The BA in Film Studies and English at the University of Leicester invites you to explore the worlds of both cinema and literature—examining how stories take shape across page and screen. You’ll delve into narrative, genre, authorship, and representation, discovering how ideas move and transform between written and visual storytelling. It’s a perfect choice if you love reading, watching films, and want to bring those passions together through an exciting, interdisciplinary degree.
Curriculum Structure
Year 1
Your first year builds a strong foundation across both subjects. You’ll study core modules such as Reading Film, American Film and Visual Culture, Reading Poetry, and Writing Matters, which sharpen your analytical and expressive skills in both media. Optional modules like Film and Literature or Feminist Fiction, and Historical Fiction or Literature for Children and Young Adults, give you the freedom to begin tailoring your degree to your interests right from the start.
Year 2
In your second year, you’ll dig deeper into film theory, production, and literary criticism. You’ll explore national and global cinemas, and even collaborate on producing a short film in the Film Production module. On the English side, you’ll engage with critical theory and reader response—learning how literature interacts with society and culture. This balance of creative and critical learning helps you build confidence in both academic and practical work.
Final Year
Your final year is all about independence and focus. You’ll complete a dissertation in either Film Studies or English, guided by your own passions and research interests. Alongside it, you can choose from a range of specialist modules—such as Hitchcock and Film History, Film and Art Journalism, Victorians: from Oliver Twist to The Picture of Dorian Gray, Literature and Decolonisation, or Science Fiction: Exploring Space and Time. This flexibility ensures your degree truly reflects your unique perspective and goals.
Focus Areas
Film theory and history, English literary criticism, creative film production, adaptation, cultural studies, genre analysis, and representation.
Learning Outcomes
By the end of the course, you’ll be able to think critically about both films and literary texts, understand their historical and cultural contexts, communicate with confidence in writing and speech, conduct independent research, and even create your own creative or analytical projects.
Professional Alignment
While the programme isn’t tied to a formal industry accreditation, it’s built on strong academic foundations and adheres to the rigorous quality standards of UK higher education. You’ll graduate with a degree that’s both respected and versatile—opening doors to a wide range of creative and cultural careers.
Reputation and Employability
The University of Leicester enjoys an excellent reputation in the arts and humanities.
Ranked 7th in the UK for Communication and Media Studies (The Times Good University Guide)
Ranked Top 10 in the UK for English (The Guardian University Guide)
Consistently among the Top 15 nationally in student satisfaction for film and English programmes
Career Paths
Graduates from this course go on to exciting roles in film preservation, curation, programming, film journalism, teaching, creative writing, publishing, and cultural management—using their analytical insight and creative thinking to shape stories and ideas that inspire others.
Here’s how experiential learning truly comes to life in the BA Film Studies and English programme at the University of Leicester — and why it’s not just about theory, but about doing, creating, and exploring:
From the very start, you’ll build practical skills that go beyond the classroom. You’ll learn to analyse film and literature with confidence while also diving into hands-on experiences in filmmaking, curating, and event programming. The programme is designed so that you don’t just study film and English — you actively do things with them: collaborating with peers, working in real film environments, and using professional tools. The School of Arts, Media & Communication brings together teaching staff who are both creative practitioners and accomplished scholars, ensuring you’re supported from every angle.
Here’s how your journey unfolds across the course:
From Year 2 onwards, you’ll work in groups to create your own short film — applying what you’ve learned in theory to real-world production.
You’ll also take part in a Film & Art event programming and promotion project, where you’ll plan screenings, curate film content, and manage publicity — gaining genuine industry-style experience.
On campus, you’ll have access to a dedicated film theatre, where regular screenings expose you to diverse cinematic styles and help you become part of a vibrant film culture community.
In your final year, you’ll undertake a 10,000-word dissertation — whether in film, English, or a blend of both — guided through one-to-one supervision by experienced staff.
The programme also reflects Leicester’s distinctive educational philosophy — described as “advancing through the four quadrants” — balancing theory, practice, employability, and personal development.
While specific software names aren’t detailed publicly, you’ll gain experience using digital media and video editing tools during practical film modules, developing the technical fluency needed for creative industries. You’ll also benefit from the David Wilson Library’s extensive film and media collections, along with a wide range of textual and research materials to support your studies in both English and film theory.
Beyond campus, the School’s close ties with the Attenborough Arts Centre give you opportunities to engage with cultural events, screenings, and creative collaborations in Leicester’s thriving arts scene.
Altogether, this blend of practice and theory ensures that your degree is far from passive — you’ll be producing, curating, critiquing, and engaging directly with real media and creative work every step of the way.
At Leicester, your career development starts from day one. Employability is woven into the course itself — not just through lectures and projects, but also through the Leicester Award personal development programme, which helps you build confidence, communication, and leadership skills alongside your degree.
You’ll also have full access to the Careers and Employability Service, which offers one-to-one guidance, CV and cover letter support, mock interviews, and tailored coaching for creative careers. What’s even better — this support doesn’t end when you graduate. Leicester gives you lifetime access to its MyCareers platform, so you can keep finding new opportunities long after university.
The results speak for themselves: around 95% of Leicester film students are in paid work or further study within six months of graduating. Across the wider field of media, film, and creative studies, about 85% of graduates go on to employment or further study, with average earnings of around £23,000 fifteen months after graduation. Long-term outcomes are even stronger — five years after graduating, Leicester alumni typically earn £3,600 more than the sector average, reflecting both the quality of the degree and the real-world value of its training.
Graduates from Film Studies and English have gone on to exciting careers with organisations such as the British Board of Film Classification, Sky Cinema, Phoenix Cinema, CBRE Group, and Leicester Neulion. Many find themselves in roles within creative industries, education, media, or cultural management — often combining both critical insight and practical expertise. Typical job titles include film or video producer, film curator or archivist, media or film journalist, arts administrator, and university lecturer or researcher.
The degree’s strength lies in its balance of academic and practical learning. Alongside the study of literature and film theory, you’ll take hands-on modules such as Film Production, Film and Art Journalism, and Film and Art: Academic Study and the Workplace, giving you both the creative and analytical skills that employers in the cultural and media sectors look for.
Further Academic Progression
If you want to continue your academic journey, Leicester offers clear routes into advanced study. Many graduates go on to pursue a Master’s in Film Studies, Media and Communications, Digital Culture, or Cultural Studies / Film Theory, either at Leicester or at other leading universities, to deepen their expertise and open doors to specialist roles.
For those drawn to research, you could take your studies further with an MPhil or PhD in Film Studies or a related field that combines English, media, or cultural studies. Leicester provides expert supervision in areas such as East Asian cinema, transnational cinema, popular culture, race and diaspora, film theory, and industry studies.
Beyond academia, your skills in analysis, communication, and creative thinking also make you an excellent fit for cross-disciplinary or professional postgraduate paths — such as museum studies, film archiving and preservation, arts management, or conservation.
Over time, many graduates choose to combine teaching, research, and creative practice — becoming lecturers, scholars, critics, or consultants shaping the way film and culture are understood and experienced.
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