
Study film abroad
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Find film programs you love that match your needs & aspirations, where you stand a high chance of acceptance.
Film degrees abroad
For international students, film degrees can provide insight into the world’s most successful visual industries. Whether you’re interested in studying film for the practical area of production, or the analytical side of film criticism, film qualifications are available across the globe in universities, colleges, and even specialist film schools.


Film program structure
Wherever you decide to study film abroad, you will have a selection of film modules to choose from, which defines your focus on the subject. Film studies modules require many different methods of assessment and ways of learning, including film screenings, lectures, dissertations, seminars, filming, and editing.
You may be required to watch many films in your spare time, which may sound easy but can take up hours of your free time. There will also be many opportunities at university to get involved with film societies, or student media groups to use your skills and knowledge.
Depending on the country you study in, a typical bachelor’s degree in film will take between three and four years, and a master’s degree will take one to two years to complete.
The program curriculum of a film degree would be split into years of study with each year having some compulsory modules, in addition to optional modules to choose from; they would typically focus on the following areas:
- Sound and composition
- Filming and editing
- Culture and identity
- Foreign language cinema
- Genres of cinema
- Film criticism
Why study film abroad
Studying film requires at least an interest in film, but it may be a particular career path that brings you to study it.
Choosing to study film abroad means you'll have a wide range of programs to choose from, and you could study in a country famous for cinema, or a specific style of film you are passionate about.
It will also give you a unique perspective on how another culture approaches film making that could help you stand out in a competitive market.


Where to study film abroad
Where you study film depends on a few factors and reasons why you are choosing to study it.
Most places in the world have educated notable directors, producers, and filmmakers, so you shouldn’t entirely rule out studying anywhere just because it isn’t known for film.
In all cases it is important to look at the exact details of a university or school’s programs in film to check what you’re interested in is covered.
Best countries to study film
There are many countries and areas with large film industries, making them some of the best countries to study film in. These include:
- USA
- UK
- India
- China
- Japan
- Germany
- France
- Spain
Countries with large film industries can be good options for studying get practical experience through work experience, or even stay on in the country to look for work following completion of your degree.
Best universities to study film
There may be a particular director whose films you love, or a particular film academic whose work you admire. In both cases there will be specific universities that focus on relevant areas to these interests.
The university or film school you decide to apply to will also depend on how practical you want your studies to be. Traditional universities may focus on film in an academic sense, and not the process of making films, as a dedicated film school would.
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Film study abroad programs
Film courses at all qualification levels are available across the world to international students. The country, language, and specific university you study in will affect the content of the program, including the types of films focused on and the methods of making them.
At bachelor’s level a film degree would typically sit under a Bachelor of Arts (BA) award, or within a bachelor’s in liberal arts as a major or minor. Master’s degrees in film can be either taught or research.
A doctorate or PhD program in film is likely to be research intensive, with a focus on a very specific aspect of cinema.
Film undergraduate programs
Bachelor's in film
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Dance and Film & Visual Culture - BA (Hons) Liverpool Hope University, UK
- Program type
- Bachelor's
- Duration
- 3 years
- Annual tuition fee
-
15,506 USD
Fee in university's local currency 12,500 GBP
- Start date
- September
-
Acting for Theatre, Film & Television - BFA Long Island University Brooklyn, USA
- Program type
- Bachelor's
- Duration
- 4 years
- Annual tuition fee
-
35,736 USD
Fee in university's local currency 35,736 USD
- Start date
- September, January
-
Acting: Film, TV & Stage - BA (Hons) Buckinghamshire New University, UK
- Program type
- Bachelor's
- Duration
- 3 years
- Annual tuition fee
-
15,506 USD
Fee in university's local currency 12,500 GBP
- Start date
- September, February
-
Film - BA Victoria University of Wellington, New Zealand
- Program type
- Bachelor's
- Duration
- 3 years
- Annual tuition fee
-
17,158 USD
Fee in university's local currency 28,621 NZD
- Start date
- February
-
Film and Media Studies - BA Oglethorpe University, USA
- Program type
- Bachelor's
- Duration
- 4 years
- Annual tuition fee
-
39,300 USD
Fee in university's local currency 39,300 USD
- Start date
- August, January, June
Associate in film
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Acting for Film - AFA New York Film Academy, USA
- Program type
- Associate
- Duration
- 16 months
- Annual tuition fee
-
37,226 USD
Fee in university's local currency 37,226 USD
- Start date
- August, January, May
-
Film Production - ASc Santa Monica College, USA
- Program type
- Associate
- Duration
- 2 years
- Annual tuition fee
-
9,264 USD
Fee in university's local currency 9,264 USD
- Start date
- August, January, February, June
-
Film, Television, and Electronic Media - ASc College of the Desert, USA
- Program type
- Associate
- Duration
- 2 years
- Annual tuition fee
-
7,368 USD
Fee in university's local currency 7,368 USD
- Start date
- August, January
-
Film Production Technology - ASc Broward College, USA
- Program type
- Associate
- Duration
- 2 years
- Annual tuition fee
-
8,952 USD
Fee in university's local currency 8,952 USD
- Start date
- August, May
-
Film, Television and Electronic Media - AA Cuesta College, USA
- Program type
- Associate
- Duration
- 2 years
- Annual tuition fee
-
10,650 USD
Fee in university's local currency 10,650 USD
- Start date
- August, January
Diploma in film
-
Acting for Film and Television - UGDip Humber College Institute of Technology and Advanced Learning, Canada
- Program type
- Undergraduate diploma
- Duration
- 2 years
- Annual tuition fee
-
11,347 USD
Fee in university's local currency 15,412 CAD
- Start date
- September
-
Writing for Film and TV - Dip Toronto Film School, Canada
- Program type
- Undergraduate diploma
- Duration
- 18 months
- Annual tuition fee
-
26,319 USD
Fee in university's local currency 35,746 CAD
- Start date
- October, January, April, July
-
Broadcasting: Radio, Television, Film & Digital Media - OCADip Centennial College, Canada
- Program type
- Undergraduate diploma
- Duration
- 3 years
- Annual tuition fee
-
12,298 USD
Fee in university's local currency 16,704 CAD
- Start date
- September
-
Broadcasting: Television and Film Production - OCDip Fanshawe College, Canada
- Program type
- Undergraduate diploma
- Duration
- 14 months
- Annual tuition fee
-
12,796 USD
Fee in university's local currency 17,380 CAD
- Start date
- September
-
Digital Film Production - OCDip Sault College, Canada
- Program type
- Undergraduate diploma
- Duration
- 2 years
- Annual tuition fee
-
11,390 USD
Fee in university's local currency 15,470 CAD
- Start date
- September
Certificate in film
-
Film Production Management - Cert College of the Desert, USA
- Program type
- Undergraduate certificate
- Duration
- 1 year
- Annual tuition fee
-
7,368 USD
Fee in university's local currency 7,368 USD
- Start date
- August, January
-
Music Production for Film, TV and Games - Cert HE The Institute of Contemporary Music Performance, UK
- Program type
- Undergraduate certificate
- Duration
- 1 year
- Annual tuition fee
-
17,056 USD
Fee in university's local currency 13,750 GBP
- Start date
- September
Pathway in film
-
Media and Film Studies - International Year One - UGP University of Sussex, UK
- Program type
- Undergraduate pathway
- Duration
- 1 year
- Annual tuition fee
-
23,321 USD
Fee in university's local currency 18,800 GBP
- Start date
- September, January
Film graduate programs
Master's in film
-
Arts: Cinema Studies - MA University of Canterbury, New Zealand
- Program type
- Master's
- Duration
- 2 years
- Annual tuition fee
-
19,184 USD
Fee in university's local currency 32,000 NZD
- Start date
- January, February
-
Sound Design for Film and Television - MA Bournemouth University, UK
- Program type
- Master's
- Duration
- 1 year
- Annual tuition fee
-
17,987 USD
Fee in university's local currency 14,500 GBP
- Start date
- January
-
Contemporary Film Culture - MA University of the West of England - UWE Bristol, UK
- Program type
- Master's
- Duration
- 1 year
- Annual tuition fee
-
19,227 USD
Fee in university's local currency 15,500 GBP
- Start date
- September
-
Documentary Film Production - MA London Metropolitan University, UK
- Program type
- Master's
- Duration
- 1 year
- Annual tuition fee
-
16,436 USD
Fee in university's local currency 13,250 GBP
- Start date
- September
-
Film - MFA Miami International University of Art & Design, USA
- Program type
- Master's
- Duration
- 2 years
- Annual tuition fee
-
29,475 USD
Fee in university's local currency 29,475 USD
- Start date
- October, January, April, July
Doctorate in film
-
Cinema Studies - PhD University of Canterbury, New Zealand
- Program type
- Doctorate
- Duration
- 1 year
- Annual tuition fee
-
4,255 USD
Fee in university's local currency 7,099 NZD
- Start date
- August, September, October, November, January, February, March, April, May, June, July
-
Film, Media and Communication - PhD University of Portsmouth, UK
- Program type
- Doctorate
- Duration
- 3 years
- Annual tuition fee
-
20,219 USD
Fee in university's local currency 16,300 GBP
- Start date
- October, February
Diploma in film
-
Arts: Cinema Studies - PGDipArts University of Canterbury, New Zealand
- Program type
- Postgraduate diploma
- Duration
- 1 year
- Annual tuition fee
-
16,306 USD
Fee in university's local currency 27,200 NZD
- Start date
- January, February
Certificate in film
-
Advanced Television and Film - PGCert Sheridan College, Canada
- Program type
- Postgraduate certificate
- Duration
- 1 year
- Annual tuition fee
-
24,227 USD
Fee in university's local currency 32,905 CAD
- Start date
- September
-
Advanced Television and Film: Script to Screen - PGCert Centennial College, Canada
- Program type
- Postgraduate certificate
- Duration
- 1 year
- Annual tuition fee
-
11,554 USD
Fee in university's local currency 15,693 CAD
- Start date
- September

Entry requirements to study film abroad
As it’s unlikely you would have studied film specifically at high school level, university’s and film schools won’t need a specific score for a film class for admission to a bachelor’s, but may want you to show you have experience with media and/or art.
At master’s and doctorate levels, the admission process may need you to prove you have sufficient practical or academic experience with cinema.
Studying film abroad will require an admission process that is set by the specific university for the exact program want to study. Every institution will want you to have passion and an interest in film, but you may also need to provide the university with the following:
- Academic transcripts
- An English language proficiency test (e.g. TOEFL or IELTS)
- Proof of finances
- References
- CV
- Personal statement
Future film careers
Film degrees have a wide range of careers associated with them, as well as transferable skills that are useful in other industries. You’ll have a good ability to analyse and organize following a film studies course.
Common film degree jobs include:
- Journalist
- Camera operator
- Producer
- Director
- Broadcast engineer
