Overview

The BA (Hons) (Film and Screen Media) is a three-year, full-time honours degree programme. Applicants for this programme must fulfil the minimum entry requirements (see here).

To be eligible for the award of the BA (Hons) (Film and Screen Media) degree a student will be required to have achieved 180 credits by obtaining 60 credits in each of First, Second, and Third Arts (Film and Screen Media). A student may not register for more than 60 credits in one year.

BA (Hons) (Film and Screen Media) (International) Pathway 

The BA (Hons) (Film and Screen Media) (International) Pathway is a four-year programme which enables students to study abroad for a year in an approved University outside Ireland.

First Year - Arts (Film and Screen Media)

In First Arts (Film and Screen Media) students take Film and Screen Media (30 credits) together with two other subjects (15 credits each) from those listed below. It is recommended that at least one of these subjects be a language/literature subject. To avoid timetable clashes no more than one subject may be chosen from any separate group below.

• 2. (a) History of Art¹
• 2. (b) European Studies, Folklore, Greek and Roman Civilisation, Gaeilge/Irish¹
• 3. Archaeology, Chinese Studies, German† (Non-Beginners' German), Latin,  Mathematical Studies, Politics
• 4. French, Sociology, Studies in Music
• 5. Béaloideas, Economics, English, Greek, Religions and Global Diversity
• 6. (a) Geography, Italian²
• 6. (b) Celtic Civilisation, Philosophy, Spanish²

¹

Groups 2 (a) and 2 (b): Students can combine Group 2 (a) History of Art with any subject from Group 2 (b) in First Year only. Students can only study one subject from Group 2 (a) and 2 (b) in Second and Third Year.

²

Groups 6 (a) and 6 (b): From second year:

• students may combine Italian with Spanish.
• students may not combine Italian with Celtic Civilisation or Philosophy.
• students may not combine Geography with Celtic Civilisation, Philosophy or Spanish in second year.

Subject Requirements - Points to Note:

European Studies: This subject is not available after first year in CK105

History of Art: History of Art may be taken with another subject in Group 2 in First Year only.

Studies in Music: This is not available as a subject option after first year in CK105.

Chinese Studies: This subject is not available after first year in CK105.

German: Students wishing to select German Non-Beginners should have a minimum grade H4 in German in the Leaving Certificate Examination (or equivalent). Beginners German is not available in CK105.

Latin: This subject is not available after first year in CK105.

Mathematical Studies: Students who have passed MA1055 Mathematics (Honours) may not register for MS1002 Calculus, MS1003 Linear Algebra and MS1004 Introduction to Statistics in a repeat year. Students who wish to register for Mathematical Studies in Second year CK105.are strongly recommended to have achieved a minimum of 50% in Mathematical Studies in the First University Examination in CK105.

French: A student will not normally be allowed to select French unless s/he has attained a pass standard in French in the Leaving Certificate Examination (or equivalent).

Béaloideas: Students wishing to select Béaloideas should normally have a minimum grade H4 in Irish in the Leaving Certificate Examination (or equivalent). Lectures are through the medium of Irish. Students may not take both Béaloideas and Folklore.

Greek: This subject is not available after first year in CK105.

Italian: Students wishing to take Beginners' Italian are recommended to have a minimum of Grade H4 in another modern continental language, or Irish, or Latin, or Greek in the Leaving Certificate Examination (or equivalent). Students wishing to take Non-Beginners' Italian are recommended to have a minimum of Grade H4 in Italian in the Leaving Certificate Examination (or equivalent).

Spanish: Students wishing to take Beginners' Spanish must have obtained a minimum Grade H4 in the Leaving Certificate (or equivalent) in another modern continental language, or Irish, Latin or Greek or evidence of competence equivalent to Grade H4 in a foreign language other than Spanish. Students who have studied Spanish at second level and obtained a Grade below H4 can also join the Beginners' Spanish course. Students wishing to take Non-Beginners' Spanish must have obtained a minimum Grade H4 in Spanish in the Leaving Certificate Examination (or equivalent).

Second Year - Arts (Film and Screen Media)

No student may register for Second Arts (Film and Screen Media) until s/he has passed the First University Examination in Arts (Film and Screen Media). The selection of any module is conditional on the Professor or Lecturer concerned and the College being satisfied that a student is capable of profiting by attendance thereat. Students may not select modules which involve a timetable clash.

Students who wish to take the four-year option with a year abroad must register for the BA (Film and Screen Media) (International) Pathway at the beginning of Second Year.

In Second Arts (Film and Screen Media), students take 40 credits of Film and Screen Media plus 20 credits of one other subject continued from First Year.

Third Year - Arts (Film and Screen Media)

No student may register for Third Arts (Film and Screen Media) until s/he has passed the Second University Examination in Arts (Film and Screen Media). The selection of any module is conditional on the Professor or Lecturer concerned and the College being satisfied that a student is capable of profiting by attendance thereat. Students may not select modules which involve a timetable clash.

In Third Arts (Film and Screen Media), students take 40 credits of Film and Screen Media plus 20 credits of one other subject continued from Second Year.

Programme Requirements for Arts subjects begin here.

Programme Requirements

For information about modules, module choice, options and credit weightings, please go to Programme Requirements. 

Programme Requirements

¹

Groups 1 and 2: Students can combine group 2 History of Art with any subject from Group 1 in First Year only. Students can only study one subject from Group 1 and 2 in Second and Third Year.

²

Groups 6 (a) and 6 (b): From second year:

• students may combine Italian with Spanish.
• students may not combine Italian with Celtic Civilisation or Philosophy.
• students may not combine Geography with Celtic Civilisation, Philosophy or Spanish in second year.

Examinations

Full details and regulations governing Examinations for each programme will be contained in the Marks and Standards Book and for each module in the Book of Modules.

Programme Learning Outcomes

Programme Learning Outcomes for BA (Hons) (Film and Screen Media) (NFQ Level 8, Major Award)

On successful completion of this programme, students should be able to:

• Demonstrate an in-depth knowledge of the history and theory of film and screen media within their cultural artistic, ideological, technological, industrial and socio-cultural contexts;
• Recognise, read and analyse a range of film and audiovisual texts of different periods, places, genres and styles;
• Display knowledge and understanding of the functioning of digital, visual and screen industries, and cognate disciplines and institutions;
• Show competence in working within, researching, and working with newly evolving media landscapes and their tools;
• Conceptualise, implement and evaluate substantial, meaningful and purposeful projects using digital media techniques, and apply web-based skills for the production of websites, presentations, reports and interactive environments;
• Read, comprehend and critique both written and audiovisual texts, make interdisciplinary connections, compare ideas and perspectives, state and support their opinions, and think independently;
• Convey their knowledge in essays and oral presentations, using the critical vocabulary and methodologies of the relevant disciplines; write and talk about a variety of topics with precision and in detail.

*** Only for Incoming First Years and Repeat First Years 2024/2025 ***
*** Click here for Marks and Standards for all other years ***

Marks and Standards

These Marks and Standards should be read in conjunction with the Programme Requirements and the Book of Modules.

Fitness to Practise

All students on programmes subject to Fitness to Practise in UCC will be required to comply with the Fitness to Practise Policy and meet the relevant Fitness to Practise standards, in order to progress to the next year of his/her/their programme. Click here for a list of programmes subject to the Fitness to Practise Policy.

Marks and Credits

Students are required to take modules to the value of 60 credits.
Total Marks for year: 1200.

First Year - Pass and Progression Criteria

To pass first year and progress to second year, students must achieve:

1. An aggregate mark of 40% across all modules,
2. A pass mark in all Film and Screen Media modules with a mark of not less than 40% in each module,
3. A pass mark in at least one other subject with a mark of not less than 40% in each module, and
4. A mark of not less than 30% in the remaining subject (15 credits).

Pass by Compensation: Students who satisfy each of the above criteria are allowed to compensate in a subject with modules to the value of 15 credits and pass the year overall.

Note: only subjects which are passed with at least 40% in each module in that subject may be continued in second and third year.

Award of Honours in the Degree Award

An honours classification is awarded for the final degree using the final year examination results and marks carried forward from the penultimate year. The aggregate of 33.33% of the penultimate year marks plus 66.67% of the final year marks will be used to calculate the final degree award.

Honours will be awarded as follows:

1. First Class Honours: ≥ 70%
2. Second Class Honours, Grade I: ≥ 60% and <70%
3. Second Class Honours, Grade II: ≥ 50% and <60%
4. Pass: ≥ 40% and <50%

Award of Honours when a student undertakes Study Abroad
When students study abroad as part of his/her/their degree programme, the calculation of the final degree award is based on modules in the Book of Modules only.

Examination Boards

• Provisional marks for Semester 1 examinations are released in January/February of each year. These marks are subject to approval at the University Examination Board.
• Marks for all modules taken in Semester 1 and 2, including those wholly assessed by Continuous Assessment, will be presented to the University Examination Board at the end of Semester 2.

Supplemental Examinations and Assessment

• Students who fail to achieve the progression standard for the year at the Summer Examination Board must complete Supplemental Examinations and/or Continuous Assessment for those specific module(s), where there is provision to do so.
• Please refer to the Book of Modules for requirements governing the Supplemental Examination and Assessment for individual modules. Note: For some modules there is no Supplemental Examination and Assessment.
• The marks achieved in the Supplemental Examinations and/or Continuous Assessment of a repeat module are considered at the Autumn Examination Board.
• The actual mark achieved by the candidate in the Supplemental or Repeat Year Examination will be recorded on the student record (Academic Transcript).
• The maximum mark that will be taken into account for aggregation and progression purposes is a pass level, unless the student has been granted a cap waiver or deferral by the University Mitigation Committee, or a University Examination Board, or has been approved to defer the previous attempt by the University Mitigation Committee.
• At the Autumn Examination Board, marks from all passed modules approved at the Summer Examination Board are carried forward and are combined with the marks achieved in Supplemental Examinations and/or Assessments. The pass and progression criteria are applied to the aggregate mark achieved.

Note: The mark achieved at the last examination/assessment attempt is the mark that is included in the calculation of the aggregate mark for pass and progression purposes.

Study Abroad

• When students study abroad as part of his/her/their degree programme, they will be assessed by his/her/their host university.
• To pass the study abroad period and progress to the subsequent year, a student must achieve a pass standard as applied by the host institution.
• A Pass/Fail judgement will be presented to the UCC Examination Boards:
  • At the Summer Examination Board for students spending Semester 1 abroad.
  • At the Autumn/Winter Examination Board for students spending the full academic year abroad or Semester 2 only.
• For students failing to achieve a pass mark, Supplemental Assessment will be prescribed by the School in UCC, and these results will be presented at a Winter Examination Board.

Exemptions

All passed modules carry an exemption, which is limited to a period of five academic years (or two in the case of Computer Science modules) subsequent to the award of the exemption.

Repeat Year Examinations

Students repeating the year may do so choosing one of the following mechanisms:

1. Students retain module exemptions, if any, and must repeat all failed/absent modules, including those modules where the failing mark previously achieved was greater than the level of compensation (≥ 30%) but who failed to achieve the progression standard for the year (see above). The pass and progression criteria are then applied to the combination of full marks achieved in modules passed at the first attempt, plus capped marks achieved in modules in the Repeat Year Examinations.​

Note: For students selecting different modules not previously taken, there are no restrictions on the marks awarded for those modules at the first attempt in a repeat year. The selection of different modules by the student means that the student foregoes any previous marks achieved in the original modules (including previously passed modules).

2. Students may forego all module exemptions achieved and repeat the year choosing modules to the value of the full 60 credits. In determining pass and progression, there is no restriction on the marks awarded for modules taken at the first attempt of the Repeat Year. Modules taken at the subsequent Supplemental Examination and Assessment are capped at the pass mark.

Subject to capacity, all students - whether they have failed or passed - are allowed to choose this second option, in an attempt to improve his/her/their grade.

Students repeating the final year are eligible for the award of Honours in the first Repeat Year only. Final year students wishing to repeat the year with a view to improving his/her/their degree result may do so only if they have not been conferred.

Three Year Rule

Students must pass/progress within three academic years of the date of first registration for a year, otherwise they cannot continue in the programme.

Terms and Definitions

Programme Description

• The programme description is outlined in the Programme Requirements tab.

Module Descriptions/Assessment

• Module descriptions, including the pass standard for a module, special requirements to pass a module, and assessment elements and their weightings, are contained in the Book of Modules.

Marks and Credits

• A maximum of 100 marks may be awarded for every five credits of a programme.
• Some modules are assessed on a Pass/Fail basis only, i.e. marks are not awarded.

Pass and Progression

• Progression is defined as the permission granted to a student to register in the subsequent academic year for the next set of modules within his/her/their programme of study.
• Compensation is defined as the process by which a student, who fails to satisfy some of the regulations for credit in a specific module, is nevertheless recommended for credit to be awarded on the grounds that the failure is offset by his/her/their performance in the other modules on his/her/their programme of study.