Film and Television Studies / Drama and Theatre

Why study Film and Television Studies/ Drama and Theatre Studies at Aberystwyth University

• You will be taught and mentored by a team of internationally known experts and practitioners. 
• All students benefit from our complementary learning experiences where theory and practice are designed to feed into each other. 
• As a department, students benefit from our connections with key industry partners, such as the BBC, S4C, BAFTA Cymru, Tribeca Film Festival (New York), Fiction Factory, Tinopolis, Edinburgh International Film Festival, the National Broadcast Archive of Wales at the National Library of Wales and Avid. These partners provide an excellent opportunity to network and liaise with those in the industry before graduation. 
• Students in the department have access to our superb facilities and resources for practical work: professional cameras and sound equipment, industry-standard software, professional TV studio, editing lab, postproduction suite, cinema, grading and dubbing suite, three rehearsal studios, and costume & wardrobe facilities, three rehearsal studios, each with flexible technical facilities; 2 large professionally-equipped studios with digital lighting rigs controlled via ETC Congo and Strand Lighting consoles, Yamaha and Soundcraft PAs, Sanyo AV systems and Strand lighting and two NXAMP; and costume and wardrobe facilities. 
• On our campus and situated next door to the department is one of the largest Arts Centres in Wales, which regularly presents screenings, talks, master classes, exhibitions and film festivals. 
• Aberystwyth University is known for having a large number of clubs and societies, so be assured that your time will be occupied with your studies and taking part in your chosen club / society's activities. 
• If you're looking for an experience beyond Aberystwyth, all students will have the opportunity to take part in a study abroad placement with one of our partnered Universities in Europe through the Erasmus + programme and some further afield through our International Exchange programme. Find out where your adventure could take you!

Our Staff

All academic staff at the Department of Theatre, Film and Television Studies are research active and/or involved in Knowledge Transfer projects and have either relevant academic qualifications at doctoral level or equivalent professional experience and expertise.

Please note: The modules listed below are those currently intended for delivery during the next academic year and may be subject to change. They are included here to give an indication of how the course is structured.

* Also available partially or entirely through the medium of Welsh

What can I do with a Film and Television Studies / Drama and Theatre studies degree?

One of our notable alumni is Ben Thompson who is currently the short film programmer for the Tribeca Film Festival in New York. During his time at Aberystwyth University, Ben Thompson studied Joint Honours Film and Television Studies / Drama and Theatre Studies. 

Many of our students have been successful in obtaining employment in these fields:

• Acting and performing
• Directing
• Designing
• Camera operating
• Script writing
• Editing
• Teaching and education
• Researching
• Administration
• Marketing
• Management
• Public Relations.

What skills do I gain from this degree?

Students in this degree gain the following valuable skills that are sought after by employers. These include the ability to:

• Work effectively in group settings to develop, rehearse and produce live and filmic events
• Apply creative, imaginative and problem solving skills in a variety of situations
• Research, evaluate and organise information
• Structure and communicate ideas effectively in a variety of situations and using a variety of media
• The ability to work independently and with others
• Effective time and organisation
• Self-motivation and discipline
• Information technology skills
• Entrepreneurial skills.

What work experience opportunities exist whilst studying? 

Click here to find out about the various opportunities that our Aberystwyth University Careers team offer. 

Enhance your employability prospects with GO Wales and YES (Year in Employment Scheme) managed by our Careers department. 

Drama & Theatre at Aberystwyth University is dynamic, challenging, engaging and exciting. It offers students a broad range of practical modules which take place in a controlled and encouraging environment. The facilities of the Parry Williams building are second to none and offer a chance to perform a range of theatrical concepts. The course offers theoretical modules which are also engaging and offer a deeper insight into the world around us and society's relationship with the arts. The most rewarding aspect of the academic modules is that you can transfer the skills learned from study to practical work. The theory work often enhances the skills on a practical level. Working together between practical and theoretical modules the course offers students many useful skills.

Daniel Andrew Radbourne

Film and Television Studies at Aberystwyth University is brilliant. The course has a great atmosphere from which you can tell how well-connected the students and lecturers are. The academic side of the course is illuminating, touching on a wide variety of topics and dealing with each of these in detail, which works well even for those students who want to focus more on the more practical modules. In addition the department provides plenty of opportunities for work experience as well as chances for students to hone their skills out of the classroom with departmental equipment. There is also a well-supported film society. 

Joe Williams

The wide range of module choices paired with the wide variety of drama societies means we can easily be prepared for any area of drama and theatre practice. The academic and practical elements are brilliant, allowing us to either focus on one or the other and/or ground ourselves in the theory in order to better our practical exploration. The staff are always friendly and enthusiastic, always encouraging us to do more and explore further.

Jemma Rowlston

What I love about Film and Television Studies is the variety of different areas I've had the opportunity to be a part of. Last year I would never have had the confidence or know-how to organise a production team, to make and market short films and to work in a 3 camera studio. What I wanted from Aberystwyth University were the skills to become a film-maker; what I got were practical skills, knowledge of academic debates, and contacts that have given me an insight into the film and television industry. 

Peter Gosiewski