Film & TV and Philosophy

Film, television, and philosophy is a combination that brings together two of the most powerful ways human beings have of exploring ideas, identity, and the meaning of experience. Film and television are mass media with the capacity to move, persuade, disturb, and inspire on a global scale; they are also forms of art that raise deep questions about representation, time, reality, and the nature of the image. Philosophy provides the analytical and conceptual tools for examining these questions rigorously, as well as the broader tradition of inquiry into knowledge, ethics, politics, mind, and the good life that gives cultural criticism its intellectual depth.

At Nottingham Trent University, this part-time programme encourages you to explore the deepest questions of humanity through the richness of film and television, developing both critical thinking and creativity alongside a unique perspective on the world. You will study the history and theory of film and television, analyse screen texts through philosophical and critical lenses, and engage with philosophical traditions that illuminate what these media do and why they matter. A sandwich year in industry and a work placement are both available, giving you direct professional experience before graduation in creative, media, or other professional environments.

Graduates of this combination move into careers in film and television production, cultural journalism and criticism, arts programming, education, broadcasting, publishing, public relations, and the wider creative and cultural industries. The philosophical training develops skills in argument, analysis, and the clear expression of complex ideas that are valued across journalism, law, policy, and many other fields. Many graduates continue to postgraduate study in film studies, philosophy, media, cultural theory, or education.

The combination of critical depth and creative awareness prepares you for roles that require both analytical rigour and an understanding of how screen media shapes how we see the world.