“The global approach of the Film Studies department has introduced me to an incredible range of different media, not only broadening my understanding of different film forms but also historical and cultural shifts around the world. The inclusion of theoretical, historiographical and cultural analysis in class has transformed the way I critically engage with our contemporary media landscape in both academic and personal contexts.”
- Glasgow, Scotland
Entry requirements
The University offers different entry requirements, depending on your background. Find out more about Standard, Minimum and Gateway entry requirements using academic entry explained and see which entry requirements you need to look at using the entry requirements indicator.
For degrees combining more than one subject, the subject with the higher entry requirements determines the grades you need. You will also need to meet any further subject-specific entry requirements as outlined on their pages.
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- Standard entry grades:
- AAAB
- Minimum entry grades:
- AABB
- Gateway entry grades:
- Applicants who have narrowly missed the minimum entry grades, but meet the University's contextual criteria, may be interested in one of the University’s Gateway programmes.
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- Standard entry grades:
- AAB
- Minimum entry grades:
- ABB
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- Standard entry grades:
- 36 (HL 6,6,5)
- Minimum entry grades:
- 36 (HL 6,5,5)
General entry requirements
All applicants must have attained the following qualifications, or equivalent, in addition to the specific entry requirements for individual programmes.
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SQA National 5 (B) in English and one SQA National 5 (B) from the following:
- Biology
- Chemistry
- Computing science
- Geography
- Applications of Mathematics
- Mathematics
- Physics
- Psychology.
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GCSE (5) in English language or English literature, and one GCSE (5) from the following:
- Biology
- Chemistry
- Computing Science
- Geography
- Mathematics
- Physics
- Psychology.
Other qualifications
We accept a wide range of qualifications for entry on to our programmes. Please see our entry requirements for more information.
More information on how to apply via other entry routes or accreditation of prior learning and experience can be found on the University’s entry requirements web page.
Do I need to have studied this subject before?
No previous knowledge of this subject is required.
Alternative study options
Study abroad
Film Studies students can apply to participate in the University-wide St Andrews Abroad programme. You may also have the opportunity to participate in the School Abroad exchange programme. For information about study abroad options, please see the study abroad site.
International applicants
If English is not your first language, you will need to provide an English language test score to evidence your English language ability. Find out more about approved English language tests and scores for this course.
Course details
The MA (Hons) in Film Studies is a four-year course run by the Department of Film Studies. Film Studies is a dynamic and growing discipline, drawing in students with a variety of interests. Students will examine the forms and histories of film in all their artistic, documentary and experimental variants, from early cinema to virtual reality, and will cover a range of topics including stardom, ecocinema, as well as numerous film genres and screen cultures from across the globe.
During the first two years, you will take four Film Studies modules (one per semester). These provide the historical, theoretical and methodological frameworks you will need for the more specialised and challenging Honours courses.
Alongside film, in the first year of your studies, you will be required to study an additional two subjects. In the second year you will usually carry on at least one of these subjects, sometimes two. Find out more about how academic years are organised.
In third and fourth year, courses reflect the research expertise of the Department and allow you to develop your own interests within the discipline. The Honours programme examines a diverse range of film and media theories and practices covering genres, film sound, global cinemas, documentary, and various histories of the moving image. You work closely with the teaching staff and develop excellent intellectual, writing and research skills that are useful in a wide variety of professions.
The University of St Andrews operates on a flexible modular degree system by which degrees are obtained through the accumulation of credits. More information on the structure of the modules system can be found on the flexible degree structure web page.
Modules
In the first two years of your degree (known as sub-honours) you will take the required modules in Film Studies alongside modules in at least one other subject.
Typically, you will take one Film Studies module per semester during your first two years, and two modules per semester during your third and fourth year (known as Honours).
The compulsory modules in first year are:
- Key Concepts in Film Studies: examines key concepts and approaches that are relevant to the study of film.
- Global Film History and Historiography: introduces key movements and moments in film history.
The compulsory modules in second year are:
- Film Theory: introduces a range of political, philosophical, and cultural approaches to the cinema, centring on the key insights and breakthrough ideas that have informed the study of film and its role in society.
- Screen Cultures today: media and methods: addresses foundational questions being asked of film and other screen media today through a global, intermedial approach to screen cultures and scholarship.
If you decide to take Film Studies in your third and fourth years, you choose from a wide variety of advanced module options. These range from film theories covering gender, national and transnational cinema, and philosophical approaches to particular topics such as war and cinema, images and impact, and horror on screen. Students are encouraged to choose and develop their own specialisms and interests within the discipline of Film Studies.
Modules available will reflect current staff specialisms and therefore may vary year to year. Here is a sample of Honours modules which have been offered in previous years:
- Artists' Film and Video
- Asian Cinemas
- Cinema and Media in the Digital Age
- Documentary Cinema
- Feminist Film Studies
- Film and the Archive
- Race and Representation
- Screen Comedy
- Sensory Cinema
- Silent Cinema
In fourth year, students also undertake a 10,000-word dissertation on an advanced topic in Film Studies. This independent project enables you to develop key research skills which are desired by both prospective employers and by graduate schools offering postgraduate degrees.
The modules above are examples of what has been taught in previous academic years and may be subject to change before you start your course. Please see the module catalogue for more details of each module, including weekly contact hours, teaching methods and assessment.
Teaching
Teaching at sub-honours level is delivered primarily through whole-class lectures (65 to 200 students), screenings and small group tutorials (8 to 12 students). Most teaching on film takes place in a lecture theatre specially equipped for the film screenings that accompany lectures.
Lectures are given by all members of the Department, enabling students to hear academics at the cutting edge of the discipline. Students receive the best and latest ideas and material to research and evaluate. Tutorials are an opportunity for students to discuss and develop their thinking in a small and friendly atmosphere, guided by a professional expert.
Extensive use is made of the University’s specialist library resources, including one of the best collections of international cinema on DVD, holding over 9,300 AV materials and including some extremely rare films and holdings.
Teaching at Honours level moves away from large group lecturing. Class sizes vary between modules, but students typically meet in groups of about 8 to 17 students for longer classes in which they are expected to participate fully.
When not attending lectures, tutorials and film screenings, you will be expected to continue learning independently through self-study. Typically, this will involve:
- working on individual and group projects
- undertaking research in the library
- preparing coursework assignments and presentations
- preparing for examinations
All sub-honours modules are assessed by a balance of coursework and written examinations. Examinations are held at the end of each semester during a dedicated exam diet with revision time provided beforehand. Coursework includes:
- research essays
- class presentations
- short assignments
At Honours level, the modules are entirely assessed on the basis of coursework. Honours assessments balance more traditional research essay formats with creative, skill-based assignments such as documentary pitch outlines, blog posts, reflective writing, archival research and filmmaker profiles.
The Department aims to provide feedback on assessments and coursework within three weeks to help you improve on future assessments.
Undergraduates at the University of St Andrews must achieve at least 7.0 on the St Andrews 20-point grade scale to pass a module. To gain access to Honours-level modules, students must achieve the relevant requisites as specified in the policy on entry to Honours and in the relevant programme requirements. To find out the classification equivalent of points, please see the common reporting scale.
You will be taught by a research-led teaching team with expertise and knowledge of Film Studies. Postgraduate research students who have undertaken teacher training may also contribute to the teaching of tutorials under the supervision of the module leader.
You can find contact information for all staff on the Department of Film Studies website.
The University’s Student Services team can help students with additional needs resulting from disabilities, long-term medical conditions or learning disabilities. More information can be found on the students with disabilities web page.
Fees
Scotland
£1,820
England, Wales, Northern Ireland and Republic of Ireland, Channel Islands, Isle of Man
Following the decision of the UK Government to raise undergraduate tuition fees and maintenance loans in line with inflation from April 2025, we are reviewing the consequences of that decision for fees payable by students from the rest of the UK who have chosen to study in Scotland. We will update the information on this page as soon as possible.
EU and overseas
£31,670
More information on tuition fees can be found on the undergraduate fees and funding page.
Accommodation fees
Find out about accommodation fees for University accommodation.
Funding and scholarships
The University of St Andrews offers a number of scholarships and support packages to undergraduate students each year.
Joint Honours degrees
You can also take Film Studies as part of a joint Honours degree in which you will take core modules of your chosen subjects.
| Course name | UCAS code |
|---|---|
| Master of Arts (Honours) Ancient History and Film Studies | VP13 |
| Master of Arts (Honours) Arabic and Film Studies | TP63 |
| Master of Arts (Honours) Arabic and Film Studies (With Integrated Year Abroad) | TV70 |
| Master of Arts (Honours) Art History and Film Studies | VP33 |
| Master of Arts (Honours) Biblical Studies and Film Studies | VP63 |
| Master of Arts (Honours) Chinese Studies and Film Studies | CH05 |
| Master of Arts (Honours) Chinese Studies and Film Studies (With Integrated Year Abroad) | CW05 |
| Master of Arts (Honours) Classical Studies and Film Studies | QP83 |
| Master of Arts (Honours) Comparative Literature and Film Studies | QP23 |
| Master of Arts (Honours) Economics and Film Studies | LP13 |
| Master of Arts (Honours) English and Film Studies | PQ33 |
| Master of Arts (Honours) Film Studies and French | PR31 |
| Master of Arts (Honours) Film Studies and French (With Integrated Year Abroad) | PR3C |
| Master of Arts (Honours) Film Studies and Geography | LP73 |
| Master of Arts (Honours) Film Studies and German | PR32 |
| Master of Arts (Honours) Film Studies and German (With Integrated Year Abroad) | PR3F |
| Master of Arts (Honours) Film Studies and International Relations | LP23 |
| Master of Arts (Honours) Film Studies and Italian | PR33 |
| Master of Arts (Honours) Film Studies and Italian (With Integrated Year Abroad) | PR3H |
| Master of Arts (Honours) Film Studies and Medieval History | PV30 |
| Master of Arts (Honours) Film Studies and Modern History | PV31 |
| Master of Arts (Honours) Film Studies and Persian | RT29 |
| Master of Arts (Honours) Film Studies and Philosophy | PV35 |
| Master of Arts (Honours) Film Studies and Psychology | CP83 |
| Master of Arts (Honours) Film Studies and Russian | PR37 |
| Master of Arts (Honours) Film Studies and Russian (With Integrated Year Abroad) | PRH7 |
| Master of Arts (Honours) Film Studies and Scottish History | PV32 |
| Master of Arts (Honours) Film Studies and Social Anthropology | PL36 |
| Master of Arts (Honours) Film Studies and Spanish | PR34 |
| Master of Arts (Honours) Film Studies and Spanish (With Integrated Year Abroad) | PR3K |
| Master of Arts (Honours) Film Studies and Sustainable Development | PV33 |
| Master of Arts (Honours) Film Studies and Theological Studies | PV36 |
Joint degrees taken with Arabic, Chinese Studies, French, German, Italian, Russian, Spanish are also available 'With Integrated Year Abroad'.
"With" degrees
You can take Film Studies as part of a "with" Honours degree in which the majority of the course deals with the first name subject. St Andrews offers the following "with" degrees in Film Studies:
- Master of Arts (Honours) Film Studies with Bible and Culture - UCAS code FB01
Careers
Film Studies graduates are well placed to compete in today’s job market, having gained an extensive range of skills from written and oral communications to archival research and visual analysis.
A degree in Film Studies from St Andrews will provide an excellent foundation for a wide range of careers as well as for careers directly connected with cinema, such as:
- advertising and public relations
- arts administration
- cinema management
- education
- film distribution and production
- film festivals
- journalism and media
Recent graduates in Film Studies have gone on to a number of exciting careers, including:
- film archive director
- production editor in publishing
- media researcher
- programmes negotiator for a television company
- director’s assistant at Warner Brothers
The Careers Centre offers one-to-one advice to all students as well as a programme of events to assist students to build their employability skills.
What to do next
Online information events
Join us for one of our information events where you can find out about different levels of study and specific courses we run. There are also sessions available for parents and college counsellors.
Undergraduate visiting days
We encourage all students who are thinking of applying to the University to attend one of our online or in-person visiting days.
Contact us
- Phone
- +44 (0)1334 46 7473
- filmstudies@st-andrews.ac.uk
- Address
- Department of Film Studies
101a North Street
St Andrews
KY16 9AD
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