Love film and fascinated by all aspects of media? Study both in tandem.
This distinctive course offers an impressive range of topics, with more emphasis on history and analysis, you’ll study modules in film, media and cultural studies. You’ll cover elements including film analysis, film theory, TV genres, scriptwriting, the study of mass media, and cultural representation.
Study the areas that most appeal to your own imagination and interests and balance theoretical subjects alongside practical based modules in media production. Utilise our fantastic facilities and equipment in our dedicated media centre, including production studios complete with green screen and camera systems and our own 200-seat cinema.
Get experience. Take a work placement; get involved with award-winning Spark Sunderland; write for Sunderland’s daily paper, The Sunderland Echo; or work alongside BBC Newcastle Journalists in our mediaHUB, home to student-run websites covering sport, news, entertainment and fashion.
Throughout your studies, you’ll be guided and supported by our experts. You’ll work with academics at the Centre for Research in Media and Cultural Studies and study alongside scriptwriters, film makers, radio producers, and independent film producers. Many of the key books you’ll learn from have been written by the staff who teach you.
In your final year, you can choose to develop your expertise in academic research through a written dissertation or produce a feature length screenplay or TV drama script as your major project.
Build transferable skills and gain experience, essential for securing future employment. Open job opportunities such as teaching, consultancy, TV and film production, radio, PR, journalism and advertising.
Why us?
- Masterclasses from BAFTA-winning and Oscar-winning film producers, writers and other experts
- Write a feature-length screenplay as an alternative to a final year dissertation under the supervision of internationally published expert
- Our Media and Film Studies courses are ranked 15th in the UK according to The Guardian University league tables 2018
- 81.3% of our BA (Hons) Film and Media graduates are in graduate-level employment, further study or training within six months of graduating, according to DLHE 2016/17 (based on full-time, first degree, home leavers)
- BA (Hons) Film and Media prepares students for a wide range of careers and provides an excellent foundation for masters level study and postgraduate research
- ‚World-leading’ research in Media Studies, according to the latest Research Excellence Framework (REF)
- Choose to present your own weekly film review show on Spark Sunderland or publish film reviews via our mediaHUB
- All students studying on-campus undergraduate media courses can take up a CV-enhancing work placement
Course structure
Teaching and assessment
Teaching methods include lectures, seminars, group work and e-learning. We encourage you to develop independent study skills.
As well as assessments that count towards your degree, there are also ongoing assessments for feedback and consolidating your learning.
Assessment methods include essays, reports, written coursework, projects, presentations and exams.
Part-time study
If you study this course on a part-time basis you will typically complete 40-80 credits in a year, rather than the 120 credits of full-time students. All modules are taught during the day time and you will be studying alongside full-time students.
Employment
This degree provides an excellent foundation for a wide range of careers in the media and elsewhere. Examples of possible sectors include TV, radio, new media, journalism, marketing, PR, advertising, and more.
Career destinations
Recent graduates from Sunderland have gained jobs with employers such as BBC (including Radio 1), Channel 4, Sky TV, MTV, The Guardian, I Daniel Blake, Capital North East, regional newspapers and PR companies.
You could choose to continue your studies on one of our Masters degrees such as MA Film and Cultural Studies, (Film and Television or MA Journalism.
Work placements
We actively encourage students to gain relevant work experience while at university. In every year of your course, you will be guided and encouraged to gain meaningful experience that will fit around your studies.
In Year 2 there is a work placement opportunity with a media organisation such as the BBC, Tyne Tees Television or one of the region’s production companies. You can also choose to undertake a number of practice modules that involve practical projects.
All students studying on-campus undergraduate media courses can take up a CV-enhancing work placement, a University-led industry initiative, or a professional and business development boot camp. By the term placement, we mean we are offering you a taste of the industry which might last anything from two days to four weeks on a part-time basis.
Practical experience
Many students get involved in Spark Sunderland, a community radio station based at the University. Students are responsible for all news-gathering, programme production and advertising. Spark has won many awards including four golds at the Student Radio Awards 2012, and holds the Nations and Regions Award for Best Radio Station in the North-East.
Work alongside BBC Newcastle Journalists in our mediaHUB, home to student-run websites covering sport, news, entertainment, fashion and Spark online magazine.
Sunderland’s daily newspaper, The Sunderland Echo, has a weekly page called ‚On Campus’ that is written entirely by students at the University. It’s an opportunity to find and research your own stories, take photographs, meet deadlines and see your name in print.
Throughout the course, we invite guest speakers to run workshops and master classes that allow you to relate your learning to real-life opportunities.
