Film & Screen Media

Course Outline
The MA in Film and Screen Media is a one-year taught course that offers students advanced-level critical skills in the discipline of Film and Screen Media, training in digital filmmaking, and transferrable IT/web skills. This exciting MA combines theory, analysis, history and practice, with an emphasis on encouraging students' academic skills and creativity (in critical writing; filmmaking; film/media journalism; cultural administration). Students will benefit from specialised tuition in the areas of film and screen media and digital filmmaking and may also avail of voluntary work for cultural projects and film festivals, such as the Fastnet Film Festival, Schull. With its annual seminar series of visiting speakers and guest practitioners, as well as mentorship by resident UCC/Arts Council Film Artist, UCC Film and Screen Media gives students ample opportunities to meet and be taught by professionals and experts. We are also the only Irish partner in the European University Film Award — an award of the European Film Academy (EFA) and Filmfest Hamburg presented and voted for by university students across Europe — with one student gaining the opportunity to travel to Germany to participate in the Awards.

The MA in Film and Screen Media is a 90-credit programme with both a taught and a research component. Students take core modules and a selection of optional modules and complete either a traditional research dissertation or a practice-based project under expert supervision.

Students can opt to complete a practice-based project, incorporating a short film/visual project and a reflective piece (40 credits) or a 16,000-word research-based dissertation (40 credits). All students will graduate with the same Master's Degree.

Students will avail of specialised tuition in the areas of film and screen media and digital filmmaking, and benefit from state-of-the-art facilities, that include large screen and surround sound system; Apple™ lab; digital cameras and industry-standard filmmaking equipment; and teaching and performance space, all located in the heart of one of the most beautiful University campuses in Ireland. Students can also avail of specialised Apple™ training in our newly established Apple Authorised Training Centre for Education.

Course Practicalities
This full-time, one-year degree adopts a range of teaching methods and techniques, including traditional lectures, seminars, small-group tutorials, film screenings, practical labs, group work. You attend taught modules throughout the two teaching semesters (September to March), then focus entirely on your dissertation/project during the summer months. Some modules may involve some extra hours of self-directed filming and editing. Students may have opportunities to avail of voluntary work in film festivals or cultural events. You are required to attend all classes and to prepare for seminar discussion by reading assigned materials and by viewing prescribed films.

Modules use a variety of forms of assessment including essay writing, oral presentations with technological support, portfolios, treatments, films and creative/practical projects. By being exposed to diverse forms of assessment, you acquire a broad set of discipline-specific as well as transferable skills that prepare you for different professions or for further study at postgraduate level in film or related areas. In addition to the taught modules, you can choose what kind of final project to undertake under expert one-to-one supervision, be it a research-focused dissertation or a creative practice-based portfolio.

The MA is taught by Film and Screen Media lecturers based in the Department of Film and Screen Media, School of Film, Music and Theatre; by PhD and Post-doctoral Researchers in Film and Screen Media at UCC; and by lecturers based in other Schools and Departments including Computer Science, French, German, Hispanic Studies, and Music.

With its annual seminar series of visiting speakers and guest practitioners, (see the Department website https://www.ucc.ie/en/fmt/ for more details), as well as mentorship by our resident UCC/Arts Council Film Artist, UCC Film and Screen Media gives students ample opportunities to meet and be taught by professionals and experts.

Why Choose This Course
The MA in Film and Screen Media's distinctive blend of theory, creative practice, and industry links is unique in Ireland. Students on the MA will benefit from state-of-the-art facilities, that include large screen and surround sound system; Apple™ lab; digital cameras and industry-standard filmmaking equipment; and teaching and performance space, all located in the heart of one of the most beautiful University campuses in Ireland. Students can also avail of specialised Apple™ training in our newly established Apple Authorised Training Centre for Education.

Placement or Study Abroad Information
Students may have opportunities to avail of volunteering work with one of our Industry partners (Cork Film Festival; Schull Fastnet Film Festival; European University Film Award (EUFA)).

Students can avail of a selection of option modules, in film studies, in filmmaking, in cultural/film studies, as well as a core module that offers advanced-level studies in film and screen media. Topics covered in the programme include:

amateur filmmaking
theory and practice
the essay film
archives and curatorship
music and cinema
writing on cinema
mobile filmmaking
new media & new technologies
theory and practice
feminism/gender studies and film
national cinemas
independent cinema

Modules
Further details on the modules listed above can be found in our book of modules. Any modules listed above are indicative of the current set of modules for this course but are subject to change from year to year.

University Calendar
You can find the full academic content for the current year of any given course in our University Calendar.

Requirements
An applicant will have a Second Class Honours, Grade I in a primary honours degree (NFQ, Level 8 or equivalent) in the Humanities. Successful applicants will normally have evidence of successful performance in undergraduate modules taken in Film Studies and/or Media Studies and/or practical/professional expertise or qualification in the area.

Applications from students with a Second Class Honours, Grade II in a primary honours degree (NFQ, Level 8 or equivalent) in a suitable subject may be considered under Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL). These applicants may be requested to submit a proposal and/or attend an interview. All candidates must satisfy a Selection Committee who may request applicants to provide letters of reference.

English Language Requirements

Applicants that are non-native speakers of the English language must meet the university approved English language requirements available here.

For applicants with qualifications completed outside of Ireland

Applicants must meet the required entry academic grade, equivalent to Irish requirements, please find our grades comparison by country here.

International/non-EU applicants

For full details of the non-EU application procedure please visit our how to apply pages for international students. In UCC, we use the term programme and course interchangeably to describe what a person has registered to study in UCC and its constituent colleges, schools, and departments.

Not all courses are open to international/non-EU applicants, please check the fact file above.

For more information please contact the International Office.

How Do I Apply
1. Choose Course
Firstly choose your course. Applicants can apply for up to two courses under one application. Details of taught courses are available on our online prospectus.

2. Apply Online
Once you have chosen your course you can apply online at the online application portal. Applicants will need to apply before the course closing date. There is a non-refundable €50 application fee for all courses apart from the Education - Professional Master of Education - (Secondary School/Post-Primary Teacher Training) which has a €100 application fee.

Applicants for the Postgraduate Diploma in Public Health Nursing must apply on the PAC website when the programme opens for applications.

3. Gather Supporting Documents
Scanned copies of the following documents will need to be uploaded to the online application portal in support of your application. Applicants may need to produce the original documents if you are accepted onto a course and register at UCC.

Original qualification documents listed on your application including transcripts of results from institutions other than UCC
Any supplementary items requested for your course.
Please log into the online application portal for more details.

4. Application processing timeline
Our online application portal opens for applications for most courses in early November of each year. Check specific course details.

5. Rounds
For courses that are in the rounds system (Irish and EU applicants), please check the rounds closing dates via link below.

Questions on how to apply?
Please use our web enquiry form to contact us.

Additional Requirements (All Applicants)
Please note you will be required to provide additional information as part of the online application process for this programme. This will include the following questions:

Please describe your motivation and readiness for this programme
Please enter all relevant work experience that will support your application.
Please detail your research interest(s).
In addition to your previously declared qualifications, please outline any additional academic courses, self-learning and professional training relevant to your intended programme.
Please describe your portfolio of work or achievements.
Please upload a portfolio of relevant work.

The closing date for non-EU applications is 15 June

1 year Full-time

Skills and Careers Information
Students of the MA in Film and Screen Media will avail of a range of modules that combine theory/analysis with practice. The emphasis is on equipping students with transferrable skills in digital filmmaking, IT, and writing. Film and Screen Media offers a dynamic interface with the Industry and students can avail of cultural industry placements and masterclasses and tuition from Industry professionals.

What can I do after I graduate with an MA in Film Studies?
Graduates of our master's degree have developed careers in media and filmmaking, in cultural industries (including the programming and adminstering of major Film Festivals); second and third level teaching/lecturing; journalism (national and international); library information. While studying on the MA in Film and Screen Media students have the opportunity to avail of Apple certified training and placements within the Industry that will equip them with transferable skills and professional experience.

Occupations associated with the MA in Film Studies degree:
Film and Media Industries
Cultural industries
Journalism
Teaching
Academia
Event management
Public Sector