MA Film Studies
Key Details
- Attendance
- Full Time
- Award
- Degree of Master of Arts
- Course Length
- 1 year
- Course Start Date
- September 2025
Course Overview
Study at a world-leading centre of research and teaching in film history, theory, and criticism. Deepen your knowledge of the history of cinema and gain an understanding of the power of filmmaking and representation. In this MA in Film Studies, you’ll gain a critical perspective on the industry as you explore the social and cultural history of film and filmmaking and the national and global importance of cinema.
Our world-leading expertise spans British, US and global cinemas, popular genres, and feminist interpretations of media. One of the longest-established centres of learning in Film Studies, UEA’s academics are among the most respected around the world for their research and teaching.
These areas of expertise will bring your studies at UEA to life. You’ll learn about British cinema, genres and industry trends, and its history and heritage--how it has developed and what makes it globally respected and recognised around the world today. You’ll also take a critical look at gender and film, discovering the women filmmakers who have shaped a ‘counter cinema’ that spans the globe. Optional modules allow you to focus on key topics, which might investigate particular genres, social and cultural issues, or facets of the industry or film heritage.
Throughout your studies, you’ll find our excellent facilities support your ambitions. The celebrated East Anglian Film Archive is home to thousands of films and TV programmes and amateur home recordings, dating back as far as 1896—and is available to you to explore, and to inspire your own unique research project perhaps. UEA has close links with the British Film Institute in London, and also the Norwich Film Festival, right here in our city. With production companies located in this region, and good links to the capital, you'll be learning in a dynamic and well-connected centre of the media industries.
Graduates of our Film Studies MA course possess impressive expertise, with in-depth knowledge of film and the film industry, and its place in society and the global economy. You may have ambitions to develop your career in the industry, to become a writer, producer, or director, and this course will equip you with critical powers as well as an understanding of cinema. You may choose to take your transferable communication, teamworking, and self-management skills into a career in marketing, advertising, the charity sector, or other business pursuits. Alternatively, you may wish to pursue an academic career, and the MA will give you the grounding you need to go on to PhD research.
Study and Modules
Structure
In your first semester, you’ll get a solid grounding in the fundamentals of film studies including the key theoretical and historical debates which underpin contemporary film studies. The emphasis will be on analysing the primary source material and archival documents that give you access to the complex intersection of debates which underly contemporary British cinema studies.
From this perspective other formative cinematic theories or political perspectives can be explored. The first semester of the Master’s course is designed to open up the areas that the university is famed for such areas as British Film, Realism, and Gender and film.
In your second semester, you’ll have the chance to specialise in areas of your choice. Work at Master’s level is frequently led by our cutting-edge research, and you may have the opportunity to experience material informed by the latest developments in film research and theory.
At the end of the course, you’ll spend the summer researching and writing your dissertation. This is your chance to use the knowledge you have 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: 60)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 different ways – from the more traditional lectures and seminars 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 essential skills for the job market and a deeper understanding of how film and television content is produced.
We’ll support you to become a fully 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
We know that every student has different strengths, so we use a range of individual and group assessment methods – from essays to presentations and assessed discussions. All these assessments help strengthen your critical thinking and are designed to 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 what you’ve learned in modules, gain specific feedback on your working practices, and strengthen the chances of better marks at the end of them.
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:
-
- 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.
As well as subject-specific knowledge and skills, 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 a wide variety of successful UEA alumni from across the creative industries.
Careers
Examples of careers that you could enter include:
- Film and TV production
- Publicity officer
- Cultural heritage and archives
- Arts festivals
- Social media
- Publishing (books, magazines, newspapers)
Discover more on our Careers webpages.