Film, Photography and Media MA

Course overview

This course allows you to think about the critical and creative relationships between film, photography and the media, while developing your skills to produce projects of your own.

You'll complete a major independent project, supported by modules that put your practice into the context of contemporary debates. You’ll explore the different critical approaches to the making and consumption of photography and film, to inform the short film and photography projects you’ll work on.

The flexibility of this course allows you to choose from optional modules that suit your personal and career aspirations. You could study cultural policy, international film industries, film and TV writing, feminism in the media and more.

The content of the course modules is informed by the research interests and practice of academic staff who teach them. This represents the School’s unique approach to combining theory and practice. Please note that this is not a vocational training course.

Please refer to the application deadlines.

Applying

Entry requirements

A bachelor degree with a 2:1 (Hons), preferably with some background in lens-based or image practice. This course encourages applications from students whose undergraduate degree has investigated one of the following subject areas:

• creative photography (with evidence of some critical/reflexive writing)

• film practice (including fiction, documentary, experimental)

• film studies/filmology (as long as the applicant is aware that creative practice is at least 50% of this course)

• English literature (if there is significant evidence of creative practice)

• fine art (as long as there is evidence of photographic/time-based work)

• media studies (with evidence of creative practice).

Please note that this course is not specifically ‘vocational’ (a technical skills-based experience), though it will provide you with regular technical support to help you to realise your creative aims within each module.

All applicants are required to submit a portfolio of recent practical work. Applicants with degrees in other creative subjects, or with relevant professional experience, may also be considered.

This course includes a substantial amount of theoretical study, so may not be suitable for those with largely practice-based backgrounds. We may request additional documentation to inform our decision.

International qualifications

To see equivalent entry requirements for your country, check our international entry requirement directory.

For more information contact the School of Media and Communication admissions team.

English language requirements

IELTS 6.5 overall, with no less than 6.0 in any component. For other English qualifications, read English language equivalent qualifications.

Improve your English

International students who do not meet the English language requirements for this programme may be able to study our postgraduate pre-sessional English course, to help improve your English language level.

This pre-sessional course is designed with a progression route to your degree programme and you’ll learn academic English in the context of your subject area. To find out more, read Language for Communication and Society (6 weeks) and Language for Social Science and Arts: Communication and Society (10 weeks).

We also offer online pre-sessionals alongside our on-campus pre-sessionals. Find out more about our six week online pre-sessional and our 10 week online pre-sessional.

You can also study pre-sessionals for longer periods – read about our postgraduate pre-sessional English courses.

Career opportunities

This course will provide you with a broad knowledge base and creative skills across two important forms of media communication. You'll develop a critical awareness of the broader visual/ media culture to help you have a successful career in the media industries, including the creative and film industries, as well as roles in visual communication.

Additionally, the course’s emphasis on advanced skills in research, critical analysis, interpretation, presentation, and oral/ written communication will give you the skills you need to pursue a career in academia.