Film BA (Hons)

Anglia Ruskin University

Explore theories and histories of film and cinema, and develop creative skills in filmmaking, screenwriting and a range of creative, practice-based modules by studying on our full-time BA (Hons) Film degree in Cambridge.

Join a course that scored 94% for Academic Support in the National Student Survey 2023 and prepare for many careers in the film industries, including screenwriting, filmmaking, journalism, programming, festival management and public engagement.

As a Film student at ARU, you’ll discover the history of global cinema and study a range of films, from avant-garde cinema to Hollywood blockbusters. As well as studying a range of film theories and ideas about how cinema reflects and affects society, you’ll also make short films and explore the language of cinema from the perspective of a creative practitioner. In this aspect of the course you’ll write screenplays and make experimental films, narrative and non-fiction films using digital video as well as 8mm and 16mm film.

Throughout your Film degree, you’ll be supported by our team of expert lecturers and a close-knit community of students and graduates.

There are opportunities to show your films at the Cambridge Arts Picturehouse and work with a range of external partners. Our links with local and national organisations will help you make contacts and find work placements in the industry.

Our recent students have found internships and placements with companies such as the BBC, Cambridge Festival of Ideas, Film & Video Umbrella, Cannes Film Festival, Cambridge Film Festival, Take One magazine, Watersprite Film Festival, CBBC, ITN Productions, London Studios, MTV, New York Film Academy, Pinewood Studios, StudioCanal UK (formerly Optimum Releasing) and Sight & Sound magazine.

You’ll also have opportunities to take part in live briefs with our partner organisations. Our students recently worked with mental health charity Lifecraft, producing a series of short videos about the charity for their website and social media channels.

Our course options allow you to take a placement year as part of your course as well.

You can also choose to study abroad as part of your course and get funding to cover the cost.

Industry-standard facilities

As part of your studies at ARU, you’ll have access to all of our creative industries facilities including:

• Film studio with overhead lighting, tracks, dollies and green screen
• Multi-camera television studio with modular set panels and modern set dressing
• Full range of location kit from 4K digital cameras to Steadicam
• Sound-recording equipment for location filming
• Editing suites with Da Vinci Resolve and the full Adobe Creative Cloud software suite
• Finishing suite with audio monitoring and grading panels
• Aaton Cameras and Steenbeck editors for 16mm film production
• Motion capture equipment
• Podcast and video capture system

Careers

Our BA (Hons) Film degree will help you prepare for a career in many film and cinema-related roles, including film and television production or post-production, journalism, screenwriting, programming and curation, festival management and public relations.

You might also decide to continue on to a Masters course, such as our MA Film and Television Production. Take advantage of our Alumni Scholarship and get 20% off your fees.

Employability and personal career development

Informed by employers, our courses support an integrated approach to employability. You’ll have opportunities to develop the skills and abilities they are looking for and gain a deeper understanding of how your academic learning relates to the world of work through Live Briefs and Ruskin Modules. To amplify your career ambition, you'll need to actively dedicate time outside of your studies, whether you choose to explore placements, internships or volunteering, which all provide you with experience that you will be able to evidence on your CV and talk about in interviews.