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For over 30 years, the University of Kent has been at the forefront of developing film as an academic subject. We are one of the three major universities in the UK for film studies, and one of the most highly regarded departments in Europe.
Overview
Film at Kent engages with cinema's rich scope and history, from silent classics and mainstream Hollywood to world cinema and the avant-garde. We have a thriving film culture, with 10-20 films screened on our courses each week, the Gulbenkian Cinema (the regional arts cinema) based on campus and a lively student film society.
Our modules cover film theory, history and practice. Core options at Stage 1 include the basics of form and style. Options at Stages 2 and 3 include topics exploring national cinemas, animation, cognition and emotion, fantasy and pulp film. Academic modules can be combined with innovative and creative practical study, such as our film criticism. For students interested in practice, single honours students have the option to choose modules in practical film-making, including documentary film-making, screen writing and moving image production.
In 2014, the University opened a new 62-seat cinema named after the pioneering female film director Ida Lupino, which students can enjoy as part of their experience during their studies. The Lupino has state-of-the-art digital projection and sound, and has been created to provide an intimate atmosphere for film viewing.
Study Abroad
Exchanges are offered subject to availability and in some cases will be dependent on which degree you are studying at Kent. In most cases, Kent students must also meet the academic and attendance requirements set by their School or Faculty in order to study/work abroad.
At present, students are required to get an average mark of 60% at Stage 1 (the First Year) and Stage 2 (the Second Year). All marks, including Wild modules, count in the calculation of the average. The exceptions to this rule are currently the Single/Joint Honours Language programmes for which the Year Abroad is obligatory. Students must also complete and submit the Overseas Travel Health Questionnaire in the spring/summer of their Second Year (this will be sent to them with instructions at the appropriate time) and attend a compulsory pre-departure briefing from the Go Abroad team.
See our A-Z course list for more details or contact our Go Abroad team. Subject to availability, work placements can be undertaken anywhere in the world.
Think Kent video series
This talk by Dr Maurizio Cinquegrani, Director of Graduate Studies in the School of Arts, focuses on a group of documentaries filmed in Poland and portraying journeys of postmemory to the sites of Jewish life before the war and Jewish destruction during the Holocaust.
Independent rankings
In the National Student Survey 2015, Kent was ranked 6th for student satisfaction in Cinematics and Photography. Kent was also ranked 3rd for Film in The Guardian University Guide 2016.
Course structure
The course structure below gives a flavour of the modules that will be available to you and provides details of the content of this programme. This listing is based on the current curriculum and may change year to year in response to new curriculum developments and innovation. Most programmes will require you to study a combination of compulsory and optional modules. You may also have the option to take ‘wild’ modules from other programmes offered by the University in order that you may customise your programme and explore other subject areas of interest to you or that may further enhance your employability.
Year abroad
If you achieve at least 60% in Stage 1, you may spend a year abroad between Stages 2 and 3, studying at one of our partner universities in Europe (Amsterdam, Berlin, Bologna, Lausanne and Paris); the USA (California and Indiana); or Asia (Hong Kong)
Teaching and assessment
All modules involve lectures, small group seminars and film screenings (where relevant). On average, you have two lectures and three hours of seminars each week, plus four to six hours film viewing.
Depending on the modules you select, assessment varies from 100% coursework (extended essays or dissertation), to a combination of examination and coursework.
Programme aims
The programme aims to:
- produce graduates who have an informed, critical, analytical and creative approach to understanding film as cultural and aesthetic expressive media
- develop students’ creative, intellectual, analytical and research skills
- develop existing and new areas of teaching in response to the advance of research and scholarship within the subject as well as new developments in film
- widen participation in higher education among a diverse body of students
- develop students’ knowledge and skills in film studies
- encourage students’ critical, analytical and creative skills in relation to film study and, where undertaken, in relation to screen production
- develop students’ ability to think independently and flexibly
- enhance students’ awareness of, and sensitivity to, the contexts of production and consumption of film
- develop students’ interpersonal skills and interaction and their reflexiveness in individual and group work
- offer students the opportunity to pursue a study of film within the North American, Continental or Asian culture and context by undertaking part of the programme at a European or American partner institution.
Learning outcomes
Knowledge and understanding
You gain knowledge and understanding of:
- the different genres of film
- the historical evolution of particular genres, aesthetic traditions and forms
- the ways in which critical and cultural theories and concepts have developed within particular contexts
- the cultural and social contexts which affect the meaning of film works
- aesthetic judgement
- the diversity of film forms
- conceptualisations of pleasure and identification in film
- narrative processes in film
- modes of representation at work in film.
- film conventions
- the way in which different social groups may relate to, engage with and interact with film works.
Intellectual skills
You gain the following intellectual abilities:
- engage critically with major thinkers, debates, intellectual paradigms, and scholarly literature within the field
- understand forms of film as they have emerged historically
- examine the historical, social and cultural contexts of such forms
- analyse closely, interpret, and undertake critical evaluation
- critically reflect upon your own work
- carry out various forms of research for essays, projects, creative productions or dissertations involving sustained independent enquiry
- evaluate and draw upon sources and conceptual frameworks appropriate to research in a chosen area
- draw and reflect upon the relevance and impact of their own cultural assuptions to the practice of research.
Subject-specific skills
You gain subject-specific skills in the following:
- analyse and interpret sounds and images in time and space
- draw upon understanding and knowledge of narrative and stylistic forms and structures in film and television
- bring together ideas from different sources of knowledge and from different academic disciplines
- articulate understanding of visual and oral media in a written medium
- effectively deploy terms and concepts specific to the study of film and television.
Transferable skills
You gain transferable skills in the following:
- work in flexible, creative and independent ways, showing self-discipline, including time-management and self-direction, sustain focus and apply attention to detail
- organise and manage supervised, self-directed projects and research and evaluate sources in the process of carrying out independent study
- communicate effectively and appropriately orally and in writing and, where undertaken, in other media
- identify issues and questions and gather, organise and deploy knowledge and ideas to formulate cogent analysis and arguments, make subtle and discriminating comparisons and apply interpretive skills in diverse situations and contexts
- work productively in a group, and an ability, at different times to listen, contribute and lead effectively
- show insight in, and understanding of, the social and ethical issues surrounding contemporary communications, media, culture and society
- information technology, such as word-processing, using the internet and, where undertaken, digital technology in relation to practice.
Careers
By studying Film, you learn to think critically and to work independently; your communication skills improve and you learn to express your opinions passionately and persuasively, both in writing and orally. These key transferable skills are essential for graduates as they move into the employment market.
Recent graduates have gone on to careers in film-making, film and television industries, arts organisations, university and school teaching, local government and business, or to pursue postgraduate academic and practical film courses. In the last few years, students have gone on to take up positions such as film journalists, film/TV archivists and roles in marketing and distribution.
Entry requirements
Home/EU students
The University will consider applications from students offering a wide range of qualifications, typical requirements are listed below, students offering alternative qualifications should contact the Admissions Office for further advice. It is not possible to offer places to all students who meet this typical offer/minimum requirement.
| Qualification | Typical offer/minimum requirement |
|---|---|
| A level | ABB |
| Access to HE Diploma | The University of Kent will not necessarily make conditional offers to all access candidates but will continue to assess them on an individual basis. If an offer is made candidates will be required to obtain/pass the overall Access to Higher Education Diploma and may also be required to obtain a proportion of the total level 3 credits and/or credits in particular subjects at merit grade or above. |
| BTEC Level 3 Extended Diploma (formerly BTEC National Diploma) | The university will consider applicants holding BTEC National Diploma and Extended National Diploma Qualifications (QCF; NQF;OCR) on a case by case basis please contact us via the enquiries tab for further advice on your individual circumstances. |
| International Baccalaureate | 34 points overall or 16 points at HL |
International students
The University receives applications from over 140 different nationalities and consequently will consider applications from prospective students offering a wide range of international qualifications. Our International Development Office will be happy to advise prospective students on entry requirements. See our International Student website for further information about our country-specific requirements.
Please note that if you need to increase your level of qualification ready for undergraduate study, we offer a number of International Foundation Programmes through Kent International Pathways.
English Language Requirements
Please see our English language entry requirements web page.
Please note that if you are required to meet an English language condition, we offer a number of pre-sessional courses in English for Academic Purposes through Kent International Pathways.
General entry requirements
Please also see our general entry requirements.
Fees
The 2016/17 annual tuition fees for this programme are:
| UK/EU | Overseas | |
|---|---|---|
| Full-time |
For details of when and how to pay fees and charges, please see our Student Finance Guide.
The Government has announced changes to allow undergraduate tuition fees to rise in line with inflation from 2017/18.
The University of Kent is currently considering whether to increase its regulated full-time tuition fees for all returning Home and EU undergraduates from £9,000 to £9,250 in September 2017. This would be subject to us satisfying the Government's Teaching Excellence Framework and the access regulator's requirements. The equivalent part-time fees for these courses might also rise by 2.8%.
For students continuing on this programme fees will increase year on year by no more than RPI + 3% in each academic year of study except where regulated.* If you are uncertain about your fee status please contact information@kent.ac.uk
UK/EU/International students on an approved Year Abroad for the full 2016/17 academic year pay an annual fee of £1,350 to Kent for that year. Those on an approved Year in Industry pay an annual fee of £865 to Kent for that year. Students studying abroad for less than one academic year will pay full fees according to their fee status.
Funding
Kent offers generous financial support schemes to assist eligible undergraduate students during their studies. Details of our proposed funding opportunities for 2016 entry can be found on our funding page.
General scholarships
Scholarships are available for excellence in academic performance, sport and music and are awarded on merit. For further information on the range of awards available and to make an application see our scholarships website.
The Kent Scholarship for Academic Excellence
At Kent we recognise, encourage and reward excellence. We have created the Kent Scholarship for Academic Excellence. For 2016 entry, the scholarship will be awarded to any applicant who achieves a minimum of AAA over three A levels, or the equivalent qualifications as specified on our scholarships pages. Please review the eligibility criteria on that page.