Mercy College

What you'll study

The programme balances critical and creative approaches to film. Core study areas include film history and national cinemas, film and media theory, genre and authorship studies, documentary studies, and contemporary approaches to cinema in a digital environment. Alongside these, students take practical modules in screenwriting, cinematography, editing, sound design and production fundamentals so they graduate with both analytical literacy and technical competence.

• Foundations: introduction to film analysis, media literacy, and research methods.
• Historical & theoretical: surveys of film history, classical and contemporary theory, and specialised courses on national/regional cinemas.
• Practical studio work: courses in camera, lighting, non‑linear editing, sound recording and basic production workflows.
• Creative writing & storytelling: screenwriting fundamentals, script development and pitching.
• Contextual modules: film and society, media law and ethics, film festivals and exhibition, and archival practice.
• Capstone & internship: final year research or production project and placement opportunities with film organisations or media companies.

Entry requirements

Applicants should meet Mercy College's general undergraduate admission standards. Typical requirements include a recognised secondary school diploma or equivalent and submission of academic transcripts. Because the programme combines practical and analytical work, applicants are encouraged to demonstrate relevant interest or experience — for example coursework in English, media or visual arts, a short creative portfolio or links to past media projects, and a personal statement outlining interests in film culture.

International applicants must provide evidence of equivalent qualifications and English language proficiency where required. Mature applicants and those with professional media experience are considered through the college's admissions routes.

Career prospects

Graduates leave prepared for a range of roles across the film, television and broader media sectors. The programme is suitable for careers in film production (production assistant, assistant editor, camera assistant), post‑production and editing, screenwriting and development, curation and programming at cinemas and festivals, film archiving and preservation, criticism and journalism, and audience development and publicity. Graduates also progress to postgraduate study in film studies, media practice or related disciplines.

Why study at Mercy College

Mercy College offers a programme that integrates critical study with applied skills, taught by faculty with academic and industry experience. Students benefit from small class sizes that support discussion‑based seminars and supervised production work. The college's location and regional connections make it possible to pursue internships and partnerships with media organisations, festivals and cultural institutions. Facilities include digital editing suites and production equipment to support practical modules, while career services provide guidance on placements, networking and preparing for professional roles in the media and film sectors.