Roehampton University
Open Spaces. Open Minds.
Undergraduate study
Film
Overview
- Roehampton runs partnership events with the British Film Institute.
- Production-based modules are taught in our Media Centre, which is fully equipped with state-of-the-art digital video cameras and editing facilities.
- Students benefit from an extensive video/DVD library and teaching rooms equipped with digital projectors.
Digital technologies have revolutionised every aspect of film culture from production and distribution to exhibition and consumption. This innovative programme allows you to study and produce film in its social, cultural and historical contexts while interrogating film form either as a digital filmmaker or as a film theorist and historian or as a combination of the two. Whether working critically with found footage to produce essay films or shooting documentaries on digital video, the emphasis is on intellectual rigour and audiovisual creativity.
News
Research Assessment Exercise 2008
100% of Roehampton University's submitted work in Communication, Cultural and Media Studies was recognised either internationally or nationally, with 40% of that work regarded as being either "world-leading" or "internationally excellent". More information.
Renowned director joins University
The Centre for Research in Film and Audiovisual Cultures is delighted to announce the appointment of Roy Ward Baker as Honorary Visiting Professor.
During his 50-year career he directed 32 films, including The October Man (1946), Inferno (1953), A Night to Remember (1958), Quatermass and the Pit (1967), and Dr Jekyll & Sister Hyde (1971), and more than 100 one-hour TV dramas for seminal series such as The Saint, The Avengers, and Minder.
Award-winning student documentary
See examples of student work, including Behind the Banner, winner of a Royal Television Society Award.
In detail
For a complete description of this programme's aims, learning outcomes and the programme outline, see the full programme details.
For a complete list of this programme's modules and a detailed description of each of them, see the full module details.
Entry requirements
- Offers are typically based in the range of 240–320 points from A-levels (grade B at A2 in a humanities or social science discipline will normally be required), vocational A-levels, or equivalent, including the 14–19 Diploma.
Our offers are not solely based on academic results: we also take your skills, achievements and life experience into consideration.
For further information refer to our general entrance requirements page, which includes a tariff table. If you need advice on entry requirements or applications, please contact our Enquiries Office on 020 8392 3232.
Year-by-year summary
First year
You will learn how to "read" film and study the history of cinema while gaining basic skills in digital video production: cinematography, editing and sound. You will also explore some of the critical debates that shape the way film is discussed and understood. At the end of this year, you will choose whether to specialise in production or history and theory or a combination of the two.
Second year
You will deepen your understanding of film history and theory or continue to pursue your film-making ambitions. You will have an opportunity to choose a range of options from modules such as Audiovisual Criticism, Film Journalism,
Cinematography and Animation.
Third year
The Production Project will allow you to develop, shoot and exhibit your own short documentary or fiction film while the dissertation will enable you to conduct an in-depth study of a subject that particularly interests you. Optional modules focus on areas as diverse as National Cinemas (French, Italian or Japanese), Genre and Adaptation, while specialist modules are offered on topics such as Film and the Environment, American Quality TV, Screenwriting, and Producing and Production Management.
Sample modules
- Audiovisual Criticism
- Editing
- Cinematography
- World Cinemas
- Screenwriting
Teaching methods
- Lectures
- Seminars
- Practical workshops
- Tutorials
Assessment methods
- Essays
- Research reports
- Examinations
- Oral presentations
- Practical projects
- Portfolio
- Screenplay
- Practical essay
Past exam paper
Recommended reading
- Bordwell, D. & Thompson, K. (2006) Film Art: An Introduction, 8th ed, New York: McGraw Hill Higher Education
- Hayward, S. Cinema Studies: Key Concepts, 3rd ed, London and New York: Routledge.
- Cook, D.A. (2004) A History of Narrative Film, 4th ed, New York and London: W.W. Norton
- Musburger, R. (2002) Single-Camera Video Production, London: Media Manuals/Focal Press
- Millerson G. (1992) Video Production Handbook, London: Focal Press
Facilities
On campus
- Well-equipped studio
- Voice recording booth running Pro Tools
- Final Cut Pro edit suites
- JVC 200 cameras
- Sony Z7 cameras
The University Library has excellent resources for the study of Film, including an extensive collection of videos and DVDs. Our Media Centre also offers a range of copying, recording and editing services.
Off campus
Roehampton is close to the many world-class facilities in London, including:
Student perspectives
Examples of student work
View two films made by Roehampton students for their third-year graduation documentaries. One of the films, called Behind the Banner, won the Royal Television Society London Centre Student Television Award for undergraduate factual.
Career prospects
Students who study Film at Roehampton can go on to undertake postgraduate studies in Film Studies, Film Archiving, Media and Cultural Studies, and Film Production, including our own MA in Documentary Practices.
Quotes from alumni
"I'm currently the Series Editor on the BBC programme Casualty. My job is to run the script department, managing all writers, script editors and researchers. I'm also responsible for continuity of characterisation and stories, and script quality."
Henry Swindell, former Film student
"I found the Film and TV course at Roehampton both enjoyable and useful. It has proved invaluable in my career so far; I learnt so much both practically and theoretically. I particularly found that the staff were friendly and willing to help you in so many ways to achieve your aims. It was one of the best times of my life and something I will always remember fondly. After graduating I was as an Editing Assistant at Granada TV and then completed an editing training course in New York (something I would not have been accepted on to without the skills I learnt at Roehampton). I am now editing 45-minute TV shows for a channel called Wedding TV."
Jo Pegram, Editor
"The programme gave me an opportunity to study both the theory and practical side of film-making, and both sides were equally key to my success as I regularly used different aspects of one to achieve in the other.”
Daniel Fraser, Junior Librarian, Prime Versioning Department, BBC Television Centre
"I fully appreciated my three years at Roehampton, especially the production as it allowed me to explore new fields in film-making and made me understand which role I was best at. The programme gave me the inspiration and the confidence to face the film and TV industry after graduation."
Elizabeth Aspelin, Assistant Editor, Monster Productions (commercials and television production), Oslo, Norway
"I am now a Director. I cover many different grounds from entertainment to factual and I have worked for all major broadcasters and production companies from the BBC to Channel 4. I have interviewed many of my heroes like top footballers, musicians, athletes and I travel to places all over the world. All aspects on the industry were covered in the programme, such as understanding the audience, scheduling, budgets, directing, producing, interviewing, editing, and camera work and loads more."
Paul De Freitas, freelance TV director
Subject area
Related programmes
Undergraduate
Postgraduate
Research degrees
Research Centre
Staff
- Dr Stacey Abbott, Senior Lecturer, Programme Convener
- Jeremy Bubb, Senior Lecturer
- Prof Michael Chanan, Professor of Film and Video Studies
- Enrica Colusso, Senior Lecturer
- Dr Ian Conrich, Senior Lecturer
- Chris Darke, Associate Lecturer
- Dr Deborah Jermyn, Reader
- Dr Catherine Lupton, Senior Lecturer
- Alexandra Sage, Senior Lecturer
- Dr Paul Sutton, Principal Lecturer
- Michael Uwemedimo, Lecturer
- Dr Michael Witt, Reader; Head of Subject, Media, Film and Culture
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Our studio has industry-standard equipment.
Our edit suites run Final Cut Pro software.
Entry tariff: 240–320 points
UCAS code: W600
Single or Combined Honours
View combinations
Duration (years):
3 (full-time), 4–7 (part-time)
Tuition fees (per year):
£3,290 (UK/EU)
£9,599 (international)
Contact: Enquiries Office
Tel: 020 8392 3232
Email: enquiries@roehampton.ac.uk
