Film and Television Studies has a worldwide reputation for the quality of its teaching and research within the fields of film and television criticism, aesthetics, history and theory. It is the first completely free-standing Film and Television department in the UK with all its resources being devoted to the intensive study of the two media. With excellent staff-student ratios and a deliberately diverse range of staff research interests, it takes pride in its collaborative community ethos. The Department is housed in a new multi-million pound study centre equipped with 35mm, 16mm and DVD projection facilities. Students benefit from outstanding subjectspecific print, electronic and audiovisual library resources, as well as a wide range of inter-disciplinary graduate research amenities. Students gain access to a dynamic international research culture that features an ongoing programme of research seminars, symposia and conferences. The Department offers its graduate students a structured training programme with opportunities for a wide range of academically specific and wider professional learning.

In the 2008 Research Assessment Exercise the Department was rated the top Film and Television Studies Department in the UK for the quality of its research. It was one of only seven departments across all disciplines and universities in the UK to have the majority of its research activity classed as 4* (i.e. ‘world-leading in terms of originality, significance and rigour’). It is consistently placed at the top of relevant league tables and was named best film and television department in the 2010 Good University Guides published by The Times and The Guardian. The Department is home to the Midlands Television Research Group and many other national and international research collaborations.

Research Areas

The Department houses many of the leading scholars in their respective fields and has a significant reputation, especially, for its contribution to the study of film and television history and aesthetics; Hollywood cinema; feminist film and television theory and criticism; European cinemas, world cinemas; documentary; issues of representation; film and philosophy; film and fashion and film and history. The Department is also home to the Midlands Television Research Group, an internationally recognised forum for the exchange and production of research and ideas within the field of Television Studies. The group comprises Departmental staff, research students and fellow academics from affiliated regional universities.

Research Degrees

Standard Duration: PhD 3 years full-time, 5 years part-time
Standard Duration: MA 1 year full-time, 2 years part-time

MA for Research in Film and Television Studies

This degree is for students with a comprehensive undergraduate academic background in film and television studies who can present a strong case that their future research plans would benefit more from independent exploration of specific topics that have not been addressed in their studies to date rather than taking all the modules on the taught MA. We normally expect students admitted to this MA to subsequently pursue MPhil/PhD research within the Department.

• More information on the MA for Research in Film and Television Studies

MPhil/PhD in Film and/or Television Studies

The Department offers a tailored individual doctoral research programme within an area of expertise covered by a wide range of staff interests. In addition to individual supervision, students participate in an extensive study skills programme; an ongoing series of international level seminars, symposia and conferences; the Department’s Postgraduate Methods Reading Group and an informal Postgraduate Research Group.

• More information on the MPhil/PhD in Film and/or Television Studies

Taught Master’s Degree

MA in Film and Television Studies

Duration: 1 year
Places available: 15

The course comprises three dedicated departmental graduate modules taught by experts in the field coupled with training in appropriate study skills. The autumn term comprises two modules that are taught in seminar groups. In the spring term, students focus on one module and begin one-to-one tutorials for the dissertation.

The summer term comprises dissertation supervision and work-in-progress seminars. Assessment consists of three 5,000 word essays (one for each module) and a 20,000 word dissertation. Students also participate in a year-long programme of research seminars, featuring guest speakers, and the Postgraduate Research Group, an informal venue for sharing research ideas.

A significant percentage of MA students go on to do a PhD at Warwick, going into academia as a career. Many graduates also work in related fields of the film and television industries, arts management, journalism, publishing and enterprise.

• More information on the MA in Film and Television Studies

Download prospectus entry

Prospectus Entry

Related Links:

Film and Television Studies Homepage

Postgraduate Research Study in Film and Television Studies

Fees and Funding:

Postgraduate Fees

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