University of St Andrews

This programme will involve study of Film Studies at an advanced, research-led level in which students will gain an understanding of how knowledge is created, advanced and renewed. The programme will encourage in all students a desire to pursue independent learning with curiosity, integrity, accuracy and intellectual rigour.

This is a 48-month programme of study leading to the degree of Bachelor of Arts (International Honours). As with all St Andrews programmes, it is made up of credit bearing modules. Students must earn 480 credits over the duration of the programme, with 120 credits normally earned each academic year. Typically, the first two years of study include core modules specific to the programme as well as other modules chosen from a range of options (in some cases, including modules from a different Faculty). The remaining years offer advanced research-led learning through modules that provide a programme-specific curriculum.

Typically, the first two years of study include core modules specific to the programme as well as other modules chosen from a range of options (in some cases, including modules from a different Faculty). The remaining years offer advanced research-led learning through modules that provide a programme-specific curriculum. For information about core and optional modules for each programme, please consult the Programme Requirements, which can be found at https://www.st-andrews.ac.uk/subjects/reqs/2017-18/list.html?v=ug

These requirements describe the detailed structure of the course and link to the contents of all the modules that can be included in the programme. Teaching, learning and assessment are progressive, with both the content and methods of delivery changing to suit the increasing level of complexity in the material, and independence of students, as they work through the programme.

The Film Studies programmes at St Andrews and William & Mary have much in common—a core grounded in the understanding of the form, history, and theory of the image, with an emphasis on “global” (i.e. non-United States/United Kingdom) productions. Both institutions offer courses in national (and transnational) cinemas, in film genre, and in the film industry; however, St Andrews offers a wider range of in-depth, film-specific courses at the Honours level, including courses in areas such as archival research and the star system, while William & Mary offers more interdisciplinary courses in media studies and related disciplines, such as photography. In addition, the annual Global Film Festival hosted by William & Mary, a major international festival that incorporates important scholarly presentations, complements St Andrews’ important scholarship and publication series on film festivals. The Centre for Film Studies, which hosts visiting scholars and filmmakers throughout the academic year, provides opportunities for students to interact with visiting speakers and filmmakers and to participate in workshops and events. For example, over the past academic year, students at St Andrews have been importantly involved in the visits of Joe Russo, the director of Captain America: The Winter Soldier; Tom Engelman, producer at Dreamworks; and with scholars such as William Brooker and Maria Pramaggiore. St Andrews has also staged practical collaborative workshop on topics like “Film and Music”.

In the course of this programme students will develop programme-specific skills. On completing the programme students should be able to demonstrate the graduate attributes outlined below.

Students will engage with independent and group study in a supportive framework of teaching and learning. The strategy is to use methods of teaching and assessment that will facilitate learning appropriate to the aims of the degree programme. The following methods will be employed where appropriate to the level of study and the particular content of each module in the programme.

Assessment can be a blend of diagnostic work to determine student needs, formative work submitted for assessment and feedback (but not necessarily for academic credit) or summative work submitted for academic credit.

Students' scholarship skills (in, for example, academic writing, information gathering and academic conduct) will be supported and developed through this programme. The following will be available, where appropriate to the level of study and the particular content of each module in the programme.