BA Film & Television Studies With Employment Experience

4 Years On Campus Bachelors Program

University of Exeter

Program Overview

This degree gives you a rich grounding in film and television as cultural, social, industrial, and global phenomena—while also including a full year of professional placement to boost your employability. It’s perfect if you’re passionate about storytelling, media theory, and visual culture, and want the added benefit of real workplace experience before you graduate.

Curriculum structure

Year 1
Your first year sets the stage by introducing you to the language and tools of film analysis. You’ll study Major Debates in Film Theory and Introduction to Film History, which help you understand both the key ideas and the evolution of the medium. Interrogating Screens sharpens your critical thinking about how visual media create meaning, while The Contemporary Film and Television Industries gives you insight into how film and TV are actually produced, distributed, and consumed today. By the end of the year, you’ll feel confident with the core concepts, vocabulary, and historical and industrial knowledge that you’ll build on throughout the course.

Year 2
In your second year, you’ll have more freedom to specialize. You might choose World Cinemas to dive into non-Western traditions, or Television: Times, Trends and Technologies to explore how television is evolving in a digital age. If you’re drawn to creative practice, you could take Filmmaking or Adaptation: Text, Image, Culture. This year is all about shaping your own interests, blending theory, history, and creative practice so you can start finding your own cinematic voice.

Year 3 – Employment Experience
This is your placement year, where you’ll take on a graduate-level role in the film, television, or wider media sector. It’s a chance to put your knowledge into practice, develop professional skills, make industry connections, and gain résumé-ready experience that will set you apart after graduation.

Final Year
In your last year, you’ll take on a major project: either a traditional Film Studies Dissertation or a more creative option like a Creative Film Dissertation (for example, a video essay or short film). Alongside this, you can choose from modules that match your passions—such as American Independent Film, Queering British Film and Television, or Film, Philosophy, and the Internet. This is your opportunity to dive deep into themes that inspire you, and to leave with a portfolio of original research or creative work that reflects your unique perspective.

Focus areas

Film history
Media and cultural theory
Screen industries
Creative production
Global cinemas

Learning outcomes

By the time you graduate, you’ll have:

Strong critical and creative thinking skills about film and television
The ability to analyze visual media culturally, historically, and technically
Advanced research, writing, and creative production skills
Real-world professional experience from your placement year

Professional alignment

Although Film & Television Studies isn’t a regulated profession with formal accreditation, this degree is designed with employability in mind. The built-in placement year ensures that your academic learning connects directly to industry practice, while Exeter’s award-winning Careers Service supports you in finding placements and preparing for your career after graduation.

Reputation and rankings

Exeter is ranked among the UK’s best for film and media subjects. The University is in the top 10 of the Russell Group for student satisfaction in Film (National Student Survey 2024), and ranks 4th in the UK for Drama, Dance and Cinematics in the Complete University Guide 2026. Graduates from Exeter’s Film & Television Studies programs are highly regarded by employers and go on to successful careers across the creative industries.

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

From the very start, this degree is designed to give you more than just theory — it’s about learning through doing. You won’t just read about cinema, you’ll work with it: producing, analysing, collaborating, and experimenting. You’ll be supported with specialist labs, archives, and resources, as well as guidance to secure industry placements, so you’re building a professional portfolio as you study.

Here’s how it’s put into practice:

Work placement year built in
Because this course includes “with Employment Experience,” your third year is spent on a paid or graduate-level work placement in the UK. It’s tailored to your interests — whether film, television, or media — and the university supports you in preparing for it and approves placements to make sure the experience is genuinely valuable.

Internship support through Career Zone
Exeter’s Career Zone runs several schemes — from Student Business Partnerships to Access to Internships — helping you find placements and even providing funding in some cases.

Digital Humanities Lab internships
Every year, undergraduates can apply for paid part-time internships in the Digital Humanities Lab. This is a great chance to gain hands-on experience with digital tools, media research, and project work.

Specialist facilities & archives
On campus, you’ll have access to the Bill Douglas Cinema Museum — one of the largest film-related archives in the UK, and an invaluable resource for both study and creative inspiration.

Studios, labs & production tools
While the degree emphasises analysis and theory, you’ll also be part of Exeter’s wider film and media community, which gives you access to editing suites, studios, screening spaces, and specialist software for your creative and project work.

Collaborative projects & production modules
Many modules include group work, where you might direct, edit, write, or produce media projects alongside your peers. These collaborative experiences reflect the teamwork central to the creative industries.

Screenings, guest lectures & events
Throughout the course, you’ll be able to take part in guest talks, film screenings, workshops, and Q&As with filmmakers, actors, and scholars, bringing industry and academic perspectives directly into your learning.

Library & special collections
Exeter’s extensive library, alongside its unique special collections, offers resources for film, literature, and media research that can feed directly into your essays, dissertations, and creative ideas.

Career pathways & networks
Graduates from Film & Television Studies at Exeter go on to careers across the creative industries, with the majority working or studying further within 15 months of finishing their degree. Many draw directly on the skills and experiences they developed throughout the course.

This way, the degree doesn’t just prepare you academically — you leave with practical experience, a portfolio of projects, and the professional confidence to step into the creative industries.

Progression & Future Opportunities

Graduates from Exeter’s Film & Television Studies often step into exciting creative and media roles within just 15 months of finishing their degree. Many secure jobs in film production, television, editing, and communications, while about a third decide to continue their journey with postgraduate study.

Here’s what your future could look like:

Typical Career Paths

Over time, you might find yourself working as a:

Film or TV Producer / Development Executive
Editor or Post-production Specialist
Production Assistant, Runner, or Coordinator
Media & Communications Officer or Digital Content Strategist

How Exeter Helps You Get There

You won’t be on your own — Exeter offers a range of dedicated support services:

Careers Service & Career Zone – one-to-one career advice, portfolio and CV guidance, mock interviews, and regular employer events, especially in media, arts, and communications.
Exeter Award & Exeter Leaders Award – these programs build your employability through workshops, volunteering, placements, and leadership opportunities.
Employment Experience option – during Years 1–2, you’ll be guided through researching and applying for a graduate-level placement. Placements are approved by Exeter to make sure they’re high-quality and relevant.

Employment & Salary Outlook

Around 90% of Exeter graduates in Film/Media are working or in further study within 15 months.
Average salaries after 15 months are about £25,000, typically ranging between £24,000–£28,000.
In the “Employment Experience Abroad” pathway, creative arts graduates report median earnings of about £22,600 three years after finishing.
For Drama & Film graduates specifically, around 20% move into managerial/directorial roles, while others branch into IT, administration, or business fields.

Industry Connections & Resources

Exeter has strong links with the creative industries, and its graduates enjoy an excellent reputation with employers in the media sector.
The “Employment Experience” pathway provides a real chance to gain hands-on graduate-level experience in the UK or abroad.
On campus, you’ll benefit from specialist facilities like the Bill Douglas Cinema Museum, film labs, and AV studios, which also attract visiting professionals and guest lecturers.

Long-Term Value of Your Degree

An Exeter degree is well respected in the UK and internationally in media and arts circles.
With integrated work experience, your CV will stand out in the competitive creative industries.
You’ll also graduate with highly transferable skills — from writing and audiovisual analysis to project management and critical thinking — giving you flexibility if you want to pivot into other sectors.

What Graduates Go On To Do

Exeter graduates often move into roles at:

Production companies, broadcasters, and post-production houses
Digital media firms, creative agencies, marketing and communications roles
Publishing and nonprofit organizations
Postgraduate study — about a third of Film graduates choose to continue into master’s, MFA, or research degrees within 15 months.

Further Academic Progression

If you’d like to carry on with your studies, you could pursue:

Master’s in Film Studies, Screenwriting, Media & Communication, or Film Business
MFA programmes in filmmaking, directing, cinematography, or production
Research degrees such as MRes, MPhil, or PhD in film, media, or cultural studies
Interdisciplinary options like Media Management or Film Business, combining creative practice with business skills

✨ In short, Exeter not only equips you with deep subject knowledge and practical experience, but also opens multiple doors — whether you see yourself on a film set, in a media agency, or pursuing advanced academic study.