MA Film Studies (Part time)
Course
options
Key Details
- Attendance
- Part Time
- Award
- Degree of Master of Arts
- Course Length
- 2 years
- Course Start Date
- September 2025
Course Overview
Whether you're watching the latest blockbuster in a multiplex or exploring lesser–known films from around the world, cinema is a vital part of our culture. At UEA, we've always been at the forefront, being among the first British universities to offer degree courses in film studies. Today, our academics remain among the most respected in the world for their research, teaching and creative work.
Our innovative part time MA in Film Studies enables you to explore film cultures, stretching from the historic to the contemporary, and learn about the ways in which the global film industry has developed and operates. You’ll gain the advanced knowledge you’d expect from a postgraduate programme, with modules designed to deepen your understanding of the theories, histories, and methods central to the discipline. You'll learn about the workings of the global film industry and the ways in which local, national and transnational film industries operate.
You'll also work alongside academics as they organise and curate public-facing film festivals, learning about important aspects of the film industry that are often hidden from view. Our optional modules provide you with a chance to develop your learning further and shape the specific focus of your studies to reflect your own career aims and ambitions. Each module is designed to equip you with advanced knowledge, skills, and understanding, all of which will be consolidated in your final research project.
This part time MA emphasises the real-world application of creative and critical thinking. It’s designed to equip you with demonstrable personal and professional skills and enables you to take advantage of our excellent facilities and industry partnerships. The celebrated East Anglian Film Archive, home to thousands of films dating back as far as 1896, is available to you to explore, and serves as a rich resource to inspire your own research. We also have close links with the British Film Institute in London, and work locally with the Norwich Film Festival and Norfolk Screen.
When you graduate from UEA, you'll do so with a keen critical understanding and the knowledge and skills required to flourish within the digital workplace. You'll gain confidence by developing your communication and self-management skills while also gaining real-world experience through working at a film festival.
Study and Modules
Structure
In your first year, you’ll gain a solid grounding in the fundamentals of film studies, including the key theoretical and historical debates which underpin contemporary film studies, as well as expand your knowledge of the global film industry. You’ll also take our innovative module on film festivals which allows you to explore academic ideas through involvement in UEA-led or affiliated festivals such as Norwich Film Festival, The Green Films Festival@UEA and Norwich Queer International Festival of Film.
Compulsory Modules
Optional A Modules
(Credits: 20)Whilst the University will make every effort to offer the modules listed, changes may sometimes be made arising from the annual monitoring, review and update of modules. Where this activity leads to significant (but not minor) changes to programmes and their constituent modules, the University will endeavour to consult with students and others. It is also possible that the University may not be able to offer a module for reasons outside of its control, such as the illness of a member of staff. In some cases optional modules can have limited places available and so you may be asked to make additional module choices in the event you do not gain a place on your first choice. Where this is the case, the University will inform students.
Teaching and Learning
You’ll learn from world-leading academics in many ways – from traditional seminars and workshops to regular film and television screenings. You’ll also have access to our TV Studio and Media Suite, full of cutting-edge media technologies including editing, camera and sound equipment. Prepare to get hands-on with these to develop new skills for the job market and a deeper understanding of how film and television content is produced.
Assessment
We know that everyone has different strengths, so we use a range of individual and group assessment methods – from essays to presentations and assessed discussions. All of these assessments help strengthen your critical thinking and give you skills that are attractive to future employers.
We also use formative assessments, which do not contribute to your overall mark, but prepare you for the assessments that do. These offer an excellent opportunity to test the knowledge you’ve learned in modules, gain specific feedback on your working practices, and strengthen the chances of better marks at the end of them.
Structure
In your second year, you’ll have the chance to specialise in areas of your choice, choosing from a range of options that build upon the core ideas and skills learnt in year one. Work at Master’s level is frequently led by our cutting-edge research, and informed by the latest developments in film scholarship and theory.
Across the degree you’ll also benefit from training in key digital research and communication methods that will offer valuable transferable skills, as well as inform your independent research project which will be written in the summer semester of year two. This is your chance to use the knowledge you’ve been building throughout your MA to develop your own piece of self-devised and self-directed study supported by experts in the field.
Compulsory Modules
Optional A Modules
(Credits: 40)Whilst the University will make every effort to offer the modules listed, changes may sometimes be made arising from the annual monitoring, review and update of modules. Where this activity leads to significant (but not minor) changes to programmes and their constituent modules, the University will endeavour to consult with students and others. It is also possible that the University may not be able to offer a module for reasons outside of its control, such as the illness of a member of staff. In some cases optional modules can have limited places available and so you may be asked to make additional module choices in the event you do not gain a place on your first choice. Where this is the case, the University will inform students.
Teaching and Learning
We’ll support you to become a confident and independent scholar by the time you submit your dissertation. Up until that point, you’ll work around 30 hours a week on your MA – with the majority of that time spent on independent research and reading.
You’ll work under supervision during your dissertation, and over time you’ll take more and more control over the direction of your study. Your dissertation is your opportunity to fully immerse yourself in the area that you’re most passionate about.
Assessment
Once you reach your second year in the MA programme, you’ll be moving towards even more independence in your assessment. From devising your own research questions for module-specific assessments to devising, developing and completing the extended research project of the dissertation, you’ll be assessed on your ability to work independently to collate and evaluate a range of materials.
Entry Requirements
- This course is open to
UK and International fee-paying students. Choose UK or International above to see relevant information. The entry point is in September each year.
- Typical UK Entry Requirements
Degree classification
Bachelors degree - 2.2
Degree Subject
All subject areas considered
- Admissions Policy
Our Admissions Policy applies to the admissions of all postgraduate applicants.
- This course is open to
UK and International fee-paying students. Choose UK or International above to see relevant information. The entry point is in September each year.
- Typical International Entry Requirements
Degree classification
UK Bachelors degree - 2.2 or equivalent
Degree Subject
All subject areas considered
- English Foreign Language
Applications from students whose first language is not English are welcome. We require evidence of proficiency in English (including writing, speaking, listening and reading):
-
IELTS: 6.0 overall with minimum 6.0 in Writing & Speaking and 5.5 in Listening & Reading
Test dates should be within 2 years of the course start date.
We also accept a number of other English language tests. Review our English Language Equivalencies for a list of qualifications that we may accept to meet this requirement.
If you do not yet meet the English language requirements for this course, INTO UEA offer a variety of English language programmes which are designed to help you develop the English skills necessary for successful undergraduate study:
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- Admissions Policy
Our Admissions Policy applies to the admissions of all postgraduate applicants.
Fees and Funding
Tuition fees for the Academic Year 2025/26 are:
-
UK Students: £10,675
-
International Students: £22,700
If you choose to study part-time, the fee per annum will be half the annual fee for that year, or a pro-rata fee for the module credit you are taking (only available for Home students).
We estimate living expenses at £1,136 per month.
Further Information on tuition fees can be found here.
Scholarships and Bursaries
The University of East Anglia offers a range of Scholarships; please click the link for eligibility, details of how to apply and closing dates.
Course Related Costs
Please see Additional Course Fees for details of course-related costs.
How to Apply
How to apply
Applications for Postgraduate Taught programmes at the University of East Anglia should be made directly to the University.
To apply please use our online application form.
Further information
If you would like to discuss your individual circumstances prior to applying, please do contact us:
Postgraduate Admissions Office
Tel: +44 (0)1603 591515
Email: admissions@uea.ac.uk
International candidates are also encouraged to access the International Students section of our website.
Employability
After the Course
Our MA Film Studies graduates go on to a wide variety of fields. Some have chosen to work in the film, television and media industries, both in the UK and elsewhere in the world, in roles in production, press and publicity, publishing (newspapers, books and magazines), cultural heritage and archives, social media, and arts festivals. Many also continue their academic passion through PhD study at UEA and beyond.
As well as subject-specific knowledge, you’ll develop many transferable skills, including high-level communication skills, team working, and self-management, all of which open up a wide variety of careers. At our annual event, 'Working with Words', you can meet and hear from many successful UEA alumni from across the creative industries.
Careers
Examples of careers that you could enter include:
- Film and TV production
- Higher education
- Cultural heritage and archives
- Arts festivals
- Social media
- Publishing (books, magazines, newspapers)
Discover more on our Careers webpages.