Film

Students choose to major in film if they want to learn more about the art form, from technology to cultural significance; want to work in the film industry; or are interested in a major that combines arts and humanities.  The Dual Degree Program between Trinity College Dublin and Columbia University offers students the opportunity to study Film Studies for those interested in film styles and movements from cinema's beginnings at the end of the 19th century right up to the present day.

Launched in 2003, Trinity's pioneering degree course in Film Studies has since become one of the leading undergraduate courses in the discipline, combining a cutting-edge intellectual environment with the opportunity to gain introductory skills in filmmaking and to explore different forms of screenwriting. Part of Trinity College's School of Creative Arts, the teaching and research expertise of Trinity’s Film faculty encompass a wide range of areas, including Irish cinema, film theory, film sound, screenwriting, and digital media. The School’s achievements include a global reputation for influential research and publication and the high quality of its graduates.

In their first two years at Trinity, Film students take foundational modules in film history and theory. These include the history of Hollywood, trends in European cinema, trends in Non-Western cinema, and issues in contemporary Irish cinema. Students will be introduced to critical approaches to film studies and learn to express themselves in the language of the discipline. Students will also take modules in screenwriting, film production, editing, and documentary making. Students will be encouraged to engage creatively with the course and express themselves through podcasts, blogs, class debates and digital portfolios in addition to conventional essays. Students who do not have intermediate proficiency in a language other than English at the time of their admission to the Dual Degree Program will be required to take language courses in French, Italian, or Spanish during years one and two at Trinity, in fulfillment of the Columbia University Core language requirement. Students take all Film core modules and approved/elective modules as required, and attain 120 ECTS (European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System) credits. 

In years three and four, students continue to work towards a major in Film and Media Studies at Columbia, earning 64 Columbia credits (equivalent to 120 ECTS credits). This program of study allows students to continue to develop their skills and deepen their engagement with the core discipline. Students will also have the opportunity to gain additional experience by taking advantage of internship opportunities with film companies, working on graduate student films, and participating in the Columbia Undergraduate Film Productions (CUFP), an active, student-run organization that provides film-making experience to Columbia undergraduate producers and directors. 

As part of the Trinity degree program, students entering the Dual Degree Program prior to the Fall 2026 term also complete an additional 30 ECTS credits in years three and four, including a Capstone project that enables students to explore in-depth an area of interest.