Our Film Studies
programmes – Master’s, PhD and undergraduate
- aim to initiate and expand students' understanding
and knowledge of the theory and practice of film,
and cultivate their love of cinema.
What makes Film Studies at Edinburgh unique is its focus on art and author cinema combined with the comparative study of independent and mainstream cinema. Students will therefore have opportunities to choose from and explore a wide range of film studies topics including::
- Author cinema, experimental and avant-garde film as well as Hollywood genres
- European art cinema, as well as films from Africa, the Middle-East and Asia
- The impact of new technology on the art of cinema
- The cinema of a specific filmmaker (Angelopoulos,
Breillat, Bergman, Cronenberg, Denis, Godard,
Hitchcock, Kar-Wai, Kieslowski, Lynch, Renoir,
Resnais, Sokurov, Tarkovski, Van Sant, Wenders,
to name but a few)
Film Studies in Edinburgh benefits greatly from its location: the capital of Scotland, Edinburgh is one of the most beautiful and friendly cities of Europe. The city is a wonderful place for students of film because of its vibrant cultural life and the job opportunities it offers. Edinburgh is the home of the world-renowned Edinburgh International Film Festival, a number of excellent art house cinemas (Filmhouse and Cameo Picturehouse), galleries, museums, theatres and cultural institutes which contribute to the city’s cultural life around the year.
Our programme is an excellent place to start developing your film interests with the view of a career in any film and media-related fields and in academia.
Master’s programmes and PhD in Film Studies
Film Studies at the University of Edinburgh is part of the School of Literature, Languages and Cultures (LLC). LLC’s graduate school proposes three postgraduate programmes in film studies:
Multidisciplinary and comparative approaches are key aspects of film studies and we therefore welcome students coming from other areas of study than film.
As a student in one of our programmes you will be able to:
- gain a good understanding and in-depth knowledge of film form and film history
- research in your chosen area of specialization
- meet and discuss with established academics and professionals of the field
- become part of a group of like-minded lovers of cinema and engage with regular group discussions and extra-curricular activities relating to film.
You can gain hands-on experience by registering for a course leading to the making of a 4mn documentary (subject to availability).
All degrees include research training, assignments and supervised work on a wide range of topics. PhD students will be offered opportunities to gain teaching experience.
Language support is available to foreign students from IALS: http://www.ials.ed.ac.uk/ Undergraduate Courses
Most undergraduate programmes in the School of Literatures, Languages and Cultures include film courses. The second year course Introduction to European Cinema provides an overview of European cinemas and movements from the beginning of film to the present. See under ‘undergraduate courses’ for more information about IEC and other film undergraduate courses at the University of Edinburgh.
Undergraduate Courses
Most undergraduate programmes in the School of Literatures, Languages and Cultures include film courses. The second year course Introduction to European Cinema provides an overview of European cinemas and movements from the beginning of film to the present. See under ‘undergraduate courses’ for more information about IEC and other film undergraduate courses at the University of Edinburgh.
Facilities
Edinburgh boasts one of the best appointed university libraries in the UK, as well as the vast collection of the National Library of Scotland.
In addition to specialised library sections on cinema, the University of Edinburgh’s Language and Humanities Centre has an extensive VHS and DVD collection, and a range of viewing and editing facilities open to all students.
Film on campus
As our student you will also be able to join one of the specialised film societies, such as the Edinburgh University Film Society or Edinburgh Movie Production Society, which are among the most active and numerous on campus. You will be encouraged to try your hands at cinema curatorship by organising film screenings and mini-festivals for your fellow students. You will be able to become involved with an academic journal, Forum, edited by our postgraduate students, which publishes pieces on film.
Film in Edinburgh
Our students can actively
contribute to film-related activities in Edinburgh
by assisting staff members and fellow students
in organising a range of cultural events such
as Diversions: a festival of experimental film
and video (May 2008 and November 2009), the UK
Festival of Chinese Cinema: Cinema China 2007,
The French Film Festival and Africa-in-Motion
(ongoing since 2006). |
