4-Term Pathway - Foundation Certificate in Humanities - Continue to Bachelor of Arts (Honours) - Film and Drama (Placement Year)

For students who've finished high school but don’t meet the entry requirements for university, a Foundation Certificate can help them gain entry to an undergraduate degree. After completing this pathway option students qualify for progression to the 1st year of an undergraduate degree at the University of Essex.

A student’s course length is determined mainly by their English language level (UKVI IELTS score). Students on all course lengths take a set of common or similar modules to gain a solid base of skills for university. Students taking a course longer than 2 terms, will take additional modules designed to improve one or more of their English language level, academic skills, and basic knowledge of particular subjects.

Bachelor of Arts (Honours) - Film and Drama

This course is perfect for the creative types. Upon graduation students will be ready to break into the world of cinema, the stage and behind the scenes - and a whole range of other graduate careers in the arts, media, education, and the creative industries. They don’t stop there though, they make sure students know the theory behind theater and the screen too.

Students study themes in drama such as gender, identity, tragedy, human rights, devising and playwriting. Their film modules explore directing, screenwriting, classic and contemporary texts and many aspects of screen media, from cinema to social media.

Students also gain the skills in technical theater and film production, like design and stage management, camerawork, editing and film-making. They will still write essays as in any other Humanities degree, but alongside honing their critical writing and thinking, they will also have the chance to be assessed on their creativity, performance and technical skills.

What makes them different? The Department also offers many modules which bring the disciplines of film and drama together. Their modules Directing Actors for Film and Introduction to Screenwriting give students a seamless mix of both film and drama so they can excel throughout the screen and the stage.

Their high-spec facilities mean students always got somewhere to rehearse and edit. Students also will be offered careers guidance and training, preparing them for the career they want upon graduation.

This course is based in the Department of Literature, Film and Theatre Studies. Students will be taught by academics who are also practitioners in their field and have significant experience in the industry – from film-makers to award-winning theater specialists.

They are are ranked number 1 in the UK for film studies (Dance, Drama and Cinematics, Times Good University Guide 2019).

* Please note that this delivery option of the course includes a placement year.

Students may decide to opt for a placement year, where they develop their professional skills and build a network of business contacts. A placement year can give students a career advantage by showing future employers that they are a dedicated and experienced professional.