Film Studies - using your degree
From CareersWiki
Contents |
Introduction
A degree from Scotland's first university is an excellent start to any future career. St Andrews has a reputation for excellence and the ability to attract the brightest students worldwide. With this as a starting point you are well on the way to impressing future employers.
Film Studies is a new discipline in the twentieth century - the department at St Andrews was only established in 2004 - however, the focus on film through history, culture, and society draws on multiple critical approaches and disciplinary foundations. A degree in film, as part of a joint honours programme, will prepare you for a wide range of career options. The multidisciplinary nature of your degree makes you a versatile graduate who is adept at adjusting to new developments and practices. Your abilities to research and create complex arguments about a range of texts, both visual and literary, are among your strengths as you enter the job market; for more details, refer to the ‘Employability Profile’ below.
Your film degree can enable you to enter a wide range of careers, including journalism, advertising, arts administration, film, marketing, public relations, publishing, TV & radio, and teaching, to name just a few. The skills you acquire in critical thinking, research, and communication can make you an attractive candidate across many fields, from retail to finance.
The Careers Centre can provide information on a comprehensive range of careers including those detailed above. There are specialist advisers for different occupational areas. We offer 20 minute drop-in sessions on a first come, first served basis. Drop-in is available for all students and recent graduates of the University of St Andrews on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays from 2.00pm - 4.00pm.
Students who are in their penultimate or final year and those studying for a Masters or Phd, can book an appointment with a careers adviser. Booked appointments generally last up to 30 minutes. Visit Careers advice for further details.
Student / Alumni Profiles
Catherine graduated in 2011 with a joint MA (Hons) in Film Studies and Modern History. She is now a Marketing Assistant for Green Screen Studios in York. Read her profile.
Read more profiles of Film Studies graduates.
Where Our Graduates Go
| Year of Graduation | Organisation/Company | Position | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 | Modern Television | Research and Development Assistant | |
| 2011 | Seventh Kingdom Productions | Floor Runner - Assistant Director | |
| 2011 | Greenscreen Productions | Marketing & PR Assistant case study | |
| 2010 | Ayr RFC | Freelance Writer case study | |
| 2010 | Americorps: Montana Conservation Corps | Field Crew Leader case study | |
| 2009 | BBC Written Archives Center | Senior Archives Assistant case study | |
| 2009 | bigmouthmedia | Media Architect | |
| 2009 | Bauer Media | Broadcast Journalist case study |
Where Our Postgraduates Go
| Year of Graduation | Organisation/Company | Position | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | Toronto International Film Festival and Toronto-Romanian Film Festival | Programming Associate, Programmer case study | |
| 2009 | University of Nottingham, Ningbo | Lecturer | |
| 2008 | University of the Arts, London | Associate Lecturer |
Popular Jobs for Film Studies Graduates Nationally
Film graduates often go on to work in communications, film production, for public sector organisations or charities, publishing, retail, and advertising and marketing agencies. Teaching is another popular option - almost 10 percent of 2009 media graduates pursued this option.
Source: Prospects
Summer Internships & Work Experience
Many Film students write for student newspapers and magazines, get involved with student radio or film societies or volunteer in the community or local schools. As a Film student doing a non-vocational course, the skills you develop outside your study are critical in developing a rounded CV. The combination of evidence of skills gained from work experience and extracurricular activities, as well as through your study, can help you in CV writing and job applications - and boost your employability.
It can be very valuable to gain experience of work in various areas, but particularly in those areas that you are considering as a future career.
- The University Careers Centre has information on vacation jobs and internships in the US
- If you'd like to stay in St Andrews over the summer, you might want to apply for the St Andrews Summer Internship Scheme.
- Remember to network with students in more senior years, tutors, family and friends they may have suggestions and contacts.
- The Undergraduate Research Internship Programme (URIP) was launched in 2008 by the University of St Andrews. Under the URIP scheme, the University funds 20 undergraduates to carry out research over ten weeks during the summer vacation. The students work on independent projects under the guidance and supervision of a member of academic staff. Look out on the website for application forms which normally have to be returned by the end of April.
- Several penultimate year students have been successful in getting a paid summer internship with the Saltire Foundation. These are global experiences in USA, Japan, Cayman Islands and others.
- If you are interested in teaching or other work with children the University runs schemes in partnerships with local education authorities which give students access to school pupils. To find out more contact the staff involved by e-mail, schools.access@st-andrews.ac.uk .More Schools are offering the UK Undergraduate Ambassadors Scheme, which requires students to spend up to 25 hours working within a Primary or Secondary school or Science centre. The module is assessed and contributes towards the final degree outcome.
- Joining a society and particularly taking on a role of responsibility can impress future employers and also enhance employability skills such as - team working, negotiation, event management, controlling budgets, leadership etc. Have a look at the case study from a student who made the most of his time at St Andrews through involvement in societies. At St Andrews you have a wealth of societies to choose from, including a dedicated Film Society and Rogue Productions, the student filmmaking group.
Employability Profile
Skills
The profile below identifies the skills that can be developed through the study of your discipline based on subject benchmark statements developed by UK higher education academic communities.
This table will help you to identify the valuable skills that you can offer to potential employers.
| A graduate in Film Studies typically will have the ability to: | |
|---|---|
| understand visual representation in our global society, and the place that film and other media have in communicating ideas, attitudes and cultural beliefs, both now and in the past | |
| master complex arguments involving a range of different texts in both visual and literary form, conducting research and presenting topics persuasively and with cogent reasoning across a range of media | |
| accumulate, select, synthesise and interpret material in a logical and coherent manner | |
| initiate, develop and realise distinctive and creative work in various media | |
| work flexibly and independently with self-discipline and self-direction | |
| communicate information, arguments and ideas cogently and effectively as appropriate to particular audiences, and in written, spoken or other forms, using visual aids and IT resources | |
| understand institutional and cultural values | |
| deploy visual material in conjunction with written, oral and other forms of communication, such as illustrated essays and seminars, slide, moving image or multimedia presentations | |
| be open and receptive to new things and ideas | |
| undertake and complete familiar and unfamiliar set tasks | |
| work constructively and productively in groups | |
| work to set deadlines, including managing concurrent projects | |
| reflect on one's own learning, and to make constructive use of feedback |
Film Studies Careers/Employability Link
Each School has a Careers/Employability Link who "champions" employability. Yours is Professor Robert Burgoyne. If you have any information you consider important for your fellow students please let him know.
Links to Useful Resources
- Department of Film Studies website
- British Film Institute
- Society for Cinema and Media Studies
- British Universities Film & Video Council
- Is a Cinema Studies Degree the New M.B.A? from The New York Times
- Luke Cairns graduated in film studies in 2000 from Aberystywth, after which he spent a few years working his way up in TV advertising in Soho. He then worked in Marbella for a corporate before returning and setting up Butchers Hook Video with Evan Pugh, a shooting director with multiple series of Big Brother, I'm a Celeb and Lord of the Rings under his belt. Read Luke's article on Getting started in Film/TV/video production in the UK and follow the Butchers Hook Video blog.
