From Monday, September 22, all students must ensure they have a valid, working pass for the bus service they are using. Student ID cards will no longer be accepted on board services. Full instructions can be found on our Transport page.
A Level Film Studies
Fancy being the next Quentin Tarantino, Lynne Ramsay, or Christopher Nolan? Studying Film could put you on the right path to your perfect career. Start building your lifelong relationship with film by choosing A Level Film Studies.
WHY CHOOSE THIS COURSE?
There is so much more to Film Studies than simply watching films. When watching a film, we might regard it as relaxation or escapism. However, the in-depth study of film involves coming from a very different starting point. As well as gaining an appreciation of film as an art form in terms of its visual storytelling, studying film can enhance your understanding of the world and its competing values, attitudes, and beliefs. Our course also incorporates a creative production element where you will be able to put what you have learnt into practice by making a short film or writing a screenplay.
Film Studies is an extremely enjoyable and worthwhile subject to study. Expect to be constantly challenged and excited by the course! Not only will it change the way you watch film, but more importantly it will challenge you to think in new ways and question your perspective on a whole host of issues, such as the representation of race or gender. Studying film allows you to understand important issues and developments within history, society, and culture, using film as the medium with which to gain a greater insight into these areas.
In addition, the development of deeper critical and creative thinking gained by studying film can enhance many different career paths and is a much sought-after transferable skill in both employment and further study.
Apply for this course
Start date: 08/09/2025
TOP COURSE HIGHLIGHTS
Learn creative skills
Excellent academic & technical support
Excellent facilities
Small class sizes
Growth industry
Transferrable Skills
Studying film enables you to see the world in a different light and develop a wide range of transferable skills for further education, work, and life, including creative & critical thinking, emotional intelligence, analytical & research skills, and technical competencies (e.g. film editing).
Dedicated and creative staff
The Film Studies lecturers are friendly, supportive, and offer high level pastoral, academic and technical support to help you realise your creative potential. Each individual has their own specialism, industry experience and technical skills which together build an excellent teaching team.
Study films of depth and substance
Study important and inspiring films from acclaimed directors such as Alfred Hitchcock, Spike Lee, Guillermo del Toro, Edgar Wright and Jonathan Glazer. From silent cinema to contemporary Hollywood, the films studied have great critical reputations. They are films of depth and substance which have been chosen to offer rich and interesting analysis. They represent different time periods and different moments in history showing alternative representations of culture and people.
WHAT WILL I LEARN?
The first year will cover the following topics:
- Hollywood 1930-1990
- American Independent Film
- British film
- European Film
- Film Production
The second year will cover the following topics:
- Global Film
- Documentary
- Silent Film
- Experimental Film
- Short Film
You will study the key elements of film form including cinematography, mise-en-scène, editing, sound and performance. You will also study the contexts of your chosen films and what was happening when the film was made. What can the film tell us about history and society at that time? You will study the films in terms of the representations they present or challenge. You will also explore the specialist film areas of Spectatorship & Narrative, Ideology, the Auteur and Critical Debates surrounding Film.
WHERE WILL IT TAKE ME?
You can progress from this A Level to a creative art or visual culture-based degree. Film Studies is also an excellent subject to complement many courses, such as Media, English, Psychology, Sociology, Photography, Art and Design. Career paths include practical avenues such as Filmmaking, Directing, Producing & Editing.
However, a qualification in Film also allows you to move into theoretical pathways such as Film Criticism, Journalism, Teaching and Education.
Assessment Arrangements
At A Level there are 2 exams, each worth 35%, and a 30% assessment of production work. The exams are 150 minutes long and consist of answering 3 extended response questions on Component 1 and 4 extended response questions on Component 2.
There is also a creative production element which allows you to showcase the filmmaking or screenwriting skills you have developed during the course:
Short Film (video)
Short Film Screenplay (with storyboard)
Evaluative Analysis
Entry Requirements
Minimum entry requirements are 5 GCSEs at Grade 4 including English Language or Literature at Grade 5 or a Humanities subject at Grade 5.
information & support
We encourage all students to read/view widely and conduct their own research into Film, especially those who wish to study Film or Media at degree level. We expect you to actively engage with the online resources as well as course relevant textbooks, such as:
WJEC Eduqas Film Studies for A Level & AS (Illuminate Publishing 2018) by Lisa Wardle, Ellen Cheshire, Mark Ramey, Jenny Stewart
A YouTube playlist introducing you to elements of Film Language & Analysis:
Our evolving course website featuring guides, lessons & interactive resources:
https://artographyfilmstudies.weebly.com/
Awarding Body: Eduqas
Meet the staff, tour the campus and find out about life as a student at one of the best colleges in the country.
What you could earn
Potential Salary
£110,132
Entry Level Salary
£16,273
Average Salary
£47,570
Annual openings in Cornwall
22
Potential Salary
£106,574
Entry Level Salary
£10,431
Average Salary
£46,033
Annual openings in Cornwall
2
Potential Salary
£98,486
Entry Level Salary
£11,276
Average Salary
£44,662
Annual openings in Cornwall
77
Potential Salary
£102,462
Entry Level Salary
£25,633
Average Salary
£48,719
Annual openings in Cornwall
