Film and Screen Studies by thesis

Entry requirements

Applicants for this course should have achieved a UK High II.i Honours Degree.

If your degree is not from the UK, please check International Qualifications to find the equivalent in your country.

The minimum requirement is a high II.i or the equivalent in an undergraduate degree. Applicants with degrees in film or media studies and related disciplines are encouraged to apply, as are students with backgrounds in literary studies, art history and other areas. In addition to this, applicants should be able to demonstrate an advanced level of familiarity with relevant research methods and topics within their field and readiness for advanced independent research.

All shortlisted 'by thesis' applicants will be interviewed. If an application is found to be unsuitable, it is a possibility that we may offer a place on the MPhil 'by Advanced Study' instead.

Months of entry

October

Course content

The MPhil in Film and Screen Studies by Thesis at Cambridge provides an opportunity to study the theory and history of film and other screen media in a vibrant interdisciplinary context. The moving image is explored in relation to the development of modern and contemporary culture, and to the history and theory of other media (literature, music, the visual arts, architecture, the digital). Students are immersed in a research environment that emphasises work on geopolitics, early cinema, art cinema and the avant-garde, theory, aesthetics, and gender and sexuality.

The MPhil in Film and Screen Studies by Thesis is for students who already have a substantial level of familiarity with the study of film and literary texts in the relevant culture, and who already know the area they wish to research for their thesis. To be eligible for consideration, applicants will need (a) an appropriate level of linguistic and/or cultural expertise and (b) a clear idea of the area in which the thesis will be written.

The full-time course runs from October to June, with a submission date of early June.

It is also possible to take a part-time route, and the expected timeframe would be 20 months, with a thesis submission date of early June in the second academic year of study.

The main aims of the course are:

to develop and test the ability to carry out a substantial advanced project of independent research in an area of film and screen studies, presented in the form of a 30,000-word thesis

to develop and test the ability to make a significant contribution to learning via dedicated Masters-level research that reflects the course length.

Learning Outcomes

By the end of the programme students will have:

developed a deeper knowledge of the history and theory of film and screen studies in a cultural context;

developed a conceptual understanding of the debates which have shaped that field of study, and of current research methods;

acquired or consolidated skills appropriate for research in their chosen area;

demonstrated independent judgement, based on their own research;

learnt how to timetable independent research to produce written work of a high standard to a clearly defined deadline.

managed a sizeable research project (culminating in a 30,000 word thesis) which will represent a considerable achievement in its own right and prepare students for longer research projects (in particular a PhD).

Information for international students

Language Requirement

IELTS (Academic)

Element Score

Listening 7.0

Writing 7.0

Reading 7.0

Speaking 7.0

Total 7.5

TOEFL Internet Score

Element Score

Listening 25

Writing 25

Reading 25

Speaking 25

Total 110

CAE

Score: Grade A & B (overall score of 193, with no element lower than 185 plus a Language Centre assessment)

CPE

Score: Grade A, B, or C (with at least 200 with no element lower than 185).