In the information below each of our admissions tutors has made some observations on the skills and qualities they see as important when they consider an application for BA Film Studies.
Intellectual curiosity
Film Studies is a challenging academic subject and we seek to attract students with either experience in studying film or with a clear intellectual curiosity in studying film at University level, and look for evidence of this on the Personal Statement of your UCAS form. While you are likely to have your favourite films, you also need to be prepared to adopt a position of critical distance from them and, importantly, be open-minded in engaging with films that are from cultural or historical contexts that might be less familiar to you. In doing this you should seek connections between the different subjects and disciplines you encounter when studying film at Southampton to contribute to your own learning and that of others.
Initiative
We encourage you to embrace new ideas and develop your original thinking as you encounter different approaches, theories and methods on your Single or Combined Honours course. You should be willing to question basic assumptions and show initiative in extending your knowledge and awareness beyond the minimum work required by our taught modules.
Self-discipline
In order to adapt to University life, you will need to be able to manage your time successfully and self-disciplined in prioritising between your work and personal commitments. While we will always offer you support, you will have a busy timetable and often need to organise your work towards multiple assessment deadlines.
Commitment
you’ll need to be an independent learner committed to making the most of your experience and the excellent library and extensive DVD and video resources we provide. You will need to learn how to compose an essay on a given topic, and research it appropriately using library, archive and online materials.
Key skills
You will need to develop skills in textual analysis and be able to analyse and interpret film images and sequences and relate them to specific theoretical approaches and cultural contexts. You will need to write effectively in English, communicating your own ideas clearly and recognise their significance within wider debates, and following standard academic conventions. Through individual and group oral presentations you will also need to communicate effectively and interact with the ideas of others, and be willing to respond to the feedback given to you.