BA (Hons) Film Studies Bachelor's degree at Liverpool John Moores University
BA (Hons) Film Studies at LJMU is delivered in English at the City Centre Campus. As a recognised UK degree-awarding body, your qualification will be nationally recognised.
About this course
Study Film Studies at LJMU and build film analysis, culture and creative skills for film and media. | Apply now for 2026 entry From the provider’s course page.
BA (Hons) Film Studies is a Bachelor's degree (BA (Hons)) at LJMU, based in City Centre Campus. It runs 3 years, studied full-time.
For Cinematics and photography graduates from this provider, typical earnings around £24,000. (HESA Graduate Outcomes / LEO, via Discover Uni.)
For the typical curriculum, specialisations, career paths and graduate earnings for Art & Design, see the sections below.
Course evidence score
The arithmetic mean of the official measures available for this course: NSS satisfaction, graduate activity and continuation.
Published threshold met NSS publication requires sufficient responses; small differences are not a rank. NSS mean of 7 published themes (Discover Uni snapshot 2026-06-21)
Published threshold met Discover Uni suppresses continuation data below its publication threshold. Cohort 2022-23. Continuation 85% (2022-23; Discover Uni snapshot 2026-06-21)
Curriculum & modules
Real modules published for this course, grouped only where the source gives a year, stage or level.
Year 1 6 modules
- Production SkillsCore20 credits
Module details
Through a series of lectures and practical workshops students will be introduced to fundamental film production skills using cameras, lenses, lighting and sound equipment. Students will develop an understanding of how historical developments in film craft inform current film productions and explore current trends and best practice in digital filmmaking.
- Film LanguageCore20 credits
Module details
In studying film language students will gain key foundational skills in practising in textual analysis in relation to film.
- Writing for ScreenCore20 credits
Module details
Writing for Screen will equip the students with industry standard practices for screenwriting whilst at the same time encourage them to find their own creative voice as a screenwriter. They will be encouraged to engage with both theoretical writing and short film narratives which will be chosen from a range of sources to encourage and reflect diversity. Writing for Screen is part of the screenwriting strand within the film studies curriculum which will scaffold into the Film Adaptation Module (5
- Film TheoryCore20 credits
Module details
This course surveys the history of the various traditions of theoretical inquiry in film studies. We investigate textual criticism (formalism, structuralism and auteur theory), identity politics, (feminism, masculinity, queer and disability theory and race) and various other theoretical paradigms.
- British Social Realism in FilmCore20 credits
Module details
This module will outline the social realist traditions associated with British cinema. After establishing the initial links with documentary film, students will understand how social realism has developed from the early 20th Century up until the modern day. Students can then use this knowledge in order to develop a pre-production portfolio of their own, which has the potential to be developed into a film at a later date on production modules on the programme.
- Post-Production SkillsCore20 credits
Module details
This practical module introduces the basic principles and software tools involved in post-production for film. Through completing a range of short briefs, students will develop the skills to build a personal portfolio, gaining the software skills required throughout the course. Students will be encouraged to maintain this portfolio throughout the programme to showcase their skillset upon Graduation. The Journal will include production paperwork etc. and reflection on the work produced for each b
Year 2 10 modules
- Documentary FilmmakingCore20 credits
Module details
This module will introduce you to the basic principles of directing, filming, editing and producing for a short documentary film.
- Working in FilmCore20 credits
Module details
This module aims to give students an understanding of the working practices and organisation of the British film industry. This module will provide all students with a work-based learning experience through opportunities to network with and present to industry. Students will be encouraged to develop their understanding of the different sectors of the local and national film industry into a recognition of the job opportunities that are presented in an area of personal career interest to them. Stu
- Experimental FilmmakingOptional20 credits
Module details
In this module you will have the opportunity to gain hands-on experience, planning and managing a short experimental film production. You will be able to develop specific skills in the areas of cinematography, lighting and sound design, as well as post production skills in editing and colour grading that are appropriate for experimental filmmaking.
- American CinemaOptional20 credits
Module details
Through a series of seminars student will develop a deep understanding of developments in American cinema from its beginnings to the present day. Students learn about early entrepreneurial approaches to cinema, through to the studio system, independent production, post-studio conglomerations, censorship, and international co-production.
- Film AdaptationOptional20 credits
Module details
This module will consider theoretical debates such as the limitations of Fidelity and whether Adaptation can be considered a genre. Specific attention will be paid to Stage to Screen adaptations, Shakespearian translations, Comic book and Video Game adaptations and Fan Adaptations. The module also includes a series of workshops and tutorials designed to develop student screenwriting skills as they create an adapted screenplay.
- Video EssayOptional20 credits
Module details
Through a series of lectures and practical making workshops, students will be introduced to the video essay as a form of scholarly engagement with Film. They will gain familiarity with current practice within the academic video essay community and explore existing scholarship on the developing form of the scholarly video essay as a legitimate form of academic research and publication.
- Study Semester AbroadOptional60 credits
Module details
This is an opportunity to spend one semester of your second year at one of LJMU's partner universities around the world.
- Study Year AbroadOptional120 credits
Module details
This module aims to provide students with an additional year of study at an approved overseas partner that will complement their studies in Liverpool.
- Fiction FilmmakingOptional20 credits
Module details
The fiction filmmaking module will develop students' knowledge and experience of the technical, creative, organisational and administrative demands involved in a short film production. The overarching theme of this module is the development of the creative processes in relation to film production. The short film genre gives students the opportunity to test out ideas or tell a story within the confines of a limited run-time. The relationships between technical, creative, and aesthetic choices wil
- European CinemaOptional20 credits
Module details
This module serves as an introduction to the range and variety of films produced in Europe, as well as to the significance of film festivals for its visibility and promotion. It highlights the diversity of cinematic production in Europe, focusing not only on different national traditions, but also on the fact that European cinemas consist both of art and popular films.
Year 3 7 modules
- Film ThesisCore20 credits
Module details
Through a series of lectures and tutorials students will develop their critical thinking and research skills as part of the completion of a large independent study project. They will be encouraged to generate effective strategies to manage their time, meet deadlines, and engage in self-directed study in an area of Film Studies they have a specific interest in.
- Final Film Pre-ProductionCore20 credits
Module details
This module gives the students an opportunity to develop their understanding of pre-production skills and practice applied to film making. It enables students to develop an ability to understand and reflect constructively on the pre-production process for independent film production.
- Final Film ProductionCore20 credits
Module details
In this module you will have the opportunity to gain hands-on experience of some of the technical equipment required for short video production at an advanced level with either fiction or non-fiction filmmaking.
- Black American FilmOptional20 credits
Module details
The module produces students with a historical overview of Black American identity in film. Topics covered include Minstrelsy, Early Black Pioneers, Stereotyping and Marking, The Emergence of Black Stars, The Civil Rights Era, Blaxploitation, Gangsta Films, Intersectionality and Black Lives Matter.
- World CinemaOptional20 credits
Module details
The module provides insights into a range of non-US and non-European cinemas, and critical tools for the students to engage with films from different cultural contexts.
- Interpretation in FilmOptional20 credits
Module details
Through a series of seminars student will develop a deep understanding how to interpret film through a variety of theoretical approaches. These will include text-based approaches, as well as other understandings, such as paratexts and promotion, taste cultures, audiences, and fandom.
- Work Based LearningOptional20 credits
Module details
This module provides Film Studies students with the opportunity to widen their direct knowledge of working practices in a film-related field. The module allows students to widen their contacts and to apply the knowledge and skills they have learned on the programme to a work setting. Students negotiate a learning contract with an employer/client and a tutor, and are assessed on their written account of the content and relevance of their work experience/client project to the Film Studies degree.
Source: provider course page. Modules can change; required/optional status, credits, descriptions and assessment are shown only when explicitly published.
Course in depth
What this course covers, who it suits and where it leads.
What you'll study
This course builds film analysis, culture and creative skills for film and media work. You'll usually start with visual studies and design principles, colour, composition and form across media, alongside workshops in materials and processes and contextual studies in art and design history. In Year 2, you'll develop sustained studio practice and typically explore digital and emerging media, while working on live briefs with real deadlines. Year 3 focuses on specialist pathways, such as graphic design, illustration, fine art, fashion and textiles, or UX and digital work, culminating in a self-directed final project exhibited in a degree show. Throughout, you'll build a personal creative direction informed by both historical context and contemporary practice.
Who it's for
This course suits students with strong interest in film analysis, history, and production. Most accepted students held A-levels or equivalent qualifications; the typical UCAS tariff band among entrants was 96–111 points. You should be prepared for academic study combining theoretical frameworks with hands-on creative work. The course is full-time and taught in English.
University & format
This BA (Hons) is taught full-time over 3 years at Liverpool John Moores University, a public university founded in 1823, based at its City Centre Campus. Instruction is in English. The degree is awarded by a recognised UK degree-awarding body, so your qualification is nationally recognised. The university holds a Silver award for teaching quality from the Office for Students' TEF 2023.
Student satisfaction
How students on this course answered the National Student Survey, by theme.
Share of students responding positively.
Published threshold met NSS publication requires sufficient responses; small differences are not a rank. NSS mean of 7 published themes (Discover Uni snapshot 2026-06-21)
Applicant information
The next application dates for this course, followed by facts the provider publishes.
- 2027 entryCompleted applications can be submitted
Your application needs a reference before you can send it.
- 2026 entryFinal date for 2026 applications
Applications must reach UCAS by 18:00 UK time.
- 2026 entryLast day to add a Clearing choice
Check that this course still has a vacancy before adding it.
- 2027 entryEqual-consideration deadline
18:00 UK time for most undergraduate courses.
Show 5 later dates
- 2027 entryUCAS Extra opens
Applicants who used all five choices and hold no offer may be able to add another choice.
- 2027 entryLast day applications go directly to providers
Applications received after 18:00 UK time are entered into Clearing.
- 2027 entryClearing opens
Eligible applicants can see vacancies and release themselves into Clearing.
- 2027 entryFinal date for 2027 applications
Applications must reach UCAS by 18:00 UK time.
- 2027 entryLast day to add a Clearing choice
Check that this course still has a vacancy before adding it.
See and book current events. Dates can fill or change.
Entry & how to get in
Who gets in
What recently admitted students actually held, official admissions data, not a stated requirement.
UCAS tariff of entrants
Grades are the A-level equivalent of each points band. Tap a band to check your own chances below.
Qualifications held on entry
| Qualification | Share |
|---|---|
| A-levels or equivalent | 92% |
| another higher-education qualification | 3% |
| Other | 3% |
| a previous degree | 2% |
Entry & your chances
An honest read from the official entry data, plus your personal match.
Accepted students came in with a broad spread of qualifications and UCAS points. If you're worried about grades, this course has historically taken a wide range, and contextual offers may apply.
Will you get in? Plot your grades
Pick your predicted A-levels and watch your UCAS points land on the real spread of students admitted to this course.
Each bar is the share of admitted students in that UCAS-points band (lower → higher). Grades show the A-level equivalent.
Based on the official admitted-student tariff distribution. Many universities make contextual (reduced-grade) offers, so a result below the range doesn’t rule you out.
How to apply
Undergraduate applications go through UCAS. Here’s what matters for this course, the right deadline, the grades to aim for, and the steps in order.
- 1Register on UCAS Hub
Create your UCAS application and add this course (code P303). One application covers up to five choices.
- 2Write your personal statement
A single statement covers all your choices, so keep it broad enough for similar courses while showing genuine interest in this subject.
- 3Submit by 13 January 2027, 18:00 UK time
UCAS equal-consideration deadline for most undergraduate courses. Source: UCAS 2027 dates.
- 4Reply to your offers
When decisions are in, pick a firm (first) choice and an insurance (back-up) choice with slightly lower grades.
- 5Results day & confirmation
On results day (mid-August) your place is confirmed if you meet the offer. Just missed? Talk to the university, or find a place through Clearing.
Fees & funding
What this course costs and how UK student finance covers it.
Tuition per year
Standard capped home fee at English providers (2026/27); Scotland, Wales & NI differ.
Check fees at LJMU →For students who normally live in England
2026/27 Student Finance England figures. Maintenance support is means-tested and this two-point view is not an entitlement calculator. The course total uses its published length and home fee where both are available; a missing full-time fee uses the clearly labelled England-cap scenario, while part-time fees and unknown lengths are never guessed. Use the official calculator. Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland use separate systems: SAAS, Student Finance Wales, and Student Finance NI.
Starting on or after 1 January 2027?
The Lifelong Learning Entitlement is a separate system. A new learner’s tuition entitlement is currently stated as £39,160 (about 480 credits at 2026/27 fee levels), subject to prior study and eligibility. Check the official LLE guide.
Paying for it
- Tuition Fee Loan: can cover eligible tuition up to the applicable limit and is paid straight to the provider.
- Maintenance Loan: up to £10,830/yr away from home outside London (England, 2026/27), means-tested on household income.
- Repayment: 9% of income above £25,000, nothing below it; written off after 40 years.
- Earn alongside: most students work part-time in term, part-time roles on the StudySmarter job board.
England figures shown; Scotland, Wales & NI run their own schemes, check gov.uk.
Scholarships & bursaries you could qualify for
That does not mean no funding exists. Check the university directory for current amounts, eligibility and application dates.
We only display a named award when its provider source identifies the award and who it is for.
Still deciding what to study?
StudyKit brings course choice, applications and funding together in one place, with a personal AI assistant. Find what really fits you and start your UCAS application step by step.
Careers & earnings
What Art & Design graduates actually earn, from real outcome data, 15 months, 3 years and 5 years after graduating.
Graduate earnings: this course
| When | Median | Typical range | Graduates |
|---|---|---|---|
| 15 months after | £24,000 | £20,500 – £27,000 | 2830 |
| 3 years after | £17,000 | £11,500 – £20,500 | 60 |
| 5 years after | £23,500 | £17,500 – £25,500 | 60 |
Nominal earnings for graduates of this course/subject at this provider. Stronger evidence. Published sample: 2,830. Cohort 2021-22.
Graduate outcomes, 15 months on: this course
- 1Graduate roleFirst role after the degree · 0–2 yrs
- 2Specialist / PractitionerWorking in art & design · 2–5 yrs
- 3Senior / LeadLeading work and people · 5–10 yrs
- 4Head of / ExpertSenior leadership or deep expertise · 10+ yrs
How pay grows: this course vs Art & Design nationally
National figures for Art & Design graduates, HESA Graduate Outcomes (15 months) and the Longitudinal Education Outcomes (LEO) dataset (3 & 5 years). These are national, not university-specific; actual pay varies by employer, region, role and experience. Different cohorts, so the bars are not one group over time.
Work out your pay
Headline figures hide a lot. Calculate realistic take-home pay for this field by role, region and experience, then check your CV before you apply.
What happened to 100 students?
Choose an outcome to translate the published percentage into a simple 100-person view. Each dot represents one percentage point, not an individual tracked student.
continued or completed
continued into the next year or completed their qualification
Source: Discover Uni, using Graduate Outcomes and continuation data. Cohorts: 2022-23. Stronger evidence. Published sample: 2,830. Cohort 2021-22. Each tab is a separate published measure; categories can overlap and should not be added together.
Value compared with similar courses
How this course’s 5-year median earnings compare with Art & Design courses at the same study level.
Compared with 1,698 courses with compatible official earnings data. This is a course-value comparison, not a quality ranking.
Job market & outlook
How Art & Design graduates fare in the labour market, and how AI is reshaping the work.
How AI is changing the work
AI doesn't replace the profession, it shifts it: routine tasks get automated, while judgement, working with people and using AI well become more valuable.
What AI takes off your plate
- Routine information gathering
- First-draft writing and summaries
- Standard analysis and admin
- Repetitive processing tasks
More human than ever
- Judgement and original thinking
- Working with and leading people
- Owning and sense-checking AI output
- Ethics and accountability
The strongest graduates pair subject depth with the ability to use AI tools critically.
Roles & employers
Where Art & Design graduates typically go, indicative destinations from graduate career data. Each role links to live openings on the StudySmarter job board.
Roles graduates go into
Where they work
- Design studios & agencies
- In-house brand teams
- Games & media companies
- Freelance & self-employed
Jobs after this course
Current roles from the StudySmarter job board that suit Art & Design graduates.
Is this course right for you?
The essentials UK applicants ask about: finance, outcomes, entry and quality.
Student finance
For comparison, the standard full-time England tuition cap is up to £9,790 per year in 2026/27; the actual fee varies by course and provider. If you normally live in England, eligible students can apply for a Tuition Fee Loan, plus a Maintenance Loan for living costs. Under Plan 5 you repay 9% of income above £25,000, nothing below that, and the balance is written off after 40 years.
Where graduates go
Most graduates were in work or further study, with a median salary of £24,000. See the full breakdown in Careers & earnings above.
Your entry chances
Use the UCAS points calculator above to see how your predicted grades compare with admitted students, and whether a contextual offer could apply.
Official-data snapshot
Averaging the official measures published for it, this course scores 8.8 out of 10: NSS 91.7% · continued 85%.
Who studies here and in this subject?
Provider- and UK subject-level context.
Liverpool John Moores University
Design, and creative and performing arts across the UK
HESA student record 2024/25. Counts are rounded.
Local crime-data context
A neutral snapshot around the published teaching location.
Around City Centre Campus
5,301 street-level reports returned within roughly one mile across 2026-04 to 2026-06.
Police.uk street-level API. Approximate locations, not confined to campus. England, Wales and Northern Ireland; not Scotland.
Is Art & Design right for you?
Tick what applies to you and see how good a fit it is.
International students
What applying to LJMU from outside the UK involves: fees, English, visa, funding and living costs.
Tuition fees
International tuition is set per course by LJMU; international fees are typically £12,000–£30,000/year for classroom subjects and higher for lab/clinical ones. You’re not eligible for UK Tuition Fee or Maintenance Loans, so plan for fees plus living costs upfront.
English language
Most UK undergraduate courses ask for around IELTS 6.0–6.5 (no band below 5.5–6.0), or an accepted equivalent. If you’re just short, most universities run a pre-sessional English course that counts towards the requirement.
Student visa
You’ll usually need a Student visa (Student Route). After you accept an offer the university issues a CAS; you then show funds for fees plus about £1,023–£1,334/month living costs and pay the Immigration Health Surcharge for NHS access.
Scholarships & funding
Many universities offer international/global scholarships (often £2,000–£6,000/yr), check LJMU’s funding pages.
Living costs
Budget roughly £1,100–£1,400/month outside London and £1,400–£1,800/month in London for rent, food and travel; the figure also matters for your visa.
Working while you study
A Student visa usually allows up to 20 hours/week in term time and full-time in holidays, useful alongside study, though not something to rely on for fees.
Visa rules and fees change. Always confirm the current requirements with LJMU and gov.uk before you apply.
Related courses
More at LJMU
Common questions
How competitive is entry?
What are the entry requirements?
What do graduates go on to do?
What will it cost me?
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