BA (Hons) Film Studies and Creative Writing
Southsea, United Kingdom
DURATION
3 Years
LANGUAGES
English
PACE
Full time
APPLICATION DEADLINE
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EARLIEST START DATE
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TUITION FEES
GBP 9,250 / per year *
STUDY FORMAT
On-Campus
* for UK/Channel Islands and Isle of Man students/EU residents | £16,200/year: international students
Scholarships
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Introduction
Blend your love of film with your passion for writing in our BA (Hons) Film Studies and Creative Writing degree course.
You’ll explore theories and genres of film and writing through history, study how they might evolve in the future, and experience the craft of filmmaking both as a critic and creator. This unique combination will support and prepare you to write short stories, create scripts, and produce screenplays.
From your second year, you'll collaborate more widely and choose modules such as filmmaking, editing, and having your scripts brought to life on the main stage of the New Theatre Royal by fellow performance students.
You'll develop skills in this degree course that will set you up for a career in the creative sector, particularly the film industry. Other career paths include journalism, scriptwriting, marketing, public relations and teaching.
Course highlights
- Take part in Portsmouth's annual Comic Con for the latest developments in creative writing and literature, popular culture, fan communities, and technology – course lecturers and students are panellists.
- Get the opportunity to shadow theatre professionals and have your work performed on stage, thanks to our links with Portsmouth's New Theatre Royal and other local theatres.
- Deepen your learning from an experienced teaching team of published novelists and journalists, prestigious magazine editors, scriptwriters, academic researchers, and performance poets
- Build your writing portfolio by contributing to our course blog, The Eldon Review, and hyperlocal news zine Star & Crescent
- Gain valuable professional experience by taking an optional placement
- Experience another culture and way of learning by studying abroad for a year or a single semester
- Boost your lingual abilities by learning a language with our extra-curricular Institute-Wide Language Programme – and earn credits for it
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Admissions
Scholarships and Funding
Curriculum
Modules
Year 1
Core modules
All modules below are worth 20 credits each.
- Film, Genre and Adaptation
- Professional Writing
- Spectacular Hollywood
- Telling Tales
- Tips, Tricks, Techniques
- Writing for the Film and TV Industries
Optional modules
There are no optional modules this year.
Year 2
Core modules
All modules below are worth 20 credits each.
- British Cinema
- World and Transnational Cinema
Optional modules
All modules below are worth 20 credits each.
- Comic Book Industries
- Creative Writing and Critical Thinking
- Creative Writing for Comedy
- Creative Writing for Film
- Engaged Citizenship through Interdisciplinary Practice
- Film, Media and Communication Study Exchange (60 credits)
- Finding Form - Fiction
- Finding Form - Non-Fiction
- Finding Form - Speculative Fiction
- Finding Form - Writing for Performance
- Press and Public Relations
- Production: Camera and Editing
- Production: Short Film-Making
- Professional Experience
- Researching Genre
- Student Enterprise
- Transmedia Narratives and Strategies
Placement year (optional)
In this course, you can do an optional work placement year between your 2nd and 3rd years to get valuable experience working in the industry. We'll help you secure a work placement that fits your situation and ambitions.
Year 3
Core modules
All modules below are worth 40 credits each. You choose either one or the other.
- Dissertation (Creative Writing or Film and Media)
- Practical Video Project
Optional modules
All modules below are worth 20 credits each.
- Fact and Fiction
- Fan Fiction
- Gender, Sexuality and Cinema
- Marketing Movies
- Media Fan Cultures
- Researching Animation
- Studying Comedy
- Travel Writing
- Writing and Producing Magazines
- Writing Project (With Publishing)
Placement year (optional)
Between your second and third years, you can complete an optional work placement to gain professional experience and enhance your skills. It's also a great incentive for employers once you graduate.
You can work for a company, organisation or agency, or you can go self-employed and start your own business with fellow students or by yourself.
Whatever you decide – or even if you just want some employability advice – our exclusive Creative Careers team can support you every step of the way.
Placement experiences
Placement students in our Creative Writing courses have worked in various roles in commerce, publishing, entertainment, and education. Others have chosen to work for themselves.
Among these experiences are:
- Digital content creator at the head office of a major retailer
- Trainee editorial assistants at The London Magazine and Star & Crescent
- Writing and publishing novellas and poetry collections as a freelancer
- Content writer for a Brixton music promotion company
- Teachers in schools
Career Opportunities
Alongside critical awareness and creative ability in film and writing, you'll also develop project management skills applicable to any career path you pursue. Your burgeoning screenwriting skills will enable you to work in other creative media besides film, television, and the stage, such as video games and graphic novels.
You can also continue your studies to the postgraduate level or take further teacher training to work in education.
Graduate areas
Areas graduates from our Creative Writing courses have worked in include:
- creative writing (prose, poetry, script)
- advertising and marketing
- arts and events management
- local and community broadcasting
- teaching
- stand-up comedy
- travel industry
Graduate roles
Roles graduates from our Creative Writing courses have gone on include:
- novelist
- poet
- playwright
- teacher
- copywriter
- journalist
- theatre manager
- editorial assistant
Ongoing careers support
Get experience while you study, with support to find part-time jobs, volunteering opportunities, and work experience. You can also venture into freelancing or set up and run your own business with help from the University Startup Team.
Towards the end of your degree and up to five years after graduation, you’ll receive one-to-one support from our Graduate Recruitment Consultancy to help you find your perfect role.