ubc film studies phd

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Your degree in Film Studies

• Skills you’ll develop

While studying Film Studies , you’ll engage with and evaluate diverse cinematic practices in their historical and contemporary formats. You’ll develop important skills as you consider the role films play in culture and how they reflect and shape political and social perceptions.

These skills may include:

• Critically thinking about and assessing films considering history, theory, techniques, and styles
• Analyzing and interpreting film forms, aesthetics, receptions, and policies reflecting cultural, social, and political perspectives
• Compelling written communication that identifies similarities and differences across a variety of genres, practices, and traditions
• Applying film theory to understand and communicate how moving pictures mediate our perceptions of the world
• Conducting qualitative and quantitative research, collecting data, interpreting statistics, synthesizing facts, and presenting arguments
• Using effective planning, time management, problem solving, and leadership skills to produce or to analyze digital film projects
• Working effectively with teammates on projects related to world cinema, including North American, Asian, and European films
• Explore career possibilities

Career opportunities vary widely across a range of fields including filmmaking, curating, policymaking, programming and distribution, preservation, writing, arts administration, teaching, and others.

There are many career paths that can combine your academics, skills, and experience with your different interests. Read through the job titles below for ideas. Some career options may require further education or training.

Visit the National Occupational Classification website to research basic requirements and responsibilities of jobs in your field.

• Advertising specialist
• Art director
• Arts administrator
• Audiovisual technician
• Casting agent
• Charitable organization director
• Communications manager
• Documentary maker
• Event planner
• Festival organizer
• Film critic
• Film director
• Film location manager
• Film producer
• Lighting designer
• Market research analyst
• Marketing coordinator
• Media relations manager
• News analyst
• Project manager
• Public opinion interviewer
• Public relations specialist
• Research assistant
• Screenwriter
• Social policy researcher
• Sound designer
• Teacher/Professor
• Trade show organizer
• Video archivist
• Video game producer
• Visual effects producer
• Volunteer coordinator
• Make the most of your program

Your experiences will open doors to new opportunities and help you understand your values and interests.

• UBC Film Society Meet other UBC students through events and programs.
• Departmental events Network with Film Studies students and faculty members at a variety of events.
• Departmental research opportunities Reach out directly to faculty members to ask about potential research positions.
• Cinephile, UBC’s Film Journal Submit research papers, book reviews, and reports that engage and debate issues within film, media, and cultural studies.
• Theatre and Film alumni Reach out to UBC graduates for informational interviews to learn about their experiences and seek out advice.
• National mentorship program Find mentorship programs for aspiring media producers with the Canadian Media Producers Association.
• Film festivals Check out volunteer and submission opportunities at film festivals across Canada.
• Vancouver International Film Festival Join other cinema enthusiasts by volunteering at the main festival or for various year-round events.
• Vancouver Queer Film Festival Volunteer to support marketing, fundraising, event services, or other opportunities.
• Arts funding opportunities Apply for grants from professional associations, corporations, non-profits, and government organizations.
• Resources and funding Learn about different film industry organizations and opportunities to apply for funding.
• BC Alliance for Arts and Culture job board Search for job opportunities in BC across a variety of fields in the arts.
• National Film Board of Canada Browse opportunities to direct or co-produce a documentary, animation, or interactive project.
• Young Canada Works in Heritage Organizations Develop new skills and gain practical knowledge in a heritage field over the summer.
• Build your network

Employers often hire people they know, so help them get to know you. You can  build your network through clubs, classes, informational interviews, and more. There are so many ways to make connections and find mentors.

The professional associations below are also great resources for meeting people, learning about specific industries, and accessing job and volunteer opportunities. Most have reduced membership rates for students and new grads.

• Academy of Canadian Cinema and Television
• Actsafe Safety Association
• Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity
• BC Alliance for Arts and Culture
• British Columbia Arts Council
• Broadcast Film Critics Association
• Business/Arts
• Canada Council for the Arts 
• Canada Media Fund
• Canadian Film Centre
• Canadian Film Institute
• Canadian Heritage Information Network
• Canadian Marketing Association
• Canadian Media Producers Association
• Canadian Public Relations Society
• Community Arts Council of Vancouver
• Creative BC
• Cultural Human Resources Council
• Directors Guild of Canada
• Film Studies Association of Canada
• First Peoples’ Cultural Council
• Institute of Communication Agencies
• International Association of Women in Radio and Television
• International Film Music Critics Association
• Motion Picture Association - Canada
• Motion Picture Production Industry Association of BC
• National Film Board of Canada
• National Screen Institute
• Professional Association of Canadian Theatres
• REEL Canada
• Telefilm Canada
• Women in Film and Television Vancouver
• WorkInCulture
• Writers Guild of Canada
• Connect with alumni on LinkedIn

Find UBC Film Studies graduates on LinkedIn  to learn about where they’re working, and their career and academic paths.

• More information

From your Arts degree, you’ll develop skills and experiences that can translate into many career paths. Check out other things you can do with your Arts degree .

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Degrees & Programs

How can Film courses be used?

• Electives to complement your degree
• Can be used to fulfill requirements for the BMS
• Crosslisted courses with CULT can be used to fulfill Cultural Studies major requirements
• Crosslisted courses with THTR can be used to fulfill Theatre minor requirements

Film courses give students the option to analyze a variety of films as well as learn practical and critical skills for producing their own creative work. Areas of production and theory include: screenwriting, acting, documentary film, narrative short film, animation, experimental film and on-line content such as YouTube, podcasts and social media practices.

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Film Production

Develop your intellectual, creative, and technical skills as you prepare to embark on a professional career in the film industry. Your coursework will provide you with core disciplines and filmic knowledge as well as practical experience in filmmaking. BFA and diploma students produce and work on several films while in the program.

Why this program?

• UBC is one of the oldest Film Production programs in Western Canada with a well-established alumni network.
• Take classes in an intimate cohort of 20 students.
• Take Production Design courses from the Theatre program, and Screenwriting courses from the Creative Writing program.

Program information

• Campus: Vancouver
• Length 4 yrs
• Co-op Yes You can combine your studies with full-time, paid work at top local and international organizations.
• Honours No You can study intense specialization in a single field.

Film production is a hands-on program where you learn by doing. Filmmaking is a creative, dynamic process requiring the cooperation and creative input of many people. Good filmmaking requires that those involved have a broad knowledge base. The goal of this program is to graduate creative, independent filmmakers with the skills, ideas, and initiative to shape the industry.

Not only will you learn in the classroom and through assignments, but you will learn from more senior students as they assist on student film sets outside of class. Directed studies credit is possible for students who complete internships.

Campus features

With the recent addition of the Film Collection, UBC’s Visual Resources Centre has total holdings of over 400,000 35mm photographic slides, videos, films, DVDs, and a growing database of 35,000 digital images.

NBC Studio: a convertible classroom space which features a green screen and lighting grid.

Editing rooms: computers have both Final Cut Pro and Premiere software for editing, as well as software for other aspects of post production.

Visual Resources Centre: total holdings of over 400,000 35mm photographic slides, videos, films, DVDs, and a growing database of 35,000 digital images.

Equipment room: grip, electric, sound and camera gear to support student projects.

• Visual Resources Centre

Life at UBC's Vancouver campus

Theatre at UBC is a renowned training program that has produced some of Canada’s most innovative artists and theatre practices for over 50 years. Our five programs are encouraged to mingle with regular social events with collective meals and complimentary tickets for all to opening nights. The organized student organization, DAFT (Design, Acting, Film, Theatre Council), organizes events and advocates for student concerns.

Your future

You can work in film/tv/new media in any aspect of documentary or fiction filmmaking in a multitude of roles, including writer, director, cinematographer, producer, art director, sound designer, editor, or in arts administration.

Program graduates

• Producer, The Good Fight
• Cinematographer, There by Tyger’s
• Director, Cybercraft Productions
• Adjunct professor, UBC Theatre and Film

Related programs

Program requirements.

• Canadian high schools
• International high schools
• International baccalaureate

English-language requirements

English is the language of instruction at UBC. All prospective students must demonstrate English-language competency prior to admission. There are numerous ways to meet the  English Language Admission Standard .

General admission requirements

IB Diploma Programme

• Completed IB Diploma, including at least three Higher Level courses.

IB Certificate Courses

• IB Certificate courses (Standard and Higher Level) may be used in an admissions average if you are graduating from a recognized high school curriculum that can be used as your basis of admission.
• IB Math Applications and Interpretations SL, or IB Math Studies, do not satisfy the math requirement for admission to UBC’s science-based programs, the Faculty of Management, the UBC Sauder School of Business, or the Vancouver School of Economics.

Degree-specific requirements: Fine Arts (direct-entry specializations only; excludes Creative Writing)

• No specific courses required beyond those needed for general admission
• Audition or portfolio

Related courses

The following  subject categories  are particularly relevant for this degree. Consider taking courses in these areas in your junior year and senior year.

• Language Arts
• Social Studies
• Visual and Performing Arts

You’ll find these pages helpful

Meet patrick, a multimedia artist who finds inspiration all around him, ready to choose your degree.

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Film Production

Since 1969, the BFA Film Production program at UBC has provided courses and workshops for students who have become industry leaders, screening their work at internationally-recognized film festivals including Cannes, Berlinale, SXSW, Sundance, TIFF, IDFA and Hot Docs

Program Overview

The Film Production program has two accreditation streams: the Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) and a Diploma in Film Production. BFA Film Production students go through four years of concentrated studies compared to three years in the Diploma stream.

Students will learn theory and techniques of motion picture production with options to study more deeply in areas of documentary filmmaking, alternative cinema, screenwriting and producing. Additionally, students are expected to work collaboratively and create their own short films in their final year.

The department will have production equipment and post-production platforms available for our students, however, accepted students should have their own consumer-level camera and computer with an editing platform.

Due to the immersive and hands-on design of the program, students must be prepared to cover the costs of their productions required in certain classes. Specific costs for each production are dependent on the complexity of each students’ project. However, students must contribute a minimum of $2500 to their FIPR 333 project and $3500 for FIPR 433.

Rogers Communications Award in Film Production (for Black and Indigenous Students) Awards totalling $3,000 annually have been made available through the Rogers Multicultural Film Endowment Fund for domestic Bachelor of Fine Arts in Film Production students who are First Nations, Inuit, or Métis, or who identify as Black, entering the program directly from secondary school or transferring from another post-secondary institution. Students will be academically qualified, and demonstrated artistic and creative interests. Applications will open for the award in March, 2024. If you are applying for the Rogers Communication Award in Film Production please submit a PDF statement of no more than 300 words about your background and how you meet the award criteria along with your program application.

Thank you for your interest in our program!

Students applying directly from secondary school or transferring from another institution to the BFA Film Production program must complete the online UBC application by  January 15  as well as submit the supplemental materials to our department by 11:59pm PDT February 1 . Please note that the Film Production program will not accept any late applications.

If you are applying directly from secondary school or transferring from another institution, you must list the Bachelor of Fine Arts Film Production program as your first or second choice degree program in the online UBC application.

The BFA Film Production program accepts transfers into their second year from UBC and other post-secondary institutions. Transfers are not accepted into the third or fourth years of the program. 

Please note, the Film Production program requires a minimum commitment of three years for completion.   

Students from UBC Vancouver who are enrolled in another faculty or enrolled at UBC Okanagan must apply to transfer to the UBC Faculty of Arts by January 15 , prior to completing the Film Production supplemental application.

For current UBC Vancouver students in the Faculty of Arts interested in transferring into the program, you do not need to complete the online UBC application but must submit the supplemental application material by 11:59pm PST February 1. We also recommend completing the required first year courses for BFA Film Production students:  

• CINE 100 or FIPR 101  

THFL 100 is restricted to BFA students within the department, so this requirement is waived for second year transfer students.  

For students applying from other post-secondary institutions who are interested in seeing how their courses might transfer to UBC Vancouver, refer to the the  online course transfer guide  for British Columbia. Film Production courses completed at other post-secondary institutions will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis.  

If you have particular questions regarding Film course credits, you can contact the Academic Administrator, Mia Faircloth .  

BFA Film Production Submission Process:

1. SELF-PORTRAIT VIDEO (1-2 min max)

Provide a  1-2 minute  creative self-portrait where you show and tell us about yourself and what's important to you.

We encourage you to share information that we cannot get from other aspects of your portfolio submission. Your video should be in your own voice, in your own format, and not a reiteration of why you want to be admitted to UBC’s film program. Be creative and have fun! What you choose to say and how you say it is up to you.

We will not be judging the production value of this film. We encourage applicants to use what is readily available to them (i.e. cellphones or computers). We are not looking for polished/edited videos. This short video allows you to show and tell us something more about you than we would learn from the rest of your application.

FORMAT: Submit a link to the video via URL on Vimeo, YouTube or other platforms. Please note these should be easily accessible to us, so provide any login details and/or passwords.

2. SHORT FILM or VIDEO (3 min max)

Note: As of 2023, the new maximum length is 3 minutes . Please include a link to your film or video, ideally a complete work. This should be a film/video in which you were a key creative (i.e. the director, writer, editor, or cinematographer), and which you believe best represents you creatively. We will accept a scene from a longer film, but these should not be cut into a trailer or a reel, but shown as they are presented as they were in the film itself. Maximum length is 3 minutes .

Please note:

• Scenes should not be cut into a trailer or reel, but shown as they are presented in the film itself.
• Longer films, clips or projects will not be reviewed.
• No music videos.
• No travel vlogs or travel videos, unless there is a storyline.
• We strongly discourage you from submitting co-directed or co-written projects, however if you choose to submit a co-created work, you must clearly state your specific contribution to the project.

FORMAT: Please provide an online link. These should be easily accessible to us, so make sure the video does not need to be downloaded, and please provide any login details and/or passwords with your link. Be sure to test your video prior to submission.

3. BACKGROUND STATEMENT ON VIDEOS (250 words max)

Please provide pertinent information, including the credits for the film, and anything else you would feel would be interesting to share with us. This might be things such as where you made the film, or why you made it. You can also include here elements you think worked well, and features you would like to improve.

FORMAT : Half page max (250 words), double spaced, 12-point font

Save as a PDF and name the file: LastName_FirstName_Statement

4. ONE-PAGE RESUME

We want to get to know more about your background and how you’ve spent your time. You can include:

• Social and/or community work
• Creative and filmmaking projects
• Extracurricular activities
• Outside employment, whether it’s paid, voluntary, or family responsibilities
• Anything else you spend a significant amount of free time on

Must also include:

• your full name
• home address
• date of birth

FORMAT: One page. Save as a PDF and name the file: LastName_FirstName_Resume

PLEASE NOTE: For all Creative Submissions, the exact credits must be specified. Please send the requested items only; no substitutions, variations, or extra materials. Failure to comply with these guidelines will be grounds for automatic disqualification.

I remember being in film school and having an epiphany: I’m going to pursue my life as a filmmaker. I want to tell stories.

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Welcome to the Film and Media Studies Ph.D. Program

UC Irvine’s PhD program in Film and Media Studies offers students the opportunity to study and develop original research on film, television, and digital media. Rooted in the Humanities, we focus on interpreting the histories and theories of media and their cultural contexts.

Our curriculum provides a broad foundation in Film and Media Studies while also centering questions of media and power. Our course offerings emphasize post-colonial and decolonial approaches to film and media, queer theory and histories of gender and sexuality, critical race studies, video game studies, and archival research. We seek students who are deeply invested in understanding the perspectives of those who have been pushed to the margins of media technology, industries, and texts and in exploring the relationships between culture, identity, history, and power.

Located near Los Angeles, UC Irvine offers access to the rich cultural offerings and research institutions of Southern California. Students may choose to supplement their Film and Media Studies degree with interdisciplinary graduate certificates in Asian American Studies , Chicano/Latino Studies , Critical Theory , Feminist Studies , Latin American Studies , and/or Visual Studies .

We admit all students, with BAs or MAs, directly into the PhD program in small cohorts with multi-year funding packages. We encourage prospective students to review our faculty profiles and contact the faculty members who work in their potential areas of interest before applying to learn more about their research, teaching, and advising.

Prospective students interested in the Ph.D. Program in Visual Studies, administered by the Department of Art History, can find more information here .

Meet the Film and Media Studies Faculty and learn about their research interests.

The annual admissions deadline is December 1 .

Complete applications will include:

• A Statement of Purpose (1200 words maximum) that describes your research interests and reasons for seeking a PhD. The Statement of Purpose should indicate how your proposed research correlates to our program's emphases and how you will benefit from working with specific core faculty. You can find information about faculty research interests here.  

• A Personal History Statement (1200 word maximum) that describes your educational accomplishments and goals. It is important to communicate whether you have experienced unique or significant opportunities, challenges, and/or obstacles in your pursuit of an education. Please also describe the career paths you plan to pursue after graduation.

• A sample of academic writing that demonstrates original thinking, clear writing and your preparedness to do graduate-level work in film and media studies.

• Length: A minimum of ten pages to a maximum of thirty pages. Any submission longer than the maximum will not be reviewed past the maximum page limit.
• You may submit two pieces of work as long as their combined length does not exceed the page limit.
• In the event you have a longer piece of work to submit, such as a Master's thesis or Undergraduate research paper, please submit a chapter or section of the work within the page restriction.

• Three letters of recommendation, preferably from faculty with whom you have studied.

• Transcripts.

• Results of the TOEFL or IELTS exam for international applicants for whom English is not their primary language.

For academic questions (questions about program requirements, the application review process, funding opportunities, etc.) please contact the Graduate Director, Professor Kristen Hatch ([email protected]). 

For administrative questions (questions about how to apply, paying the application fee, application materials, etc.) please contact the Graduate Coordinator, Amy Fujitani ([email protected]). 

To apply, click here .

Course Requirements

Required Core Courses (6 courses)

FLM&MDA 285A: Film Studies: Theory and Methods.

FLM&MDA 285B: Television Studies: Theory and Methods.

FLM&MDA 285C: Digital Media and Game Studies: Theory and Methods.

FLM&MDA 286A: Film and Media Studies Historiography.

FLM&MDA 286B: Media/Power/Culture.

FLM&MDA 286C: Methods and Research Design.

Elective Courses (7 courses)

FLM&MDA 291: Graduate Seminar in Film and Media Studies. Repeatable as topics vary.

FLM&MDA 292: Graduate Seminar in Film & Media Critical Practice. Repeatable as topics vary.

FLM&MDA 295: Directed Reading. Repeatable as topics vary.

Required Practicums in Film and Media Studies (4 courses)

FLM&MDA 287: Practicum in Pedagogy.

FLM&MDA 288A: Practicum in Professionalization I.

FLM&MDA 288B: Practicum in Professionalization II.

FLM&MDA 288C: Practicum in Professionalization III.

Required Supporting Course (1 course)

FLM&MDA 298: Prospectus Writing Practicum.

Students must take three elective courses from within the Department of Film and Media Studies and two outside Film and Media Studies. The remaining two electives can be taken within or outside the department.

Students entering with a MA may petition to have up to three elective courses waived, subject to the approval of Graduate Division. Students who have had three courses waived must take two elective courses from within the Department of Film and Media Studies and one outside Film and Media Studies. The remaining elective can be taken within or outside the department.

During the third through sixth years in the program, students normally enroll in variable-unit courses as follows:

FLM&MDA 296: Reading for the Preliminary Examination.

FLM&MDA 297: Prospectus Research.

FLM&MDA 299: Dissertation Research.

First-Year Review

Students are required to select and confirm their Primary Advisor by the end of the first year.

At the end of the Spring quarter, the Film and Media Studies faculty will review the performance and progress of each first-year student and provide written evaluation of their work. This evaluation will include an assessment of the student’s ability to complete independent research.

A positive assessment indicates that the student is making good progress.

A cautionary assessment will be accompanied by a description of specific improvements that a student must make in order to advance to candidacy in the third year.

A negative overall assessment will place the student on Academic Conditional Status. Faculty will give written feedback with specific areas for improvement and a timeline for future expectations of academic progress. Students who fail to demonstrate improvement may be recommended for dismissal from the program without a degree.

MA Requirements

All students apply for and are accepted into the doctoral program.

Students who enter the PhD program with a prior graduate degree (MA or beyond) in Film and Media Studies or a related discipline may petition to waive up to three electives, subject to the approval of Graduate Division. These students may also petition to waive the MA exam requirement in recognition of their prior degree; normatively, this will be approved. In these cases, students will not complete the MA exam requirement nor earn a second MA en route to the PhD. Film and Media Studies faculty will determine what graduate degree fields qualify as related disciplines. Students entering with an MFA will typically be required to complete the MA exam unless the Graduate Committee determines that the degree is equivalent to an MA.

Students who have not earned an MA in a relevant field prior to matriculating in the Film and Media Studies PhD program must earn an MA degree as part of the PhD program. The program does not offer a stand-alone or terminal MA, except in instances when a student does not continue in the program toward earning the PhD.

In order to earn the MA degree, the student must

1. Satisfactorily complete six foundational courses (FLM&MDA 285A, FLM&MDA 285B, FLM&MDA 285C, FLM&MDA 286A, FLM&MDA 286B, and FLM&MDA 286C);

2. Satisfactorily compete FLM&MDA 287;

3. Satisfactorily complete seven electives, three of which must be within the Department of Film and Media Studies and two outside the Department of Film and Media Studies;

4. Pass the MA Exam; and

5. File the necessary paperwork for conferral of degree with Graduate Division.

For the MA exam, the student will revise one seminar paper written while in the program and submit the revised paper before the start of the Spring quarter in their second year of study. 

The requirements for passing the MA exam are as follows:

• The revised paper must present a substantial and original argument;

• It must reflect substantive revision from the original paper, demonstrating additional research and/or reconceptualization and responsiveness to feedback;

• It must demonstrate a command of the relevant literature;

• It must present adequate evidence to support its claims;

• It must be clearly written in an appropriate academic style; and

• It must be formatted according to MLA or Chicago Manual of Style guidelines with proper citation and bibliography.

Ideally, this revised paper will demonstrate promise toward publication and toward the ability to develop a dissertation; however this is not a requirement at the MA stage.

This paper will be evaluated by a 3-person MA committee, which consists of the student’s primary advisor as chair and two additional department faculty members appointed by the Program Director in consultation with the student and the advisor. The MA committee will evaluate the student’s ability to identify a suitable research project and methodology, develop an argument, respond to faculty feedback, and make revisions. The committee will respond with feedback within three weeks of receiving the paper and may ask for a second round of reasonable revisions, to be completed before the end of the term.

The committee will unanimously decide whether the student has passed the MA exam and if they are eligible to proceed toward the PhD, taking into holistic account the exam (revised paper) results, input from the core Film and Media Studies faculty during the First-Year Review, and the student’s progress during the second year of course work. There are four possible determinations:

Positive: The student will earn the MA degree and qualifies to continue toward the PhD exams. This should be the outcome in the majority of cases.

Cautionary: The student will earn the MA degree and qualifies to continue toward the PhD exams but with areas for improvement communicated in writing to the student and advisor. This occurs when the student’s holistic performance and promise outweigh a borderline exam or vice versa. This should be the outcome only in rare or extenuating circumstances.

MA Only: The student will earn the MA degree but is disqualified from continuing toward the PhD exams. This occurs when the student’s holistic performance and promise do not outweigh a borderline exam.

Negative: The exam is unacceptable. The student will not earn the MA degree and is disqualified from continuing toward the PhD exams.

Students may revise and resubmit the MA paper one additional time in case of a failure to pass.

By the end of their second year, students will work with their advisor to plan their Examination fields for the following year. No later than the end of Winter in the third year of study, students will establish a 5-person Qualifying Exam Committee, at least 51% of whose members, including the Dissertation Advisor, must be core faculty in the Department of Film and Media Studies. At least one committee member must be external to the department.

The student will receive one standardized bibliography and select two specialty field bibliographies on which they will be examined. In the Fall and Winter quarters of the third year, the student will enroll in FLM&MDA 296: Reading for the Preliminary Examination and complete reading the works on these three bibliographies. The three exam areas should serve to help the student define general areas of specialized competence that will aid them in establishing a broad base for the dissertation and in developing college-level courses. Students may not enroll in FLM&MDA 296 until all their other course requirements (with the exception of FLM&MDA 298: Prospectus Writing Practicum) have been completed.

The Qualifying Examination will be administered by the Qualifying Exam Committee and will include both a written and an oral component. The written component will consist of at least one question for each Exam bibliography for which the student has completed readings. Students will write at least one essay for each respective Exam. Faculty may offer a range of questions for each bibliography, giving the student a choice of which question(s) to answer. The written component will be offered as a series of three remote exams to be completed within three respective 24-hour periods; questions and responses will be delivered electronically. The oral component of the exam will take place in conjunction with the Prospectus Defense during the Spring quarter of the student’s third year.

Language Requirement 

Students will consult with the program Director and their principal advisor(s) to determine whether they must demonstrate or develop proficiency in a second language for their research. [1] If the program Director and principal advisor(s) determine that proficiency in a second language is required, the student must demonstrate this proficiency prior to advancing to candidacy. In the event a student does not need a second language to conduct doctoral research, they will not be required to demonstrate proficiency in a second language.

If determined to be required, the language requirement may be satisfied by one of the following means:

1. By passing the Film and Media Studies translation exam. A request must be made to the Film and Media Studies Staff within the first two weeks of the quarter the student wishes to take the exam.

2. By completing, with a grade of B or better, a language course at the 2C level or equivalent, with the exception of Arabic, Chinese, Japanese, and Korean, which must be completed at the 3C level or equivalent.

3. By attaining a proficiency level of 2C on the Russian Exemption Exam or a proficiency level of 3C on the Chinese Exemption Exam offered by UCI's Academic Testing Center.

4. By petitioning the program. Grounds for a petition might include the student’s being a native speaker in a language other than English or having completed an equivalent language requirement at a different institution. The granting of this petition will remain at the discretion of the Graduate Director, although students dissatisfied with this determination may request the petition be considered by the full faculty. Students who have completed the language requirement at a different institution will need to submit transcripts with the petition. Students will inquire with the Graduate Coordinator to complete a petition.

Dissertation Prospectus and Advancement to Ph.D. Candidacy

In the Spring of the student’s third year, the student will enroll in FLM&MDA 298: Prospectus Writing Practicum and complete a prospectus that identifies the scope, approach, and rationale for their proposed dissertation. The student will present an oral defense of the prospectus to the Qualifying Exam Committee. When the prospectus has been unanimously approved by the Qualifying Exam Committee, the student will be advanced to doctoral candidacy. Students should have taken their preliminary examination, defended their dissertation prospectus, and advanced to doctoral candidacy no later than the end of Spring quarter of their third year. If a student will exceed the 3-year normative time to candidacy, they must petition by Spring quarter of their third year for an exception, presenting an approved plan for timely progress to candidacy.

In the event that a student does not pass the qualifying examination, consistent with UCI policy (Academic Senate Regulation 467) the student will be allowed one repeat attempt of the examination. This repeat examination will occur during the quarter following the initial examination.

Dissertation

The dissertation shall be an original research project of substantial length approved by the Doctoral Committee. Members of the student’s Doctoral Committee are noted on the PhD Form I: Advancement to Candidacy PhD Degree. The committee shall typically consist of the Doctoral Advisor and two additional faculty. At least 51% of the Doctoral Committee, including the Doctoral Advisor, must be core faculty in the Department of Film and Media Studies. The remaining members of the Doctoral Committee must satisfy Academic Senate requirements.

Dissertation Defense 

A final examination in the form of an oral defense of the dissertation is required for the PhD. This examination will be supervised by the Doctoral Committee and will be given just prior to the completion of the dissertation. The defense will be open to all members of the academic community. Faculty and graduate students of Film and Media Studies and the Graduate Dean will be given written notice of the date, time, and place of the examination at least five days in advance of the examination.

Time to Degree

The normative time to degree is six years (18 quarters). The first nine quarters are spent in pre-candidacy, the last 9 quarters in candidacy. Normatively, students will complete their course work within the first two years and prepare for and pass the Qualifying Examination and advance to candidacy in the third year. The maximum time to degree is seven years.

[1] Examples of when a second language would likely be necessary include Spanish proficiency for the study of Spanish-language media, Mandarin proficiency for study of media in Mainland China, or the relevant language for a project on non-English language transnational/diasporic media.

All students receive a five-year funding guarantee at admissions. This typically includes a combination of at least one fellowship year and multiple years of Teaching Assistantships. Additional competitive scholarships, fellowships, and summer stipends may also be available.

Students also receive tuition and fee remission, including non-resident (out-of-state or international) tuition during this period. Domestic students coming from outside of California will be expected to establish state residency during their first year; otherwise, they will need to cover their non-resident tuition fees.

TAships may be in Film and Media Studies undergraduate courses or for courses in other Departments or Programs.

Funding beyond the fifth year is not guaranteed, but TAships or other opportunities are often available.

The graduate emphasis in Film and Media Studies prepares students in any M.A., Ph.D., or M.F.A. program to analyze film and media texts, contexts, and industries. The emphasis requires that students complete four seminars, two of which are in the Film and Media Studies PhD core series (FMS 285A-C, FMS 286A-C) and two of which may be Film and Media Studies core or elective seminars (FMS 291, FMS 292, FMS 295).

Students who are currently enrolled in any MA, Ph.D., or M.F.A. program at UCI are eligible for admission to the Graduate Emphasis in Film and Media Studies.

Students who are interested in pursuing the graduate emphasis should contact the Graduate Director to indicate their interest in applying for the emphasis. Application materials include:

• an explanation of how their research and/or teaching will benefit from completing the Film and Media Studies Graduate Emphasis;
• current CV;
• brief letter of approval from the student’s primary advisor or program director;
• names of Film and Media Studies core faculty with whom they have worked or plan to work. Applicants who are not yet acquainted with Film and Media Studies core faculty may name the Graduate Director.

Application

To be considered for the Film and Media Studies Graduate Emphasis, please submit an application . 

Questions? Please contact Amy Fujitani , Graduate Coordinator.

Contact Film and Media Studies

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UBC School of Information’s Doctor in Philosophy in Library, Archival and Information Studies is a four-year funded program that combines coursework with focused independent study and research. Our students have ready access to faculty members and benefit from unique opportunities at a comprehensive, world-class, research-intensive university.

We designed our PhD program to provide advanced research education for outstanding and highly motivated students who have already obtained a Master of Archival Studies (MAS) degree, a Master of Library and Information Studies (MLIS) or an equivalent related degree.

• Information seeking, retrieval and use
• Human-computer interaction and design
• Critical approaches to information systems and services
• Information appraisal, classification and organization
• Social computing
• Information ethics and information policy
• Personal archives, digital archives, and online communities
• Records and information management
• Data management and natural language processing
• Blockchain technologies, information trust and governance
• Digital cultural heritage and preservation
• Digital humanities

Program highlights

• Advanced education in information and archival studies
• Focus on scholarship and research, with strong support for interdisciplinary approaches
• State-of-the-art research and learning facilities at a world-class university

Identify a potential supervisor

The doctoral program is highly selective. The strongest applicants have research interests aligned with the faculty expertise in the School of Information. Identifying a faculty member who can support your application does not guarantee an offer of admission. Still, it can ensure that your application is read carefully in light of the limited number of positions available each year. The following paragraphs provide suggestions for reaching out to potential supervisors.

• Familiarize yourself with program requirements. You want to learn as much as possible from the information available before reaching out to a faculty member.

Focus your research

• Identify faculty members who are conducting research in your specific area of interest.
• Read up on the faculty members in the program and the research conducted in the department.
• Familiarize yourself with their work, and read their recent publications and past theses/dissertations they supervised. Be sure that their research is indeed what you are hoping to study.

Make a good impression

• Do not send mass emails to everyone in the department hoping for a match.
• Address the faculty members by name. Your contact should be genuine rather than generic.
• Include a brief outline of your academic background, why you are interested in working with the faculty member, and what experience you could bring to the department.
• Highlight your achievements and why you are a top student. Faculty members receive dozens of requests from prospective students, and you may have less than 30 seconds to pique someone's interest.
• Convey the specific ways you are a good fit for the program.
• Convey the specific ways the program/lab/faculty member is a good fit for the research you are interested in/are already conducting.
• Be enthusiastic, but don't overdo it.

Course requirements

Students entering the doctoral program with an approved master’s degree will be required to take a minimum of 24 credits of coursework before achieving candidacy.

Your advisor may recommend additional courses, and you may be required to take courses in the iSchool Master of Library and Information Studies program or the Master of Archival Studies program to provide sufficient background for your research focus.

In addition, we strongly encourage our doctoral students to take graduate-level courses from other UBC departments in their chosen area of research.

Program details

Upon entering the doctoral program, you will be assigned an adviser who will work with you to develop an appropriate coursework schedule relevant to your research plan. You will take advance study in the major and minor areas (LAIS 620 and 621) with your advisor or the faculty member(s) best aligned with your research focus.

The qualifying exams assess your knowledge of the relevant literature, analytic capacity, and skill in developing original written and oral presentations of ideas. Typically, your advisor becomes your dissertation supervisor through the qualifying examinations.

Upon successfully completing the qualifying examinations, you will enter the dissertation stage of the program. Working closely with your supervisor, you will assemble a dissertation committee of no fewer than two additional eligible faculty members; these may be the same faculty who assessed your qualifying exams.

You will develop and defend a dissertation proposal of not less than 30 pages following the guidelines in the Doctoral handbook of policies and procedures . The goal of the proposal is to ascertain your research readiness.

Upon the successful defence of the proposal, you are recommended for candidacy.

You will then undertake the research and writing to prepare the dissertation following the guidelines of the Faculty of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies (G+PS). When the dissertation is completed and successfully defended, you will be recommended for your Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) degree.

Qualifying examinations

The qualifying exams for the School of Information PhD consist of coursework (LAIS 620 and LAIS 621) as well as a formal examination with written and oral components. This overview of the qualifying exam process is meant as a guide for students and faculty. While specific details of each student’s exam preparation, writing and defence will vary, there are consistent timelines, objectives and expectations of all doctoral students. This document sets out a process for preparing for, writing, and assessing the qualifying examination as a key milestone in a student’s progress toward degree.

Students receive course credit (and faculty receive teaching credit) for LAIS 620 and LAIS 621. As such, the policies related to student resources, academic concession, academic integrity, academic accommodation, and conflicting responsibilities that apply to all other coursework also apply to the qualifying examination. Students who have needs or concerns related to these policies can negotiate adjustments to the exam procedures with their advisor and the Doctoral Studies Chair. Details of the policies and how to access support are available here.

Upon completion of all other degree coursework requirements (See: degree requirements), a student is enrolled in LAIS 620 (Advanced Study in the Major Area) and LAIS 621 (Advanced Study in the Minor Area) by the Program Assistant. The courses are six credits each, and should be taken over the course of the Winter 1 & 2 terms of the second year of doctoral study. These courses represent the preparation for the qualifying exam (50%) as well as the exam itself (50%). The preparation portion of each course is satisfied through a directed study with the student’s advisor or potential committee member. The advisor may recommend additional coursework for credit course auditing, depending on the student’s background or intended topic of study.

Through the LAIS 620 and 621 coursework, the student provides evidence that they are able to:

• Identify and describe Major and Minor areas of focus that will frame the examination process;
•  Read for both depth and breadth in the areas of focus;
• Curate bibliographies of academic sources that represent key concepts, ideas, theories, or methods in the areas of focus;
• Develop research relevant questions that emerge from the reading;
• Connect the research focus area(s) with the broader discipline;
• Communicate clearly and effectively to academic audiences, in written and oral forms.

Key outputs from the LAIS 620/621 coursework are materials that guide the examination process, specifically:

• An overview document for the Major and Minor areas (length determined by the advisor, however 1500 to 3000 words is typical) that provides a fulsome description of the areas of focus, important concepts and definitions, and key questions that emerge from reading in these areas; and
• A guiding bibliography of 40-50 sources for each of the areas of focus.

The Major and Minor areas of focus are developed with the approval and consultation of the advisor and examination committee. The Major and Minor together should support the development of student thinking, but not encapsulate exhaustively the thinking within a discipline. The level of specificity and scope are important considerations. The Major and Minor areas should be complementary but not overlap. For example, the Major area may be the central focus of a student’s intended inquiry, with the Minor area a complementary theory or method, or a cognate area related to but not a subset of the Major.

The qualifying exam has two overarching objectives: 1) to assess the student’s knowledge of current trends, theories, and methods in the areas of focus; 2) to determine if the doctoral student is sufficiently prepared to design their dissertation project.

• Through the qualifying exam, the student provides evidence that they are able to:
• Identify and critically read relevant literature in the areas of focus;
• Comprehend and evaluate arguments in the areas of focus;
• Integrate and synthesize ideas within the areas of focus;
• Put their research focus area(s) in conversation with the broader discipline;

The student will be expected to demonstrate their knowledge, and critical analysis in the discipline through:

• Knowledge of the main issues or problems in the areas of focus;
• Incisive evaluation of current and past research;
• Rigorous analysis, organization and synthesis of information;
• Clear written, and oral communication of ideas, concepts and arguments.

Students are expected to read carefully and write to issues that are contained within these bibliographies, but cannot be expected to read or write outside them as part of the examination process.

The faculty member who advises a doctoral student through their course work and qualifying exams is known as an adviser. This is usually (but not always) the same person who supervises their work as they write their dissertation, the supervisor.

The student and their adviser will assemble an Examination Committee that will adjudicate the Major and Minor focus areas by setting the exam questions and assessing the answers. The Examination Committee will consist of the adviser and two or three additional faculty members. These are typically faculty who have served as instructors to the student, have supervised reading courses in one or more of the areas of study, or have expertise related to the focus areas. The student's adviser will chair the committee.

The Examination Committee will set the questions for both the Major and Minor area exams. The questions will be based on the Major and Minor focus area descriptions and accompanying bibliographies approved by the committee by the end of January of their second year. After committee approval, the scheduling of the written exam and oral defense can occur.

Structure of the examinations

• The qualifying examination occurs in the Winter 2 term of the student’s second year in the Doctoral Program, and must be completed within 24 months of starting the program, as required by the Faculty of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies.
• Writing of the Major and Minor areas will occur within a 30-day period, and the overall length of the examination should not exceed two months.
• The format for the written examination is a take-home examination to be completed during a 21-day writing period. The writing period must begin and end on a weekday. The dates can be negotiated, and a one-day extension granted if a statutory holiday, religious holiday or cultural observance falls within the writing period (see UBC policy on conflicting responsibilities).
• The examination is intended to be a sequestered writing period, during which the student should have minimal contact with other students and faculty. Peer editing and reviewing of draft answers is not permissible, nor should the student and advisor or examination committee consult on the questions once they are administered. Students who need accommodations such as an extended exam period or writing support should consult with their advisor and DSC Chair in advance of the examination scheduling.
• The examination will comprise two significant essays, one each for the Major and Minor focus areas. The essay prompts will be formulated by the committee, and reflect the depth and breadth of the Major and Minor. The major area essay prompt should be presented as an opportunity for the student to compose a “state of the field” review related to the student’s area of research focus. The Minor essay prompt should permit the student to focus on a theory, method or cognate area that complements the Major area, without being redundant. In terms of length, approximately 5,000 words (including references) would constitute a minimal answer for each essay, with 7-10,000 words judged more acceptable in most cases.
• An oral examination of not more than three hours will occur not more than two weeks following the completion of the writing period.
• The oral examination committee consists of at least three members of Examination Committee.
• The Chair of the DSC serves as examination chair, and there is no audience present.

Sample Exam Timeline (Actual dates negotiated among student, committee, and DSC Chair):

• Supervisor submits questions vetted and approved by the examining committee to the Program Assistant one week before the exam writing period begins (February 24).
• Student receives exam questions on Friday March 3 at 9am [21-day writing period begins].
• Student submits written answers to Program Assistant on Thursday March 23 at 5pm [Writing period ends].
• Committee has seven days to read and evaluate essays.
• Committee communicates to DSC Chair that oral exam will proceed on Thursday March 30.
• Oral exam occurs Friday March 31.

After a student submits the written qualifying exam essays, the examination committee will have no less than seven days to read and evaluate them prior to the oral examination. The committee should confer prior to the oral examination to confirm that the quality of the written essays is adequate to proceed. If the essays are adequate, the student will proceed to the oral examination. If the essays are deemed inadequate, the committee will recommend either a mark of FAIL, or Adjournment (see below). The committee’s agreement to proceed or not proceed to the oral examination should be a consensus decision sent to the DSC Chair at least one day prior to the oral examination.

The purpose of the oral examination is to allow the student to provide context for their written exam answers, to demonstrate additional depth and breadth of knowledge in the area, and to show their communicative competency. The questions of the oral examination will be related to the questions answered by the student in the written examination of the major and minor areas. Examiners' questions will be based on peripheral or related material that contributes to a complete answer to the questions posed.

The oral examination will be comprised of the following parts:

• Introductions and clarification of procedures by the DSC Chair or designate
• Student presentation (15 minutes maximum – see below)
• Examination of the Major Area: At least one round of questions from each examiner, until all examiners are satisfied.
• Examination of the Minor Area: At least one round of questions from each examiner, until all examiners are satisfied.
• In-camera session: The student is dismissed, and the examiners meet with the Chair to discuss the outcome, feedback, and mark for the examination.
• Feedback: The student returns to the exam session and the Chair or Advisor provide the outcome and next steps.

At the beginning of the oral exam the student may take the opportunity to expand on their answers to the written exam questions, amplifying the answers or outlining the key points. This speaking opportunity must take no longer than 15 minutes, and may be strictly oral or aided only by notes or a visual presentation (i.e., the student is not allowed to read a prepared paper). The student may bring into the oral examination only a copy of the written exam and the notes or software (e.g., PowerPoint) for the 15-minute presentation.

During the in-camera session of the examination, the faculty will evaluate the student’s written and oral performance on each of the Major and Minor areas of focus. The student will be given one of three marks for each the Major and Minor. Faculty will assess the written and oral examination for each area as a combined mark.

• Unconditional PASS : The student’s performance in the written and oral examination meets all the indicators. The examination milestone is considered met and a grade is assigned.
• Conditional PASS : The student’s performance in the written and oral examination meets most of the indicators, but may need additional writing or revision to satisfy the committee. A student who receives the mark of Conditional PASS must complete revisions under the direction of the Advisor within two weeks. The committee will assess the revised responses and either provide the mark of FAIL or Unconditional PASS. Further oral examination is not required.
• FAIL : The student’s performance in the written and oral examination does not meet the exam indicators above. A student who receives the mark of FAIL must withdraw from the program. UBC procedures for appeal of assigned academic standing are detailed in the Academic Regulations section of the UBC Calendar.

A student may receive a split decision for the Major and Minor areas; that is, the mark assigned may be different if the written or oral performance is inadequate in either area. If a student receives a Conditional PASS in either area, the numerical grade will be provided after the revision period. If a student receives a FAIL in either the Major or Minor area, the milestone is not met, and the student must withdraw from the program.

A student receives a grade for each of the Major (620) and Minor (621) area examinations. This grade is a score that reflects their combined written and oral performance. The examination grade constitutes 50% of the grade for the Major or Minor area, the other 50% being the score assigned for the exam preparation. The Advisor should bring the preparation scores to the in-camera session. The grades for preparation and examination are averaged and submitted to the Program Assistant using the grading form provided on the school’s internal website.

A student who receives the mark of Unconditional PASS should receive a grade that is appropriate to their level of achievement, i.e., in the A to A+ range (85-95). A student who shows weaker performance in either the oral or written components, but not to the point where revision is necessary, may receive a lower grade. However, all grades for an Unconditional PASS must be above the B level (74+).

In the event the examination committee is unable to reach consensus on either the mark or numerical grade in the in-camera session, the DSC Chair (or their designate as examination chair) will serve as arbiter.

An adjournment may occur when the examination process needs to be halted for additional preparation, or for personal reasons arising from the student’s situation. There are two conditions under which the exam process may be halted or adjourned.

• Faculty requested adjournment: If one or both examination essays are of an unacceptable quality, but there is confidence they can be improved with additional preparation, the chair of the examination committee may request an adjournment. This request should be made between the submission of the essays and the oral examination. The request should be made to the DSC Chair.
• Student requested adjournment: If the student experiences a personal situation that puts their ability to complete the examination in question (significant illness, unexpected life incident, or emergency), they may request an adjournment. This request should be made during the writing period to the advisor and DSC Chair.

If an adjournment is granted, the student will have six months to complete the examination process. The student may not proceed to the oral examination until the written essays are deemed of sufficient quality. If the student does not produce passable essays on the second try, the student will be given the mark of FAIL and must withdraw from the program. The student must be informed of the committee’s decision in writing, and will have the opportunity to appeal to the DSC Chair. A candidate will be permitted to re-write the examination only once. The student is responsible for scheduling the re-writing.

All students can appeal the examination mark or numerical grade if they feel that the process for administration or assessment was unfair or in error. To appeal, the student must send a written note of appeal, along with any evidence to support their claim, to the DSC Chair within one week of receiving their examination feedback. The Chair will review the written essays and chair report to identify if any redress is appropriate. The outcome of the appeal will be provided to the student in writing no more than 30 days after receipt of the appeal.

Career outcomes

Graduates of the School of Information Doctoral Program have held positions in academia, including tenure track faculty at some of the world's leading universities, the IT industry, and leadership roles in libraries, archives, and other public sector institutions.

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Make the most of the financial resources available to you as a UBC student. Master’s Program Funding Opportunities

Applicants to the Master’s program may apply for a limited number of funding opportunities through UBC and externally,

Canadian citizens and permanent residents are eligible for the Canada Graduate Scholarship – Master’s (CGS M).

PhD Program Funding Opportunities

All PhD students accepted into the program will be offered a funding package that provides at least $25,000 of support in each of their first four years. This support may include both awards and work (teaching or research assistantships).

All applicants to the PhD program will automatically be considered for this funding and they do not need to apply separately. However, in some cases the program may ask applicants to apply to specific funding opportunities. Applicants may also be able to receive a higher level of financial support from external sources.

Canadian citizens and permanent residents are eligible for doctoral fellowships from the Social Science and Humanities Research Council of Canada.

Applicants to the PhD program may apply for a limited number of funding opportunities through UBC and externally,

Travel and Conference Grants

The department may award a small number of grants to facilitate graduate students’ ability to travel to present their work at conferences and other research venues. Funding each year is contingent upon budget availability and limited in amount. If travel grants are available in a given year, a call for applications will be shared with students and faculty, typically in two rounds with deadlines November 15 and April 15.

To apply, students should:

• Complete Parts 1 and 3 of the travel grant form  including a description of the presentation and a budget of eligible expenses, already paid or projected
• Paste their signature (as a scan or photo) into the document
• Email the document to their supervisor to complete Part 2
• Ask their supervisor to email the completed form to the Program Assistant at:  [email protected]  by the deadline.

The selection process is competitive and not all students may receive awards, depending on the number of applications and the amount of funding available. Preference will be given to Ph.D. students already advanced to candidacy and presenting refereed papers at large, academically prestigious gatherings. Students are therefore advised to discuss conference plans with their supervisor(s) well in advance and to seek out alternative forms of funding whenever possible. All UBC graduate students are also eligible for support from the  Graduate Student Travel Fund , at a maximum value of $500 once per degree program. Priority for Asian Studies Travel/Conference Grants will be given to those who have already received, or applied for, support from this Travel Fund.

Additional Funding Opportunities

In certain cases, undergraduate and graduate students may qualify for the same scholarships and prizes.

International graduate students are automatically considered for International Tuition Award .

• Master of Fine Arts in Film Production and Creative Writing (MFA)
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Canadian Immigration Updates

Applicants to Master’s and Doctoral degrees are not affected by the recently announced cap on study permits. Review more details

Go to programs search

Please note that the applications for the MFA in Film Production and Creative Writing are accepted on a biennial basis.  Applications for Fall 2024 will open in late September 2023.

Film Production is a major component of Vancouver’s economy, as well as in cities across the globe. UBC has an over 40-year history of training some of Canada's (and the world's) brightest filmmakers and technicians. The MFA in Film Production focuses on the areas of directing, screenwriting and producing live action narrative or documentary film for students who already have a comprehensive background in filmmaking and wish to pursue a specific creative or intellectual vision in an academic environment. The Joint MFA in Film Production and Creative Writing offers the same film production education but with an additional focus on screenwriting. Students in the Joint degree take additional coursework in screenwriting through the Creative Writing program and are required to write the script for their thesis film. Our graduate and student work has screened at film festivals across the globe, and graduates have had key roles in films as diverse as District 9, 65 Red_Roses, and The Editor.

For specific program requirements, please refer to the departmental program website

What makes the program unique?

The film industry employs 36,000 people in Vancouver and pumps over $1 billion dollars into the local economy. UBC maintains partnerships and agreements with post-production facilities, rental houses, and professional and union organizations to facilitate student work, education, networking, and post-grad opportunities. Our faculty includes Rachel Talalay, a working director who has film and television credits in the US, the UK and Canada. Furthermore, students have the option to learn from and collaborate with UBC’s top-tier Creative Writing department and Theatre and Film Studies programs.

UBC offers the only Master’s Degree in Film Production and Creative Writing in Western Canada, and is one of the few MFA Film Production programs in the world to require an undergraduate degree in film production to be considered. Our courses are advanced and small; only 1-2 students are accepted every year out of the 30-40 that apply. 

My career aspirations are in writing and directing, and doing the program at UBC helped me gain confidence in my writing, directing and producing skills in film. I worked closely with my instructors to really find my own voice as a writer and director. I learned a lot about the film industry and about myself, and I am very grateful to have had that experience.

Anaisa Visser

Quick Facts

Program enquiries, admission information & requirements, 1) check eligibility, minimum academic requirements.

The Faculty of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies establishes the minimum admission requirements common to all applicants, usually a minimum overall average in the B+ range (76% at UBC). The graduate program that you are applying to may have additional requirements. Please review the specific requirements for applicants with credentials from institutions in:

• Canada or the United States
• International countries other than the United States

Each program may set higher academic minimum requirements. Please review the program website carefully to understand the program requirements. Meeting the minimum requirements does not guarantee admission as it is a competitive process.

English Language Test

Applicants from a university outside Canada in which English is not the primary language of instruction must provide results of an English language proficiency examination as part of their application. Tests must have been taken within the last 24 months at the time of submission of your application.

Minimum requirements for the two most common English language proficiency tests to apply to this program are listed below:

TOEFL: Test of English as a Foreign Language - internet-based

Overall score requirement : 100

IELTS: International English Language Testing System

Overall score requirement : 7.0

Other Test Scores

Some programs require additional test scores such as the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) or the Graduate Management Test (GMAT). The requirements for this program are:

The GRE is not required.

2) Meet Deadlines

3) prepare application, transcripts.

All applicants have to submit transcripts from all past post-secondary study. Document submission requirements depend on whether your institution of study is within Canada or outside of Canada.

Letters of Reference

A minimum of three references are required for application to graduate programs at UBC. References should be requested from individuals who are prepared to provide a report on your academic ability and qualifications.

Statement of Interest

Many programs require a statement of interest , sometimes called a "statement of intent", "description of research interests" or something similar.

Supervision

Students in research-based programs usually require a faculty member to function as their thesis supervisor. Please follow the instructions provided by each program whether applicants should contact faculty members.

Instructions regarding thesis supervisor contact for Master of Fine Arts in Film Production and Creative Writing (MFA)

Citizenship verification.

Permanent Residents of Canada must provide a clear photocopy of both sides of the Permanent Resident card.

4) Apply Online

All applicants must complete an online application form and pay the application fee to be considered for admission to UBC.

Tuition & Financial Support

Financial support.

Applicants to UBC have access to a variety of funding options, including merit-based (i.e. based on your academic performance) and need-based (i.e. based on your financial situation) opportunities.

Scholarships & awards (merit-based funding)

All applicants are encouraged to review the awards listing to identify potential opportunities to fund their graduate education. The database lists merit-based scholarships and awards and allows for filtering by various criteria, such as domestic vs. international or degree level.

Graduate Research Assistantships (GRA)

Many professors are able to provide Research Assistantships (GRA) from their research grants to support full-time graduate students studying under their supervision. The duties constitute part of the student's graduate degree requirements. A Graduate Research Assistantship is considered a form of fellowship for a period of graduate study and is therefore not covered by a collective agreement. Stipends vary widely, and are dependent on the field of study and the type of research grant from which the assistantship is being funded.

Graduate Teaching Assistantships (GTA)

Graduate programs may have Teaching Assistantships available for registered full-time graduate students. Full teaching assistantships involve 12 hours work per week in preparation, lecturing, or laboratory instruction although many graduate programs offer partial TA appointments at less than 12 hours per week. Teaching assistantship rates are set by collective bargaining between the University and the Teaching Assistants' Union .

Graduate Academic Assistantships (GAA)

Academic Assistantships are employment opportunities to perform work that is relevant to the university or to an individual faculty member, but not to support the student’s graduate research and thesis. Wages are considered regular earnings and when paid monthly, include vacation pay.

Financial aid (need-based funding)

Canadian and US applicants may qualify for governmental loans to finance their studies. Please review eligibility and types of loans .

All students may be able to access private sector or bank loans.

Foreign government scholarships

Many foreign governments provide support to their citizens in pursuing education abroad. International applicants should check the various governmental resources in their home country, such as the Department of Education, for available scholarships.

Working while studying

The possibility to pursue work to supplement income may depend on the demands the program has on students. It should be carefully weighed if work leads to prolonged program durations or whether work placements can be meaningfully embedded into a program.

International students enrolled as full-time students with a valid study permit can work on campus for unlimited hours and work off-campus for no more than 20 hours a week.

A good starting point to explore student jobs is the UBC Work Learn program or a Co-Op placement .

Tax credits and RRSP withdrawals

Students with taxable income in Canada may be able to claim federal or provincial tax credits.

Canadian residents with RRSP accounts may be able to use the Lifelong Learning Plan (LLP) which allows students to withdraw amounts from their registered retirement savings plan (RRSPs) to finance full-time training or education for themselves or their partner.

Please review Filing taxes in Canada on the student services website for more information.

Cost Estimator

Applicants have access to the cost estimator to develop a financial plan that takes into account various income sources and expenses.

Career Options

UBC MFA Film Production and Creative Writing graduates can be found working in the film industry as producers, screenwriters, and directors. Some also choose to pass on what they have learned by working as instructors and professors at educational institutions. Many serve on the boards of film organizations or serve on juries at film awards.

Enrolment, Duration & Other Stats

These statistics show data for the Master of Fine Arts in Film Production and Creative Writing (MFA). Data are separated for each degree program combination. You may view data for other degree options in the respective program profile.

ENROLMENT DATA

• Research Supervisors

Advice and insights from UBC Faculty on reaching out to supervisors

These videos contain some general advice from faculty across UBC on finding and reaching out to a supervisor. They are not program specific.

This list shows faculty members with full supervisory privileges who are affiliated with this program. It is not a comprehensive list of all potential supervisors as faculty from other programs or faculty members without full supervisory privileges can request approvals to supervise graduate students in this program.

• Bourges, Antoine (Film Production)
• Brown, William (film-philosophy, digital media, posthumanism, critical race theory)
• Drljaca, Igor (Creative writing; Film, television and digital media; Bosnia and Herzegovina; Documentary FIlm; Film Production; Narrative Film; Screenwriting; Virtual Reality; Video and New Media)
• McGowan, Sharon (Planning of film productions from concept to completion)
• Scholte, Tom (Theatre, film, and television)
• Walsh, Shannon (Media arts; Critical identity, ethnic and race studies; Social and cultural anthropology; South Africa; Afropessimism & Critical Race Studies; Documentary; Film Production; Indigenous studies; Environmental justice; Affect Theory)

Related Programs

Same academic unit.

• Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing (Distance) (MFA)
• Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing (MFA)
• Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing and Theatre (MFA)

At the UBC Okanagan Campus

• Master of Fine Arts (MFA)

Further Information

Specialization.

Film Production and Creative Writing provides an intensive, diverse and collaborative environment for crafting literary excellence films and television. It is primarily a film production degree with an emphasis on screen writing.

UBC Calendar

Program website, faculty overview, academic unit, program identifier, classification, social media channels, supervisor search.

Departments/Programs may update graduate degree program details through the Faculty & Staff portal. To update contact details for application inquiries, please use this form .

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Great academic programs, great location: the distinct seasons and mild climate are among the reasons why graduate students choose to study here -- from the autumn leaves to cherry blossoms, witness the many colours Vancouver has to offer.

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PhD Degree Requirements

The Division of Cinema & Media Studies is committed to the understanding of film, television and new media in relation to the world. By studying and analyzing these forms and the processes behind their creation, Cinema & Media Studies scholars gain insight into the power and aesthetics of moving image media. Cinema & Media Studies students also have the opportunity to expand their knowledge and experience of film and television by taking hands-on production courses.

The graduate program combines historical training with the integration of theory and practice, as it prepares students for a changing discipline that demands varied competencies. The Division of Cinema & Media Studies seeks applicants who represent a multiplicity of perspectives to join a vibrant community of thinkers and practitioners. We value applicants who demonstrate the potential to enhance the Division's profile and direct its growth through the breadth of their research and interests.

The committee favors applicants with academic records and personal statements that indicate a varied liberal arts and humanities background. The committee is also interested in experiences and activities that show a continuing or recent involvement in film and television studies, the arts, criticism and/or aesthetics.

You must submit the SlideRoom Application titled: "Graduate Cinema & Media Studies PhD Program".

You must access the SlideRoom Application via the "Go to SlideRoom" link in the SlideRoom tab in the Program Materials quadrant of the Graduate Application for Admission. The SlideRoom Application should only be accessed via this button in order for your applications to be linked and successfully submitted.

The Cinematic Arts Personal Statement should be a carefully prepared explanation of the applicant's goals, describing any film, television, scholarly, critical or other creative background, as well as career objectives. It should present a clear and accurate picture of the applicant, including lived experience or personal history, which may give shape to research and teaching. The statement should outline objectives in the field of cinema and media studies and explain how attending the School of Cinematic Arts will help reach these goals. We are looking for a sense of you as a unique individual and how your distinctive experiences, values, and/or views of the world have shaped who you are.

The writing sample should be a review or analysis of some aspect of film, television, or new media; a discussion or application of critical theory; or a published article.

The CV/resume should provide a record of the applicant's background and experience, including both professional and academic settings. Formal recognition - such as awards, publications, presentations, and jobs- should be noted. Please indicate languages of competency, which may broaden and deepen the division's commitments to global film and/or media.