in which contemporary artistic and visual cultural practices intersect with wider theoretical frameworks such as those of the politics of representation, indigenous rights, environmental activism and regimes of surveillance. The course will entail regular visits to a range of local large and smaller cultural venues and commercial art-related organisations.

• COMM 6101 Contemporary Issues in Global Media

  This course examines current media issues in relation to cultural, social, economic, and political aspects of global society. It views media as a key player in public culture and democracy, exploring how its role as vital source of entertainment and information is impacted by an evolving technological landscape, and by new challenges posed, such as sustainability and promotion of equality, inclusivity, and diversity, within the global village. It looks at media practices and professionals, considering the impact of celebrity politics and influencers on the media environment, while also addressing the relationship between the public, government, and media institutions, as it discusses ethics, law, and regulation. Ultimately, it seeks to consider the place of media in achieving a sustainable and just world.

• COMM 6102 Creative Collaboration

  In this practice orientated course students will work together as a group to develop a body of work making use of their individual academic, communicative and technical skills (visual, sonic, journalistic, graphic), while developing and practicing collaborative skills. It will engage students with a broad historical, practical and theoretical appreciation of what it takes to work in the 21st century media and art world. Making use of London as a ‘second classroom’, the course will involve analyses of art and media spaces and trips to a collection of creative organizations; these include not for-profit arts institutions and media centres, as well as commercial galleries, auction houses, art fairs, recording studies, news-rooms. Students will engage with current discourse related to curatorial practices, management skills, the international art market, arts policy, as well as the educative, social, and regenerative potential of working within the arts.

• HIST 6101 Cultures of Empire

  This course examines the causes and consequences of empires from a broad range of comparative and international perspectives, including the economic, political, social, and (by way of postcolonial theory) the cultural. It investigates why empires are significant, who are the empire-makers, how and why empires rise and fall, whether they are good or bad, how they are defined, and how they can be resisted. Where possible the course will make use of some of the excellent museums and collections within London.

• BUSM 6104 Leadership and People Management

  This module provides a critical exploration of leadership in the context of managing people and talent within organizations. Students will develop a deep understanding of contemporary leadership theories and their application to the challenges of attracting, developing, motivating, and retaining talent in a rapidly changing world. The module emphasizes the importance of diversity and inclusion, ethical leadership, and social responsibility in creating a high-performing and sustainable workforce. Through real-life examples, case studies, and interactive discussions, students will gain the knowledge and skills necessary to lead effectively in today's complex and dynamic business environment.

• BUSM 6102 Project Management Skills and Methods

  This module provides a comprehensive overview of programme management principles, processes, and techniques. Students will develop the knowledge and skills necessary to effectively manage complex programmes within a variety of organizational contexts. Contemporary project management methods will be explored. The module emphasizes the strategic alignment of programmes with organizational objectives and the importance of stakeholder engagement, risk management, and benefits realization. Furthermore, it explores a range of programme management methodologies, equipping students with the ability to select and apply the most appropriate approach for diverse project scenarios.

Plus one elective of your choice, which may support a minor.