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Film and Screen Media (with Study Abroad)

MA

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Key information

Key information for 2026-27

Start date:
October 2026
Study route:

  • Two years full-time, on campus

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

Course overview

This MA Film and Screen Media (with Study Abroad) combines world-class teaching in film, TV and screen media with a term at a leading university in Europe or Canada, and an optional work placement. It is the only MA in England currently offering such an exchange. Taught over two years, this course allows you to specialise in a chosen area of film, TV and media studies while gaining cross-cultural and work experience, and honing your language skills.

  • Why choose this course?
    • This is a research-led course, shaped by internationally recognised experts in film, screen media and digital culture including Dr Janet McCabe, Dr Dorota Ostrowska, Dr Eleni Liarou, and Professors Emeriti Laura Mulvey and Ian Christie. You will also learn from specialists in digital media and AI, including Dr Joel McKim, Dr Scott Rodgers and Dr Rob Topinka.
    • You will develop language skills and gain cross-cultural insight in your term abroad.
    • You will undertake a work placement to gain professional experience and engage with film and TV industry practitioners. You will also develop practical filmmaking experience through the Derek Jarman Lab and broaden your knowledge of film and TV cultures by attending events, screenings and talks at the award-winning Birkbeck Cinema and the Birkbeck Institute for the Moving Image.

  • What will I learn?

    On this MA, you will gain a deep understanding of film, television and screen media in historical and contemporary contexts. London-based classes and your term overseas will help you to develop analytical, language and industry-relevant skills.

    You will also build professional experience and networks through work placements while learning from world-leading scholars and industry practitioners to develop strong critical-thinking, writing and communication skills for future careers and academic research.

  • How will I learn?

    This course is available to study full-time over two years with classes taking place in the evening, though this may differ during your term abroad.

    It is taught via a combination of research-led lectures, interactive seminars, collaborative workshops and one-to-one tutorials and encourages an environment of discussion, critical analysis and writing. You will also have the opportunity to develop specialised knowledge in a topic that interests you by designing an independent research project and completing a dissertation.

    On your term abroad you will be exposed to different teaching styles and learning cultures, enriching your experience and preparing you for careers in film, media or academia in the UK or overseas.

    This course has three other pathways: MA Film and Screen Media, MA Film and Screen Media (with Television) and MA Film and Screen Media with Film Programming and Curating.

  • Our partner institutions

  • How often will I attend classes?

    Full-time: Two to three evenings a week at Birkbeck, plus one term at a partner institution, October to July

  • Pathways

    This course is a Pathway of the MA Film and Screen Media to offer you the chance to specialise depending on your interests and career goals.

  • 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

  • Birkbeck is ranked among the UK’s top four institutions for Art and Design research (REF 2021) and offers the only film and screen media MA in England with a study abroad exchange.
  • Teaching and supervision are delivered by leading film and media academics, including Drs Janet McCabe and Dorota Ostrowska, and Professor Laura Mulvey. 
  • You will join a vibrant academic and creative community, with opportunities to attend public lectures, networking and cultural events across London. The Birkbeck Institute for the Moving Image (BIMI) runs a busy, intellectually stimulating programme of events. You will also have the opportunity to participate in and attend the Essay Film Festival, jointly run by BIMI and the Institute of Contemporary Arts (ICA), with free admission to events hosted at Birkbeck. There are practical filmmaking opportunities offered through the Derek Jarman Lab.
  • Located in central London, in the heart of historic Bloomsbury, Birkbeck is within easy reach of cinemas and galleries, as well as the British Film Institute and the British Library.
  • Birkbeck offers flexible evening teaching to allow you to combine study with work or other commitments and has various bursaries for postgraduate students to support your studies.

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

Our standard entry requirements for postgraduate courses are a second-class honours degree (2:2), or equivalent, in any area of study.

You are required to complete a 700-1000-word written exercise by choosing a film or television programme which you have recently seen and explaining why you found it innovative. Your completed exercise should be emailed to us directly or alternatively uploaded to the Applicant Portal, either as a Word document or a PDF. Please ensure that you include your reference number and name on each page of the document. Successful candidates will be invited to attend an interview.

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.

On your application form, please list all your relevant qualifications and experience, including those you expect to achieve.

Apply now to secure your place. The earlier you apply, the sooner your application can be considered, and you can enrol. You do not need to have completed your current qualification to start your application.

  • 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.

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Fees

MA: Two years full-time, on campus, starting in October 2026

Academic year 2026-27

Full-time home students: £11,340 per year
Full-time international students: £20,850 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 the Fees Policy.

Discover the financial support available to you to help with your studies at Birkbeck.

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

Graduates can pursue career paths in film and television companies, film festival organising, museums and galleries, arts administration, education, publishing and film criticism. Possible professions include:

  • programme researcher
  • television/film/video content producer
  • museum or gallery curator
  • teaching
  • communications and PR.

It is also possible to continue on to a PhD which offers employment opportunities in academia and other areas of advanced research.

Jobs gained by some of our MA and PhD graduates include:

  • Deputy Editor, Sight & Sound
  • Temporary Exhibitions Curator, Science Museum
  • Curator of Public Programmes, British Film Institute
  • Associate Lecturer, University of Surrey
  • Reader, King’s College London
  • Academic Publishing Sales Manager, Taylor & Francis Group
  • freelance editor
  • independent film producer running their own company.

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 directly to Birkbeck for this course, using the online application link.

You will need to prove your identity when you apply. Find out more about how to apply.

Study routes for Film and Screen Media (with Study Abroad) (MA)

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.

Starting in October 2026

Full-time