Film Studies BA

Here’s how experiential learning works in the BA Film Studies programme at Warwick — and why it’s much more than just lectures and essays:

From the very start, you’ll be working hands-on, combining creative practice with academic study. You won’t simply read about films — you’ll watch, analyse, write, discuss, and even create them. The new Faculty of Arts building, with its specialist teaching, social, and creative spaces, gives you a modern environment that’s designed to encourage collaboration and creativity.

As you progress through the degree, you’ll have the chance to step into areas such as film production, festival design, curation, and independent research, gradually shaping your own path.

In practice, your experience will include:

• In your third year, you can apply for the Film Production module, run in partnership with the London Film School, where you’ll make your own short film.

• Alternatively, in your final year, you may choose to complete a Dissertation: an independent research project that allows you to dive deep into a topic of your choice.

• Assessment isn’t limited to traditional essays — it also includes video essays, creative portfolios, festival design projects, presentations, and exams.

• Teaching takes place through lectures, screenings, seminars, and workshops. Small-group seminars (around 10–12 students) mean you’ll get regular opportunities for discussion and feedback.

• Weekly screenings are a core part of learning, helping you to engage with films critically and collectively.

Facilities and resources to support you:

• Warwick’s Library gives you access to over a million printed works and tens of thousands of electronic journals to fuel your film research.

• The Oculus learning hub and other campus study spaces provide flexible areas for editing, group work, and project preparation.

• The Faculty of Arts building itself is designed with specialist facilities to support creative work, screenings, and collaboration.

Opportunities beyond the classroom:

• You can choose to study abroad in your second year, extending the degree to four years and giving you the chance to experience another country’s film culture first-hand.

• Your department also offers strong career support through a dedicated Senior Careers Consultant, industry-focused workshops, and events on freelancing, curation, and production.

Graduates from Warwick’s Film Studies program go on to build exciting careers across the creative industries and beyond. Some step into curating film programmes, producing content, or writing film criticism. Others find themselves shaping media strategy, managing arts projects, or teaching film to the next generation. Along the way, they carry with them strong analytical, communication, and audio-visual skills that open doors in both creative and professional support roles.

Your career could branch into paths such as:

• Film/TV Producer or Assistant Producer

• Programmer or Curator (cinemas, festivals, galleries)

• Film Critic or Journalist

• Content Strategist / Media Planner

• Arts Officer or Cultural Manager

• Film Educator or Workshop Facilitator

How Warwick supports your future
Warwick takes employability seriously, and you’ll feel that throughout your degree.

• Within the Department, a dedicated Senior Careers Consultant offers advice specifically for film and media students. They run practical workshops like “Working in Radio, Film and TV” or “Introduction to Freelancing” and connect you with industry fairs.

• More broadly, Warwick’s Careers Service provides CV clinics, employer networking events, internship schemes, and alumni mentoring.

• The Faculty of Arts building and new creative facilities give you the space to collaborate, rehearse, and screen work right next to the Warwick Arts Centre — an environment that fosters connections and creativity.

Career outcomes and opportunities
Warwick is one of the UK’s most respected universities and a top target for graduate employers. While the Film Studies department doesn’t publish salary data specifically, graduates entering creative sectors such as media, education, and cultural industries often start with salaries ranging from £22,000–£30,000 depending on role and location.

Links with industry
In your final year, you’ll have the chance to take a Film Production module delivered in partnership with the London Film School. This gives you the experience of producing a short film with professional-level input. The department also collaborates with cinema clubs, festivals, guest speakers, and curated screenings — creating a natural bridge between academic study and professional practice.

The long-term value of a Warwick degree
Warwick’s strong global reputation ensures that your degree carries weight wherever your career takes you. Beyond the film world, the skills you develop — critical thinking, research, communication, media literacy — are highly transferable and valued across many industries.

Where graduates go
Alumni have pursued careers as programmers, curators, arts officers, producers, directors, writers, journalists, broadcasting equipment operators, PR professionals, and educators. Alongside the theory of film and television, you’ll also have the option to gain hands-on skills like digital editing, short film production, and festival design in your later years of study.

Further study
If you want to take your academic or creative journey further after your BA, you’ll have plenty of options:

• A Master’s in Film Studies, Film Theory, or Cinema & Media Studies

• An MFA or MA in Film Production, Screenwriting, or Media Practice

• A PhD in Film, Media, or Cultural Studies if you’re drawn to research and academia

• Cross-disciplinary Master’s degrees in areas like Digital Media, Cultural Policy, or Media Management to blend film knowledge with industry or business expertise