History with Film Studies (including Year Abroad)

Unlock the fascinating intersection of history and film studies with the University of Essex's Bachelor of Arts program in History with Film Studies, including a Year Abroad. This innovative degree offers students the opportunity to explore the rich tapestry of historical events, cultures, and societies through the lens of cinema, providing a multidisciplinary approach to understanding the past and its portrayals in film. Throughout the course, students will develop critical skills in historical analysis, film critique, and contextual understanding, enabling them to assess how history is depicted in different cinematic genres and periods. The program is designed to foster a deep appreciation for the ways in which films influence and reflect societal attitudes and historical consciousness.

Students will engage with a broad curriculum that covers key historical periods, from ancient times to the modern era, alongside modules dedicated to film theory, film history, and practical filmmaking techniques. The inclusion of a Year Abroad allows students to immerse themselves in a different cultural setting, enhancing language skills and global perspectives, which are invaluable in today's interconnected world. This international component also provides opportunities to study abroad institutions renowned for their strengths in history and film studies, broadening academic and personal horizons.

The degree offers a balanced combination of lectures, seminars, film screenings, and practical projects, encouraging active learning and critical discussion. Students will have access to state-of-the-art facilities, including film studios and editing suites, supporting hands-on learning. Graduates will be well-equipped for careers in media, journalism, academia, cultural preservation, or further study. The University of Essex's strong links with cultural and media organizations provide valuable internship and networking opportunities, ensuring students are prepared for diverse professional pathways. With expert faculty members dedicated to innovative teaching and research, students will gain a comprehensive education that combines historical scholarship with cinematic appreciation. Embark on a transformative academic journey that bridges the past and present through the captivating worlds of history and film studies at the University of Essex.

Detailed Course Facts

• GBP 9000 Year (EEA)
• GBP 11950 Year (Non-EEA)

• English

Course Content

The special characteristics of our courses are flexibility and choice. In your first year, you usually take four or five modules that include pre-requisite(s) for your course but, in many cases, mean you can try subjects you have not come across before. If you are taking a humanities or social science, then you have the greatest choice, as most of our first-year modules do not assume any specialist knowledge.
With a small number of exceptions, if you successfully complete the first year of your BA, then you are qualified to enter the second year of that course and a range of other courses: for example, if you take economics, politics, philosophy and sociology, then you have a choice of at least nine possible single or joint honours courses at the end of your first year. This means you can change your course, providing you have taken the appropriate pre-requisites and places are available. We offer a range of optional modules in your second- and final-years and most courses allow you to undertake a final-year project, an individual piece of research on a topic that interests you.
We operate a credit framework for our awards, which is based on principles widely used across the UK university sector. Each module has a credit rating attached and our standard three-year course consists of 360 credits (120 credits in your first year, and 240 credits across your second and final years).
Please note that module information on our course finder provides a guide to course content and may be subject to review on an annual basis.

Year 1

Introduction to Film;
The Making of the Modern World 1776-1989 or Society, Culture and Politics in Europe 1500-1750;
The Enlightenment; and
One option

Year 2

Making Histories: Themes, Concepts and Sources;
Approaches to Texts;
One history option;
One film studies option; and
one history half-option

Year 3

Year abroad

Year 4

Two history options; and
Two film options.

English Language Requirements

IELTS band : 6

To study at this university, you have to speak English. We advice you to

Requirements

• A-levels: ABB-BBB
• GCSE English: C
• IB: 32-30 points (we consider IB certificates at the Higher Level on a case-by-case basis)
• Achievement of the Access to HE Diploma with a minimum of 6 level three credits at distinction and the remainder at merit (or above).
• We welcome applications from students whose A-levels do not include History.

English language requirements for applicants whose first language is not English: IELTS 6.0 overall with minimum 5.5 in each component (or equivalent). Different requirements apply for second year entry.

Work Experience

No work experience is required.

Related Scholarships*

• Academic Excellence Scholarship

  "The Academic Excellence Scholarship can provide up to a 50 % reduction in tuition per semester. These scholarships will be renewed if the student maintains superior academic performance during each semester of their 3-year Bachelor programme. The scholarship will be directly applied to the student’s tuition fees."

• Access Bursary

  Bursary for UK students all subjects where the variable tuition fee rate is payable.

• Alumni Bursary

  Alumni Bursary for UK Undergraduate students

* The scholarships shown on this page are suggestions first and foremost. They could be offered by other organisations than University of Essex.

Funding

For up-to-date information on funding opportunities at Essex, please visit: www.essex.ac.uk/studentfinance.

The Bachelor of Arts in History with Film Studies (including Year Abroad) at the University of Essex offers students a comprehensive and interdisciplinary approach to understanding historical developments alongside the evolution of film as an artistic and cultural medium. This program is designed to provide a broad understanding of historical periods, themes, and methodologies, while integrating critical analysis of film and visual culture. The inclusion of a Year Abroad component allows students to immerse themselves in a different cultural and academic environment, enhancing their global perspective and language skills.

Throughout the course, students explore various historical eras, from ancient civilizations to contemporary history, with a strong emphasis on critical thinking, research skills, and effective communication. The Film Studies element complements the historical curriculum by examining cinema's role in shaping societal narratives, identity, and ideology. Students engage with a diverse range of film genres, theories, and international cinemas, fostering a nuanced understanding of visual storytelling and media influence.

The program benefits from Essex’s active research environment and its focus on interdisciplinarity, encouraging students to make connections across different fields of study. It prepares graduates for careers in media, film production, archiving, education, and cultural management, as well as for further academic study at postgraduate level. The Year Abroad typically involves studying at a partner university in a country where the target language is spoken, providing linguistic and cultural immersion that enriches students' academic and personal development.

Overall, this degree aims to cultivate critical, analytical, and intercultural skills, equipping students with a broad set of competencies suited to diverse professional contexts. The combination of historical and film studies ensures an engaging, challenging, and globally relevant educational experience that prepares students for the complexities of the modern world.