Film and Visual Culture, BA (Hons)

The Film and Visual Culture, BA (Hons) is an exciting interdisciplinary program aimed at students who are interested in exploring a wide spectrum of visual culture and film. This program provides students with the chance to explore rich media histories and contemporary culture through diverse social media platforms, video gaming, creative media, and more.

Course Overview

The program is organized around a structure of three pillars: Film Theory, Visual Culture, and Practice modules. Students are required to take one module from each pillar per year, ensuring a rounded set of skills that equips them for the professional workplace. This unique layout sets Swansea apart from other institutions that specialize in either film theory or film practice.

Modules

The program consists of various modules, including:

• Materiality and Meaning in the Visual Arts
• Introduction to Visual Culture
• Reel Lives: Framing the Human Condition in European Film
• Hollywood: A History of American Film
• Approaches to Film Analysis
• Techniques of Seeing
• Introduction to Film Production
• Dissertation Preparation
• Dissertation

Students can also choose from a range of optional modules, including:

• Theorising the Media
• Digital Content Creation
• Introduction to Writing Drama
• American Word / American Image
• Writing a Short Film
• The Story of America on Film and Television
• Cinema in a World Context
• Adaptation: Storytelling Across Media
• The History of Screen Animation
• Graphic Novel
• Game Over - Press Start to Continue: Critical Game Studies
• Science Fiction and Media
• Documentary and Fiction Filmmaking
• Film Production Management

Entry Requirements

The typical offer for this program is ABB-BCC at A level, or equivalent qualifications. International applicants can refer to the university's undergraduate international entry requirements.

Tuition Fees

The tuition fees for this program vary depending on the start date and student status. For the 2026 academic year, the fees are:

• UK students: ｣9,535
• International students: ｣19,300

Careers and Employability

The program is designed to significantly enhance employability opportunities, and to develop skills that will equip students for work across a wide range of sectors. Career prospects include media production, publicity, publishing, communications and PR, digital/social media marketing, business management, teaching, social enterprise, and entrepreneurship.

Academic Support

The university provides a range of academic support services, including the Centre for Academic Success, which offers courses, workshops, and one-to-one support in areas such as academic writing, maths and statistics, critical thinking, time management, digital skills, presentation skills, note taking, revision, memory, and exam techniques.

Study Abroad and Global Opportunities

The university offers a range of study abroad opportunities, including semester and year-long programs, as well as international summer programs. Students can also participate in the university's Global Opportunities program, which provides funding for international experiences.

Year in Industry

This program offers students the opportunity to spend a year in industry, either in the UK or overseas, gaining valuable workplace experience. The university advocates for paid placements, which on average have a salary of over ｣20,000. Unpaid placements are considered on a case-by-case basis.

Degree Overview:

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Outline:

This undergraduate programme spans a wide range of aspects of visual culture and film, encompassing film theory, the analysis of screen industries, learning about storytelling techniques across different media forms, and key techniques in analysing and close reading a variety of visual texts. It offers a combination of theory and practice within three pillars: Film, Visual Culture, and Practice. You will study at least one module from all three pillars at each level of the programme with the flexibility to choose your own specialism. This will enable you to shape your course to match your career goals as well as developing your own interests. We also offer a year in industry or work placement which will give you first-hand experience, and you will have the option of studying a year abroad.

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Teaching:

You will study with leading academics who will introduce you to key critical concepts and debates in the fields of Film and Visual Culture; You will have access state-of-the-art audio-visual production studio facilities and audio-visual equipment; You can use our Virtual Reality lab and Virtual Reality equipment, which is currently used for both teaching and research purposes; We will boost your employability and experience through our well-established media production, creative industries, and publishing internship opportunities with a wide range of external and internal partners; You will benefit from teaching staff within the department who have extensive industry experience across a variety of relevant not-for-profit and commercial sectors.

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Careers:

Anticipated career outcomes range from: Media Production Publicity Publishing Communications and PR Digital / Social Media marketing Business management Teaching Social enterprise and entrepreneurship Public sector / non-for-profit, creative industries entrepreneurship, Film Festival management, Film Critic Screenwriter

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Tuition Fees and Payment Information:

3 Year Full Time Start Date UK International September 2023 £ 9,000 £ 16,350 September 2024 £ 9,000 £ 9,000 £ 16,350 September 2024 £ 9,000 £ 17,500 4 Year Full Time With a Year Abroad Start Date UK International September 2023 £ 9,000 £ 16,350 September 2024 £ 9,000 £ 17,500 4 Year Full Time With a Year In Industry Start Date UK International September 2023 £ 9,000 £ 16,350 September 2024 £ 9,000 £ 17,500 Fees for full time Undergraduate UK students may be increased in subsequent years of study by an inflationary amount determined by Welsh Government. Fees for full time Undergraduate EU/International students will increase by 3% for each subsequent year of study. During a sandwich year (e.g. year in industry, year abroad or placement year) a lower fee will apply. For more information visit our tuition fees page. You can find further information of your fee costs on our tuition fees page. You may be eligible for funding to help support your study. To find out about scholarships, bursaries and other funding opportunities that are available please visit the University's scholarships and bursaries page. Current students: You can find further information of your fee costs on our tuition fees page. Funding and Scholarships Current students: You can find further information of your fee costs on our tuition fees page. Funding and Scholarships You may be eligible for funding to help support your study. To find out about scholarships, bursaries and other funding opportunities that are available please visit the University's scholarships and bursaries page. Academi Hywel Teifi at Swansea University and the Coleg Cymraeg Cenedlaethol offer a number of generous scholarships and bursaries for students who wish to study through the medium of Welsh or bilingually. For further information about the opportunities available to you, visit the Academi Hywel Teifi Scholarships and Bursaries page. Additional Costs Access to your own digital device/the appropriate IT kit will be essential during your time studying at Swansea University. Access to wifi in your accommodation will also be essential to allow you to fully engage with your programme. See our dedicated webpages for further guidance on suitable devices to purchase, and for a full guide on getting your device set up. You may face additional costs while at university, including (but not limited to): Travel to and from campus Printing, photocopying, binding, stationery and equipment costs (e.g. USB sticks) Purchase of books or texts Gowns for graduation ceremonies

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Overview:

• Founded in 1920 as University College of Swansea
• Received its Royal Charter in 1948, becoming Swansea University
• Consistently ranked among the top 30 universities in the UK
• Home to over 20,000 students from over 140 countries
• Notable achievements include:
  • 2019 Queen's Anniversary Prize for Higher and Further Education for its work in developing and delivering innovative teaching methods
  • 2018 Times Higher Education Award for Outstanding Contribution to the Local Community
  • 2017 Research Excellence Framework (REF) results showed that 90% of Swansea University's research was rated as world-leading or internationally excellent

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Student Life:

• Over 150 student clubs and societies
• Sports teams in a variety of disciplines, including rugby, football, and basketball
• Student support services include:
  • Counseling and mental health support
  • Disability support
  • Financial advice
  • International student support
• Campus facilities include:
  • Bay Campus: Modern campus with state-of-the-art facilities, including a library, sports center, and student union
  • Singleton Campus: Historic campus with a mix of traditional and modern buildings, including the iconic Singleton Abbey
  • Tycoch Campus: Home to the College of Engineering and the School of Management

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Academics:

• Academic resources include:
  • Over 400 undergraduate and postgraduate programs
  • World-class research facilities
  • Extensive library resources
• Faculty:
  • Over 1,000 academic staff, including internationally renowned researchers and industry experts
• Teaching methodologies:
  • Focus on student-centered learning
  • Use of innovative teaching methods, such as problem-based learning and flipped classrooms
• Academic support services:
  • Academic skills workshops
  • Writing center
  • Math and statistics support
• Unique academic programs or initiatives:
  • Swansea Employability Academy: Provides students with opportunities to develop employability skills
  • Swansea University Global: Offers international study and research opportunities

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Top Reasons to Study Here:

• Top 30 UK university
• Excellent teaching and research
• World-class facilities
• Strong industry connections
• Vibrant student life
• Notable alumni include:
  • Michael Sheen, actor
  • Catherine Zeta-Jones, actress
  • Sir Terry Matthews, entrepreneur

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Services:

• Counseling and mental health support
• Health center
• Housing services
• Library resources:
  • Over 1 million books and journals
  • Access to online databases and e-resources
• Technology support:
  • Free Wi-Fi across campus
  • Computer labs and printing facilities
• Career development services:
  • Career counseling
  • Job search assistance
  • Employer networking events