MA
Film and Television Studies
Analyse, critique and research a range of televisual and filmic texts
Course Overview
Why take this course?
This course combines cultural and historical analysis with critical and theoretical study of both film and TV. It aims to provide you with an in-depth understanding of the film and television industries, their histories through to present day productions.
It offers a lively range of options as well as opportunities for you to develop your own interests through a dissertation and a film/television writing project, both with the full support of a tutor who specialises in your area of research.
What will I experience?
On this course you can:
- Produce screenplays for film and television while working with a specialist tutor
- Be involved in and contribute to our dynamic research culture through your film/TV dissertation
- Engage with our researchers and published experts, many of whom have international reputations
What opportunities might it lead to?
The skills you will develop on this course can prepare you for roles within the media and other creative industries, in particular the film and television industries. Alternatively, many of our graduates find roles within a variety of media industries and a number of them have gone on to study for PhDs or teaching qualifications.
Here are some routes our graduates have pursued:
- teaching
- writing
- journalism
- media
This is a fantastic course. The modular options are extremely interesting and up to date with contemporary research.
Sophie Wise, MA Film and Television Studies student 2013
Key Facts
- Duration
- 1 year full time, 2 years part time
- Entry
A good honours degree in a relevant subject, or equivalent professional experience and/or qualifications.
English language proficiency at a minimum of IELTS band 6.5 or equivalent with no component less than 6.0.- Fees
UK/EU/Channel Islands and Isle of Man full-time students: £4,500, part-time students: £2,250 p/a* (2 years)
International full-time students: £10,500, part-time students: £3,500 in Year 1 and £7,000 plus inflation in Year 2
*Please note that all fees are subject to annual increase.- Contact
- deborah.shaw@port.ac.uk
+44 (0)23 9284 2421 - Department
- School of Creative Arts, Film and Media
Structure & Teaching
You will develop a wide range of skills throughout the course such as applying theoretical approaches and using critical skills in close analysis and reading of key film and television texts. All units on this course focus on both film and television, but your final research project can cover both media or specialise in one of these two areas.
Here are the units you will study:
- Representing Otherness in Film and Television: You will examine representations of ethnic and cultural identities in a range of televisual and cinematic contexts in this unit.
- Research Methods: This unit covers how to carry out research in film archives, how to do a literature search in film and television, and how to produce a thesis which is well structured and methodologically rigorous.
Options to choose from include:
- Television and Film Policy: This unit explores film and television policy in a variety of institutional, national, international, global, political, social and historical contexts.
- Film and Television Audiences and Fandom: In this unit you will explore the relationship between media consumers and media texts, and study the range of critical approaches to audiences and fans.
- Film and Television Writing Project: In this unit you will have the opportunity to develop a short drama.
- Dissertation: This unit will allow you to complete a major research project into a self-chosen area of film or television. You will receive guidance and support from tutors throughout.
Teaching and Assessment
Your learning experience will not only cover the theory of these two media forms but you will also be given the opportunity to produce your own screenplays for film and TV. This is designed to develop more applied skills that will complement the theoretical components of the course.
How are you assessed?
Assessment is predominantly essay based in order to help you develop advanced research and analysis skills. Some units also involve individual oral presentations, so you can develop presentation skills at a higher level and engage in stimulating, sophisticated academic debates in your seminars.
Facilities & Features
The Study Centre
A suite of rooms with group working spaces, printers, Mac workstations and more
The Studio Theatre
Equipped with a range of technical facilities, rehearsal rooms and a large main studio
Computing
Great working spaces with high-spec PCs, Macs and printing facilities
University Library
Our library offers a wealth of information
The Study Centre
A suite of rooms with a comfy seating area, desks where you can work, printers, Apple Macs and access to the wireless network so you can log in using your own laptop. There are also several study rooms where you can rehearse or work on group projects.
The Studio Theatre
Have your screenplay acted out in front of your peers in our main studio. We also have a number of rehearsal facilities kitted out with lighting and mirrored dance space, as well as a sound recording booth, a video editing suite and music practice rooms equipped with pianos.
Computing
We have invested heavily in open access computer suites across campus. Great working spaces with high-spec PCs (multimedia and CAD), Macs and printing facilities. There is also more specialised software and equipment available such as large format printing, audio-visual equipment and language laboratories. Should you need any assistance, there are specialist technicians on hand to support you in using the facilities.
University Library
Modern, comfortable and a great learning environment, our library offers a wealth of information including 400,000 books, DVDs, maps and thousands of online ejournals and newspapers. Many electronic resources are available anywhere, 24/7 and our friendly staff are always on hand to help.
Careers & Opportunities
Career prospects
This course will enable you to become multi-skilled in ways that employers are now demanding and will help prepare you to apply for jobs in such areas as teaching, publishing, journalism, scriptwriting, film and media management. In addition, it is ideal preparation for further postgraduate work or research at PhD level.
Career planning
One of the benefits of studying at Portsmouth is the support that we provide to our Master's and Research Degrees students in career planning. Our careers and recruitment service – Purple Door – can assist you in career research and finding employment opportunities. Help is also available if you wish to find a part-time job while studying your degree. We offer our postgraduate students and alumni one-to-one appointments with a careers adviser, or an online service for those not able to travel back to the University. Our alumni can call on our career services for five years after graduation.
In addition, regular employability events offer you the chance to meet employers, find out about different career sectors and improve your applications or CV. The Graduate Summer Programme provides a range of guidance and employability seminars and workshops.