History and Film Studies with a Placement Year

History and film studies make a natural pairing because cinema is itself a historical phenomenon, shaped by the societies and moments that produced it, while films in turn have been central to how historical memory is constructed and contested. Together, the two disciplines give you tools for understanding both what actually happened in the past and how stories about the past have been told, manipulated, and given meaning through moving images and other media.

At the University of East Anglia, this four-year programme gives equal weight to historical and film studies methods. You will develop skills in archival research, historical argument, and critical interpretation alongside close analysis of film texts, an understanding of film form and style, and familiarity with the major traditions of national and world cinema. UEA has a particularly strong reputation in both areas, with a film studies department that has shaped the field in the UK, and a history department with genuine research strength.

The four years include a placement year, giving you the chance to apply your analytical and research skills in a professional context, whether in a cultural institution, archive, production company, media organisation, or elsewhere.

Graduates of history and film studies programmes are well prepared for careers in film and television production, journalism, heritage, archiving, publishing, broadcasting, arts administration, and education. The research, writing, and critical analysis skills the degree develops are valued across a wide range of professional settings, and many graduates find that the combination of historical depth and media literacy is genuinely distinctive in the job market. Further study in film studies, history, cultural studies, or media is also a natural direction for those who want to pursue academic or specialist professional work.