Film Studies—Theory and Practice (MA/PDip)

MA/Postgraduate Diploma in Film Studies: Theory and Practice (full-time or part-time)

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Course Overview
Key Facts
Course Outline
Why Choose This Course?
Course Fees
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Course Overview

The MA in Film Studies: Theory and Practice is a pioneering programme that prepares students for a range of careers in film, screenwriting and media-related areas. Film today offers a broad mix of employment opportunities, including in academia, film and media industries, and in film/creative arts administration. This programme combines a strong academic focus on the theoretical and historical study of film, with modules addressing screenwriting, digital film practice, film education and film festival curation. The programme has close connections with PALAS— Galway’s award-winning arthouse cinema as well as the annual Galway Film Fleadh.

This programme allows students to pursue either an academic-focused pathway or a practice-based approach to film, including the possibility of completing a feature-length screenplay during the academic year.

Scholarships available
Find out about our Postgraduate Scholarships here.

Applications and Selections

Applications are made online via the University of Galway Postgraduate Applications System.

To see, in advance, what supporting documents are required to supplement your online application please visit: www.universityofgalway.ie/postgrad-admissions/supportingdocuments

Who Teaches this Course

Mr Tony Tracy

Lecturer
Huston School of Film & Digital Media
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Dr Conn Holohan

B.A.,M.A.,Ph.D.

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Dr Seán Crosson

BA, MPhil, Ph.D.

Senior Lecturer
Huston Film School
University of Galway
Galway
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Requirements and Assessment

Assessments on the programme are designed to develop students’ writing and presentation skills, as well as their ability to undertake individual and group work and to critically assess their own work and that of their peers. Assessments include essays, presentations, and blog or journal postings, as well as exercises in digital practice, module design and festival curation. Students have the opportunity to specialise in a particular aspect of the programme through a 16,000–18,000 word minor dissertation OR a practice-based project consisting of a video essay accompanied by a 7,000-word dissertation, which is submitted in early August.

Key Facts

Entry Requirements

QQI Level 8 degree or equivalent, H2.2. GPA 3.0 or equivalent international qualification. Students who do not meet the honours degree requirement but have a Level 7 degree (Merit 1) may be admitted to the PDip course with the possibility of progressing to the MA if they receive a minimum of 60% in their course work during the year. Applicants are required to submit a writing sample, consisting of either a graded academic essay or a review essay of a recent film (1,000 words), and a personal statement with their application.

In cases where English is not your first language you will need to provide an IELTS test that scores a minimum grade of 7.0 overall, with no less than 6.5 in any one component.

Additional Requirements

Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL)

Duration

1 year, full-time | 2 years, part-time

Next start date

September 2025

A Level Grades ()

Average intake

QQI/FET FETAC Entry Routes

Closing Date

You are advised to apply early, which may result in an early offer; see the offer round dates

NFQ level

Mode of study

ECTS weighting

MA—90, PDip—60

Award

MA, PDip. Students may only apply for the MA in Film Studies. Those who do not meet the minimum entry requirements may be admitted with relevant professional experience via a qualifying exam, or be admitted to the PDip.

CAO

Course code

MA-FST; PGD-FST

Course Outline

The full-time programme comprises three seminar courses during the academic year and a choice from up to six options over two 12-week semesters, from which students must choose three. Part-time students will take half of these modules each year.

The course may be taken as a full-time degree taken over a twelve-month period (September to August) OR as a Part-Time Degree taken over a twenty-four month period. The year is divided into two teaching semesters (September to December and January to April). The summer period (year 2 in the Part-Time programme) will be used to complete an 18,000 minor dissertation OR undertake a practice-based project consisting of either a video essay accompanied by a 7,000 word extended essay OR a feature-length screenplay. The full-time programme comprises three core seminar courses during the academic year and a choice of a range of options (plus a research methods seminar) over two 12-week semesters. Part-time students will take half of these modules each year.

Core modules:

Critical Theory I & II (Semester 1 and 2)
Film History I: Hollywood & Genre

Optional Modules may include:

Film History II: Cinema Beyond Hollywood since 1945
Ireland on Screen
Gender, Sexuality and Cinema
Screenwriting Fundamentals
Screenplay Development
Digital Play & Practice
Film Exhibition, Admin & Education
Sport and Film

Module details for full time course

Module details for part time course

Curriculum Information

Curriculum information relates to the current academic year (in most cases).
Course and module offerings and details may be subject to change.

Glossary of Terms

Credits: You must earn a defined number of credits (aka ECTS) to complete each year of your course. You do this by taking all of its required modules as well as the correct number of optional modules to obtain that year's total number of credits.
Module: An examinable portion of a subject or course, for which you attend lectures and/or tutorials and carry out assignments. E.g. Algebra and Calculus could be modules within the subject Mathematics. Each module has a unique module code eg. MA140.
Subject: Some courses allow you to choose subjects, where related modules are grouped together. Subjects have their own required number of credits, so you must take all that subject's required modules and may also need to obtain the remainder of the subject's total credits by choosing from its available optional modules.
Optional: A module you may choose to study.
Required: A module that you must study if you choose this course (or subject).
Required Core Subject: A subject you must study because it's integral to that course.
Semester: Most courses have 2 semesters (aka terms) per year, so a three-year course will have six semesters in total. For clarity, this page will refer to the first semester of year 2 as 'Semester 3'.

Year 1 (90 Credits)

Why Choose This Course?

Career Opportunities

Why choose this course?
As a student on this programme you will experience small, intimate classes providing close interaction with lecturers and industry professionals. Classes are taught by leading film academics and practitioners who have made substantial contributions to their disciplines in Ireland and internationally. This programme is designed for students who want to deepen their knowledge of the world’s cinemas and the very latest approaches to studying them. It will train students in a wide range of film-related careers, including teaching, programming and exhibition, screenwriting, curatorial work, and arts journalism. There are also opportunities for graduates to undertake further research at PhD level. Furthermore, as a student at the Huston School you will be part of a collaborative creative community, working with students across a range of MA programmes to develop your understanding of film theory and practice. You will also have all the opportunities which come from studying at one of the world’s top Universities, including access to a range of seminars and high-profile guest speakers, who have in the past included Gabriel Byrne, Laura Mulvey, Seamus McGarvey, Stephen Rea, Lenny Abrahamson, Mark O’Halloran, Colin McArthur, James Cromwell, John Boorman, Evan Goldberg, Roddy Doyle, John Carney and Atom Egoyan.

Career opportunities
Graduates have gone on to further research at PhD level and have acquired positions as lecturers and researchers in third level institutions. Graduates have also found employment in a range of film festival, film and media production, and journalism roles, including university lecturer, television producer, publisher’s production assistant, film producer and director, newspaper editor, journalist, teacher, theatre administrator, and film festival programmer.

Who’s Suited to This Course

Learning Outcomes

Transferable Skills Employers Value

Work Placement

Study Abroad

Related Student Organisations

Course Fees

Fees: EU

€8,140 p.a. full-time; €4,070 p.a. part-time (including levy) 2025/26

Fees: Tuition

€8,000 p.a. full-time; €4,000 p.a. part-time 2025/26

Fees: Student levy

€140 p.a. full-time; €70 p.a. part-time 2025/26

Fees: Non EU

€19,500 p.a. (€19,640 including levy) 2025/26

Postgraduate Diploma (full-time): EU € TBC p.a. (€ TBC including levy); Non EU € TBC p.a. (€ TBC including levy) 2025/26

Postgraduate Diplome (part-time): EU € TBC p.a. (€ TBC including levy); Non EU € TBC p.a. (€ TBC including levy) 2025/26

*EU Fees are comprised of Tuition + Student Levy

Student Levy: €140—payable by all students and is not covered by SUSI. Further detail here

Find out More

Dr Tony Tracy
T: +353 91 493 839
E: tony.tracy@universityofgalway.ie

Quick Links

What Our Students Say

Saoirse Doherty | Current student

What I really enjoyed about my time studying at the Huston Film School was that I was given the opportunity to explore my love for film through both an academic and practical lens. While the MA in Film Studies is very much grounded in studying film history and theory from an academic standpoint, I loved being able to explore my creative side through the screenwriting module offered. The lecturers at Huston were so supportive throughout the year and were always on hand to discuss any queries or issues that arose. As for studying in Galway, I could not recommend it more. It is a beautiful city brimming with culture. While I’m not sure what is next for me, I am confident that I have gained the skills to either begin a career in the film industry, or pursue further studies in film at PhD level.

Frances Wilde | Graduate

I began the MA having only covered basic film modules as part of my English BA. I wanted to be able to delve into film theory more, whilst maintaining a practical element and honing various filmmaking skills. The MA really enabled me to do that—critical theory modules taken alongside practical modules like “Film Exhibition, Administration & Education” helped to develop an understanding of how film is exhibited, preserved, distributed, and what cinephilia means in a digital age. These essential skills, and knowledge of national film history picked up in an “Irish Cinema” module, directly led to my subsequent internships with the Galway African Film Festival, Galway Film Fleadh, Galway Theatre Festival, and to my current role at the Irish Film Institute. I also made film friends for life—Galway is a place like no other for creative minds.

Kharma Jones | Graduate

I did a lot of research before deciding to apply to NUI Galway for my Masters degree in Film Studies. I knew I wanted a great program, but I also wanted a city that would make me feel at home. Once I arrived to Galway, I realized I would fit right in. The film students and teachers share my passion for film. The program is challenging, but I’ve learned so much. I also can’t say enough about Galway. There’s a lot of opportunity here to gain experience and build a resume, and it’s a beautiful town full of friendly people. I’ve made so many friends here that I’m considering staying!

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