MA in Film Studies
Budapest, Hungary
DURATION
2 Years
LANGUAGES
English
PACE
Full time
APPLICATION DEADLINE
30 Jun 2025
EARLIEST START DATE
Sep 2025
TUITION FEES
EUR 3,500 / per semester *
STUDY FORMAT
On-Campus
* application fee: €150. Entrance exam fee: €100
Introduction
The Institute for Art Theory and Media Studies at ELTE is currently the only higher institution of education in Hungary to offer an English-language MA degree in Film Studies.
The MA program runs with two specializations.
The Film Theory specialization offers a general overview of the history and theory of film, as well as a critical understanding of the mechanisms and genres of popular film culture, with an emphasis on academic and critical writing. Students become familiar with the different periods of Hungarian and world film history, the different theoretical approaches of film studies and filmic genres, and develop their skills of reading theoretical texts and interpreting films.
The Filmmaking specialization allows students to get hands-on experience in the various creative areas of the production process (screenwriting, directing, editing, cinematography, production), and produce a collaborative thesis project.
In both specializations, students develop thesis projects (academic and creative) through consultation sessions with assigned advisers.
Admissions
Curriculum
Strength of program
The Institute for Art Theory and Media Studies at ELTE was one of the first higher institutions of education in Hungary to offer a degree in Film Studies. Part of the prestigious Institute for Art Theory and Media Studies, the Department of Film Studies has been hosting various undergraduate, graduate, and postgraduate programs since the 1990s. The faculty members are highly acknowledged experts in film studies, specialists of their chosen fields and take part in international and local research projects.
They regularly organize conferences, workshops, and screenings on a wide array of topical phenomena in past and contemporary film culture. Students play an important role in initiating and organizing these events. The department has brought to life and operates a unique research group on Hungarian film history and has a major share in publications in this field. Faculty members act as editors of different film journals serve as members of the jury for film festivals and film boards. Our filmmaking courses are taught by acknowledged professionals of the film industry. The department cooperates with different international film organizations and has Erasmus+ cooperation contracts with about a dozen institutions all over Europe.
Structure
In the department, students are admitted either to a Filmmaking Specialization or to a Film Theory Specialization. In both students are assigned a departmental tutor, who oversees the creative or academic project they produce throughout the four semesters.
On top of fulfilling the 120-credit requirement for graduation during the 4 semesters, students:
- In the Filmmaking Specialization write a brief academic paper (2nd semester) before they start to work on their creative project in cooperation with the tutor.
- In the Film Theory Specialization take Research Methodology (2nd semester) and Academic Writing (3rd semester) classes and work on their academic project in cooperation with their tutor.
Career Opportunities
Besides academia, the program prepares students for jobs in various branches of the cultural/entertainment sector. Our graduates pursue an academic career or find different opportunities in the media and film industry. Students of the Film Theory specialization acquire the skills and knowledge which allow them to become academic researchers or apply for a PhD program, either to the Film, Media, and Contemporary Culture PhD program hosted by our institute or to programs in other institutions. Our graduates are equally well-qualified to work as film and communication teachers, film critics, experts, and many of them hold a post in film and media archives or different national institutions and boards. Students of the filmmaking specialization have the skills to realize different products in the moving image industry, such as music videos, commercials, video blogs, short feature films, etc. They can work for film production companies and they are able to act as distribution and exhibition executives.
Job examples
- Film- and communication teachers
- Film-critics
- Editors
- Experts
- Positions at film and media archives or different national institutions and boards
- Line producers
- Screenwriters
- Cameramen