Degrees Offered

• BA Single Honours Film Studies (UCAS Code: W600)
• BA Joint Honours Drama and Film Studies (UCAS Code: WW46)
• BA Joint Honours English and Film Studies (UCAS Code: QW36)

Contact Information

For entrance requirements
E: admissions@qub.ac.uk
T: +44 (0)28 9097 3838

For course information
Jacqueline Cullen
School of Creative Arts
T: +44 (0)28 9097 5364
E: film.studies@qub.ac.uk
W: http://www.qub.ac.uk/film

Entrance Requirements

BA Single Honours
Film Studies 3 yrs (W600)

BA Joint Honours
Drama and Film Studies 3 yrs (WW46)
English and Film Studies 3 yrs (QW36)


Entrance Requirements

A-level: BBB

Irish Leaving Certificate:  B2B2B2B2CC/B2B2B2B2B2

All applicants: there are no specific subject requirements to study Film Studies, however, if you plan to study Film Studies as a Joint Honours degree you should refer to the subject requirements for the other course.

For students whose first language is not English
An IELTS score of 6.5 with a minimum of 5.5 in each test component or an equivalent acceptable qualification, details of which are available at: http://go.qub.ac.uk/EnglishLanguageReqs

If you are an international student and you do not meet the entrance requirements, you should consider a preparation course at INTO Queen's University Belfast, which will prepare you for successful study on these degree courses. INTO Queen's University Belfast is based on the University campus and offers a range of courses including: International Foundation in Business, Humanities and Social Science

The Subject

Cinema was the major art form of the last century, popular in its appeal and radical in its practices. It transformed our ways of seeing and storytelling, and continues to have an impact on all the arts, shaping the structures of contemporary culture. It is an area of not only immense interest and pleasure, but also experimentation and innovative critical investigation.

The Film Studies degree programme at Queen's aims to introduce students to the widest possible experience of cinema. We offer a rich, diverse curriculum based around in-class film screenings, all of which are held at Queen's Film Theatre (QFT) under normal cinema exhibition conditions. Our Single Honours degree is also characterised by the integration of film scholarship and film production, with equal weighting given to both these areas.

Course Content

All of our degrees examine key debates in film history, theory and criticism. Level 1 introduces basic Film Studies methods in the contexts of North American and European cinema.

Level 2 modules explore a range of national and world cinemas (Africa, Britain, France, Italy, Ireland, USA), central genres and film forms (documentary, the Western), and key movements and historical moments (French New Wave, New Hollywood, modernism).

At Level 3, students have the opportunity to examine more specialised areas of the field (film music, Third Cinema, experimental film). They may also complete a supervised dissertation around their individual interests.

On the Single Honours degree, students also develop their own creative film projects through modules in scriptwriting, editing, cinematography, direction, location filming and post-production sound.

Click here for more information on modules

'The Film Studies degree was one of the many factors that contributed to my selection by NI Screen. The combination of practice and theory prepared me for a range of roles at various stages of production, and the experience of the staff gave me the edge when it came to career opportunities after Queen's.'

Daniel McCabe
Film Studies Graduate (2011)

Learning and Teaching

At Queen’s, we aim to deliver a high quality learning environment that embeds intellectual curiosity, innovation and best practice in learning, teaching and student support to enable students to achieve their full academic potential.

On the English and Film Studies degree programme we do this by providing a range of learning experiences which enable our students to engage with subject experts, develop attributes and perspectives that will equip them for life and work in a global society and make use of innovative technologies and a world class library that enhances their development as independent, lifelong learners.   Examples of the opportunities provided for learning on this course are:

• Lectures: introduce basic information about new topics as a starting point for further self-directed private study/reading.  Lectures also provide opportunities to ask questions, gain some feedback and advice on assessments (normally delivered in large groups to all year group peers).
• E-Learning technologies:   Information associated with lectures and assignments is often communicated via a Virtual Learning Environment (VLE) called Queen’s Online.  A range of e-learning experiences are also embedded in the degree through, for example:  interactive group workshops in a flexible learning space; IT and statistics modules; podcasts and interactive web-based learning activities; opportunities to use IT programmes associated with design in practicals and project- based work etc.
• Seminars/tutorials:  Significant amounts of teaching are carried out in small groups (typically 10-20 students).  These provide an opportunity for students to engage with academic staff who have specialist knowledge of the topic, to ask questions of them and to assess their own progress and understanding with the support of peers.  You should also expect to make presentations and other contributions to these groups.
• Self-directed study: This is an essential part of life as a Queen’s student when important private reading, engagement with e-learning resources, reflection on feedback to date and assignment research and preparation work is carried out.
• Supervised projects:  In final year, you may choose a year-long double-weighted Dissertation module in either English (literature or language) and/or Film Studies which requires you to carry out a significant piece of research on a topic that you have chosen.  You will receive support from a supervisor who will guide you in terms of how to carry out your research and will provide feedback to you on at least 2 occasions during the write up stage.
• Personal Tutor:  Undergraduates are allocated a Personal Tutor during Level 1 and 2 who meets with them on several occasions during the year to support their academic development.

Assessment and Feedback

Assessment (general):  The way in which you are assessed will vary according to the Learning objectives of each module.  Some modules are assessed solely through project work or written assignments.  Others are assessed through a combination of coursework and end of semester examinations.  Details of how each module is assessed are shown in the Student Handbook which is provided to all students during their first year induction.

Feedback (general):  As students progress through their course at Queen’s they will receive general and specific feedback about their work from a variety of sources including lecturers, module co-ordinators, placement supervisors, personal tutors, advisers of study and peers.  University students are expected to engage with reflective practice and to use this approach to improve the quality of their work. Feedback may be provided in a variety of forms including:

• Feedback provided via formal written comments and marks relating to work that you, as an individual or as part of a group, have submitted. 
• Face to face comment.  This may include occasions when you make use of the lecturers’ advertised “office hours” to help you to address a specific query.
• Placement employer comments or references.
• Online or emailed comment.
• General comments or question and answer opportunities at the end of a lecture, seminar or tutorial.
• Pre-submission advice regarding the standards you should aim for and common pitfalls to avoid.  In some instances, this may be provided in the form of model answers or exemplars which you can review in your own time. 
• Feedback and outcomes from practical classes.
• Comment and guidance provided by staff from specialist support services such as, Careers, Employability and Skills or the Learning Development Service.

Once you have reviewed your feedback, you will be encouraged to identify and implement further improvements to the quality of your work.

Careers

Studying for an English and Film Studies degree at Queen’s will assist you in developing the core skills and employment-related experiences that are valued by employers, professional organisations and academic institutions.  Graduates from this degree at Queen’s are well regarded by many employers (local, national and international) and over half of all graduate jobs are now open to graduates of any discipline. 

The following is a list of the major career sectors that have attracted our graduates in recent years:

Employer Links

Consultations

We regularly consult and develop links with a large number of employers including, for example, BBC Northern Ireland who provide sponsorship for the English course in Broadcast Literacy (currently offered at postgraduate level but soon to be offered at undergraduate level also).   

Graduate Careers and Achievements

Many of our former graduates have risen to the top of their fields and include many famous figures; for example:

English:

• Seamus Heaney, Nobel prize-winning poet;
• Paul Muldoon, academic and poet;
• Stephen Rea, actor;
• Helen Madden, writer and actor;
• Annie Kelly, journalist and writer;
• Annie Mac, radio presenter.

Film Studies:

• Claire Campbell (Researcher, BBC NI)
• Daniel McCabe (Production Trainee, BBC)
• Niall McEvoy, (on set VFX supervisor, HBO, Game of Throne)
• Grace Sweeney (Camera Department, HBO, Game of Thrones)
• Michele Devlin, (Director of The Belfast Film Festival)

You should also take a look at the Prospects website for further information concerning the types of jobs that attract English and Film Studies graduates.

Further study is also an option open to our graduates. Students can choose from a wide range of Masters programmes as well as a comprehensive list of research topics.

Other Career-related information: Queen’s is a member of the Russell Group and, therefore, one of the 20 universities most-targeted by leading graduate employers.  Queen’s students will be advised and guided about career choice and, through the Degree Plusinitiative, will have an opportunity to seek accreditation for skills development and experience gained through the wide range of extra-curricular activities on offer.  See Queen’s University Belfast fullEmployability Statementfor further information.

Degree Plus and other related initiatives:  Recognising student diversity, as well as promoting employability enhancements and other interests, is part of the developmental experience at Queen’s.  Students are encouraged to plan and build their own, personal skill and experiential profile through a range of activities including; recognised Queen’s Certificates, placements and other work experiences (at home or overseas), Erasmus study options elsewhere in Europe, learning development opportunities and involvement in wider university life through activities, such as clubs, societies, and sports.  

Queen’s actively encourages this type of activity by offering students an additional qualification, the Degree Plus Award (and the related Researcher Plus Award for PhD and MPhil students).  Degree Plus accredits wider experiential and skill development gained through extra-curricular activities that promote the enhancement of academic, career management, personal and employability skills in a variety of contexts.  As part of the Award, students are also trained on how to reflect on the experience(s) and make the link between academic achievement, extracurricular activities, transferable skills and graduate employment. Participating students will also be trained in how to reflect on their skills and experiences and can gain an understanding of how to articulate the significance of these to others, e.g. employers.

Overall, these initiatives, and Degree Plus in particular, reward the energy, drive, determination and enthusiasm shown by students engaging in activities over-and-above the requirements of their academic studies.  These qualities are amongst those valued highly by graduate employers.

Special Features

Facilities: the Single Honours degree employs state-of-the-art digital production facilities: HDV, solid-state and full high-definition cameras are available, as are substantial lighting and grip kits. Additionally, we are an authorised Avid Learning Partner for Pro Tools 9 and Media Composer 5.5 music and video editing software, and certified training in these is available.

Screenings and lectures for critical and theoretical modules take place in the dual-screen QFT, which also plays host to an extensive programme of international art house and independent cinema. A large collection of feature films on DVD and VHS is available at the McClay Library, alongside an extensive collection of books and periodicals in the field.

Industry links: teaching is regularly carried out by tutors currently working in the screen industry.

Placement: we have strong contacts with the local film industry, which has been experiencing significant growth in recent years, and we facilitate workshops and placements in the film and creative industries.

Last updated 11.09.13