MA in Film Studies: Theory and Practice

at National University of Ireland Galway

The full-time programme comprises three seminar courses during the academic year and a choice from up to six options over two 12-week semesters, from which students must choose three. Part-time students will take half of these modules each year.
 

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. The year is divided 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 either a video essay accompanied by a 7,000 word extended essay OR a feature-length screenplay. The full-time programme comprises three core seminar courses during the academic year and a choice of a range of 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 I & II (Semester 1 and 2)
• Film History I: Hollywood & Genre
   

Optional Modules may include:

• Film History II: Cinema Beyond Hollywood since 1945
• Ireland on Screen
• Gender, Sexuality and Cinema
• Screenwriting Fundamentals
• Screenplay Development
• Digital Play & Practice
• Film Exhibition, Admin & Education
• Sport and Film
   

Curriculum Information

Curriculum information relates to the current academic year (in most cases).
Course and module offerings and details may be subject to change.
 

Year 1 (90 Credits)

• Required FM521: Critical Theory I
• Required FM512: Film History I
• Required FM522: Critical Theory II
• Optional FM6106: Gender, Sexuality and Cinema
• Optional FM500: Screen Writing Fundamentals
• Optional FM562: Video Essay
• Optional FM514: Minor Dissertation
• Optional FM508: Completed Screenplay
• Optional FM6100: Film exhibition, administration and education
• Optional FM502: Screenplay Development
• Optional FM6105: Digital Film and Culture

QQI Level 8 degree or equivalent, H2.2. GPA 3.0 or equivalent international qualification. 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.

Fees: EU
€6,850 full-time; €3,465 part-time p.a. 2022/23

Fees: Tuition
€6,710 full-time; €3,360 part-time p.a. 2022/23

Fees: Student levy
€140 p.a. FT; €105 p.a. PT 2022/23

Fees: Non EU
€16,940 p.a. 2022/23

*EU Fees are comprised of Tuition + Student Levy

Career Opportunities

Why choose this course?
As a student on this programme you will experience small, intimate classes providing close interaction with lecturers and industry professionals. Classes are taught by leading film academics and practitioners who have made substantial contributions to their disciplines in Ireland and internationally. 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 in a wide range of film-related careers, including teaching, programming and exhibition, screenwriting, curatorial work, and arts journalism. There are also opportunities for graduates to undertake further research at PhD level. Furthermore, as a student at the Huston School you will be part of a collaborative creative community, working with students across a range of MA programmes to develop your understanding of film theory and practice. You will also have all the opportunities which come from studying at one of the world’s top Universities, including access to a range of seminars and high-profile guest speakers, who have in the past included Gabriel Byrne, Laura Mulvey, Seamus McGarvey, Stephen Rea, Lenny Abrahamson, Mark O’Halloran, Colin McArthur, James Cromwell, John Boorman, Evan Goldberg, Roddy Doyle, John Carney and Atom Egoyan.
 

Career opportunities
Graduates have gone on to further research at PhD level and have acquired positions as lecturers and researchers in third level institutions. Graduates have also found employment in a range of film festival, film and media production, and journalism roles, including university lecturer, television producer, publisher’s production assistant, film producer and director, newspaper editor, journalist, teacher, theatre administrator, and film festival programmer.