Film and History with Year Abroad (BA)

When you join Southampton’s BA in Film and History with a Year Abroad, you’re not just studying film and history — you’ll be actively doing it. The course gives you hands-on, immersive experiences that build real-world skills. You’ll work with film collections, archival documents, seminar rooms, and specialist libraries. This program is all about engaging with actual materials, conducting independent research, and collaborating with peers — so when you graduate, you’re not just knowledgeable, you’ve experienced what it’s like to be a film historian and critic.

Here’s what that looks like in practice:

Experiential Learning includes:

• Access to Avenue Library, which holds a wide-ranging collection of films from around the world, along with core course reading materials.

• Use of the Hartley and Winchester libraries for additional archival materials and rare collections.

• Engagement with original document collections — such as the Wellington, Palmerston, and Mountbatten papers, and the Parkes Archive, a major resource on Jewish/non-Jewish relations.

• Seminars and small-group tutorials following larger lectures, giving you space to question, debate, and dig deeper alongside staff and fellow students.

• Group projects, presentations, portfolios, and fieldwork — so your learning isn’t just exams and essays. You’ll collaborate, present your research, and manage your own projects.

• A dissertation in your final year on a topic of your choice, supported by an academic supervisor, giving you true independent research experience.

• A Year Abroad (Year 3) at a partner university. While overseas, you’ll complete a “year abroad report” under supervision and then bring your experiences back into your final-year modules.

• Preparatory and continuity modules (HUMA2012 before your year abroad, HUMA3013 during your time abroad) to keep your learning seamless.

• Regular visiting speakers from international universities who share their research and perspectives in film, history, and cultural studies.

• Participation in the student film festival, where you can submit your own films and see others’ creative work in action.

• A vibrant film culture through student societies such as Wessex Films, along with screenings, talks, and events that bring your studies to life.

Graduates from this degree often move into creative, media, or cultural industries, taking on roles in film production, editing, media strategy, or content creation. Many also pursue careers in marketing or work in heritage institutions, using their skills to shape engaging narratives and projects.

Here’s how your career path can be shaped:

Typical job roles you might move into

• Film director, film & video editor, camera operator, production designer

• Producer, screenwriter, production coordinator

• Marketing executive, advertising art director, public relations officer

• Content or channel manager, editorial assistant, roles in media agencies

University services that support employment

• The Careers, Employability and Student Enterprise team offers CV and interview workshops, networking events, careers fairs, and connections to work-experience schemes.

• Entrepreneurship support is available through Futureworlds, helping students explore start-ups and innovative projects.

• The Southampton Skills Model helps you track and plan your skills development, ensuring your growth is aligned with employability goals.

Employment stats & salary figures

• About 70% of graduates move into skilled professions or further study soon after graduation.

• Average starting salary is around £26,000.

• Within 15 months of graduating, 98% of students are employed or pursuing further study.

University–industry partnerships

• Exchange programs with partner universities provide international networks and exposure.

• The degree gives access to extensive archival and historical resources, such as the Parkes Archive, for collaborative projects.

• The University works closely with local film and media industry professionals through student film festivals, internships, and project placements.

Long-term accreditation value

• Southampton is a research-led university with strong recognition both in the UK and internationally.

• Skills developed—research, critical thinking, communication, and adaptability—are highly transferable and valued across multiple sectors.

• Holding a BA from a reputable university enhances your prospects in competitive fields like media, culture, and heritage.

Graduation outcomes you can expect

• A well-rounded portfolio combining film knowledge and historical perspectives, often strengthened by international experience.

• Evidence of industry experience through internships or work placements, ready to showcase on your CV.

• Graduates are prepared to step directly into roles in media, culture, marketing, or continue into postgraduate study.

Further Academic Progression

After completing this BA, you could pursue:

• A Master’s in Film Studies, Media & Cultural Studies, or Cinema & Visual Cultures to deepen theoretical and critical expertise.

• A Master’s in History, Cultural Heritage, or Public History to build further on your historical knowledge.

• Research degrees (MPhil / PhD) in film, media, or history, especially if you enjoyed your dissertation or archival projects.

• Interdisciplinary postgraduate degrees, such as Digital Humanities, Screenwriting, or Film Production, to expand into creative or technical domains.