Bachelor of Arts (Film & Digital Media)

Course Overview

Launched in 2018, the BA in Film & Digital Media offers students a unique combination of theory and practice across the areas of film and digital media. The core focus of the programme is the development of students creative and critical skills, positioning graduates to become content creators across a range of media platforms and giving them the entrepreneurial skills and flexibility required to work in todays rapidly changing media environment. 

This course provides a comprehensive grounding in the theory and history of film and digital media as well as training in film practice, screenwriting, and digital development and design. Students become familiar with industry standard tools and techniques, in addition to developing the fundamentals for creative professional practice in applied art and design.

The course is located within the Huston School of Film & Digital Media, offering students the opportunity to become part of the Hustons creative community and connecting them to the local and national media industries from within a world-renowned University environment. Established in 2003 under the patronage of the Huston family, our graduates include an Academy Award and Emmy nominee for screenwriting. The Huston School has developed a wide range of links with the media industry in Ireland and graduates from the School have gone on to work in film production and direction, screenwriting, game design, e-learning, film festival programming, and lecturing amongst other areas. 

As a UNESCO City of Film, European Capital of Culture 2020 and the home of the Irish Film Board, Galway is situated at the heart of Irelands creative and cultural sector.

Watch our introductory video for Bachelor of Arts (Film and Digital Media) from our May 2021 Virtual Open Day

By the end of your course of studies in Film and Digital Media at University of Galway, you will be:

• Able to analyse, interpret, and critique films and media from a variety of theoretical perspectives.
• Knowledgeable in the pre-production, production, and postproduction processes of film and digital media.
• Able to apply design thinking processes to real world social and creative challenges.
• Knowledgeable in the fundamentals of story structure and writing for the screen.
• Trained in working collaboratively to produce a film or digital media projects.

Key Facts

Entry Requirements

Course Outline

The denominated BA degree in Film & Digital Media allows students to combine specialist knowledge of the area with a choice of two other subjects from the general Arts degree in the first year of study, and with one subject from the BA in years two and four.

In the first year, Film & Digital Media makes up half of the course, and students also choose two other subjects from the general Arts degree. In the second year, students study Film & Digital Media and one other subject carried over from first year. In the third year, the emphasis is on professional and practical development and giving students the opportunity to apply the skills and knowledge they have acquired in years one and two within real-world settings. In the final year, students continue their study of Film & Digital Media and their chosen Arts subject, taking both for their final degree.

Year 1
In the first year students take 4 modules, offering a mix of practical and academic approaches across film and digital media. Students are given an introduction to the study of Hollywood and world cinema as well as practical training in filmmaking and digital design. 

• Introduction to Film Studies
• Digital Design
• Beyond Hollywood Film
• Introduction to Filmmaking

Year 2
Students undertake six modules, offering a mix of theory and practice in the areas of digital media content, filmmaking, screenwriting and film analysis.

• Introduction to Film Theory  
• Digital Storytelling
• Creative Media Design and Development
• European Cinema
• Screenwriting 1          
• Film Practice 1

Year 3
The third year of the programme gives students the opportunity to apply the skills and knowledge they have acquired in years one and two within real-world settings. Working under the supervision of course personnel, students will engage in a range of intensive professional activities in both semesters. These will include internships with media and arts organisations, service learning projects with community groups, and supervised research and creative projects. Students who wish to do so may also apply to spend part of the year studying at a university outside Ireland.

 Year 4
The fourth year of the programme gives students the opportunity to focus on their areas of interest, whether this be film and media analysis or more practical areas of filmmaking or digital content creation. Students will undertake a final creative project or written dissertation in this year.

Core Modules

• Creative Project/Minor Dissertation
• Creative and Cultural Industries

Options Include

• Screenwriting 2                      
• Film Practice 2
• Early and Silent Cinema
• Irish Cinema
• Introduction to Visual Culture
• Creative Computing
• Human Computer Interaction
• Artificial Intelligence
• E-Business Marketing

Curriculum Information

Glossary of Terms

Year 1 (60 Credits)

Year 2 (60 Credits)

Course Overview

Launched in 2018, the BA in Film & Digital Media offers students a unique combination of theory and practice across the areas of film and digital media. The core focus of the programme is the development of students creative and critical skills, positioning graduates to become content creators across a range of media platforms and giving them the entrepreneurial skills and flexibility required to work in todays rapidly changing media environment. 

This course provides a comprehensive grounding in the theory and history of film and digital media as well as training in film practice, screenwriting, and digital development and design. Students become familiar with industry standard tools and techniques, in addition to developing the fundamentals for creative professional practice in applied art and design.

The course is located within the Huston School of Film & Digital Media, offering students the opportunity to become part of the Hustons creative community and connecting them to the local and national media industries from within a world-renowned University environment. Established in 2003 under the patronage of the Huston family, our graduates include an Academy Award and Emmy nominee for screenwriting. The Huston School has developed a wide range of links with the media industry in Ireland and graduates from the School have gone on to work in film production and direction, screenwriting, game design, e-learning, film festival programming, and lecturing amongst other areas. 

As a UNESCO City of Film, European Capital of Culture 2020 and the home of the Irish Film Board, Galway is situated at the heart of Irelands creative and cultural sector.

Watch our introductory video for Bachelor of Arts (Film and Digital Media) from our May 2021 Virtual Open Day

By the end of your course of studies in Film and Digital Media at University of Galway, you will be:

• Able to analyse, interpret, and critique films and media from a variety of theoretical perspectives.
• Knowledgeable in the pre-production, production, and postproduction processes of film and digital media.
• Able to apply design thinking processes to real world social and creative challenges.
• Knowledgeable in the fundamentals of story structure and writing for the screen.
• Trained in working collaboratively to produce a film or digital media projects.

Key Facts

Entry Requirements

Course Outline

The denominated BA degree in Film & Digital Media allows students to combine specialist knowledge of the area with a choice of two other subjects from the general Arts degree in the first year of study, and with one subject from the BA in years two and four.

In the first year, Film & Digital Media makes up half of the course, and students also choose two other subjects from the general Arts degree. In the second year, students study Film & Digital Media and one other subject carried over from first year. In the third year, the emphasis is on professional and practical development and giving students the opportunity to apply the skills and knowledge they have acquired in years one and two within real-world settings. In the final year, students continue their study of Film & Digital Media and their chosen Arts subject, taking both for their final degree.

Year 1
In the first year students take 4 modules, offering a mix of practical and academic approaches across film and digital media. Students are given an introduction to the study of Hollywood and world cinema as well as practical training in filmmaking and digital design. 

• Introduction to Film Studies
• Digital Design
• Beyond Hollywood Film
• Introduction to Filmmaking

Year 2
Students undertake six modules, offering a mix of theory and practice in the areas of digital media content, filmmaking, screenwriting and film analysis.

• Introduction to Film Theory  
• Digital Storytelling
• Creative Media Design and Development
• European Cinema
• Screenwriting 1          
• Film Practice 1

Year 3
The third year of the programme gives students the opportunity to apply the skills and knowledge they have acquired in years one and two within real-world settings. Working under the supervision of course personnel, students will engage in a range of intensive professional activities in both semesters. These will include internships with media and arts organisations, service learning projects with community groups, and supervised research and creative projects. Students who wish to do so may also apply to spend part of the year studying at a university outside Ireland.

 Year 4
The fourth year of the programme gives students the opportunity to focus on their areas of interest, whether this be film and media analysis or more practical areas of filmmaking or digital content creation. Students will undertake a final creative project or written dissertation in this year.

Core Modules

• Creative Project/Minor Dissertation
• Creative and Cultural Industries

Options Include

• Screenwriting 2                      
• Film Practice 2
• Early and Silent Cinema
• Irish Cinema
• Introduction to Visual Culture
• Creative Computing
• Human Computer Interaction
• Artificial Intelligence
• E-Business Marketing

Curriculum Information

Irish, UK and EU Undergraduate Applications

For full details on the undergraduate admission procedure and entry requirements please refer to the Undergraduate Admissions Office webpage.

How do I apply for an Undergraduate Course?

• You can apply online to the Central Applications Office (CAO) on the CAO Web site
• You can submit a paper application which you can download from the CAO Web site

Where do I submit my paper application?

You can send your paper application to the following postal address:

The Central Applications Office 
Tower House, Eglinton Street, Galway 
T: 353 91 509800 
E: www.cao.ie

Important CAO dates to remember:

There are three closing dates for applications.

• Normal application: 1 February.
• Late applications: 1 May (Late applications may NOT be made by those applying on 1 or for entry to Medicine).
• Change of mind: 1 July.

If you are submitting a non-standard application (an entry on page three of the application form), you should submit it to the CAO Office  by the 1 February.

Further information on Undergraduate Admission is available from the Undergraduate Admissions Office.

Further information on Undergraduate entrance Scholarships:www.nuigalway.ie/admissions/scholarships/index.html.

Learn More

• Download CAO application form and handbook