Course overview
This course interrogates cinema and television as art forms and as industries, locating them within specific historical and social contexts, in particular those of German-language cultures. The course explores screen media texts, producers and audiences, and also gives students a solid grounding in film and television history, aesthetics and reception. This course also offers students the opportunity to take up German through an intensive beginners’ course and to develop it to degree level alongside a wide choice of modules in areas including literature, history, linguistics, film and politics.
Year one
In film and television studies, students engage in multi-disciplinary activity in addition to core studies in Hollywood and international film history, the analysis of film and television texts and key critical perspectives, and the development of the television medium. In German, students being a structured course in the language to progress from beginners' to degree level and are also introduced to aspects of German culture and history.
Year two
Students deepen their understanding of key critical and theoretical approaches in the study of the production, circulation and cultural reception of film and television. Modules explore the way in which film and television converge in the contemporary media landscape, the phenomena of transnational media flows, and the social significance of the culture industries and issues of representation. In German, students further develop language skills in preparation for the year abroad. Students also undertake more specialised academic work in literature, history, linguistics, politics and society from a wide choice of modules in German studies.
Year three
Students will spend this year in Germany or Austria, on a programme of studies in a higher education institution, as an assistant in a school, or on a work placement.
Year four
Final year students specialise in specific aspects of film and television studies by choosing from a range of advanced modules. These offer the possibility of investigating new and emerging areas of film and television studies concerning the production of texts, film-going and screen audiences. Students also write an independent research dissertation under staff supervision. In German, students develop the command of German to a high level and use it in increasingly sophisticated contexts.
Alongside advanced language studies, students undertake optional modules drawn from the areas of literature, history, politics, society, media and linguistics. Students may also choose to write a dissertation on an aspect of German studies.
More information
See also the Department of German Studies.
Entry requirements
A levels: ABB/AAC, Evidence of modern foreign language ability, normally an A at GCSE
English language requirements
IELTS 7.0 (no less than 6.0 in any element)
TOEFL iBT 100 (no less than 20 in speaking and 19 in each other element)
Alternative qualifications
For details please see alternative qualifications page.
Flexible admissions policy
We may make some applicants an offer lower than advertised, depending on their personal and educational circumstances.
Modules
The modules we offer are inspired by the research interests of our staff and as a result, may change from year to year. The following list is therefore subject to change but should give you a flavour of the modules we offer.
Typical year-one modules
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Film History 1
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Approaches to Film and Television
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Beginners' German Language
Typical year-two modules
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Transnational Film and Television
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Understanding Cultural Industries
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German Language (Post-Beginners)
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Film and Television in Social and Cultural Context
Typical year-three modules
Year spent abroad.
Please see the Department of German Introduction to the Year Abroad page or contact the Department of Culture, Film and Media for more information.
Typical year-four modules
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Film Studies Dissertation
Typical optional modules
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Germany from Empire to 1968
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Reading German Culture
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Television Cultures
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Sex, Gender and Society in Modern Germany
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German History from Bismarck to Hitler
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Video Production Project
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Filmmakers and Filmmaking
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The Blockbuster
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Representing Reality
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Culture and Society in the Weimar Republic
Careers
You will have completed an independent research dissertation and will have an in-depth knowledge of specific areas of film and television studies, including production, circulation and cultural reception. You will have developed your command of German to a high level and your international experience will demonstrate to employers that you are independent and adaptable.
Average starting salary
The average starting salary for 2010/11 full-time graduates of the Department of Culture, Film and Media was £17,305 and for graduates of the Department of German Studies it was £22,454.*
*Average starting salary from known destinations of first-degree leavers who studied full-time, 2010/11.
Careers Support and Advice
Studying for a degree at The University of Nottingham will provide you with the type of skills and experiences that will prove invaluable in any career, whichever direction you decide to take. Throughout your time with us, our Careers and Employability Service can work with you to improve your employability skills even further; assisting with job or course applications, searching for appropriate work experience placements and hosting events to bring you closer to a wide range of prospective employers.
Have a look at our Careers page for an overview of all the employability support and opportunities that we provide to current students.