MA/Postgraduate Diploma in Film Studies:Theory and Practice

Course details

The MA in Film Studies: Theory and Practice is a pioneering programme that prepares students for a range of careers in film and media related area. This programme combines a strong academic focus on the critical and historical study of film with modules focusing on perse aspects of contemporary film practice. Past graduates have gone on to pursue PhDs as well as working in a range of roles within media production, administration and education. As part of its unique combination of theory and practice, the programme offers students a choice between an 18,000 word minor dissertation and a final practice-based project to complete their degree.

Students taking this programme will acquire:

• a comprehensive understanding of the major developments in film history
• an ability to analyze, interpret, and critique films and other visual media from a variety of theoretical perspectives, using relevant critical vocabulary and methodologies
• skills in the areas of film practice and arts administration
• knowledge of the films and production practices of Irish, international and avant-garde cinemas
• preparation for professional work and/or graduate study via a portfolio of academic work and short films
• skills in oral and written communication

The programme is delivered by leading film studies academics and film practitioners with extensive experience in the film and television industries. The MA in Film Studies: Theory and Practice is one of an exciting range of postgraduate progammes at the Huston School, including Screenwriting, Production and Direction, Digital Media, and Arts Policy and Practice. Connections are forged between students on these programmes through the sharing of modules and through the weekly guest seminars which are open to all programmes. Previous guest speakers have included Gabriel Byrne, Laura Mulvey, Lenny Abrahamson, Roddy Doyle, Noel Burch and Donald Clarke.

This programme is designed for students who want to deepen their knowledge of the world’s cinemas and the very latest approaches to studying them. It will train students to undertake further research at PhD level, or for participation in a wide range of film-related careers, including teaching, programming and exhibition, curatorial work, and arts journalism.

Huston School of Film and Digital Media

The Huston School of Film and Digital Mediawas established in 2003 under the active patronage of the (John) Huston family.

The School offers a dynamic approach to film and digital media training, with a strong emphasis on critical studies. As well as offering postgraduate programmes, the Huston School also hosts a range of guest seminars during the year with academics and practitioners of film.

Key facts

Entry requirements

NQAI Level 8 degree or equivalent, H2.2. GPA 3.0 or equivalent international qualification. IELTS score of 6.5 or equivalent if applicable. Students who do not meet the honours degree requirement but have a Level 7 degree (Merit 1) may be admitted to the PDip course with the possibility of progressing to the MA if they receive a minimum of 60% in their course work during the year. Applicants are required to submit a writing sample consisting of either a graded academic essay or a review essay of a recent film (1,000 words) and a personal statement with their application.

Course outline

The course may be taken as a full-time degree taken over a twelve-month period (September to August) OR as a Part-Time Degree taken over a twenty-four month period. Social Welfare recipients should contact their local social welfare office to determine their eligibility for continuing payments while taking a Part-Time programme.

The year is pided into two teaching semesters (September to December and January to April). The summer period (year 2 in the Part-Time programme) will be used to complete an 18,000 minor dissertation OR undertake a practice-based project consisting of a video essay accompanied by a 7000 word dissertation. The full-time programme comprises four core seminar courses during the academic year and a choice of 4 options (plus a research methods seminar) over two 12-week semesters. Part-time students will take half of these modules each year.

Core modules:

• Critical Theory (Semester 1 and 2)
• Film History 1: Classical Holllywood
• Film History 2: Cinematic Realism and Auteur Cinema Since 1945

Optional modules include:

• Film in the Digital Age
• Filmmaking for the Internet
• Irish Cinema
• Film Administration and Education
• Gender & Sexuality Onscreen
• Visual Culture

Building on the success of TG4 and Irish-language film production over the past ten years, the programme also includes an Irish-language option module (the first of its type on an MA in Film Studies programme in Ireland), ‘Scéalta Scáileáin na Gaeilge’, which focuses on the history of screen production in the Irish language and expands students employment prospects in Irish- and English-language film and television.

Requirements and assessment

The course is assessed by a combination of project and essay work. Some courses may include assessment by presentation.