Students using film equipment in a red-lit studio
BA (Hons) Available in Clearing

Film

Explore theories and histories of film and cinema, and develop creative skills in filmmaking, screenwriting and a range of creative, practice-based modules.

Start date
September 2025
Location
Cambridge
Duration
3 years
UCAS course code
P303

Start date
September 2025
Location
Cambridge
Duration
4 years with foundation
UCAS course code
P304

Start date
September 2025
Location
Cambridge
Duration
4 years with placement
UCAS course code
P305
10th

in the UK for Learning Resources.

Source: NSS 2025

Discover the history of global cinema and learn how cinema reflects and affects society by studying a range of genres, from avant-garde cinema to Hollywood blockbusters.

You’ll also explore the language of cinema from the perspective of a creative practitioner, writing screenplays and making experimental, narrative and non-fiction films using digital video as well as 8mm and 16mm film.

Why ARU?
  • Use our extensive industry links to make contacts, find work placements, and take part in live briefs

  • Get hands-on in our specialist film facilities, with full training from our technical team

  • See your films screened at Cambridge Arts Picturehouse and take part in film festivals

  • Prepare for many careers in the film industries including screenwriting, filmmaking, and journalism

  • Receive support from our expert lecturers and close-knit community of students and graduates across disciplines

Logo: THE Awards 2023
 

Study at an award-winning university

We were named Times Higher Education University of the Year 2023. We've also been awarded a Gold rating in the Teaching Excellence Framework – a reflection of the outstanding education we offer our students.

Careers

Our BA (Hons) Film degree will help you prepare for a career in many film and cinema-related roles.

These include 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.

Teaching and modules

Join our course to dive into global cinema, create your own films and explore screenwriting. Expand your creative and intellectual horizons.

Nina Lübbren, Course Director

You’ll start the course by discovering new ways of analysing and thinking about film from different perspectives.

You'll also learn about various aspects of filmmaking including screenwriting, cinematography, sound recording and editing.

In Year 2 you’ll explore theoretical issues around spectatorship and representation, including the changes introduced by digital cinema, and take part in critical discussions and debates around documentary cinema.

Finally you’ll bring together all you’ve learned on an individual research project and consider notions of gender in film, as well as extending your knowledge and expertise in an area of your choice.

Modules are subject to change and availability, and may vary by location. If you have the choice of optional modules, these are indicated with a *.

Year 1
  • Film Language and Concepts
  • Creative Moving Image
  • Screenwriting: The Short Film
  • History of Global Cinema
  • Into ARU
  • Filmmaking on Film: Super 8mm *
  • Anglia Language Programme (15 credits) *
Year 2
  • Theorising Spectatorship
  • Classical Hollywood Cinema
  • Documentary Film Theory
  • Ruskin Module (15 credits)
  • Filmmakers on Film
  • Independent Cinema: US and Beyond *
  • Filmmaking on Film: 16mm Filmmaking *
  • Non-Fiction Filmmaking *
  • Film Criticism and Reviewing *
  • From Script to Screen *
  • Anglia Language Programme (15 credits) *
Year 3
  • Special Topics in Film Studies
  • Creative Industries Major Project
  • Screenwriting: Writing and Selling the Feature Film *
  • Experiments in Film and Moving Image *
  • Screen Drama Production *
  • Film Journalism *
  • Independent Film Practice *
  • Gender and Popular Cinema *
  • Narrative in Global Cinema *
  • Anglia Language Programme (15 credits) *
Module details

To prepare you for university study, you can take a foundation year at the start of this course. Find out more about foundation years.

Year 1
  • Foundation in Humanities, English, Media, Social Sciences and Education
Module details

You can choose to take an optional placement year as part of this course. Placements typically happen in Year 3, and your course will take four years overall. Find out more about placement years.

Placement year
  • Work Placement - Cambridge School of Creative Industries
Module details

Read profiles of teaching and research staff on this course.

Facilities

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
  • full range of location kit and sound-recording equipment
  • 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.

Entry requirements

Fees and funding

Apply for Film

Clearing places available

UK students, apply through Clearing for a September 2025 start

UK students

Call our Clearing line

01245 686868

UK students

Apply through UCAS for 2026

International students

Apply direct

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