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Whether you are interested in the moving image as an art form or an industry, our diverse degree in Film and Television Studies will give you the space to explore different technical and critical approaches in a creative environment.
We offer specialist teaching on documentary film-making, fiction film-making, experimental film-making, multiplatform production, studio production and scriptwriting, as well as art cinema, horror and cult cinema, Hollywood, gender studies, television aesthetics, digital cultures, and video games.
Designed to equip students with a combination of practical skills, creative confidence and critical awareness, this versatile course opens up multiple pathways into an exciting industry.
Student Satisfaction and Employability Results
90% overall student satisfaction for the Department of Theatre, Film and Television Studies (NSS 2020).
98% of our graduates were in work or further study within 6 months, 4% more than Creative Arts and Design graduates nationally (HESA 2018*)
Overview
Why study Film & Television Studies at Aberystwyth?
You will be taught and mentored by a team of internationally known experts and practitioners
We are a vibrant and creative department where drama and theatre, film and media, and scenography and theatre design collide
You will 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
You will have access to our superb facilities and resources for practical work: 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 Arts Centre 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.
Modules
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
Employability
What can I do with a Film and Television Studies degree?
Many of our graduates have been successful in finding employment in these fields:
Researchers, editors, floor managers, camera operators, designers and directors for film and television production companies
Film distribution
Freelance film-making
Marketing and Public Relations
Film festival programming
Advertising
Arts administration
Education.
What skills do I gain from this degree?
Students in our department gain the following transferable skills that are sought after by employers. These include the ability to:
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 means
work independently and with others
effectively organise your time and deploy your skills
listen to and make use of critical advice
be self-motivated and self-disciplined
use a range of information technology skills and resources
be entrepreneurial in developing cultural projects.
Are there any work experience opportunities whilst studying?
The department has strong partnerships and connections with many organisations with whom our students have been offered work placements. These include the BBC, Tinopolis and Edinburgh International Film Festival.
Learning & Teaching
What will I learn?
The breakdown below will provide you with an illustration of what you may study during the four year degree scheme.
In your first year you will take:
Practical modules that develop skills in all stages of the production process: scriptwriting, shooting, directing, and editing
Core introductory modules in the history, theory and analysis of film and television
A choice of modules: Movements in Film History, Studying Communication, and Studying Media.
In your second year you will have the opportunity to:
Develop skills in studio production, documentary film-making and writing for film and television
Gain knowledge and key critical skills in a range of complementary theoretical modules that span mainstream cinema, documentary film-making, art cinema and contemporary issues in digital culture
Increase your employability prospects and transferrable skills through the core work placement module.
In your third year you will be able to:
Specialise in documentary production, fiction film, experimental media or scriptwriting and build advanced skills in these areas
Study specialist subject areas that deal with contemporary film, histories of technology, experimental film, cult cinema, and television in the 20th Century
Embark on an independent research project, leading to a dissertation on a film and television-related topic of your choice
Benefit from extensive support and guidance whatever pathway you decide on.
How will I be taught?
You will be taught through a variety of lectures, seminars, screenings, technical demonstrations and group-based project work. The diversity of activity is essential part of our philosophy, and creates a uniquely exciting and productive learning environment.
How will I be assessed?
We assess our students through:
Individual and group-based film and video projects
Production diaries, screenplays and scriptwriting
Reflective journals and blogs
Video essays and traditional essays
Seminar presentations and pitches.
All of these materials could be used to generate a working portfolio to present to potential employers.
More information:
You will be assigned a personal tutor throughout your degree scheme, who will help you with any problems or queries, whether these are academic-related or personal issues. You should feel free to contact them at any time for help and advice.
You will also have the opportunity to complete a Personal Development Plan (PDP) at Aberystwyth. This is a structured process of self-appraisal, reflection, and planning, which will enable you to chart your personal, academic and professional development throughout your time at university. By recording your academic performance, and highlighting the skills you already have and those you will need for future employability, the PDP portfolio will equip you with the necessary tools to plan effectively, develop successful approaches to study, and consider your future career options and aspirations.
Student Views
What I love most about Film and Television Studies is the teaching staff. They are experienced professionals who are dynamic, enthusiastic and most importantly, approachable; it makes learning fun and my confidence has improved as a result. I also enjoy the various modules on offer. The practicals are great as they allow me to experiment with my own ideas but at the same time they teach me valuable skills. My favourite modules so far are Scriptwriting and Writing for Film & Television. I love to write creatively and these modules enable me to develop my imagination.
Angela Wendy Rumble
Film and Television Studies at Aberystwyth University is brilliant. The course has a great atmosphere which you can tell from 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
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.
