Introduction
Explore theories and histories of film and cinema, and develop creative skills in filmmaking, screenwriting and a range of creative, practice-based modules by studying on our full-time BA (Hons) Film degree in Cambridge.
ARU Spotlight: No Margins Media
Erato took our BA Film and MA Film Production before forming No Margins Media with fellow graduate Sand. Together, they now work with artists and creatives on a range of projects.
Meet Erato
Study at an award-winning university
We're the Times Higher Education (THE) University of the Year. We've also been awarded a Gold rating in the Teaching Excellence Framework – a reflection of the outstanding education we offer our students.
Why study Film at ARU?
- Join a course that scored 90% for “Academic Support” in the National Student Survey 2024.
- Prepare for many careers in the film industries, including screenwriting, filmmaking, journalism, programming, festival management and public engagement.
- Get hands-on in our specialist film facilities, with full training from our technical team.
- Take advantage of our links with local and national organisations, which will help you make contacts, find work placements, take part in "live briefs", and even give you the opportunity to show your films publicly at Cambridge Arts Picturehouse.
- Benefit from support from our team of expert lecturers and close-knit community of students and graduates.
- Become part of a community of professionals with expertise in drama and performance, film, games development, journalism, publishing, and digital media.
As a student at ARU, you’ll discover the history of global cinema and study a range of films, from avant-garde cinema to Hollywood blockbusters. As well as studying a range of film theories and ideas about how cinema reflects and affects society, you’ll also make short films and explore the language of cinema from the perspective of a creative practitioner. In this aspect of the course you’ll write screenplays and make experimental films, narrative and non-fiction films using digital video as well as 8mm and 16mm film.
Course options
Key facts
Entry Requirements
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Fees and Paying for University
Student experience
Student work
Grete Kutkaite, "Golden Cities"
See more of our film, media and communication students' work
A Little of the Heart
British Academy-funded AI project by Dr Sarah Gibson Yates sees collaboration between ARU film & media students, Heartstopper star Leila Khan, Cambridge Film Trust’s Youth Lab and film industry professionals.
Find out more
Martha Wallam
"The BA Film course has provided me with such a great opportunity, and I have gained so much from this experience."
Awards put Film students and graduates in spotlight
Cambridge Film Festival 2023 highlights
ARU MA Film Production student Megan Wiggins shares her highlights from the 2023 CFF, and its benefits to the community and ARU students.
Michael Bruce
International student Michael talks about moving to study in the UK, and how the course has helped his confidence as a writer and filmmaker.
ARU Spotlight Podcast: Michael Bruce
Royal Television Society East Student Awards Ceremony 2023
Enjoy a highlights video of the Royal Television Society East Student Awards Ceremony, hosted at ARU in March 2023
Toby Venables
Screenwriting Lecturer Toby talks about his creative work, including BAFTA-winning Netflix horror film ‘His House’.
ARU Spotlight Podcast: Toby Venables
Megan Herdson
Alumnus Megan talks about how studying creative writing helped her career in marketing, and grew her confidence in sharing her writing.
ARU Spotlight Podcast: Megan Herdson
Catarina Rodrigues
"I was always very interested in the visual world. Studying Film was the perfect way to combine a passion for photography with movement and sound."
Catarina's ARU experience
Facilities and showcase
Industry-standard facilities
As part of your studies at ARU, you’ll have access to all of our creative industries facilities including:
- Film studio with overhead lighting, tracks, dollies and green screen
- Multi-camera television studio with modular set panels and modern set dressing
- Full range of location kit from 4K digital cameras, professional lighting, to Steadicam
- Sound-recording equipment for location filming
- Editing suites with Da Vinci Resolve and the full Adobe Creative Cloud software suite
- Finishing suite with audio monitoring and grading panels
- Aaton Cameras and Steenbeck editors for 16mm film production
- Motion capture equipment
- Podcast and video capture system
Futures Lab and workshop equipment
Our new digital workshop includes a variety of computer aided manufacturing machines, helping you learn up to date manufacturing and design processes as well as supporting many traditional techniques. These technologies include:
- 3D printers and scanners - FDM printers; material-specific extruders; SLA Formlabs printers; SLS Formlabs Fuse1; structured light 3D scanners
- 2D printing and cutting machines - laser cutters; Roland BN20 vinyl printer & cutter; Gerber substrate cutter; Mimaki TX300P sublimation printer.
Learn outside the classroom
Throughout the course you’ll benefit from extra-curricular events such as:
- Cambridge Film Festival events
- regular field trips, such as to the BFI and Tate Modern
- guest lectures, with recent speakers including Margaret Salmon, Guy Sherwin, Jayne Parker, film editor and sound designer Larry Sider, and filmmaker William Raban
- events offered through our student-led film societies
- the chance to join Cam FM, a student-run radio station with studios on our campus and at Cambridge’s famous Fitzwilliam Museum.
Take a closer look
Our Creative Showcase shines a spotlight on what makes ARU creative and cultural – our spaces, places and people. Find out more about our community, the difference we make, the stories we tell, and the things that inspire us. You can also explore the work of our graduating students in our digital graduate showcase.
Lecturers
Sarah Gibson Yates
Senior Lecturer
Sean Campbell
Deputy Dean for Research and Innovation
Tina Kendall
Associate Professor
Toby Venables
Senior Lecturer Practitioner
Careers
Our BA (Hons) Film degree will help you prepare for a career in many film and cinema-related roles, including film and television production or post-production, journalism, screenwriting, programming and curation, festival management and public relations.
You might also decide to continue on to a Masters course, such as our MA Film and Television Production. Take advantage of our Alumni Scholarship and get 20% off your fees.
Employability and personal career development
Informed by employers, our courses support an integrated approach to employability. You’ll have opportunities to develop the skills and abilities they are looking for and gain a deeper understanding of how your academic learning relates to the world of work through Live Briefs and Ruskin Modules.
To amplify your career ambition, you will need to actively dedicate time outside of your studies, whether you choose to explore placements, internships or volunteering. Or you could make a social impact by collaborating with our partner organisations through our volunteer scheme Students at the Heart of Knowledge Exchange (SHoKE). These all give you an edge, providing you with experience that you will be able to evidence on your CV and talk about in interviews.
Our Employability and Careers Service offers a range of expert advice and support to build your unique professional profile, including tailored career appointments, advice on writing your CV, and help to complete job applications. You’ll have 24/7 access to the Careers Centre, our comprehensive online digital resource, which empowers you to start building a Personal Career Development Plan from the very start. Design your future at ARU.
Blackmagic Design
We’re an official Blackmagic Design training partner, which means you can get certification in their DaVinci Resolve video editing software.
Gain contacts and experience
Our links with local and national organisation will help you make contacts and find work placements in the industry. Our recent students have found internships and placements with companies including the BBC, Pinewood Studios, StudioCanal UK, Sight and Sound magazine, and Watersprite Film Festival.
Life in Cambridge
Our friendly, bustling campus is a stone’s throw from the centre of Cambridge, often described as the perfect student city.
Our favourite places in Cambridge Did you know...? Facts about Cambridge Watch: Our CambridgeWant to talk to someone?
Do you have a question that we haven't answered so far? Talk to our application experts. You can also ask our Student Ambassadors about life at ARU.
We're here Monday-Thursday 9am-5pm (please note we close at 3.30pm on the first and third Thursday of the month for staff training), and Friday 9am-4.30pm.
Foundation year available
This course offers a foundation year – an extra year of study to help you prepare for university, and build your knowledge and skills.
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