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Film and Television Studies Courses

MA Film Studies

  • Course Code DNT2W620202
  • Attendance Part Time
  • Award Degree of Master of Arts
  • Overview
  • Why Choose Us
  • Requirements
  • Course Profile
  • Fees and Funding
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Overview
Film ScreeningWe live in a world that is increasingly mediated by diverse aspects of the film, television and media industries. Whether our priority is to preserve moving images, engage in the creative activity of making them, or learn more about their role in shaping or reproducing social and cultural values, we need to explore the history, development and character of these important audio-visual cultures.

UEA was one of the first British universities to develop the study of cinema and television, and in 2004 created the School of Film and Television Studies to continue that innovative tradition. With a broad range of theoretical and practical modules that explore the history, political significance and formal qualities of sound and image, the School prepares people for a variety of careers in the media, archiving, journalism, teaching and elsewhere. The MA in Film Studies has been specially designed to introduce people new to the discipline alongside those with some existing knowledge, and to provide them with the choice of a wide range of innovative modules and topics.


Why Study Film at UEA?

The School of Film and Television Studies offers an exciting and in-depth exploration of the moving image, giving students access to leading scholars and a thriving graduate community.

The School of Film and Television is among the ten highest rated research units in the UK across all subject areas. In the 2008 Research Rating Exercise, 90% of our academic staff’s research activities was rated as being of “international excellence” or “world leading” quality.

The School has launched innovative option modules on national cinema, genre, television studies, and film and television production, supported by research staff who are experts in these fields. This range of options allows students to extend or deepen their knowledge of the field, or ‘retrain’ in a new discipline.

The School’s practical modules cover filming and editing techniques, including the use of a fully functioning television studio, and a custom-built audio suite.

The School graduate community offers a thriving peer group experience, which is augmented by regular symposiums, research seminars and talks from media professionals.

The School works with the East Anglian Film Archive (EAFA), a major resource for archive material, which all MA students visit during the induction week. EAFA, located in Norwich, maintains a strong presence within the School, through film screenings as well as MA teaching.


Course Content and Structure

The MA in Film Studies is taught as either a one-year full-time course or a two-year part-time course. This course is intended to provide students with a range of theoretical and practical training.

The MA in Film Studies offers students the chance to choose their own pathway through the degree. Through individual module choice, students can focus on historical, theoretical or practical modules, choosing from topics as diverse as genre, national cinema or reception studies.

Teaching is mainly in the form of seminars and screenings, although the compulsory module taken in the Autumn semester will have a lecture component. There will also be opportunities to attend additional talks and discussion groups on a wide variety of film, television and media topics.

The principle areas of study are: historical, theoretical and critical approaches to film and television studies; a focus on specific film and television genres; the role of national cinema; researching and interpreting the film and television audience; planning and producing audio-visual work; exploring the social and cultural role of film and television.


Transferable Skills:

In addition to the areas of skills outlined above, students will also learn more generally applicable skills, including the ability to research, select, and analyse from a variety of archive and textual materials; present evidence in verbal and written form (including public speaking); select and justify appropriate methodological approaches; be able to write accurately and grammatically (using appropriate conventions); construct coherent and independent arguments; manage a large and disparate body of information; use word-processing and computing technologies correctly; develop inter-personal skills and how to work in a team.


Individual Supervision / Final Dissertation

Students begin researching the 12,000-15,000 word dissertation in the Spring semester and work on it through the summer, for submission at the beginning of September.

In the Dissertation module, students pursue an area of specialist study which will allow them to investigate a particular academic methodology or topic (e.g. genre, authorship, reception studies). Each student will be assigned a member of staff as a supervisor to advise them on the research and writing up of this dissertation.


Course Assessment

There is no written examination for any of the Film Studies MA courses. Assessment is on the basis of coursework: including, but not limited to, performance in class, placements, essays and seminar papers, and the final dissertation.
Course Organiser
Dr Mark Rimmer    
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