Postgraduate taught courses in Film Studies

The Department of Film Studies offers two Masters programmes:

  • Film Studies MLitt
  • International Master in Audiovisual Studies (IMACS) MLitt

The Department was ranked first in the UK for Media and Film Studies by The Guardian Good University Guide 2025.

Teaching in the Department takes place in specially fitted teaching facilities, including a screening and seminar room with 3D projection. The Library holds an array of specialist resources, including a collection of over 9,000 audio-visual works.

Film Studies MLitt

The St Andrews MLitt in Film Studies is a one-year Masters programme with some of the world’s leading film scholars.

All MLitt students take a knowledge and skills training course co-taught by several Department members. In addition, students take topic courses designed to probe new directions in film studies, touching on different genres, technologies and uses of cinema over the last 125 years. The programme culminates in a 15,000 word Masters dissertation supervised by a staff member in the student’s chosen area of interest.

The MLitt programme is a great way to complete an accelerated Masters degree and supports a variety of professional paths, from further PhD study to film programming and curation, from working with film festivals to writing film criticism and journalism.

IMACS MLitt

The Department offers an International Master in Audiovisual Studies (IMACS) MLitt, which provides a unique opportunity to obtain global training in film and media studies.

In this programme, students participate in a network of 14 leading programmes in film and media studies in Europe and Canada, including universities in Paris, Amsterdam, Rome and Montreal. This is a two-year MLitt degree; students enrolled in the programme spend two semesters at St Andrews and the remaining two semesters at two separate partner institutions across the world.

Postgraduate activities

MLitt students in the department also benefit from contact with a large postgraduate cohort (currently counting 13 PhD students stemming from 5 continents). Postgraduate activities include:

  • regular presentations by leading scholars and filmmakers
  • a prominent student-run academic journal (Frames Cinema Journal)
  • annual postgraduate conference
  • weekly workshops, screenings, lectures and retreats.