COURSE CURRICULUM

With our BA Art and Film programme at the University of Reading, you will explore the creative, technical, and theoretical dimensions of both visual art and screen-based media, developing a strong foundation in contemporary artistic practice and moving image culture. The degree is taught jointly by Reading School of Art and the Department of Film, Theatre and Television, allowing you to engage with studio-based art-making alongside film and television studies. In your first year, you will be introduced to contemporary art practices, global art histories, and essential skills in drawing, while also studying key approaches to film and television, including how meaning is constructed through fiction and non-fiction forms and how global media cultures shape audiences and industries. As you progress, you will deepen your understanding of film forms and cultures, exploring critical issues such as representation, narrative structure, genre, and ideology, while continuing to develop your own creative practice through studio work. Optional modules allow you to specialise in areas such as documentary production, comedy across media, television culture, theatre and performance studies, adaptation, scriptwriting, and international study experiences, giving you flexibility to shape your degree around your interests. In your final year, you will undertake an independent dissertation or creative research project, combining practical and critical work to demonstrate your academic and creative development. The programme also offers placement opportunities and industry-facing learning, helping you connect your studies with careers in film production, television, media, arts organisations, and cultural industries. Across the degree, you will build skills in critical analysis, visual communication, storytelling, and independent creative practice, preparing you for professional work in both artistic and screen-based sectors.