English and Film Studies (BA)

Applicants come from a diverse range of backgrounds and we accept a broad range of qualifications. Special consideration will be given to mature applicants, and we are happy to consider applicants with other qualifications, including QAA-approved Access to HE courses.

Students from overseas should visit the International| pages for further information on the entry requirements from their country and English language requirements.  Royal Holloway International offers an International Foundation Programme and English language pre-sessional courses, allowing students the opportunity to develop their study skills and English language before starting their undergraduate degree.

We make decisions based on achieved or predicted grades, personal statements and references. More information on how your application will be assessed, and tips for your personal statement can be found on our Applying| pages.

• The course units are taught by nationally and internationally known scholars who are specialists in their fields.
• You will gain a solid knowledge of the whole range of English literature from its beginnings to its latest developments, ranging from Chaucer and Shakespeare to Conrad, James Joyce and Salman Rushdie.
• You will learn about the history and style of film and television, including Hollywood, British, European and global cinemas as well as international television and experimental film and video art
• You will have the opportunity to study unusual, non-traditional subjects such as the body in the 18th century, time in modern literature and adaptations of Shakespeare, and the contemporary culture of celebrity
• We produce graduates who can confidently apply conceptual skills in the communication industries, the wider world of work and in further learning.
• In addition to Media Arts staff, teaching draws on the expertise of film specialists in Royal Holloway’s renowned School of Modern Languages.

Your first year is designed to equip you with the skills and knowledge we consider fundamental to the combined study of English and Film. You will take two course units in each department, focussing on the acquisition of the theoretical, historical and methodological skills necessary to develop a sophisticated understanding of the subjects. The units in the English Department will introduce you to the study of the novel and to the study of Shakespeare. The foundation unit in Film offers a broad historical overview of cinema, television and experimental film, alongside an introduction to key critical approaches and techniques.

In your second and third year you will select optional course units, from a range in both the departments of English and Media Arts. These could include Renaissance, Romantic, Victorian, Modernist, Critical Debates, Post-Classical Hollywood, Chinese Cinemas, Interwar European Cinema, Documentary, Psychoanalysis, and Television Genres. 

The websites of the Department of English| and Department of Media Arts| give detailed lists of the course units taken for in each department.

View the full course specification for English and Film Studies (BA) in the Programme Specification Repository|.

The course has a flexible structure, whereby students take twelve course units at the rate of four per year. Some course units are compulsory while others are elective thereby offering flexibility and choice.

You’ll be taught through a combination of lectures and seminars, and participate in study groups, essay consultations, screenings and guided independent study. In your first year, you will also work in small groups of just four or five students focusing on study skills such as close reading, essay writing and presentation and self-editing. As you progress through your degree, these tutorials focus on your own personal development, for instance working on your CV. Private study and preparation are essential parts of every course, and you will have access to many online resources and the University’s comprehensive e-learning facility, Moodle. When you start with us, you are assigned a Personal Tutor to support you academically and personally.

Assessment is carried out by a combination of written assignments such as long or short essays, assessed coursework,  formal examinations at the end of each year, online tests and exercises, presentations, commentaries and portfolios of creative work.

Your first year results do not count towards your final degree award, however your second and third year do

Choosing English and Film Studies at Royal Holloway means a strong emphasis will be placed on your employability. The skills that you gain from our rigorous degrees, such as research, presentation, teamwork, negotiation and communication, will prepare you for a broad range of careers. We offer a range of activities and opportunities to help enhance your employability and prepare for the choices ahead. Both departments run work placement schemes. During your second year, you will meet with your personal tutor group to work on personal development planning.

Our recent graduates have very successfully entered a wide range of careers including law, journalism, publishing, finance, business, teaching, marketing and the media, as well as gone onto postgraduate study in a variety of fields. To learn more about what our graduates are doing now, please visit the department’s website|.