Undergraduate Degrees

The BA Film and Television Studies (with Foundation Year) gives students the opportunity to progress on to the three year Film and Television Studies programme following the successful completion of a Foundation Year. This allows students who have not met the entry criteria for the BA Film and Television Studies, or a related degree course, to gain the skills and knowledge necessary to succeed on this engaging degree programme which allows you to study the history, theory and politics of two of the key media - film and television - in contemporary culture.

Course Structure

Year 1

Level 0: The Foundation Year is an intensive course where you will study alongside students who aim to progress on to a variety of degree programmes within the Faculty of Arts and Humanities. With an average of 18 guided learning hours per week you will participate in lectures, seminars, reading and study groups, as well as visits to organisations such as the East Anglian Film Archive and the Sainsbury Centre for Visual Arts. You will also be given individual tutorial support to ensure you are reaching your full potential and are able to progress on to the full honours programme with confidence.

Over the course of the year you will be introduced to a wide range of academic subjects such as literature, history, philosophy, film, television and media, American studies, politics and the history of art. You will gain a foundational knowledge of many of the concepts, methods and techniques you will study in more detail at level 1 and above. In addition, you will develop a wide range of transferable skills in areas such as written and verbal communication, research, collegiality, time-management and language skills which will significantly enhance your employability in the future.

Year 2

Level 1: This year will build directly on the Foundation Year, introducing you in more specialised detail to key critical and theoretical approaches to film and television. You will take the compulsory module Analysing Film and Television designed to further develop your study skills and the key skills needed to begin deconstructing and understanding film and television texts within culture. This will be supported in other modules where you will look at the history of film and television and situate these media within broader cultural contexts and historical debates.

Year 3

Level 2: In your third year you take Film Theory and a module called Research Training that helps you to develop the research skills you will need for dissertation and project work in Year three. In addition to these modules, you can take a wide range of production, history and conceptual modules which may include modules like The Practice of Screenwriting, The Business of Film and Television, Film Genres, Animation and British Cinema since the 1990s. Using these modules, and optional modules in Year 3, you can build pathways through your degree that reflect your interests.

This year also allows you to take two modules of “Defined Choice.” Defined Choice options lists include School of Film, Television and Media Studies modules, but also the broadest possible range of modules relevant to your degree, selected for you in order to help you broaden your horizons. Therefore, Defined Choice enables you to take further Film, Television and Media Studies modules, or to experiment with new subjects, approaches and ideas, or to take a year of language modules. Your personal tutor will work with you to help you make these and other module choice decisions.

Year 4

Level 3: In your final year you will have the opportunity to plan, research and undertake a dissertation on a topic of your choice with the guidance of a supervising member of staff. Additionally, you choose from a further broad range of specialist Film, Television and Media Studies modules, including modules such as Crime Television, Women, Islam and Film and Teenage Kicks: Media Youth and Subculture. These research-led modules relate to the special research interests of staff members, ensuring that you receive the most up-to-date teaching from enthusiastic lecturers.

Assessment

During the Foundation Year you will be assessed in a variety of ways which will allow you to exercise different learning styles and familiarise yourself with the format and expectations of assessment in Higher Education. There will be a strong emphasis on formative assessment with feedback on drafts of written work and group tutorials which will help you to clearly see how you can improve and develop, enabling you to learn from your peers as well as teaching staff. This in turn will help you to build confidence in your abilities and become a more independent learner.

Your progress will be monitored through individual tutorials to ensure that you are happy on the course and achieving your full potential. You need to achieve a minimum of 40% overall with a pass in all modules in order to progress on to the Film and Television Studies programme.

Academic study skills, key concepts, issues and ideas are introduced in lectures and seminars throughout your studies. In Years 2 and 3 there is a greater emphasis on seminar-based modules, which allow students to have time together with tutors to discuss new topics.

Assessment types vary, but it is normal for students to undertake research essays, projects, examinations and presentations across their degrees. Assessments usually take place during and on the completion of modules. In your final year, you will also write a dissertation on a topic of your choosing and with the advice of tutors. There is no final examination. Your final degree result is determined by the marks you receive in years two and three.

Course Organiser:Dr. Rayna Denison

The Foundation Year offers you an alternative to retaking your A-levels specifically designed to prepare you for study in Higher Education, and gives you the opportunity to study at one of the UK’s top ranked Universities.

Based in the School of Humanities, you will be taught by experienced staff who are familiar with the challenges and expectations of undergraduate study and you will receive targeted support to ensure you meet your full potential. You will receive significantly more contact time than you would in Sixth Form or at undergraduate level 1, as well as benefiting from smaller group sizes, giving you lots of opportunities to actively participate in your learning. Of course, you will also be a registered undergraduate at UEA and therefore able to take full advantage of all the excellent facilities, events and activities that we have to offer.

Following your successful completion of the Foundation Year you will transfer to the school of Film, Television and Media Studies which has 12 dedicated members of academic staff, with several more colleagues contributing on a part-time basis.

UEA was one of the first British Universities to develop the study of cinema and television and it remains one of the leading departments in this area of academic study. In the most recent quality assessments by the High Education Funding Council, teaching at undergraduate and postgraduate level was adjudged excellent (with a score of 23 out of a possible 24) and our research was placed in the top three of UK institutions.

Each year, some 60 undergraduates are registered for one of the Film and Television Studies degrees (BA Media Studies, BA Film and English Studies, BA Film and American Studies and BA Film and Television Studies). Teaching deals mainly with the history and current shape of British and American cinema and television and with film theory and criticism. We also run modules on other world cinemas and on television, video and film production.

If, after your first semester at UEA, you decide you would like to progress on to a different programme to BA Film and Television Studies, you will be able to discuss your options with the Foundation Year Co-ordinator. Transfer decisions will need to be confirmed by January as your choice of continuing degree programme may also have an effect on which modules you select in your second semester.

Entry Requirements

A Level:

CCC

International Baccalaureate:

28 points

Scottish Highers:

Please contact institution for further information

Scottish Advanced Highers:

Please contact institution for further information

Irish Leaving Certificate:

Please contact institution for further information

Access Course:

Please contact institution for further information

HND:

Please contact institution for further information

European Baccalaureate:

60% overall

Students for whom English is a Foreign language

We welcome applications from students from all academic backgrounds. We require evidence of proficiency in English (including writing, speaking, listening and reading). Recognised English Language qualifications include:

• IELTS: 6.5 overall (minimum of 6.0 in Reading and Writing and no less than 5.5 in any component)
• TOEFL: Internet-based score of 92 overall (minimum 20 in Speaking component, 19 in Writing, 18 in Listening components and 20 in Reading components.
• PTE: 62 overall (minimum 55 in Reading and Writing and 51 in any component).

If you do not meet the University's entry requirements, our INTO Language Learning Centre offers a range of university preparation courses to help you develop the high level of academic and English skills necessary for successful undergraduate study.

Interviews

The majority of candidates will not be called for an interview. However, for some students an interview will be requested. These are normally quite informal and generally cover topics such as your current studies, reasons for choosing the course and your personal interests and extra-curricular activities.

Gap Year

We welcome applications from students who have already taken or intend to take a gap year, believing that a year between school and university can be of substantial benefit. You are advised to indicate your reason for wishing to defer entry and may wish to contact the appropriate Admissions Office directly to discuss this further.

Intakes

The School's annual intake is in September of each year.

Alternative Qualifications

If you are studying the BTEC National Diploma please contact us for further information.

We encourage you to apply if you have alternative qualifications equivalent to our stated entry requirements. Please contact us for further information.

GCSE Offer

All applicants are required to have a minimum of 5 GCSE's including GCSE English language and Mathematics (or equivalent) at a minimum of Grade C.

Fees and Funding

Undergraduate University Fees

We are committed to ensuring that Tuition Fees do not act as a barrier to those aspiring to come to a world leading university and have developed a funding package to reward those with excellent qualifications and assist those from lower income backgrounds.  Full time UK/EU students starting an undergraduate degree course in 2013 will be charged a tuition fee of £9,000.  The level of fee may be subject to yearly increases.  Full time International students starting an undergraduate degree course in 2013 will be charged a tuition fee of £14,400.  The level of fee may be subject to yearly increases.

Scholarships and Bursaries

Home/EU - Students studying a Foundation Year may be eligible for a bursary of £4500.00 during their first year.  Further details of eligibility can be found at http://www.uea.ac.uk/study/undergraduate/finance/university-financial-support      

International Students -  The University offers around £1 million of Scholarships each year to support International students in their studies. Scholarships are normally awarded to students on the basis of academic merit and are usually for the duration of the period of study.    Our University international pages gives you more details about preparation for studying with us, including Fees and Funding http://www.uea.ac.uk/international