Film and Media [with Foundation Year]

Explore the key issues and roles in film and media, focusing on the knowledge and skills you need for your future career. Get trained in all aspects of filmmaking while creating your own shorts.

Study the key issues in film, media and culture, from digital and cult media to gender and celebrity, across film, TV, social media and video games, helping you identify and focus on your own interests like journalism, filmmaking, and screenwriting.

You’ll also create your own short films in video, animation or 16mm format, and get training in all aspects of the craft, including camera operation, sound recording and editing.

Why ARU?


• Join trips to galleries, exhibitions and screenings in Cambridge and London



• Use our extensive industry links to make contacts, find work placements, and take part in live briefs



• Enjoy full access to our film, media and other creative facilities, with training from our technical team



• Prepare for many different careers in film and media including production, post-production, broadcasting, journalism, and content creation.



• Be supported by a diverse team of professionally practising filmmakers, screenwriters, journalists, and academics



• Choose from a variety of modules to tailor your degree to your interests and career aspirations



Careers

Screen industries employers want versatility. Our course will equip you with the wide range of skills you'll need for a career in the film and media industries.

You’ll learn to be a confident, multi-skilled practitioner, with experience in filmmaking, sound and video editing, photography and web design.

But you’ll also learn essential transferable skills, such as research, writing, teamwork, communication, problem solving, and resourcefulness – invaluable in all areas of the creative industries and other sectors.

Our degree course will give you a thorough knowledge of the theory and practice of film and media, preparing you for many related roles including film and television production and post-production, cinema and film festival management, film programming and curation, publishing, broadcasting, web design and public relations.

You might decide to stay at ARU and study for a Masters, like our MA Film and Television Production. Take advantage of our Alumni Scholarship to get 20% off your fees.

Our recent students have found internships and placements with companies such as the BBC, Cambridge Festival of Ideas, Film & Video Umbrella, Cannes Film Festival, Cambridge Film Festival, Take One magazine, Watersprite Film Festival, CBBC, ITN Productions, London Studios, MTV, New York Film Academy, Pinewood Studios, StudioCanal UK (formerly Optimum Releasing) and Sight & Sound magazine.

They’ve also taken part in live briefs with our partner organisations such as mental health charity Lifecraft, producing a series of short videos about the charity for their website and social media channels.

Facilities

You’ll have access to all of our creative facilities including:


- film studio with overhead lighting, tracks, dollies and green screen


- multi-camera television studio with modular set panels


- full range of location kit and sound-recording equipment


- editing suites with Da Vinci Resolve and the full Adobe Creative Cloud software suite


- finishing suite with audio monitoring and grading panels


• Aaton cameras and Steenbeck editors for 16mm film production



- motion capture equipment


- podcast and video capture system


• HD cameras, Super8mm and 16mm film cameras



- animation rostrum cameras


- photography studio and colour darkrooms.

At ARU, you’ll be supported from day one with wellbeing services, money advice and careers guidance to help you through university and beyond.

Their courses are built around the skills and experience employers value. ARU are proud to be in the top 20% of UK universities for teaching quality (TEF 2023), and ranked #1 in the East of England, and #8 in the UK, for UG graduates in senior roles 15 months after gradudation (Graduate Outcomes Survey 2025). You'll have access to fantastic facilities thanks to £95m of investment - think SuperLabs, TV studios, law courts, mock hospital wards, gaming studios and more.

Wherever you're heading, ARU will help you get there.