Film Studies and Screenwriting
PW38Behind every film and TV programme is the creative mind that wrote the screenplay. Could that person be you? Is your dream to pen a Hollywood blockbuster, a BAFTA-winning TV drama, or a quirky, independent film? Our Film Studies and Screenwriting course is ideal for you if you are passionate about film and determined to produce creative work within the industry.
Course overview
On our three-year degree programme you acquire the foundational knowledge with which to analyse film and film scripts within relevant and informing historical, cultural, national and institutional contexts.
Watching, discussing and studying a wide spectrum of film genres, from Hollywood blockbusters to French art-house classics, gives you a deep appreciation of the creative process. By engaging critically with film texts, you deepen your appreciation of narrative structure, technique and aesthetics, and your understanding of how filmmakers represent class, race and sexuality. At the same time, analysing the art and practice of screenwriting develops your writing skills and capacity to critique the quality of your own work.
You'll undertake practical work which develops integrated knowledge of a wide range of theoretical concepts. It also gives you the ability to employ methodological skills and tools relevant to careers in scriptwriting, screenplay development and other creative text production roles in the media/film industry.
You'll be taught by a team of film specialists and industry professionals with different backgrounds, whose diverse research expertise is reflected in the breadth and scope of the curriculum.
In the first year, you take core academic Film Studies modules, such as Reading Film and Film Criticism, as well as core Screenwriting modules, including Creating Short Screenplays and Script Report Writing. By Year 2, you are ready to deepen your understanding of the writing process with core modules on research skills, Screenwriting, and Scriptwriting for Mainstream Television. You also have the flexibility to choose five optional modules which may include Telling True Stories, Science Fiction and Fantasy, and Contemporary European Cinemas.
In the last year, you choose at least three Film Studies and three Screenwriting optional modules, as well as a subject for your dissertation. Film Studies options may include Film and the City, and Cult Film and Art Cinema. Screenwriting options may include Film Script Development, and Advanced Screenwriting.
What you need to know
Course start date
September
Location
On campus
Course length
- 3 years full-time
- 6 years part-time
Apply
PW38
Typical offer
96-112 points
Fees
From £9,250 pa
Course features
- Develop as a critical film scholar and a gain a solid grounding for careers in TV, film and media
- Enjoy the freedom to study your favourite genres and periods of cinema while discovering lots of new forms, faces and fields within film
- Hone your creative writing skills and deepen your understanding of the craft of scriptwriting and screenplay development
- Take advantage of outstanding industry-standard facilities to learn practical film techniques and skills at our on-campus Multimedia Centre
Course details
Work placements
Students have the opportunity to take part in field trips and gain work experience through volunteering.
Study abroad
Our BA (Hons) Film Studies and Screenwriting course provides an opportunity for you to study abroad in one of our partner universities in the USA or Canada.
For more information see our Study Abroad section.
Learning and teaching
Our aim is to shape 'confident learners' by enabling you to develop the skills needed to excel in your studies here and as well as onto further studies or the employment market.
You are taught primarily through a combination of lectures and seminars, allowing opportunities to discuss and develop your understanding of topics covered in lectures in smaller groups.
In addition to the formally scheduled contact time such as lectures and seminars etc.), you are encouraged to access academic support from staff within the course team and the wide range of services available to you within the University.
Independent learning
Over the duration of your course, you will be expected to develop independent and critical learning, progressively building confidence and expertise through independent and collaborative research, problem-solving and analysis with the support of staff. You take responsibility for your own learning and are encouraged to make use of the wide range of available learning resources available.
Overall workload
Your overall workload consists of class contact hours, independent learning and assessment activity.
While your actual contact hours may depend on the optional modules you select, the following information gives an indication of how much time you will need to allocate to different activities at each level of the course.
Year 1 (Level 4): Timetabled teaching and learning activity*
- Teaching, learning and assessment: 288 hours
- Independent learning: 912 hours
Year 2 (Level 5): Timetabled teaching and learning activity*
- Teaching, learning and assessment: 726 hours
- Independent learning: 900 hours
Year 3 (Level 6): Timetabled teaching and learning activity*
- Teaching, learning and assessment: 264 hours
- Independent learning: 936 hours
*Please note these are indicative hours for the course.
Teaching Hours
All class based teaching takes places between 9am – 6pm, Monday to Friday during term time. Wednesday afternoons are kept free from timetabled teaching for personal study time and for sports clubs and societies to train, meet and play matches. There may be some occasional learning opportunities (for example, an evening guest lecturer or performance) that take places outside of these hours for which you will be given forewarning.
Assessment
Our validated courses may adopt a range of means of assessing your learning. An indicative, and not necessarily comprehensive, list of assessment types you might encounter includes essays, portfolios, supervised independent work, presentations, written exams, or practical performances.
We ensure all students have an equal opportunity to achieve module learning outcomes. As such, where appropriate and necessary, students with recognised disabilities may have alternative assignments set that continue to test how successfully they have met the module's learning outcomes. Further details on assessment types used on the course you are interested in can be found on the course page, by attending an Open Day or Open Evening, or contacting our teaching staff.
Percentage of the course assessed by coursework
The assessment balance between examination and coursework depends to some extent on the optional modules you choose. The approximate percentage of the course assessed by different assessment modes is as follows:
Year 1 (Level 4)*:
- 87% coursework
- 0% written exams
- 13% practical exams
Year 2 (Level 5)*:
- 87% coursework
- 0% written exams
- 13% practical exams
Year 3 (Level 6)*:
- 97% coursework
- 0% written exams
- 3% practical exams
*Please note these are indicative percentages and modes for the programme.
Feedback
We are committed to providing timely and appropriate feedback to you on your academic progress and achievement in order to enable you to reflect on your progress and plan your academic and skills development effectively. You are also encouraged to seek additional feedback from your course tutors.
Modules
Please note the modules listed are correct at the time of publishing. The University cannot guarantee the availability of all modules listed and modules may be subject to change. The University will notify applicants of any changes made to the core modules listed. For further information please refer to winchester.ac.uk/termsandconditions
Modules
The module will introduce students to various histories of cinema and the ways that cinema history can be constructed. Through an exploration of a range of national and international cinema movements and styles, students will examine the significance of cultural and historical contexts and their relationship to film texts. Key factors, including economic, social, cultural, political and geographical influences, will be analysed to explore significant moments of film history such as pre-cinema, German Expressionism, the Hollywood studio system, Post-Classical Hollywood, ‘Third Cinema’, the French New Wave and Dogme 95
This module introduces students to the academic study of film through the analysis of mainstream contemporary cinema. Certain concepts, theories and critical paradigms central to Film Studies will be outlined. These will include notions relating to genre and to star study, the debates attending film authorship and critical and theoretical work that draws upon psychoanalysis and feminism. Students will in addition be introduced to the concepts of semiotics and ideology, and to matters pertaining to spectatorship and audience reception.
In this module, students have the opportunity to develop basic scriptwriting skills by focusing specifically on the study and writing of short screenplays. The focus will be on analysis and implementation of narrative devices (including narrative shortcuts and use of sound), development of story and character (and the inter-relationship between the two), and on skills in writing visually and succinctly. The particular character of the ‘short’ screenplay will be examined, analysed and practiced. Scripts will be written with a view that they be made as a short film in Semester 2 for the ‘Producing Drama’ module. A formative task involves an ideas pitch for tutor feedback.
This module offers students the opportunity to gain a core understanding of film genres and their application to filmmaking and to creating meaning within the frame. Students will explore how genre is created through semiology (the use of signs and symbols) within the frame to express a range of meanings and how they support narrative. A group film project is designed to advance student understanding and development of filmmaking creative practices. Students undertake an individual case-study examining a genre film or a director working within a particular genre. A formative task pitching the group film project idea and planned framic elements affords project progression tutor feedback.
This module will build upon knowledge of filmic procedures acquired in Semester 1 by extending analytical skills in relation to the operation of film narrative. A number of narratological models will be introduced, explored and tested against a range of films. The textual focus of the module is historical rather than contemporary, and different narrative forms examined will include early and silent cinema, classical Hollywood narrative, German Expressionist cinema, Soviet montage cinema and post-World War II European art cinema.
This module offers students the opportunity to gain a core understanding of how the film director composes and populates the frame in furtherance of creating meaning. Students will explore how a director’s voice can be read as being the ‘author’ of a film through the creation of mise-en-scene. An individual micro-film project is designed to advance student understanding and development of directing a micro-film, one that focuses on to create basic mise-en-scene elements in furtherance of developing an original vision for the script. An individual case-study affords students the opportunity to critically analyse a film director as ‘auteur’. Students undertake a formative task to pitch their story concept and plans for mise-en-scene to the tutor for project progression feedback.
Modules
The module introduces and critically examines various, and variously influential, attempts to theorise the reciprocal concepts of ‘film’ and ‘cinema’. Building upon work undertaken in Year 1, the module seeks both to provide a conceptual understanding necessary for the honours level study of film and to develop further an historically attuned, theoretically informed critical practice.
The module centres upon the independent research of primary and secondary sources that is an essential part of the successful undergraduate study of film, and through this enables students to pursue their own areas of study. Students will engage with research techniques and further develop their critical and theoretical understanding while working on a 3000-word research project on an area of film of their own choice. Each year the module will have, as a way of focusing discussion, a thematic nucleus, which might comprise the consideration of, for example, a particular national cinema, filmmaking within a particular decade, a particular genre or the work of a particular filmmaker.
- Myths, Dreams & Creative Writing 15 Credits
- Telling True Stories 15 Credits
- Classical Hollywood Cinema 15 Credits
- Post-Classical Hollywood Cinema 15 Credits
- Contemporary European Cinema 15 Credits
- Music and Film 15 Credits
- Gangster and Crime Film 15 Credits
- British Cinema - Comedy, Realism and the Imaginary 15 Credits
- Science Fiction and Fantasy 15 Credits
- Film Cultures and Globalization 15 Credits
- Literature and Film
- Literary Adaptations for Film and Television 15 Credits
- Volunteering for Film and Television
Optional
The module introduces and critically examines various, and variously influential, attempts to theorise the reciprocal concepts of ‘film’ and ‘cinema’. Building upon work undertaken in Year 1, the module seeks both to provide a conceptual understanding necessary for the honours level study of film and to develop further an historically attuned, theoretically informed critical practice.
The module centres upon the independent research of primary and secondary sources that is an essential part of the successful undergraduate study of film, and through this enables students to pursue their own areas of study. Students will engage with research techniques and further develop their critical and theoretical understanding while working on a 3000-word research project on an area of film of their own choice. Each year the module will have, as a way of focusing discussion, a thematic nucleus, which might comprise the consideration of, for example, a particular national cinema, filmmaking within a particular decade, a particular genre or the work of a particular filmmaker.
- Myths, Dreams & Creative Writing 15 Credits
- Telling True Stories 15 Credits
- Classical Hollywood Cinema 15 Credits
- Post-Classical Hollywood Cinema 15 Credits
- Contemporary European Cinema 15 Credits
- Music and Film 15 Credits
- Gangster and Crime Film 15 Credits
- British Cinema - Comedy, Realism and the Imaginary 15 Credits
- Science Fiction and Fantasy 15 Credits
- Film Cultures and Globalization 15 Credits
- Literature and Film
- Literary Adaptations for Film and Television 15 Credits
- Volunteering for Film and Television
Modules
- Melodrama and Film 15 Credits
- Film and the City 15 Credits
- Film and Reality: Modernity, Modernism and Postmodernism 15 Credits
- Advanced Screenwriting: Adaptations 15 Credits
- Scriptwriting: innovating within popular forms 15 Credits
- Creative Visions 15 Credits
- Adapting Crime Fictions 15 Credits
- Science Fictions & Fantasies 15 Credits
- Authorship and Film 15 Credits
- Stars 15 Credits
- Cult Film and Art Cinema 15 Credits
- Gothic Film 15 Credits
- Killer Films 15 Credits
- Identity and Contemporary American Film 15 Credits
- Film Script Development 15 Credits
Optional
- Melodrama and Film 15 Credits
- Film and the City 15 Credits
- Film and Reality: Modernity, Modernism and Postmodernism 15 Credits
- Advanced Screenwriting: Adaptations 15 Credits
- Scriptwriting: innovating within popular forms 15 Credits
- Creative Visions 15 Credits
- Adapting Crime Fictions 15 Credits
- Science Fictions & Fantasies 15 Credits
- Authorship and Film 15 Credits
- Stars 15 Credits
- Cult Film and Art Cinema 15 Credits
- Gothic Film 15 Credits
- Killer Films 15 Credits
- Identity and Contemporary American Film 15 Credits
- Film Script Development 15 Credits
Entry requirements
Our offers are typically made using UCAS tariff points to allow you to include a range of level 3 qualifications and as a guide, the requirements for this course are equivalent to:
A-Levels: CCC-BBC from 3 A Levels or equivalent grade combinations (e.g. BBB is comparable to ABC in terms of tariff points)
BTEC/CTEC: DMM from BTEC or Cambridge Technical (CTEC) qualifications International Baccalaureate: To include a minimum of 2 Higher Level certificates at grade H4
T Level: Merit in a T Level
Additionally, we accept tariff points achieved for many other qualifications, such as the Access to Higher Education Diploma, Scottish Highers, UAL Diploma/Extended Diploma and WJEC Applied Certificate/Diploma, to name a few. We also accept tariff points from smaller level 3 qualifications, up to a maximum of 32, from qualifications like the Extended Project (EP/EPQ), music or dance qualifications. To find out more about UCAS tariff points, including what your qualifications are worth, please visit UCAS.
In addition to level 3 study, the following GCSE’s are required:
GCSE English Language at grade 4 or C, or higher. Functional Skills at level 2 is accepted as an alternative, however Key Skills qualifications are not. If you hold another qualification, please get in touch and we will advise further.
If you will be over the age of 21 years of age at the beginning of your undergraduate study, you will be considered as a mature student. This means our offer may be different and any work or life experiences you have will be considered together with any qualifications you hold. UCAS have further information about studying as a mature student on their website which may be of interest.
If English is not your first language, a formal English language test will most likely be required and you will need to achieve the following:
- IELTS Academic at 5.5 overall with a minimum of 5.5 in all four components (for year 1 entry)
- We also accept other English language qualifications, such as IELTS Indicator, Pearson PTE Academic, Cambridge C1 Advanced and TOEFL iBT.
If you are living outside of the UK or Europe, you can find out more about how to join this course by contacting our International Recruitment Team via our International Apply Pages.
2024 Course Tuition Fees
| UK / Channel Islands / Isle of Man / Republic of Ireland |
International |
|
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | £9,250 | £16,700 |
| Year 2 | £9,250 | £16,700 |
| Year 3 | £9,250 | £16,700 |
| Total | £27,750 | £50,100 |
| Optional Sandwich Year* | £1,850 | £3,340 |
| Total with Sandwich Year | £29,600 | £53,440 |
Additional tuition fee information
If you are a UK student starting your degree in September 2024, the first year will cost you £9,250**. Based on this fee level, the indicative fees for a three-year degree would be £27,750 for UK students.
Remember, you don’t have to pay any of this upfront if you are able to get a tuition fee loan from the UK Government to cover the full cost of your fees each year.
UK Part-Time fees are calculated on a pro rata basis of the full-time fee for a 120 credit course. The fee for a single credit is £77.08 and a 15 credit module is £1,156. Part-time students can take up to a maximum 90 credits per year, so the maximum fee in a given year will be the government permitted maximum fee of £6,935.
International part-time fees are calculated on a pro rata basis of the full-time fee for a 120 credit course. The fee for a single credit is £139.14 and a 15 credit module is £2,087.
* Please note that not all courses offer an optional sandwich year.
**The University of Winchester will charge the maximum approved tuition fee per year.
Additional costs
As one of our students all of your teaching and assessments are included in your tuition fees, including, lectures/guest lectures and tutorials, seminars, laboratory sessions and specialist teaching facilities. You will also have access to a wide range of student support and IT services.
There might be additional costs you may encounter whilst studying. The following highlights the optional costs for this course:
Optional
Overseas trip
Students have the option to attend a trip to a Film Festival throughout the duration of the course. Indicative cost: £375 per academic year.
Technology
It is recommended that students purchase their own hard-drive storage at the beginning of the course. Indicative cost: 2TB devices cost £80.
Disclosure and Barring Service
A Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) clearance check may be required if you undertake a placement, volunteering, research or other course related activity where you will have contact with children or vulnerable adults. The requirement for a DBS check will be confirmed by staff as part of the process to approve your placement, research or other activity. The indicative cost is £40.
Mandatory
Printing and Binding
The University is pleased to offer our students a printing allowance of £5 each academic year. This will print around 125 A4 (black and white) pages. If students wish to print more, printer credit can be topped up by the student. The University and Student Union are champions of sustainability and we ask all our students to consider the environmental impact before printing.
SCHOLARSHIPS, BURSARIES AND AWARDS
We have a variety of scholarship and bursaries available to support you financially with the cost of your course. To see if you’re eligible, please see our Scholarships and Awards.
CAREER PROSPECTS
Graduates pursue careers in film- and television related industries as professional writers, script editors or in production, journalism, teaching, or other professions requiring advanced communication skills.
The University of Winchester ranks in the top 10 in the UK for graduates in employment or further study according to the Graduate Outcomes Survey 2023, HESA.
Pre-approved for a Masters
If you study a Bachelor Honours degrees with us, you will be pre-approved to start a Masters degree at Winchester. To be eligible, you will need to apply by the end of March in the final year of your degree and meet the entry requirements of your chosen Masters degree.
OUR CAREERS SERVICE
