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Film and Media BA Honours

  • UCAS code: P303
  • Full time
  • 3 years

This creative, innovative and diverse Film and Media degree equips you with practical skills and academic knowledge so you're ready to take the next steps in the media and cultural sectors.

You are currently viewing course information for entry year: 2024-25


Next start date:

  • September 2024

Fees (per year)

  • Home: £9250
  • International: £21600

Entry requirements and offers

  • A-Level: ABB
  • IB: 32 points

UCAS Institution name and code:

  • NEWC / N21

Course overview

Our three-year Film and Media degree focuses on developing your practical skills in documentary film-making alongside an understanding of journalism practice. You’ll also explore media and cultural studies, so you graduate ready for your role in industry.

Your degree is led by our experienced academics and award-winning film-makers. You will develop a range of professional skills to prepare you for your future, such as: 

  • documentary film-making skills
  • writing and multimedia practice for journalism
  • critical reflection and essay-writing skills
  • online communication and media analysis

You will become a sophisticated, creative and confident documentary film-maker, able to contextualise your own film practice within media, journalism and creative industries.

Your course and study experience - disclaimers and terms and conditions  
Please rest assured we make all reasonable efforts to provide you with the programmes, services and facilities described. However, it may be necessary to make changes due to significant disruption, for example in response to Covid-19.

View our Academic experience page, which gives information about your Newcastle University study experience for the academic year 2023-24.

See our terms and conditions and student complaints information, which gives details of circumstances that may lead to changes to programmes, modules or University services.

Quality and ranking

Professional accreditation and recognition

All professional accreditations are reviewed regularly by their professional body.

Modules and learning

Modules

The information below is intended to provide an example of what you will study.

Most degrees are divided into stages. Each stage lasts for one academic year, and you'll complete modules totalling 120 credits by the end of each stage. 

Our teaching is informed by research. Course content may change periodically to reflect developments in the discipline, the requirements of external bodies and partners, and student feedback.

Optional module availability
Student demand for optional modules may affect availability.

Full details of the modules on offer will be published through the Programme Regulations and Specifications ahead of each academic year. This usually happens in May.

To find out more please see our terms and conditions.

You are introduced to documentary film-making as a field of academic study, and will become comfortable with camera, audio, and editing technology. You'll undertake a range of documentary film-making exercises, complemented by a screening-based module exploring documentary film history.

You will choose from optional modules in media studies, social and cultural studies, or journalism. You will explore the role of media and culture in society and its impact on the formation of individual and group identity.

Modules

Compulsory Modules Credits
Introduction to Film Technologies 20
Critical Skills in Media, Communication & Cultural Studies 20
Starting out in Filmmaking 20
Introduction to the Documentary: From documentation to non-fiction film 20
Optional Modules Credits
Media Studies 20
Social and Cultural Studies 20
Introduction to World Cinema: Ideas, Art, Cultures 20
Journalism: Pasts, present and future 20

You build upon your film-making skills and undertake more complex and advanced film-making exercises.

You can also choose to explore issues, subjects, and themes within cultural studies in more depth, and investigate areas of journalism practices and media studies.

Modules

Compulsory Modules Credits
Work Experience: Find, Apply & Succeed 0
Research Methods 20
Popular Culture, Media & Identity 20
Making a Short Documentary 20
Analysing Documentary Practices 20
Optional Modules Credits
Film Theory for Practice 1: What is cinema? 20
Film Theory for Practice 2: Why Cinema? 20
Student Exchange: Semester 1 60
Race, Culture and Identity 20
Sex, Sexuality and Desire 20
Visual Culture 20
Celebrity Culture 20
Conflict and Crisis Reporting 20
Cities in East Asian Cinema: Culture, History and Identity 20

You have the option of a full-year dissertation documentary practice project produced in a crew, or an individual written dissertation. These are opportunities to explore ideas and interests, as well as demonstrate the film-making and research skills you've developed over the first two years of the degree.

You must take one of the following compulsory modules (shown in the optional list below):

Media Research Dissertation (40 credits)
OR
Film Practice Project (60 credits)

You also continue to take options in cultural and media studies, or modules from further across the University.

Optional Modules Credits
Enterprise and Entrepreneurship with Lean Innovation 20
Race, Culture and Identity 20
Sex, Sexuality and Desire 20
Visual Culture 20
Celebrity Culture 20
Youth, Identity and Contemporary Media 20
Entering the Filmscape: Working as a Film Professional 20
Storytelling and Collective Psychology 20
Religion and Recent US Film 20
Advertising and Consumption 20
Media Research Dissertation 40
Power, Politics and Communication 20
Feminist Approaches to Media Analysis 20
Digital Discourses and Identity 20
Film Practice Project 60
Cities in East Asian Cinema: Culture, History and Identity 20

Teaching and assessment

Teaching methods

You are taught through lectures, seminars, workshops, and screening-based classes. However, importantly, you learn documentary film-making and journalism practice skills by doing – undertaking a wide variety of exercises and practical tasks.

Assessment methods

You'll be assessed through a combination of:

  • Assignments – written or fieldwork

  • Coursework

  • Dissertation or research project

  • Essays

  • Group work

  • Projects

  • Reports

Skills and experience

Practical skills

You will create a portfolio of practical film work throughout the degree, including completing crew-based documentary films, and individual microfilms. 

You'll also get the chance to attend field trips to film festivals such as Aesthetica Film Festival in York and Edinburgh International Film Festival. You will engage with the local North East film industry through field trips, cinema events, and guest sessions.

Business skills

You can choose the optional Stage 3 module Working in the Film Industry, led by guests from the film industry. You learn from professionals, develop your networks, and your future careers plans.

You can also take advantage of the annual Creative Careers events.

Research skills

You will develop research skills through a variety of film-making experiences, as well as learning from expert staff, with research themes including:

  • observational film-making
  • ethical practice in documentary film-making
  • anthropological film-making
  • media, journalism and popular culture
  • globalisation, nationalism and ethnicity
  • gender, the body and sexuality

Opportunities

Study abroad

Experience life in another country by choosing to study abroad as part of your degree. You’ll be encouraged to embrace fun and challenging experiences, make connections with new communities and graduate as a globally aware professional, ready for your future.

You can choose the student exchange module in your second year. This will allow you to spend the first semester of second year on a student exchange.

Find out more about study abroad

Work placement

Get career ready with a work placement and leave as a confident professional in your field. You can apply to spend 9 to 12 months working in any organisation in the world, and receive University support from our dedicated team to secure your dream placement. Work placements take place between stages 2 and 3.

You'll gain first-hand experience of working in the sector, putting your learning into practice and developing your professional expertise.

If you choose to take a work placement, it will extend your degree by a year. Your degree title will show you have achieved the placement year.  Placements are subject to availability.

Find out more about work placements.

Facilities and environment

Facilities

As a student of Media, Journalism and Film Practice at Newcastle University, you will join a vibrant community in the School of Arts and Cultures' Media, Culture, Heritage department. 

You will be based in the Armstrong Building and Film@CultureLab, right at the heart of our city-centre campus. You'll be close to all of Newcastle University's amenities, as well as being just a five-minute walk to Newcastle's main street, Northumberland Street. 

You'll have access to:

  • professional-standard video and audio equipment, studio space and AV-editing facilities
  • specialist computing facilities, including industry-standard software, such as Adobe Creative Suite
  • a mobile studio suite

Support

You'll have the support of an academic member of staff as a personal tutor throughout your degree to help with academic and personal issues.

You will also benefit from the expert knowledge and skills of our dedicated team of technicians based in Culture Lab.

Peer mentors will help you in your first year. They are fellow students who can help you settle in and answer any questions you have when starting university.

Your future

Recent graduates have gone on to positions in a variety of areas of the creative industries.

Graduates have taken roles with major media and creative agencies, independent documentary production companies and film industry support companies, as well as continuing with related postgraduate education.

Build your network

You will have opportunities to build your knowledge and networks in the film industry through learning led by industry guests.

These include established and emerging film directors and producers, cinematographers and editors, as well as impact producers from organisations such as:

  • Northern Film and Media
  • Doc Society
  • Scottish Documentary Institute
  • Tyneside Cinema
  • Sheffield Doc/Fest
  • Amber Collective

Where a film degree could take you

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Careers support

Our award-winning Careers Service is one of the largest and best in the country, and we have strong links with employers. We provide an extensive range of opportunities to all students through our ncl+ initiative.

Visit our Careers Service website

Recognition of professional qualifications outside of the UK

From 1 January 2021 there is an update to the way professional qualifications are recognised by countries outside of the UK

Entry requirements

All candidates are considered on an individual basis and we accept a broad range of qualifications. The entrance requirements and offers below apply to 2024 entry.

A-Level
International Baccalaureate

Other UK and the Republic of Ireland qualifications

Contextual Offers

Through one of our contextual routes, you could receive an offer of up to three grades lower than the typical requirements.

What is a contextual offer? Find out more and if you’re eligible for this or our PARTNERS Programme supported entry route.

Qualifications from outside the UK

English Language requirements

Entrance courses (INTO)

International Pathway Courses are specialist programmes designed for international students who want to study in the UK. We provide a range of study options for international students in partnership with INTO. 

Find out more about International Pathway Courses

Admissions policy

This policy applies to all undergraduate and postgraduate admissions at Newcastle University. It is intended to provide information about our admissions policies and procedures to applicants and potential applicants, to their advisors and family members, and to staff of the University.

Credit transfer and Recognition of Prior Learning

Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) can allow you to convert existing relevant university-level knowledge, skills and experience into credits towards a qualification. Find out more about the RPL policy which may apply to this course.

Tuition fees and scholarships

Tuition fees for 2024 entry (per year)

Qualification: BA Honours

Home students

full time 3 years

Tuition fees (per year)

9250

International students

full time 3 years

Tuition fees (per year)

21600

Year abroad and additional costs

For programmes where you can spend a year on a work placement or studying abroad, you will receive a significant fee reduction for that year. 

Some of our degrees involve additional costs which are not covered by your tuition fees.

Find out more about:

Scholarships

Find out more about:

Open days and events

How to apply

Apply through UCAS

To apply for undergraduate study at Newcastle University, you must use the online application system managed by the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS). All UK schools and colleges, and a small number of EU and international establishments, are registered with UCAS. You will need:

  • the UCAS name and institution codes for Newcastle University (NEWC/N21)
  • the UCAS code for the course you want to apply for
  • the UCAS 'buzzword' for your school or college

If you are applying independently, or are applying from a school or college which is not registered to manage applications, you will still use the Apply system. You will not need a buzzword.

Apply through UCAS

Apply through an agent

International students often apply to us through an agent. Have a look at our recommended agents and get in touch with them.

Visit our International pages

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Call us on +44 (0) 191 208 3333 and press option 1. Our opening hours are Monday to Friday 10am until 4pm.

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