History with Film Studies

Study mode:On campus Study type:Full-time Languages: English
Local:$ 9 k / Year(s) Foreign:$ 12 k / Year(s) Deadline: Jan 15, 2026
301–350 place StudyQA ranking:7065 Duration:36 months

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Description

Our BA History with Film Studies gives you the opportunity to examine historical development through the medium of film, studying documentary and newsreel footage alongside representations of historical events in fiction film as evidential source materials. By combining your study of history with film, you learn how history its documentation and study has changed since the advent of the moving pictures. This course allows you to experience both disciplines, and graduate with a strong competence in history and film studies.

Detailed Course Facts

Application deadline January 15 Tuition fee
  • GBP 9000 Year (EEA)
  • GBP 11950 Year (Non-EEA)
Start date September,October 2015 Duration full-time 36 months Languages Take an IELTS test
  • English
Delivery mode On Campus Educational variant Full-time

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
  • History Workshop: researching and writing history at degree level
  • And choose 45 credits from a range of History or outside options.

Year 2

  • Making Histories: Concepts, themes and sources
  • And choose from a range of History and Film options.

Year 3

  • Special Subject
  • History Independent Research Project or Independent Project in Film Studies
  • And choose from a range of History or Film options.

English Language Requirements

IELTS band : 6

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

take an IELTS test. More About IELTS

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 History with Film Studies program at the University of Essex offers students a comprehensive education that combines the study of historical developments with an in-depth analysis of film as a cultural and artistic medium. This interdisciplinary degree aims to provide students with a nuanced understanding of how history and film influence each other, shaping societal perceptions and cultural narratives. The program is designed to develop critical thinking, analytical skills, and a deep appreciation for historical contexts and cinematic techniques.

Students will explore a wide range of historical periods, from ancient civilizations to contemporary history, gaining expertise in research methods, historiography, and documentary analysis. Simultaneously, the Film Studies component introduces students to film theory, history of cinema, and practical skills in film analysis and production. Through a combination of lectures, seminars, practical workshops, and independent research projects, students will examine film as a reflection of historical events, as well as a tool for storytelling and ideological expression.

The program emphasizes the importance of interdisciplinary approaches, encouraging students to analyze films within their historical contexts and to consider how cinematic representations influence public perceptions of history. Students will also have opportunities to engage in film programming, editing, and producing short films, fostering practical skills alongside theoretical knowledge. The university's facilities provide access to state-of-the-art equipment and resources, ensuring a hands-on learning environment.

Graduates of the program are equipped for careers in areas such as film production, journalism, archiving, historical research, education, and cultural preservation. The program also prepares students for postgraduate study, offering a solid foundation in both historical scholarship and film analysis. Throughout their studies, students benefit from experienced academics with expertise across history and film disciplines, as well as opportunities for collaborations and internships to enhance their employability. Overall, this program offers a unique blend of historical insight and cinematic appreciation, ideal for students interested in exploring the interconnectedness of history and film in shaping cultural narratives.

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