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Film and Media Studies

(Certificate of Higher Education)

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Location:
Birkbeck Campus, Central London
Status:
Approved
Duration:
Two to three years part-time
Awarding body:
University of London

Course Overview

This introductory course in film and media studies will help you develop a better understanding of our complex media world. You will learn how technology, business and, above all, human creativity have forged the contemporary media world we live in. You will explore some of the best ways to interpret films and television shows within their social, economic and cultural contexts. Our Film and Media Studies Certificate of Higher Education will help you view the world in a different way, acquire new, transferable skills and boost your intellectual confidence. 

Our teaching staff are passionate about film and media, and this course draws on the diverse, cutting-edge research interests of our academics. You can discover more about a range of film and media, including narrative and genre in film, journalism, storytelling in television and the British press. 

  • How often will I attend classes?

    One evening a week. Check the days and times at the top of each module's enrolment page.

  • Progression to degrees at Birkbeck

    Successfully completing the following modules on this course can give you entry into Year 2 of part-time BA degree courses at Birkbeck: 

    If you are offered a place on one of these degrees, you can apply for retrospective credit for the modules listed above and you may be offered retrospective credit for your other option modules at the discretion of the course director for your BA. 

More Highlights

  • We focus on teaching and research in film and media, journalism, arts policy and management, and have Birkbeck Interdisciplinary Research in Media and Culture and the Birkbeck Institute for the Moving Image as focal points of our research culture.
  • Birkbeck offers an extensive portfolio of internationally respected courses that combine a tradition of teaching and researching cultural studies with the latest ideas and techniques across film studies, journalism, screenwriting and digital media.
  • We have state-of-the-art cinema and exhibition spaces, all 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.
  • We have a rich programme of free screenings and film-related events at Birkbeck Institute for the Moving Image, which also hosts the annual Essay Film Festival.
  • With our location in Bloomsbury, central London, you can explore some of the world's best architecture, galleries and museums, collections and arts spaces - many of which are on our doorstep or a short distance away.
  • 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.

Teaching and Modules

Teaching

Teaching is in small groups.

How will I be assessed?

100% coursework.

Entry Requirements

All modules are taught at university level, so you should be able to read, write and speak English fluently.

What are the visa requirements?

Please note that Birkbeck does not sponsor Student visas for Certificate of Higher Education courses.

This means that if you are not from the UK and you do not already have residency or a valid visa here, then you can only study a Certificate of Higher Education on a Standard Visitor visa for courses of less than six months’ duration.

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

Fees

Fees are payable per module and vary depending on the course. Please view the Modules and teaching section and then click on the title of individual modules to see the fees for each module. The overall cost of the certificate will depend on the modules you choose.

Please note: Modular CertHE study is not eligible for student loan funding for study commencing January 2027 onwards.

Careers and employability

Graduates can pursue careers 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.

How to Apply

This is a modular enrolment certificate, so you will need to register onto individual modules (rather than onto the course itself). Please view the Modules and Teaching section and then click on the title of individual modules to see class dates and times and to register.