The BA (Hons) English and Film & TV at Nottingham Trent University combines the study of literature with cinematic and televisual storytelling, giving you the skills to analyse, create, and critique narratives across different media. This degree is ideal if you love reading, enjoy screen culture, and want to explore how stories in books, films, and TV shape ideas, identities, and societies.
Curriculum Structure
Year 1
In your first year, you’ll lay the foundation for both English and film/TV studies. Core modules include:
Reading Texts – learning to interpret literature through perspectives such as gender, race, and environment.
Film and TV Style in Close-Up – studying the language of screen storytelling.
The Bigger Picture: Core Concepts, Contexts and Debates in Film and Television – introducing you to genre, authorship, documentary, and representation.
Transformation: Agency and Self – helping you connect disciplines and find your own voice in the humanities.
These modules give you a solid grounding in both literary analysis and screen studies while encouraging self-reflection and critical thinking.
Year 2
In the second year, you’ll deepen your theoretical, contextual, and practical knowledge:
Media, Theory and Society – engaging with key frameworks across culture and communication.
Putting Film and TV into Practice – exploring the interaction between theory and production.
Transformation: Agency and World – considering sustainability, global futures, and your role in society, alongside an 80-hour work placement.
You’ll also have the chance to choose optional modules to tailor the course to your interests, such as:
British Cinema
Analysing British Television
Short Film Production and Exhibition
Researching Media and Communications
This mix of theory, practice, and optional choices helps you explore your passions while preparing for real-world media environments.
Year 3
In your final year, you’ll bring together your literary and screen expertise in independent projects:
Film & TV Major Project – which could be a visual essay, podcast, or dissertation.
Humanities Research Project – where you explore a topic that combines your English and film/TV interests.
Writing Justice, Changing Worlds – examining literature and film through lenses such as postcolonial theory, social justice, and activism.
Optional modules continue to let you refine your specialisms, build your portfolio, and engage critically with advanced topics in both fields.
Focus Areas
Literary criticism
Narrative across media
Screen analysis
Media industry
Creative practice
Theory and context
Learning Outcomes
By the end of this degree, you’ll be able to:
Interpret texts and media with confidence
Craft creative work inspired by media
Think critically about representation and power
Communicate effectively in writing and digitally
Conduct independent research
Professional Alignment
While firmly rooted in the humanities, this joint honours degree connects closely with careers in media, publishing, creative industries, and critical scholarship. NTU’s media and film programmes are industry-aware, with strong employer input and opportunities for placements, helping you gain skills that employers value.
Reputation & Employability
Nottingham Trent University ranks 7th in the UK for the number of undergraduate students in Media, Journalism, and Communications. This course offers a creative, rigorous, and flexible pathway to help you shape stories, understand culture, and prepare for roles in media, publishing, academia, or the wider creative industries.
Here’s how experiential learning works in the BA (Hons) English and Film & TV programme at Nottingham Trent University — it’s about doing, not just reading:
From day one, you’ll be learning in fully equipped, industry-standard environments, gaining hands-on skills as you go. You won’t just sit in lectures — you’ll create real media work, experiment with film and audio, and collaborate closely with peers and staff. The programme makes sure you have both creative tools and critical theory, so your skills are practical and grounded in context.
Here’s what that looks like in practice:
High-end tech and software: You’ll get access to top-tier workstations (Xeon processors, NVIDIA Quadro graphics cards) and professional post-production software like Adobe Creative Suite (Premiere, After Effects, Audition, Photoshop) and DaVinci Resolve for editing, coloring, and audio work.
Professional studios and equipment: Expect to use professional audio booths and sound studios, DSLR and 4K cameras, cine lenses, and green screens in studios designed for realistic production.
Dedicated creative spaces: Much of your learning will take place in the Design & Digital Arts Building, tailored to support film, TV, digital media, VR/mixed reality, and exhibition work.
Project-based learning: You’ll work on group and individual projects — video essays, short films, podcasts, blogs — as well as live briefs and collaborative work with peers and staff.
Optional work placements: In the second half of Year Two, you can take an extended placement to embed yourself in real-world media environments.
Study abroad opportunities: You can also gain international experience through exchange partnerships in your second year, broadening your perspective and building global networks.
Campus support: Boots Library on City Campus, plus general student services like free WiFi, software access, and laptop loans, make sure you can complete your media projects reliably.
Social and collaborative spaces: The Djanogly Building offers areas to study, collaborate, and socialize, helping you connect with peers outside of class.
This combination of theory and hands-on practice means that when you graduate, you won’t just be fluent in literary and media critique — you’ll also be confident creating media using the same tools professionals use every day.
Graduates from this programme often move into creative, media, publishing, or educational roles. By combining strong communication skills with technical storytelling know-how, you’ll be ready to shape narratives, lead content teams, or even launch your own media ventures.
Examples of roles you might take on:
Film/TV Producer, Content Strategist, Script Editor, Media Journalist.
How this degree sets your path in motion
University services that support employment
NTU’s Employability & Careers Team is there from day one, offering placement fairs, workshops, CV clinics, and one-to-one career coaching.
Every undergraduate degree includes at least 8 weeks of assessed work-like experience, and many offer the option of a full-year placement, giving you hands-on industry exposure.
You can also access the Professional Student Wardrobe — a free service to help you look your best for interviews.
Employment stats & salary expectations
Around 96% of NTU’s media-type graduates are in work or further study within six months of finishing the course.
Typical salaries for media or communications graduates start at around £22,000 after three years, rising to £25,000 or more depending on your role and location.
University–industry partnerships & real links
The course is designed in consultation with employers, and NTU has strong connections with media and cultural organisations that feed into placements and guest lectures.
Many graduates find roles in major organisations like the BBC, Sky, Channel 5, or Brit Asia TV, benefiting from the university’s visibility in the media sector.
Long-term accreditation & reputation value
NTU is ranked 1st in the UK for employability, reflecting the university’s strong focus on graduate success.
Your degree blends English and Film/TV under recognised disciplines, giving you both academic credibility and flexibility if you decide to pivot later.
Overall graduation outcomes
Graduates leave with a mix of analytical, creative, technical, and communication skills.
Common roles include film/TV production assistant or coordinator, content strategist, copywriter, or media researcher.
Many graduates also branch into marketing, public relations, publishing, education, or business roles that value strong communication and storytelling skills.
Further Academic Progression
After your BA (Hons) in English and Film & TV, several options are open if you wish to continue your studies:
Pursue a Master’s degree (MA or MSc) in Film Studies, Media & Communication, Screenwriting, Film Production, or Digital Media.
If research appeals, you could take an MPhil or PhD in Film Studies, Cultural Studies, or related humanities fields.
Alternatively, combine your creative training with interdisciplinary studies, such as an MBA with a media/creative industries focus, or a postgraduate qualification in Journalism, Publishing, or Digital Marketing.
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