Course Overview
Lancaster's combined Film Studies and Philosophy degree is taught jointly by academics in the Lancaster Institute for the Contemporary Arts (LICA) - ranked third for its Art and Design research by the 2008 Research Assessment Exercise - and our thriving new Department of Politics, Philosophy and Religion.
Your degree will provide you with the information and theoretical frameworks for understanding films as crucial cultural artefacts. You'll examine cinema's aesthetic importance in the context of an increasingly visual and media-oriented culture, while investigating the connections between contemporary art, theatre, music and film. Lancaster's course is academic rather than vocational, but you will make your own digital film using the University's state-of-the-art equipment.
You'll be able to select from a wide range of options in both disciplines to complement your compulsory courses, beginning with the core first-year modules Introduction to Film Studies and Introduction to Philosophy. In your second year, your courses include Film Cultures and you'll complete a Film Dissertation in your third and final year.
For a list of compulsory modules, please see the tab above.
The department has been absolutely fantastic, lecturers have been incredibly approachable and enthusiastic about their work.
Career opportunities
Lancaster's Film Studies and Philosophy graduates have strong research, analytical and communication skills, which open doors in any sector. Our graduates are highly employable and have a strong track record in finding work, especially in areas of advertising, marketing and the media industry.
Many alumni go on to follow one of the postgraduate MA degrees offered at Lancaster; undertake vocational postgraduate training in media-related professions such as journalism, or pursue careers in law, computing consultancy, finance and local government.
Modules
Here are some of the current modules which are available during your studies at Lancaster:
PartI
- Introduction to Film Studies
- Introduction to Philosophy
PartII (Year 2)
- Contemporary Fine Art Practitioners
- Contemporary Hong Kong Cinema
- Documentary Cultures
- Documentary Drawing
- Film Cultures
- History of Electronic and Computer Music
- Ideology and Politics in the Cinema
- Introduction to Television Drama
- LICA Work Placement
- Modern Dance
- Perception and the Arts
- Postwar European Playwrights
- Silent Cinema
- Sound and space
- The Cultural History of American Film
- The Evolution of America's Music
PartII (Year 3)
- Analysing Popular Music
- Contemporary Fine Art Practitioners
- Contemporary Hong Kong Cinema
- Creative Enterprise
- Documentary Drawing
- Film Dissertation
- Film Theory
- History of Electronic and Computer Music
- Ideology and Politics in the Cinema
- Introduction to Television Drama
- Music, Culture and 'The Hollow Years'
- Perception and the Arts
- Rock and Roll in American Culture
- Silent Cinema
- Sound Synthesis and Design
- Sound and space
- The Cultural History of American Film
- The Evolution of America's Music
For more detailed module information please visit the Lancaster Institute for the Contemporary Arts department website.
Entry Requirements
A-level: AAB. We normally expect three A-levels.
General Studies: Accepted as one of 3 A-levels
Preference: Minimum of 2 A-levels
Key skills: Not included in offer
Scottish Highers: ABBBB
Irish Leaving Cert: Offers will be made on the basis of 5 or 6 Higher level subjects. Please contact the Undergraduate Admissions Office (01524 592028) for further information
International Bacc: 35 pts overall with 16 pts from best three HL courses
BTEC: Overall grades DDD/DDM
Mature students: Applications welcome. Recent formal study of media, film or related subject an advantage but not required. Please contact the Undergraduate Admissions Office (01524 592028) for further information
IELTS: 6.5
For details of how we evaluate international qualifications, please click here.
Financial Support
Lancaster University's priority is to support every student to make the most of their life and education. In addition to government maintenance loans, grants and national scholarships, Lancaster University offers a range of financial support for full time UK Undergraduate students from lower-income backgrounds. Many students each year will be entitled to bursaries or scholarships to help them with the cost of fees and/or living expenses.
The Lancaster Scholarship package is designed to reward the hard work and natural ability of full-time UK students applying to study with us regardless of their household income. Students achieving A*, A, A in their A-level examinations (or equivalent academic qualifications) will receive a £1,000 per year Lancaster Scholarship during their undergraduate studies if they place us as their firm choice institution. Continuation of the Lancaster Scholarship is subject to satisfactory academic progression.
Our combined £5,000 bursary package will help students from England whose household incomes are less than £25,000 per year with fees and living costs.
Students from England eligible for our £5,000 bursary package will also be awarded a £3,000 Lancaster Scholarship if they achieve A*, A, A in their A-level examinations (or equivalent academic qualifications). This totals £8,000 of support for students during their studies.
For full details of the University's financial support packages including eligibility criteria, please visit our
fees and funding page.