Studying Abroad in Florence, Italy

Studying Abroad in France and Ireland

The Film and Media Studies Department is a keen supporter of EAP. Many of our majors over the years have participated in EAP and received major credit. Due to the international scope of our curriculum (for example, we teach Indian, Japanese, Latin American, French and Francophone, British, and Italian cinema courses), we are very interested in encouraging and expanding the number of Film and Media Studies majors who participate in UCEAP.  I myself am a two-time UCEAP participant. I studied at Warwick University, England during my junior year and in the Paris film program as a doctoral student. Both were formative experiences in my life.

--Janet Walker
Professor, Film and Media Studies

Because of the important role of film and media in shaping global culture, our majors cover a wide range of international cinema and media courses in the course of their studies. Study abroad immerses students in a cultural experience and grants them access that they would otherwise not have. 

Suddenly a “foreign film” or “Mexican television” is no longer foreign, but an expression of something we too have lived and experienced.

Film and Media Studies students have traveled and studied in countries around the world to pursue their academic goals. Study abroad also provides students with an opportunity to step out of their comfort zones and be challenged to understand the world from a new perspective. As one returning student put it, “I think you end up being a citizen of a larger world. You’re exposed to a different culture and a different perspective, but you are also put in the position of the outsider, the one who is different, who doesn’t understand his or her surroundings. It’s intimidating sometimes, but you become stronger because of it.”

Film and Media Studies majors typically study abroad during their junior or senior year. This allows the benefit of planning out your core classes so that you can successfully graduate in four years. In addition, this timeline allows students to gain language proficiency, if required, before they study abroad. Students should consult with the Film and Media Studies Undergraduate Advisor and with the College of Letters and Science to discuss completion of degree requirements.

Transfer students are eligible to participate in EAP but should be aware that a year-long program may delay their ability to complete their core courses in a timely manner. For more information, consult with the department advisor.

Students who want to complete upper division elective areas in their major have a wide variety of options. Relevant course work can be found in universities in Australia, Central and South America, Europe, and the United Kingdom. There are applicable courses throughout the EAP universities. There is no better way to become fluent in a language than immersing yourself in the host country.

Programs with excellent Film Studies opportunities in English include:

Australia (University of Melbourne and University of New South Wales)

Barbados (University of West Indies)

Czech Republic (Central European Studies Program and courses at the Prague Film and Television School)

Denmark (University of Copenhagen)

England (English universities)

Hong Kong (University of Hong Kong)

Ireland (Irish universities)

Netherlands (Utrecht University)

New Zealand (University of Auckland, Otago University, and University of Wellington)

Scotland (Scottish universities)

South Africa (University of Cape Town)

For those of you with foreign language fluency, you can consider programs in Chile, China, France (Bordeaux, Lyon), Mexico, Spain (Computense).

In addition, students have the option of fulfilling requirements in the preparation for the major area by studying other disciplines such as Art History, Drama, English, and Music.

Film and Media Studies students are advised to take as many of the core classes (film history and theory) for the major as possible before they study abroad. There are few equivalents for these classes. As the majority of courses taken while studying abroad through UCEAP are at the upper-division level, there are often many choices to fulfill the elective areas of the major requirements. Imagine taking courses such as “Chilean Documentary Film Theory” in Chile, “Francophone Film” in France, “TV News Production” in Hong Kong, or “Ethics and Media” in Spain. In some cases, film history and theory classes have been used to petition for core classes but they must be reviewed by both the Undergraduate Academic Advisor and the Director of Undergraduate Studies as well as the College. 

Use Gaucho Credit Abroad to search for the types of credit (i.e. major, minor, GE areas, or electives towards graduation) that UCSB students received for courses taken on UCEAP. You can find more UCEAP courses in the UCEAP Course Catalog and additional course listings on UCEAP partner university/program websites.

EAP students automatically earn UC credit for the work they complete abroad. However, application of credit to major requirements is subject to the discretion of the student’s major department and approval of the College.

• Explore program options
• Attend info meetings
• Contact the UCSB EAP Office
• Contact the Department of Film and Media Studies