MPhil in Film and Screen Studies

At Cambridge, this MPhil isn’t just about sitting in lectures: you’ll dive into a rich research ecosystem, watch films, debate with peers, write a dissertation, and really build your own voice in film scholarship. You’ll attend weekly seminars and screenings during your first term, guided by leading researchers. Then you'll pick specialist modules in your second term, helping you shape your own academic profile. And all the while, you’ll be embedded in Cambridge’s top-tier research community—including masterclasses, research events, and supervision that help you grow as a scholar.

Here’s exactly how you learn by doing at Cambridge on this course:

• Seminars & Screenings: During Michaelmas (first) term, you’ll attend weekly seminars and lectures, plus film screenings that ground theory in practice.Modular Study: In Lent (second) term, you choose two modules — one must be from the Film & Screen list — allowing you to tailor what you study. 

• Research & Dissertation: In the Easter term, you write a 15,000‑word dissertation on a self‑chosen topic, with a specialist supervisor assigned to guide you.

• Supervision: You’ll have seven hours of one-to-one supervision across the year — one for each assessment, plus more for your dissertation. 

• Feedback System: You’ll get written feedback on coursework and your dissertation, and there are termly supervision reviews via the Cambridge Postgraduate Feedback and Reporting System. 

• Research Events: Fortnightly research events bring in guest scholars, and you’ll also take part in master classes and informal sessions with the Centre for Film & Screen and other Cambridge research centres (like CRASSH, Gender Studies, and Latin American Studies). 

• Library & Archive Access:

  • You’ll tap into Cambridge’s specialist film collections across multiple libraries (e.g., the Modern & Medieval Languages Library) and access rich print, DVD, and streaming resources. 

  • Through your college and faculty, you can use online collections like Box of Broadcasts, Digitalia Film Library, and other film‑streaming archives. 

• Interdisciplinary Network: You’re part of a broader Cambridge research environment — you’ll connect with centres like CRASSH, the Centre for Gender Studies, and more, which gives you a real cross-disciplinary perspective. 

• Tailored Academic Support: There are detailed programme guidelines that support you with planning your coursework, managing deadlines, and structuring your dissertation. 

Graduating from Cambridge’s MPhil in History & Philosophy of Science and Medicine gives you a powerful mix of analytical skills and interdisciplinary insight — setting you up for careers where your thinking really matters. Alumni have gone into roles as academic researchers, museum curators, policy analysts, and science communicators:

• Academic Researcher / Lecturer — you might continue in higher education, teaching or doing further research.

• Museum Curator / Exhibition Specialist — working with scientific or historical collections, like those in the Whipple Museum.

• Policy Analyst / Advisor — contributing to healthcare policy, science regulation, or public health initiatives.

• Science Communicator / Journalist — translating complex scientific and philosophical ideas for public audiences.

Here’s how Cambridge supports these outcomes and what makes this MPhil really valuable:

• University Services:

  • The Cambridge Careers Service provides dedicated advisers, sector‑specific guidance, and employer networking, ensuring you’re not going through the job search alone. 

  • Through your College and Department, you’ll get access to specialist supervision, research training, and writing feedback — critical in building a strong portfolio of work. 

  • The Whipple Museum & Library offer unique research resources and links to public engagement — which can help you build a public-facing career. 

• Employment Track Record & Career Paths:

  • According to the Department, more than 60% of MPhil students go on to further study, often a PhD. 

  • About one third of MPhil graduates enter academic teaching or research roles after their PhD. 

  • Others find careers in museums, publishing, journalism, medicine, policy-making, and consultancy. 

• University–Industry / Cultural Partnerships:

  • Close ties to the Whipple Museum of the History of Science, giving you hands-on access to one of the world’s most important historical science collections. 

  • Opportunities to publish or present with leading academics in philosophy, history, and medicine through Cambridge’s wide network. 

• Long-Term Accreditation Value:

  • This MPhil is offered by Cambridge’s Department of History and Philosophy of Science, giving you a qualification from one of the most respected academic departments in the world. 

  • The training you receive (research, critical writing, argumentation) builds a foundation for PhD-level work, academic publishing, or leadership in policy and cultural institutions. 

• Graduation Outcomes:

  • Graduates often go on to PhD programmes, particularly in HPS (History and Philosophy of Science) or related fields. 

  • Careers can span academia, public policy, museums, NGOs, and beyond, thanks to the flexibility and rigour of the degree. 

Further Academic Progression:
After completing the MPhil, many students continue to a PhD in History and Philosophy of Science, working under expert supervisors in Cambridge’s HPS department.  This is a natural route if you want to deepen your research, teach, or contribute to academic scholarship.