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Film, Media and Language (French, German, Italian, Spanish, Japanese, Korean, Chinese)

BA (Hons)

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Key information

Key information for 2026-27

Start date:
October 2026
Study route:

  • Three years full-time, on campus


    UCAS code: P395

  • Four years part-time, on campus

  • Four years full-time, on campus with Foundation Year


    UCAS code: P396

  • Six years part-time, on campus with Foundation Year

Status:
Fully approved
Location:
Birkbeck Campus, Central London
Awarding body:
University of London
Study options:
Full-time | Part-time | On campus | with Foundation Year

Key information for 2027-28

Start date:
October 2027
Study route:

  • Three years full-time, on campus


    UCAS code: P395

  • Four years part-time, on campus

  • Four years full-time, on campus with Foundation Year


    UCAS code: P396

  • Six years part-time, on campus with Foundation Year

Status:
Fully approved
Location:
Birkbeck Campus, Central London
Awarding body:
University of London
Study options:
Full-time | Part-time | On campus | with Foundation Year

Course Overview

Building on Birkbeck’s radical reputation in film and screen media, this BA Film, Media and Language is ideal if you are keen to combine studying a modern language and its associated culture with film and media studies. You will gain knowledge of film and media from different periods and parts of the world while developing your creative practice skills in film/media content creation.

  • Why choose this course?
    • Classes are run by world-leading academics and industry professionals with links to organisations such as the BFI, BBC and Disney.
    • This course takes a unique, interdisciplinary approach to equip you with multiple skillsets essential for employment in global, multilingual media environments.
    • It is ideal if you consider yourself a film/media practitioner seeking to enhance your career opportunities and deepen your understanding of the wide variety of forms, styles and histories of film and media through both academic study and creative practice.
    • The study of languages allows you to better understand other people, cultures and the world in which we live.

  • What will I learn?

    On this course, you will combine film, TV and media history and theory with the study of contemporary trends and developments in the screen media industries. You will then be able to choose from specialist option modules offering an exciting range of perspectives on film, media and visual culture from across the globe, such as Japanese and East Asian culture, Italian, Spanish and Latin American film.

    You can also choose from a number of modules in related disciplines, such as digital media and web design, journalism, comparative literature and languages to develop knowledge and skills that will equip you for work in global, converging media industries and cultural organisations.

    For the languages component, you will gain a high level of proficiency in your language of choice and study the literature, history, film and visual culture associated with your language. You will also master transferable skills such as essay writing, oral presentations and written reports, critical thinking and translating.

    You can choose French, German, Italian, Spanish or Japanese starting at the level of language learning that suits you, whether you are a complete beginner or a native speaker.

    Korean and Mandarin Chinese are offered starting from beginner level. If you decide to take either of these languages, your final degree award will be a ‘with’ degree, so for example BA Film and Media with Korean, because we currently offer these languages up to intermediate level only.

  • How will I learn?

    Learning on this course is collaborative and is based on a combination of lectures, seminars and practice-based work independently and in groups. To help prepare you for a professional, media working environment, you will also manage timeframes and engage in teamwork to deliver film and media projects. Your learning will be complemented by annual guest lectures and workshops by media professionals offering you career orientation and advice.

    Language teaching is delivered in the target language, allowing you full immersion in your chosen linguistic area. It takes place in small-group seminars, so you can actively participate and interact with your peers and our experienced tutors.

    This course is available to study full- or part-time, with classes taking place in the evening.

  • How often will I attend classes?

    Full-time: Two evenings a week, October to July.

    Part-time: One to two evenings a week, October to July.

  • Foundation Year

    If you opt for the Foundation Year route, this will fully prepare you for undergraduate study during an additional year (full-time) or two years (part-time) of supported study. This option is ideal if you are returning to study after a gap, if you have not previously studied the relevant subjects, or if you didn't achieve the grades you need for a place on your chosen undergraduate degree.

    Once you successfully complete your Foundation Year studies, you will automatically advance onto the main full-time degree.

  • Pathways

    This course is a Pathway of BA Film and Media

  • Course disclaimer

    Birkbeck makes all reasonable efforts to deliver educational services, modules and programmes of study as described on our website. In the event that there are material changes to our offering (for example, due to matters beyond our control), we will update applicant and student facing information as quickly as possible and offer alternatives to applicants, offer-holders and current students.

    Most of our courses are taught in the evenings, however some of our courses offer a daytime timetable. Where there is an option to attend daytime teaching sessions, this is stated in the How will I learn? section.

More Highlights

  • The award-winning Birkbeck Cinema is central to the course, where most of our film classes take place. The cinema is equipped with 35mm and state-of-the-art digital projection, which offers you an opportunity to watch and study films in the best possible conditions. It is housed in a historic building that was a former home to key members of the Bloomsbury Group, including the author Virginia Woolf and the artist Vanessa Bell.
  • Birkbeck Institute for the Moving Image (BIMI) runs a busy, intellectually stimulating programme of events, including conferences, screenings and film-related events of all kinds, which students on this course are encouraged to attend. You will have the opportunity to participate in and attend the Essay Film Festival, jointly run by BIMI and the ICA, with free admission to events hosted at Birkbeck.
  • Located in central London, in the heart of historic Bloomsbury, Birkbeck is within easy reach of cinemas and galleries, as well as facilities such as the British Film Institute and the British Library.
  • In film, media and cultural studies, Birkbeck fosters a research-intensive environment and offers an extensive portfolio of internationally respected courses that span a variety of academic disciplines and engage with the latest ideas and techniques in journalism, media and cultural theory, arts policy and management, film and television studies, creative marketing, digital culture and East Asian cultural studies.
  • Birkbeck was ranked as one of the top four universities in the UK for its Art and Design research in the 2021 Research Excellence Framework.

Modules and Teaching

School of Creative Arts, Culture and Communication

The school's teaching and research is highly interdisciplinary, spanning cultures and periods. Academic and practice-based study will equip you for a career in the creative and cultural industries.

Visit the school

Entry Requirements

We welcome applicants without traditional entry qualifications as we base decisions on our own assessment of qualifications, knowledge and previous work experience. We may waive formal entry requirements based on judgement of academic potential.

This course is suitable for all language entry levels, from beginner to proficiency, including native speaker level if you choose to study French, German, Italian, Spanish or Japanese. If you decide to study Korean or Mandarin Chinese, then these languages are available at beginner entry level.

  • Full-time study - how many UCAS points do I need?
    • Three years full-time: 112 points (e.g. A-levels BBC) 
    • four years full-time with Foundation Year: 48 points

    For full-time study on this course, you apply via UCAS. The UCAS tariff score applies if you have recently studied a qualification that has a UCAS tariff equivalence. UCAS provides a tariff calculator for you to work out what your qualification is worth.

  • Part-time study

    For part-time study our standard requirements are a minimum of two A-levels or equivalent.

  • Alternative entry routes

    Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diploma: DMM

  • What are the English language requirements?

    If English is not your first language or you have not previously studied in English, our usual requirement is the equivalent of an International English Language Testing System (IELTS Academic Test) score of 6.5, with not less than 6.0 in each of the sub-tests. We also accept other English language tests.

    If you don't meet the minimum English language requirements, please contact us or see our international study skills page for more details about how we can help.

    Visit the International section of our website to find out more about our English language entry requirements and relevant requirements by country.

  • What are the visa and funding requirements?

    If you are not from the UK and you do not already have residency here, you may need to apply for a visa.

    The visa you apply for varies according to the length of your course:

    • Courses of more than six months' duration: Student visa
    • Courses of less than six months' duration: Standard Visitor visa

    International students who require a Student visa should apply to study on our courses full-time as these qualify for Student visa sponsorship. If you are living in the UK on a Student visa, you will not be eligible to enrol to study part-time courses at Birkbeck (with the exception of some modules).

    As a Student visa student, you should also apply to study on campus only, as online and flexible options of study (if they are available for your course) may affect the conditions of your visa.

    For full information, read our visa information for international students page.

    Please also visit the international section of our website to find out more about relevant visa and funding requirements by country.

    Please note students receiving US Federal Aid are only able to apply for in-person, on-campus programmes which will have no elements of online study.

  • Credits and accredited prior learning (APL)

    If you have studied at university (or have an HND or Foundation Degree), you may have accumulated credits. It may be possible to transfer these from your previous study to Birkbeck or another institution.

Clearing for 2026 is open
Apply now

Fees

Three years full-time, on campus

Academic year 2026-27, starting in October 2026

Full-time home students: £9,790 per year
Full-time international students: £18,500 per year

Academic year 2027-28, starting in October 2027

Full-time home students: £10,050 per year
Full-time international students: £19,320 per year

Four years part-time, on campus

Academic year 2026-27, starting in October 2026

Part-time home students: £7,335 per year
Part-time international students: £13,875 per year

Academic year 2027-28, starting in October 2027

Part-time home students: £7,530 per year
Part-time international students: £14,490 per year

Four years full-time with Foundation Year, on campus

Academic year 2026-27, starting in October 2026

Full-time home students, Year 1: £5,760 per year
Full-time international students, Year 1: £18,500 per year
Full-time home students, Year 2+: £9,790 per year
Full-time international students, Year 2+: £18,500 per year

Academic year 2027-28, starting in October 2027

Full-time home students, Year 1: £5,760 per year
Full-time international students, Year 1: £19,320 per year
Full-time home students, Year 2+: £10,050 per year
Full-time international students, Year 2+: £19,320 per year

Six years part-time with Foundation Year, on campus

Academic year 2026-27, starting in October 2026

Part-time home students, Year 1&2: £2,880 per year
Part-time international students, Year 1&2: £9,250 per year
Part-time home students, Year 3+: £7,335 per year
Part-time international students, Year 3+: £13,875 per year

Academic year 2027-28, starting in October 2027

Part-time home students, Year 1&2: £2,880 per year
Part-time international students, Year 1&2: £9,660 per year
Part-time home students, Year 3+: £7,530 per year
Part-time international students, Year 3+: £14,490 per year

Students are charged a tuition fee in each year of their course. Tuition fees for students continuing their course may be subject to annual inflationary increases. For more information, please see our Fees Policy.

Birkbeck's campus is located in the historic and vibrant Bloomsbury area of central London - named one of the best places to live in London 2025 by The Times.

Careers and employability

This BA Film, Media and Language will equip you with core knowledge and practice-based skills for work in film and media organisations, and in the creative industries. You will also develop key employability skills in advanced communication and intercultural awareness allowing you to engage at a sophisticated level with the wider world. 

You will also gain other important transferable skills including: 

  • the ability to work as part of a team
  • research 
  • evaluating and assessing different types of information 
  • the ability to present yourself and an argument.

Graduates can pursue career paths in film and television companies, museums and galleries, arts administration and teaching. Possible professions include:

  • programme researcher (broadcasting/film/video)
  • museum/gallery curator
  • arts administrator
  • higher education lecturer.

We offer a comprehensive careers service - Careers and Enterprise - your career partner during your time at Birkbeck and beyond. At every stage of your career journey, we empower you to take ownership of your future, helping you to make the connection between your experience, education and future ambitions.

Student Support

Birkbeck offers study, learning and wellbeing support to undergraduate and postgraduate students to help them succeed.

Our Learning Development Service provides a lively programme of free weekly workshops building essential academic skills - from writing and critical thinking to maths and referencing - offering flexible sessions, practical tips, and online resources to boost your skills and confidence.

Our Disability and Mental Health Service can support you if you have disabilities, specific learning differences, mental health conditions or neurodivergence, by providing practical support to help you achieve your academic potential.

Our Counselling Service aims to support you with any emotional and psychological difficulties that are affecting your experience and engagement with your studies at university. It is a free, non-judgemental and confidential service which consists of a consultation process followed by time limited counselling contact.

Find out more about the full range of student services we offer at Birkbeck.

How to Apply

You apply via UCAS for our full-time undergraduate courses or directly to Birkbeck for our part-time undergraduate courses. For more detailed, step-by-step guidance on how to apply, visit our How to apply page.

  • How do I apply to study full-time (UCAS entry)?

    If you are applying for a full-time undergraduate course at Birkbeck you apply through UCAS. Use the Apply now button on this course page which will direct you to UCAS. There you will be prompted to sign in and create an account. You will have to give UCAS a few personal details, including your name, address and date of birth, and then you can start working on your application.

    The first UCAS deadline is in January, and the majority of university applications through UCAS are made by then. Find the exact deadline date on the UCAS website. We welcome applications outside of the UCAS deadlines, so you can still apply through UCAS after the January deadline, depending on the availability of places. We also take late applications via the UCAS Clearing system in August.

  • How do I apply to study part-time?

    If you are applying for a part-time undergraduate course (usually four or six years), you apply directly to Birkbeck online by using the Apply now button. You will need to prove your identity when you apply.

    Please note that online application opens in September.

  • When should I apply?

    You are strongly advised to apply now, to ensure there are still places left, and to give you enough time to complete the admissions process, to arrange funding and to enrol.

    You don't need to complete your current programme of study before you apply - Birkbeck can offer you a place that is conditional on your results.

  • How can I get help with my application?

    Get all the information you need about the application, admission and enrolment process at Birkbeck.

    Our online personal statement tool will guide you through every step of writing the personal statement part of your application.

  • International agents

    If you are an international agent applying to Birkbeck on behalf of an international student, please use Birkbeck's agent portal.

Study routes for Film, Media and Language (French, German, Italian, Spanish, Japanese, Korean, Chinese) (BA (Hons))

Please select a study route below to continue your application.

Please note that international students who require a Student visa to study in the UK can only apply for full-time, on campus routes.

Important: Applications to study part-time in 2027/28 will open in October 2026.

2026-27

Full-time

Part-time

2027-28

Full-time