Year structure
You will take 120 credits of modules split as follows:
- core modules - 80 credits
- optional modules - 40 credits
You must pass year one but it does not count towards your final degree classification.
University Park Campus, Nottingham, UK
Qualification | Entry Requirements | Start Date | UCAS code | Duration | Fees |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
BA Hons | ABB | September 2024 | W630 | 3 years full-time or part-time | £9,250 |
Qualification | Entry Requirements | Start Date | UCAS code | Duration | Fees |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
BA Hons | ABB | September 2024 | W630 | 3 years full-time or part-time | £9,250 |
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6.5 overall (with no less than 6.0 in any element)
Check our country-specific information for guidance on qualifications from your country
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All candidates are considered on an individual basis and we accept a broad range of qualifications. The entrance requirements below apply to 2023 entry.
Please note: Applicants whose backgrounds or personal circumstances have impacted their academic performance may receive a reduced offer. Please see our contextual admissions policy for more information.
If you have already achieved your EPQ at Grade A you will automatically be offered one grade lower in a non-mandatory A level subject.
If you are still studying for your EPQ you will receive the standard course offer, with a condition of one grade lower in a non-mandatory A level subject if you achieve an A grade in your EPQ.
You can also access this course through our Foundation Year. This may be suitable if you have faced educational barriers and are predicted BCC at A level.
At the University of Nottingham, we have a valuable community of mature students and we appreciate their contribution to the wider student population. You can find lots of useful information on the mature students webpage.
We recognise that applicants have a wealth of different experiences and follow a variety of pathways into higher education.
Consequently we treat all applicants with alternative qualifications (besides A-levels and the International Baccalaureate) on an individual basis, and we gladly accept students with a whole range of less conventional qualifications including:
This list is not exhaustive. The entry requirements for alternative qualifications can be quite specific; for example you may need to take certain modules and achieve a specified grade in those modules. Please contact us to discuss the transferability of your qualification. Please see the alternative qualifications page for more information.
We recognise the potential of talented students from all backgrounds. We make contextual offers to students whose personal circumstances may have restricted achievement at school or college. These offers are usually one grade lower than the advertised entry requirements. To qualify for a contextual offer, you must have Home/UK fee status and meet specific criteria – check if you’re eligible.
International students must have valid UK immigration permissions for any courses or study period where teaching takes place in the UK. Student route visas can be issued for eligible students studying full-time courses. The University of Nottingham does not sponsor a student visa for students studying part-time courses. The Standard Visitor visa route is not appropriate in all cases. Please contact the university’s Visa and Immigration team if you need advice about your visa options.
N/A
N/A
N/A
All candidates are considered on an individual basis and we accept a broad range of qualifications. The entrance requirements below apply to 2023 entry.
Please note: Applicants whose backgrounds or personal circumstances have impacted their academic performance may receive a reduced offer. Please see our contextual admissions policy for more information.
If you have already achieved your EPQ at Grade A you will automatically be offered one grade lower in a non-mandatory A level subject.
If you are still studying for your EPQ you will receive the standard course offer, with a condition of one grade lower in a non-mandatory A level subject if you achieve an A grade in your EPQ.
You can also access this course through our Foundation Year. This may be suitable if you have faced educational barriers and are predicted BCC at A level.
At the University of Nottingham, we have a valuable community of mature students and we appreciate their contribution to the wider student population. You can find lots of useful information on the mature students webpage.
We recognise that applicants have a wealth of different experiences and follow a variety of pathways into higher education.
Consequently we treat all applicants with alternative qualifications (besides A-levels and the International Baccalaureate) on an individual basis, and we gladly accept students with a whole range of less conventional qualifications including:
This list is not exhaustive. The entry requirements for alternative qualifications can be quite specific; for example you may need to take certain modules and achieve a specified grade in those modules. Please contact us to discuss the transferability of your qualification. Please see the alternative qualifications page for more information.
We recognise the potential of talented students from all backgrounds. We make contextual offers to students whose personal circumstances may have restricted achievement at school or college. These offers are usually one grade lower than the advertised entry requirements. To qualify for a contextual offer, you must have Home/UK fee status and meet specific criteria – check if you’re eligible.
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On this course, you can apply to study abroad at one of our partner institutions or at University of Nottingham China or University of Nottingham Malaysia.
If you are successful in applying to study abroad, you will get the opportunity to broaden your horizons and enhance your CV by experiencing another culture. Teaching is typically in English, but there may be opportunities to study in another language if you are sufficiently fluent.
You can choose to study similar modules to your counterparts in the UK or expand your knowledge by taking other options.
The school you are joining may also have additional study abroad options available. Please visit the school website for more information.
Please note: In order to study abroad you will need to achieve the relevant academic requirements as set by the university and meet the selection criteria of both the university and the partner institution. The partner institution is under no obligation to accept you even if you do meet the relevant criteria.
If your course does not have a compulsory placement, integrated year in industry or compulsory year abroad where there is already an opportunity to undertake a work placement as part of that experience, you may be able to apply to undertake an optional placement year. While it is the student’s responsibility to find and secure a placement, our Careers and Employability Service will support you throughout this process. Contact placements@nottingham.ac.uk to find out more.
Please note: In order to undertake an optional placement year, you will need to achieve the relevant academic requirements as set by the university and meet any requirements specified by the placement host. There is no guarantee that you will be able to undertake an optional placement as part of your course.
Events and internships to help you gain insight and experience of the creative industries sector.
Please be aware that study abroad, compulsory year abroad, optional placements/internships and integrated year in industry opportunities may change at any time for a number of reasons, including curriculum developments, changes to arrangements with partner universities or placement/industry hosts, travel restrictions or other circumstances outside of the university’s control. Every effort will be made to update this information as quickly as possible should a change occur.
On this course, you can apply to study abroad at one of our partner institutions or at University of Nottingham China or University of Nottingham Malaysia.
If you are successful in applying to study abroad, you will get the opportunity to broaden your horizons and enhance your CV by experiencing another culture. Teaching is typically in English, but there may be opportunities to study in another language if you are sufficiently fluent.
You can choose to study similar modules to your counterparts in the UK or expand your knowledge by taking other options.
The school you are joining may also have additional study abroad options available. Please visit the school website for more information.
Please note: In order to study abroad you will need to achieve the relevant academic requirements as set by the university and meet the selection criteria of both the university and the partner institution. The partner institution is under no obligation to accept you even if you do meet the relevant criteria.
If your course does not have a compulsory placement, integrated year in industry or compulsory year abroad where there is already an opportunity to undertake a work placement as part of that experience, you may be able to apply to undertake an optional placement year. While it is the student’s responsibility to find and secure a placement, our Careers and Employability Service will support you throughout this process. Contact placements@nottingham.ac.uk to find out more.
Please note: In order to undertake an optional placement year, you will need to achieve the relevant academic requirements as set by the university and meet any requirements specified by the placement host. There is no guarantee that you will be able to undertake an optional placement as part of your course.
Events and internships to help you gain insight and experience of the creative industries sector.
Please be aware that study abroad, compulsory year abroad, optional placements/internships and integrated year in industry opportunities may change at any time for a number of reasons, including curriculum developments, changes to arrangements with partner universities or placement/industry hosts, travel restrictions or other circumstances outside of the university’s control. Every effort will be made to update this information as quickly as possible should a change occur.
Additional costs
All students will need at least one device to approve security access requests via Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA). We also recommend students have a suitable laptop to work both on and off-campus. For more information, please check the equipment advice.
Essential course materials are supplied.
Books
You'll be able to access most of the books you’ll need through our libraries, though you may wish to buy your own copies of core texts.
A limited number of modules have compulsory texts which you are required to buy. We recommend that you budget £100 per year for books, but this figure will vary according to which modules you take.
The Blackwell's bookshop on campus offers a year-round price match against any of the main retailers (for example, Waterstones, WH Smith or Amazon). They also offer second-hand books, as students from previous years sell their copies back to the bookshop.
For volunteering and placements (for example work experience and teaching in schools), you will need to pay for transport and refreshments.
Faculty of Arts Alumni Scholarships
Our Alumni Scholarships provide support with essential living costs to eligible students. Find out more about eligibility and how to apply.
University of Nottingham bursaries and scholarships
The University offers a wide range of funds that can provide you with an additional source of non-repayable financial help. See our bursaries and scholarships page for what's available.
International students
We offer a range of international undergraduate scholarships for high-achieving international scholars who can put their Nottingham degree to great use in their careers.
*For full details including fees for part-time students and reduced fees during your time studying abroad or on placement (where applicable), see our fees page.
If you are a student from the EU, EEA or Switzerland, you may be asked to complete a fee status questionnaire and your answers will be assessed using guidance issued by the UK Council for International Student Affairs (UKCISA) .
All students will need at least one device to approve security access requests via Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA). We also recommend students have a suitable laptop to work both on and off-campus. For more information, please check the equipment advice.
Essential course materials are supplied.
Books
You'll be able to access most of the books you’ll need through our libraries, though you may wish to buy your own copies of core texts.
A limited number of modules have compulsory texts which you are required to buy. We recommend that you budget £100 per year for books, but this figure will vary according to which modules you take.
The Blackwell's bookshop on campus offers a year-round price match against any of the main retailers (for example, Waterstones, WH Smith or Amazon). They also offer second-hand books, as students from previous years sell their copies back to the bookshop.
For volunteering and placements (for example work experience and teaching in schools), you will need to pay for transport and refreshments.
Faculty of Arts Alumni Scholarships
Our Alumni Scholarships provide support with essential living costs to eligible students. Find out more about eligibility and how to apply.
University of Nottingham bursaries and scholarships
The University offers a wide range of funds that can provide you with an additional source of non-repayable financial help. See our bursaries and scholarships page for what's available.
Home students*
Over one third of our UK students receive our means-tested core bursary, worth up to £1,000 a year. Full details can be found on our financial support pages.
* A 'home' student is one who meets certain UK residence criteria. These are the same criteria as apply to eligibility for home funding from Student Finance.
You watch. You binge. You play.
You’re entertained, informed, influenced and connected.
Our degree helps you to understand how this happens - and the opportunities to get involved.
You’ll look at screen media beyond the TV and film sets:
As you progress through the course you’ll specialise and build work around your own ideas.
You watch. You binge. You play.You’re entertained, informed, influenced and connected. Our degree helps you to understand how this happens - and the opportunities to get involved.
You’ll look at screen media beyond the TV and film sets:
As you progress through the course you’ll specialise and build work around your own ideas.
We’re not a technical training course but use practical coursework to help you understand the theory. You might:
We have a full programme of industry guests from a wide range of companies and roles.
They’ll offer you a window into the range of opportunities available in the creative sector.
By the end of the degree you’ll have gained new perspectives and learnt new ways to look at the films, shows and games you love.
Find out more about what it’s like to study in the Department of Cultural, Media and Visual Studies.
This online prospectus has been drafted in advance of the academic year to which it applies. Every effort has been made to ensure that the information is accurate at the time of publishing, but changes (for example to course content) are likely to occur given the interval between publishing and commencement of the course. It is therefore very important to check this website for any updates before you apply for the course where there has been an interval between you reading this website and applying.
Mandatory
Year 1
Producing Film and Television
Mandatory
Year 1
Consuming Film and Television
Mandatory
Year 1
Reading Film and Television
Mandatory
Year 1
Questioning Culture: An Introduction to Research
Mandatory
Year 1
Media and Society
Mandatory
Year 1
History of Art: Modern to Contemporary
Mandatory
Year 2
Understanding Cultural Industries
Mandatory
Year 2
Film and Television in Social and Cultural Context
Mandatory
Year 2
Interrogating Practice Film Television
Mandatory
Year 2
Researching Media and Culture
Optional
Year 2
Media Identities: Who We Are and How We Feel
Optional
Year 2
The Sixties: Culture and Counterculture
Optional
Year 2
European Avant-Garde Film
Optional
Year 2
Black Art in a White Context: Display, Critique and The Other
Optional
Year 2
Transnational Media
Optional
Year 2
Digital Communication and Media
Optional
Year 2
Art and Architecture in Nottingham
Optional
Year 2
Memory, Media and Visual Culture
Optional
Year 2
Los Angeles Art and Architecture 1945-1980
Optional
Year 2
Work placement
Optional
Year 2
European Avant-Garde Film
Mandatory
Year 3
Dissertation in Film and Television Studies
Optional
Year 3
Global Cinema
Optional
Year 3
Working in the Cultural Industries
Optional
Year 3
Development and Production
Optional
Year 3
North American Film Adaptations
Optional
Year 3
Varieties of Classic American Film, Television and Literature since 1950
Optional
Year 3
Photographing America
Optional
Year 3
Film and Television Genres
Optional
Year 3
Screen Encounters: Audiences and Engagement
Optional
Year 3
Video Production Project
Optional
Year 3
Gender, Sexuality and Media
Optional
Year 3
Fascism, Spectacle and Display
Optional
Year 3
Contested Bodies: Gender and Power in the Renaissance
Optional
Year 3
Performance Art
Optional
Year 3
Media and the Ecological Crisis: Challenges and Opportunities
Optional
Year 3
Politics and Visual Culture
Optional
Year 3
Creative and Cultural Industries Research Project
Optional
Year 3
Global Media Franchises
The above is a sample of the typical modules we offer but is not intended to be construed and/or relied upon as a definitive list of the modules that will be available in any given year. Modules (including methods of assessment) may change or be updated, or modules may be cancelled, over the duration of the course due to a number of reasons such as curriculum developments or staffing changes. This content was last updated on Friday 3 February 2023.
Year structure
You will take 120 credits of modules split as follows:
You must pass year one but it does not count towards your final degree classification.
Optional modules
You'll take two modules from the following options:
Year structure
You will take 120 credits of modules split as follows:
You must pass year two which counts one third of your final degree classification.
Optional modules
Students must take one or two from:
And one or two from:
Year structure
You will take 120 credits of modules split as follows:
You must pass year three which counts two thirds of your final degree classification.
As a global university we're keen to offer you the opportunity to develop your language skills as well as your knowledge of film and television.
Language modules can be integrated into your degree and used towards your required credits.
You can take language modules because it or complements your degree (for example, watching a film in its original language), helps your career plans or just for pleasure!
We cater for all levels - from complete beginners upwards.
There are currently nine language options available.
Check out the Language Centre for more information.
This module engages with the narrative histories of film and television, from their origins to the present day, a period involving many significant transitional moments in production histories. You will explore the coming of sound, the rise and demise of the Hollywood studio system, and the emergence of the TV network system. By raising questions such as: what are the industries producing at these moments, and how are cultural products marketed and distributed? this module also asks what transition means at different historical moments. It provides examples of different critical approaches to film and television history and interrogates the key debates around the periodisation of that history. This module is worth 20 credits.
This module asks questions surrounding the consumption — viewing and listening, in public and private environments including theatres, homes and more — of film, television and other screen media.
It addresses viewing contexts including public spaces such as cinemas, private spaces such as homes, and emerging hybrid spaces.
For you to understand not only consumption environments but also media users, the module also investigates constructions of screen audiences, through historical as well as contemporary cases.
You will complete the module with an understanding of how screen media offer components of experiences dependent on consumption environments and on audiences' attitudes, cultural backgrounds and other activities.
This module is worth 20 credits.
An essential introduction to the key:
roles that are involved in creating these elements
language used to analyse these media
Decisions around lighting, sound, scripts and edits all affect how an audience understands and reacts to what they are seeing and hearing. Using case studies across periods and genres you'll develop an ability to "read" these decisions and why they've been made.
You'll also become familiar with who's making and implementing these decisions.
Over the course of the module we'll build a common understanding of the language used when analysing film and television. This will help you both understand the analysis of others and make sure your own voice is clearly understood.
You'll watch plenty of film and television as case studies and work with your fellow students in small groups to tackle questions and present your findings.
Recent films students have worked with include:
Vertigo - one of Alfred Hitchcock's most talked about movies from 1958
Deadpool - superhero comedy from 2016
By the end of the module you'll have the knowledge, skills and confidence to explain what's happening in what you see, ready for more specialised study in the rest of your degree.
This module is worth 20 credits.
This module supports first year students as they make the transition into degree level work. You will gain skills in independent and collaborative learning with the aid of guided and self-directed learning tasks and individual and group research projects. The module prepares the ground for subsequent research training and for the final year dissertation.
In this module you will critically examine the social forces that have shaped different media, focussing on the press, broadcasting, the internet, and film & television. You will explore key debates surrounding the development, composition and function of these different media forms, and examine the social, political, economic and cultural conditions that shaped their evolution.
You will be introduced to a range of theoretical approaches to understanding the production, content and reception of media messages and representations, with a particular focus on the social and political role of the mass media.
This module is worth 20 credits.
Explore art and architecture from 1800 to the contemporary world.
In this module you'll learn how show business is broken down into 'show' and 'business' in film, television and promotional industries and examine how creative decision-making, technology and legislation influence those industries. You'll also learn about how advertising and market research influence the design and production of media in certain regions and how film and television industries have developed in different contexts and periods. This module is worth 20 credits.
During this year-long module you'll:
Some of the specific questions we might look at together include:
This module is worth 20 credits.
To write about a product you need to know how it was produced.
We’ll take a screen product (for example a film, game or TV show) and break it down into it’s parts. You’ll create your own A-Z of the elements that make up the media (Atmosphere? Locations? Music? Zolly?) to help create an in-depth understanding of production.
We’ll also examine the art of media criticism – including vocabulary, audience and context.
You’ll then combine these two strands and create your own reviews of a range of media products. You’ll be encouraged to be creative. You might make a podcast as if you were a radio film reviewer or a video diary as a local film enthusiast.
Collaboration is key. In the same way that creating a programme involves a diverse range of people your reviews, while based on your own ideas, will involve working with others to create your final products.
This module is worth 20 credits.
For this year-long core research module you'll spend two hours a week in lectures and workshops to become familiar with different approaches to investigating research topics which interest you. This will include learning about and trying out first-hand a range of research methods and techniques commonly applied in ethnographic, historical and textual study, and determining their suitability for different projects. You’ll learn about the kinds of research that a range of industry professionals from diverse sectors within the media, creative, entertainment and heritage industries pursue, and have opportunities to reflect on how you could incorporate that learning into your own research. You'll also investigate the interdisciplinary nature of culture, film, media, the arts and critical digital studies and demonstrate this knowledge by choosing your own research project and methods. This module is worth is 20 credits.
This module develops critical modes of attention to the mediation of identity. On our screens and in our headphones, we shape and reshape our selves. Media do not reflect identities but play an active role in bringing them into being. This module takes up the question of 'identity politics', enhancing students' knowledge and understanding of key identity categories that have been advanced and problematized by media scholars, such as gender and sexuality, race and ethnicity, national, regional and local belonging, age, ability and disability, and more. The module also interrogates the mediated forms these identities take, considering the politics of looking and visual culture, the politics of hearing and auditory culture, and the politics of affect, emotions and embodiment. The module encourages historical as well as contemporary perspectives.
Described variously as an era of dissent, revolution and experiment, the 1960s offers a unique vantage point from which to explore a range of issues and topics pertinent to media and cultural studies. The art of the period brings into view a volatile world where distinctions between different media were becoming blurred (as in performance art, for instance) and where inherited ideas, hierarchies and values were contested, if not exploded. Notions such as the Establishment, the underground, celebrity, obscenity, mass culture, alongside those of personal identity (gender, race, class, sexuality) were all subject to radical questioning in an era where events, such as those of the Civil Rights Movement and the Vietnam War, challenged the received order of things. This module critically evaluates the idea of the 1960s, starting with its status as a fabled decade that is said to cast its shadow today. Historiographical and geographical questions structure the module. When and, crucially, where were ‘the Sixties’? Was it primarily an Anglo-American phenomenon? Was it the 1950s until 1963? Did it end in the early 1970s, as some believe, with the Oz Trials? These and other questions will help us to demythologise the period and begin investigating it anew.
Explore how film can be regarded as an art form through the study of avant-garde cinema in early 20th century Europe.
We’ll start by looking at what is meant by the term ‘avant-garde’, and consider the development of experimental filmmaking in the context of artistic movements such as:
The focus will be on developments in Germany, France and the Soviet Union and consider key trends from abstract animation to Cinema Pur.
We’ll also explore some key concerns of non-mainstream cinema such as:
You’ll examine how experimental film engaged with modernity, including the aesthetic and political strategies of the European avant-gardes.
By the end of the module you’ll be able to:
This module is worth 20 credits.
You will explore the works and practices of Black artists that have been displayed or produced in Europe and America from the nineteenth century to the present day. This includes how methods of display, tactics of critique and attitudes towards the 'Other' have defined and influenced how Black art is viewed and produced in the Western world.
Moving through time we'll:
To finish we'll consider the rise of contemporary African art within European and American art markets, and the related economic and political shifts that have occurred since the colonial era.
This module is worth 20 credits.
In this module you'll learn about the concepts of ‘transnational’ and ‘postnational’ media, taking into account the movement and interactions of people, finance, technology and ideas around the world. The module addresses in particular global media interactions emerging from tensions between forces of cultural homogenisation and heterogenisation. You'll also develop a foundation of theoretical knowledge to be applied to case studies in global film, television and other screen and print media. This module is worth 20 credits.
Digital communication and media are significantly transforming the ways our societies operate. In this module you will critically explore key issues behind this transformation, and investigate theoretical and practical foundations of digital communication and media and their relationship to contemporary culture. You will study the cultural, political, economic, technical and regulatory contexts from which digital communication and media have emerged and in which they continue to operate. To link conceptual frameworks to real-life experiences and situations, the module also provides opportunities for you to explore the interactive forms and practices that result from the use of digital communication and media through a range of both individual and group activities. This module is worth 20 credits.
A vital introduction to the first-hand study of art and architecture.
Through a series of weekly site visits you’ll explore:
We’ll examine how these change as a city develops and ask important questions about heritage and conservation.
The on-site study will be supported by archival material from Manuscripts and Special Collections. This might include architectural drawings, guide books, maps, newspapers, pamphlets, and photographs.
Media, TV, film and visual culture play a central role in forming our knowledge of the past. There is no memory without its representation in language or images. Using a range of case studies, you will explore how different forms of remembrance add weight to what they represent. Who remembers what, when, where, why and to what purpose? Why do screen and other media retell certain stories over and over again, and how is such remembrance linked to the erasure of other pasts? What is the relationship between national and transnational memories, when set against memories of enslavement and its visualisations? These, and other questions, will guide our approach to an interdisciplinary field of media, film and visual studies. The module will also encourage you to reflect critically on regimes of visibility and narration, and on the distinct ways that memories of certain events are communicated via different genres, institutions, and artefacts. This module is worth 20 credits.
This module introduces a number of artistic and architectural practices that emerged in Southern California after 1945. Exploring their cultural and historical context, we will consider the role of Los Angeles in the development of post-1945 American art and architecture, including mid-century modernism, Pop Art, Conceptual Art and Light & Space Art. Central to this module is the question of whether all art made in Los Angeles can be classified as “Los Angeles Art” – that is, the extent to which the art and architecture of the region necessarily reflected the geographical location, climate, and expansive urban layout of Los Angeles. To this end, we will consider the critical reception of art of this period, investigating, amongst other critical constructs, the notions of centre and periphery, regionalism and the cultural construction of the American west that shaped much writing on California during the period.
Combine our in-depth sector knowledge with the Careers and Employability Service skills development experience to get noticed when applying for jobs and during interviews.
From constructing an outstanding CV to practicing graduate level interview skills we'll build on your existing abilities.
You'll also get something concrete to talk about through a multi-week work placement. This will be tailored as far as possible to your subject and career aspirations.
This sort of attention to detail is what makes Nottingham graduates some of the most sought after in the job market.
This module is worth 20 credits.
Explore how film can be regarded as an art form through the study of avant-garde cinema in early 20th century Europe.
We’ll start by looking at what is meant by the term ‘avant-garde’, and consider the development of experimental filmmaking in the context of artistic movements such as:
The focus will be on developments in Germany, France and the Soviet Union and consider key trends from abstract animation to Cinema Pur.
We’ll also explore some key concerns of non-mainstream cinema such as:
You’ll examine how experimental film engaged with modernity, including the aesthetic and political strategies of the European avant-gardes.
By the end of the module you’ll be able to:
This module is worth 20 credits.
Throughout your degree you'll come across topics that really engage you and you wish you had more opportunity to explore in greater depth. The dissertation is that opportunity!
You'll agree a topic with your supervisor who'll be there to support and advise you throughout the entire project.
This individual support will be matched by more general sessions that develop your research and writing skills.
By the end of the year you'll submit a well researched and written project of 8,000 - 12,000 words.
The project will not only demonstrate your subject knowledge but also your ability to:
Essential skills any employer wants to see.
This module is worth 40 credits.
Almost every country has a cinema industry. Yet what’s shown, and why, varies wildly.
We’ll look at how films outside Hollywood are made, distributed and received globally, and how these reflect local, regional and international trends.
We’ll ask how these cinemas:
We will also try to untangle categories such as national cinema, transnational cinema and world cinema, as well as to make sense of different filmic traditions, genres and modes around the world. Who creates these categories and who do they serve?
With an entire global cinema to draw from, the focus will narrow in any year to particular regions, filmic genres or movements.
This module is worth 20 credits.
The cultural and creative industries are at the forefront of government strategies across the world for developing post-industrial economies, are seen as exciting places to work, and regularly feature at the top of graduate employment destinations.
We’ll examine the structure, organisation and working patterns in the creative and media industries alongside more practical exercises designed to help you to identify and evaluate your own skills and interests. This combination of industry knowledge and personal reflection is aimed to help you to find a rewarding and exciting career when you leave university.
You’ll also examine key aspects of contemporary work including:
There will be plenty of opportunity to discuss and build upon your own experiences and aspirations, and to conduct independent research on areas of creative and media work that interest you.
This module is worth 20 credits.
Understand the main processes and people involved in the development and production of screen content:
You'll come away with an in-depth knowledge of who does what and why. You'll also start to understand:
This module is worth 20 credits.
This module examines North American short stories and novels and their film adaptations, paying attention to the contexts in which both the literary and the cinematic texts are produced as well as to the analysis of the texts themselves. In particular, the module takes an interest in literary texts whose film adaptations have been produced in different national contexts to the source material.
What is a film, television or literary classic? How has this term come under pressure and fractured over the past half century or so? In this module you will consider the concept of the mid and late twentieth century American “classic” in a variety of contrasting and overlapping contexts. These contexts will be elaborated on the basis of their formal, generic, period and/or cultural designations that will cover university and exam curricula reading lists, popular opinion and widespread critical consensus (such as the currently prevalent view, for instance, that the early twenty-first century constitutes a ‘golden age’ of US television).
This module examines the development of photography in America from roughly 1945 onwards. The module breaks the period down into themes and considers:
1. the transformation of ‘documentary’ photograph;
2. the emergence and importance of colour photography;
3. experimental, conceptual and post-conceptual photography;
4. issues of serialism and seriality;
5. landscape photography;
6. the photobook
7. analogue/digital
The module will draw on the work of a diverse range of photographers, including Walker Evans, Robert Frank, Harry Callahan, Aaron Siskind, Ed Ruscha, Lewis Baltz, Robert Adams, Robert Heinecken, Stephen Shore, Todd Hido, William Eggleston and Doug Rickard.
Many films share common traits. Together they might be classed as “action”, “made for television” or “low budget”. But how does as film get assigned a genre? Who does the assigning? And what impact does this assigning have?
During the module we’ll delve deep into a particular genre. We’ll examine it’s:
Building on what you’ve learnt in years one and two you’ll also look at the genre in the context of production and consumption.
As well as knowledge of a specific genre you’ll also develop the skills to apply your learning to other genres.
This module is worth 20 credits.
Develop and expand your understanding of the relationship between screen media and their most important component – the audience.
We’ll explore widely across history including:
You’ll also consider the impact social and political factors, and changes in daily living, have on screen media’s relationship with its audience.
Alongside the theory you’ll also get practical experience by using questionnaires and focus groups to conduct your own audience research.
This module is worth 20 credits.
This module combines the historical and theoretical knowledge you have gained with the practical task of video production. You'll investigate the ways that production activities contribute to videomaking through recording and editing techniques, and experience the many decisions that must be made through the production process. You'll spend time in media labs and in the field making a collaborative video production, alongside four hours a week in lectures and seminars.
Examine how issues of gender and sexuality relate to media and popular culture.
Using the intersectional fields of feminism, queer theory, and media and cultural studies we'll ask some crucial questions such as:
This module is worth 20 credits.
This module will examine cultural production during Italy’s fascist regime. There will be an emphasis on the experience of visual culture in public settings such as the exhibition space, the cinema, and the built environment. A wide range of cultural artefacts will be examined, paying attention to material as well as visual aspects. Visual material will be situated in the social, cultural and political circumstances of the period. Topics will include: Fascism’s use of spectacle, fascist conceptions of utopia, the regime’s use of the past, the relationship between Fascism and modernism, Fascism as a political religion, the cult of Mussolini, urban-rural relations, and empire building. The module will also consider the afterlife of fascist visual culture and the question of ‘difficult’ heritage.
You'll start with an introduction to women's history in the period 1300-1600 in an Italian context. This will include women's domestic and political roles across ages, marital status and class.
We'll then then look at the role of the Renaissance (1400-1600) woman in art:
Classes will focus on:
We'll use methodologies from a variety of disciplines, such as history, art history and gender studies.
This module traces the development of performance art from the 1950s to the 1980s.
It considers the work of a number of artists in America and Europe in terms of:
Students will engage with a range of theories of:
Exploring performance art’s relationship with other visual art forms, including dance, experimental music, film and television, this module considers and evaluates the art historical genealogies of performance art and body art and examines the ways in which performance art has shifted the terms of art history.
In addition, it will consider the issues at stake in constructing a history of performance art, and in documenting, exhibiting, and writing about ephemeral, invisible, or indeterminate practices.
This module is worth 20 credits.
There is growing consensus that the climate and ecological crisis is the most pressing concern facing humanity today. In this module, we’ll examine the various ways in which the media impacts the climate crisis in terms of:
Every week, we will examine a challenge in its context, and debate and develop possible solutions. You’ll get to understand the role of the media in both exacerbating environmental issues, and potentially offering ways forward for a more sustainable society.
For your assessment, you will research and analyse an environmental case study, and reflect on your own use of the media to consider how you can be part of the change.
This module is worth 20 credits.
This module will explore, in the broadest sense, politics and visual culture:
We will be looking at different genres, modes, forms and styles to examine how we can understand the interaction of politics and visual culture.
Students will work in small groups, led by a member of academic staff, on a collaborative research project. These projects will take one of two forms:
The specific nature of these projects will change each year, based on current staff research priorities and the concerns impacting the creative and cultural industries. This will allow students to work on areas that are at the cutting edge of film and television studies, history of art or media studies or that are directly relevant to cultural or creative sectors that many aim to enter after graduation. Specific topics will be made available in the Spring of the preceding academic year, when students make their module choices.
The module will be structured around independent and collaborative working practices, echoing the nature of work within the cultural and creative industries. Employability skills are embedded throughout the module. Each group will have an academic lead who will guide and support students throughout the module, but they will be expected to plan their work independently and collectively. Weekly meetings will act as a check that students are making good progress and allow staff to offer direction as necessary.
Franchises dominate the mainstream global media industries. Since the 1990s, franchising as a commercial, creative and industrial strategy has become increasingly prevalent across the cultural industries: for example, in 2022, all of the top 10 highest-grossing films worldwide are franchise instalments produced by global media titans such as Disney and Warner Bros. These powerful corporations have wings that spread across various media and cultural sectors, from screen industries such as film, TV and games, to audio industries such as music and podcasts, to tourism industries such as theme parks, and retail industries such as product licensing and merchandising.
The increasing global and mainstream production – and popularity – of franchises means that they are indelible parts of many media consumers’ lives, including our own. But how much do we understand about how franchising works as a commercial strategy, where it originated, and why it is so successful? How are franchises produced, distributed, sustained, marketed and consumed? What kind of textual and generic themes predominate and why?
Offering a detailed look into the contemporary media industries’ most lucrative and influential production strategy, this module will situate the rise of franchising within relevant historical, social, and industrial contexts, using a variety of global franchise case studies to shed light on broader developments that have shaped the media and creative industries we know today.
You'll be part of large lectures, small seminars and individual tutorials - some will be in person and some will be online.
You'll work in groups on projects and presentations but also be responsible for doing a large amount of individual study.
Read widely beyond textbooks - you'll learn to understand and interpret academic, trade and industry reports, press releases, reviews and more. Over 95% of our students think they've had opportunities to bring information and ideas together from different topics - a great validation of our approach (National Student Survey 2022).
You'll have a personal tutor who will support your academic progress and help find solutions if there are any issues affecting your studies.
"As a personal tutor, I work with you on your academic progress, but I also have a pastoral role with regards to your well-being. I see how you get on across all your modules, which enables discussions about you as an individual."
Dr Gabriele Neher, Senior Tutor
Your assessments will vary according to the topic studied. As well as traditional essays, exams and presentations you might also:
The minimum scheduled contact time you will have is:
Weekly tutorial support and the accredited Nottingham Advantage Award provide further optional learning activities, on top of these class contact hours.
As well as your timetabled sessions you’ll carry out extensive self-study. This will include course reading, seminar preparation and group study with coursemates. As a guide 20 credits (a typical module) is about 200 hours of work (combined teaching and self-study).
Class sizes vary depending on topic and type. A popular lecture may have up to 200 students while a specialised seminar may only contain 10 students.
Your lecturers will usually be from our academic staff in Philosophy and Psychology, many of whom are internationally recognised in their fields.
University Park Campus covers 300 acres, with green spaces, wildlife, period buildings and modern facilities. It is one of the UK's most beautiful and sustainable campuses, winning a national Green Flag award every year since 2003.
You'll be well placed to start a career in the film and television sector with knowledge of:
You'll also have a critical understanding of creative industries and how they operate, allowing you to consider multiple pathways of work and study.
The degree will also build a wider set of skills for success across different sectors, such as:
The skills you develop will make you:
Find out more about skills gained and career destinations of Film and Television Studies students.
Key fact
Only 14% of employers state that specific degree subjects are a selection criterion. (Institute of Student Employers recruitment survey 2019)
81% of undergraduates from the Department of Cultural, Media and Visual Studies secured graduate level employment or further study within 15 months of graduation. The average annual salary for these graduates was £23,938.*
*HESA Graduate Outcomes 2019/20 data published in 2022. The Graduate Outcomes % is derived using The Guardian University Guide methodology. The average annual salary is based on graduates working full-time within the UK.
Careers 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.
The University of Nottingham is consistently named as one of the most targeted universities by Britain’s leading graduate employers (Ranked in the top ten in The Graduate Market in 2013-2020, High Fliers Research).
Before my course, I always just talked about what I’d seen in film. With the course, I understood it’s important to read about others and see how we change and develop, how we can take from the past and implement it in the present. I’ve got a better understanding of the industry now – where it’s been, where it is, and where it might be in the future.
Melania Burlacu
BA Film and Television Studies
Faculty of Arts
3 or 4 years full-time depending on language choices
Qualification
BA Hons
Entry requirements
AAA
UCAS code
Y002
Faculty of Arts
3 Years full-time or part-time
Qualification
BA Hons
Entry requirements
ABB
UCAS code
P900
Faculty of Arts
3 years full-time or part-time
Qualification
BA Hons
Entry requirements
ABB
UCAS code
W630
Faculty of Arts
4 years full-time
Qualification
BA Jt Hons
Entry requirements
ABB
UCAS code
RP4X
Our webpages contain detailed information about all processes in your student journey. Check them out alongside our student enquiry centre to find the information you need. If you’re still struggling, head to our help page where you can find details of how to contact us in-person and online.