BA Film, Media and Cultural Studies (Placement Year)
About this course
BA Hons in Film, Media and Cultural Studies (Placement Year), a Film Studies degree examining how media and film shape societal identities, values, and cultural perspectives. Core topics include Research Methods, Project Management, Critical & Analytical Thinking, Artificial Intelligence & Machine Learning, Design & Creative Practice, Social & Cultural Analysis, and Global & Comparative Perspective. Students complete a mandatory professional work placement year during the course. The first year introduces foundational concepts through compulsory modules such as Introduction to Film Studies, Understanding Media and Culture, and British Cinema, alongside optional choices like Transformations in Digital Media and The Reflective Design Process. The second year expands into international contexts with compulsory studies in Global Cinemas and Key Perspectives in Global Media and Culture, while offering optional pathways including Classic Hollywood Genres, Screenwriting, and Short Film Production. The third year consists entirely of the Work Based Learning Year placement. The final fourth year centers on an Independent Project and Media Industries, supported by advanced options such as Documentary Production, Experimental Film Production, and The Making of Media and AI Futures.
Written by AI from the university's course page and module list. It can get details wrong, so check the official course page before you rely on it.
Entry requirements
A level: ABB. Film, Media or one other humanities subject would be considered desirable but not essential. IB: 32 points overall with 16 points from the best 3 HL subjects
See the highest paying Media & Journalism degrees in the UK →
Admissions (2022 entry, home applicants)
Offer rate 90%: 9 offers from 10 applications, from the university's Freedom of Information return.
What students say
Based on about 51 final-year students who answered, across similar courses at this university
- Teaching on my course: 92%
- Learning opportunities: 87%
- Assessment and feedback: 80%
- Academic support: 95%
- Organisation and management: 82%
- Learning resources: 92%
- Student voice: 80%
Do students stay on the course?
Based on about 70 students who started, across similar courses at this university
- Continued on course: 93%
- Left higher education: 7%
What graduates do next
Based on about 13 graduates who answered, across similar courses at this university (a small group: a rough guide only)
- Working: 70%
- Working and studying: 10%
- Further study: 10%
- Unemployed: 5%
Most common jobs
- Business and public service associate professionals: 30%
- Sales occupations: 15%
- Artistic, literary and media occupations: 15%
- Administrative occupations: 10%
- Customer service occupations: 10%
- Find their work meaningful: 50%
- Feel on track for their future plans: 50%
- Use what they learnt on the course: 35%
Where graduates work (5 years on)
Based on about 25 graduates, across similar courses at this university (a small group: a rough guide only)
- North East: 5%
- North West: 45%
- Yorkshire and the Humber: 10%
- East Midlands: 5%
- West Midlands: 20%
- London: 5%
- South East: 5%
- Wales: 5%
Who gets in
Based on about 95 students who started, across similar courses at this university
- A levels: 72%
- Baccalaureate: 2%
- Other HE qualification: 26%
Accreditation & quality ratings
TEF 2023 (whole university): Gold overall, Silver for student experience, Gold for student outcomes.
Modules
- Introduction to Film Studies
- Understanding Media and Culture
- British Cinema
- Transformations in Digital Media
- The Reflective Design Process
- Media, Power and Identity
- World Literatures
- Global Cinemas
- Key Perspectives in Global Media and Culture
- Classic Hollywood Genres
- Film, Gender, Race and Ideology
- Screenwriting
- Gender and Sexuality in Popular Culture
- Short Film Production
- Film Theory and Aesthetics
- Visual Cultures
- Digital Cultures
- Work Based Learning Year
- Independent Project (Film, English, Creative Writing and Media)
- Media Industries
- Documentary Production
- Global Film Genres
- Audiences, Fans and Participatory Cultures
- Film Industries, Practices and Movements
- Film Circulation, Exhibition and Audiences
- Experimental Film Production
- The Making of Media and AI Futures
- Mediating the Body
Questions about this course
How much do graduates of BA Film, Media and Cultural Studies (Placement Year) at Lancaster University earn?
The median salary is £26,000 after 15 months, £19,500 after 3 years, £23,500 after 5 years. After five years the middle half of graduates earn between £19,500 and £33,000. The £23,500 median after five years is £2,500 less than the UK median for Media studies.
What do graduates of BA Film, Media and Cultural Studies (Placement Year) at Lancaster University do next?
95% were in work or further study 15 months after finishing (Graduate Outcomes 2023-24).
Are students happy with the teaching on BA Film, Media and Cultural Studies (Placement Year) at Lancaster University?
92% of final-year students were positive about the teaching in the National Student Survey 2025-26.
What grades do I need for BA Film, Media and Cultural Studies (Placement Year) at Lancaster University?
The typical offer is ABB at A level, or 32 points in the IB. The average entrant had 138 UCAS points.
What is the offer rate for BA Film, Media and Cultural Studies (Placement Year) at Lancaster University?
90% of home applicants received an offer for 2022 entry: 9 offers from 10 applications, according to the university's Freedom of Information return.
Does BA Film, Media and Cultural Studies (Placement Year) at Lancaster University include a placement year or year abroad?
The course has a compulsory placement year.
How many students continue on BA Film, Media and Cultural Studies (Placement Year) at Lancaster University?
93% of students continued into their second year, and 7% left higher education.