Students using film equipment in a red-lit studio
BA (Hons) Placement year available

Film

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

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.

Soft focus photo of Erato Kallini

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
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.

Course options

Key facts

Looking for different course options?

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
  • Introduction to Filmmaking: 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 *
  • 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.

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.

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

Read profiles of teaching and research staff on this course.

Student work

Our student showcase
  • Video still of three students eating popcorn in a cinema foyer with the words 'the third longest-running film festival in the UK'

    ARU MA Film Production student Megan Wiggins shares her highlights from the 2023 CFF, and its benefits to the community and ARU students.

  • Video still of a woman in yellow clothes, talking on an old-fashioned yellow telephone on a beach, from James Pearson and Martha Wallam's short film 'Beyond The Sea'

    A film by students James Pearson and Martha Wallam.

  • Video still of an illustration of a tree growing from bones, from Liz Michael's short film 'Static'

    A film by student Liz Michael.

  • Video still of a close-up of a baby's bottle, from Lauren Powell's short film 'The Mothering Chair'

    A film by student Lauren Powell.

  • Video still of a church in the distance against a picturesque sunset, from James Pearson's short film 'The Ship of the Fens'

    A film by student James Pearson.

  • Video still of the silhouette of a man dancing on a rooftop at dusk, from Grete Kutkaite's short film 'What is Dance For You?'

    A film by student Grete Kutkaite.

  • Claire Connon on a racing track racing on her wheelchair

    A film by Carmen Vincent, Film Studies Study Abroad student.

    • ;
  • Video still of three students eating popcorn in a cinema foyer with the words 'the third longest-running film festival in the UK'
  • Video still of a woman in yellow clothes, talking on an old-fashioned yellow telephone on a beach, from James Pearson and Martha Wallam's short film 'Beyond The Sea'
  • Video still of an illustration of a tree growing from bones, from Liz Michael's short film 'Static'
  • Video still of a close-up of a baby's bottle, from Lauren Powell's short film 'The Mothering Chair'
  • Video still of a church in the distance against a picturesque sunset, from James Pearson's short film 'The Ship of the Fens'
  • Video still of the silhouette of a man dancing on a rooftop at dusk, from Grete Kutkaite's short film 'What is Dance For You?'
  • Claire Connon on a racing track racing on her wheelchair
  • Video still of three students eating popcorn in a cinema foyer with the words 'the third longest-running film festival in the UK'
  • Video still of a woman in yellow clothes, talking on an old-fashioned yellow telephone on a beach, from James Pearson and Martha Wallam's short film 'Beyond The Sea'
  • Video still of an illustration of a tree growing from bones, from Liz Michael's short film 'Static'
  • Video still of a close-up of a baby's bottle, from Lauren Powell's short film 'The Mothering Chair'
  • Video still of a church in the distance against a picturesque sunset, from James Pearson's short film 'The Ship of the Fens'
  • Video still of the silhouette of a man dancing on a rooftop at dusk, from Grete Kutkaite's short film 'What is Dance For You?'
  • Claire Connon on a racing track racing on her wheelchair

Facilities

  • A student using an ARRI Alexa film camera outside on ARU's Cambridge campus

    ARRI Alexa camera

  • A member of ARU Media Service staff showing a student a film camera available for loan

    Media Service loans

  • Two small specialist cameras on a desk

    Media Service loans

  • A member of ARU staff configuring equipment at the Media Services desk

    Media Service helpdesk

  • A student using equipment in ARU's film editing suite

    Film editing suite

  • Film editing equipment, including two monitors and an array of controls

    Film editing suite

  • Three students looking at footage on a camera in a film studio

    Film studio

  • The Green Screen in the drama studio

    Green screen studio

  • The film screening room on ARU's Cambridge campus

    Screening room

    • ;
  • A student using an ARRI Alexa film camera outside on ARU's Cambridge campus
  • A member of ARU Media Service staff showing a student a film camera available for loan
  • Two small specialist cameras on a desk
  • A member of ARU staff configuring equipment at the Media Services desk
  • A student using equipment in ARU's film editing suite
  • Film editing equipment, including two monitors and an array of controls
  • Three students looking at footage on a camera in a film studio
  • The Green Screen in the drama studio
  • The film screening room on ARU's Cambridge campus
  • A student using an ARRI Alexa film camera outside on ARU's Cambridge campus
  • A member of ARU Media Service staff showing a student a film camera available for loan
  • Two small specialist cameras on a desk
  • A member of ARU staff configuring equipment at the Media Services desk
  • A student using equipment in ARU's film editing suite
  • Film editing equipment, including two monitors and an array of controls
  • Three students looking at footage on a camera in a film studio
  • The Green Screen in the drama studio
  • The film screening room on ARU's Cambridge campus

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.

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.

Entry Requirements

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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.

More about foundation years