What is Film Studies/Appreciation?: Course Fees 2025, Subjects, Top Colleges, Admissions

Unlike filmmaking courses, film studies focus on the theoretical form of films. In this course, students are taught to review the story, scenes, dialogues etc. of films and understand them as an art.

Yes, Film Making colleges in India do offer Diploma courses to their students; you can refer below for some of them:

Disclaimer: This information is sourced from the official website and may vary.

Hope this answered your question!

There are no such requirements but a degree in film studies/appreciation gives you a thorough understanding of the visual and artistic aspects of films. You get a more comprehensive understanding of how films are made which surely benefits you in working for this industry.

Candidates can pursue courses like BA in Film Studies, MA in Film Studies, MFA in Art History and Art Appreciation, BA (Hons) in English with Film Studies, MA in Theatre and Film Studies etc to make their career in this field. 

Hi Esha, Film direction is a part of film making and when you enroll in a film making course, direction is also being taught.

Hence film making comprises of film direction as well, however there are certain courses that cater specifically to film direction.

All the best

Candidates must have passed class 12 in any stream from a recognized board to take admission in BA Film Studies or Diploma courses in film studies/appreciation.

Candidates are given admission on either a merit basis or an entrance exam. The merit is prepared on the basis of marks obtained in a qualifying exam i.e. class 12 for the UG course and graduation for the PG course.

Film studies/appreciation is a specialized course, which teaches you about films in more detail. If you will not have basic information on topics related to films and their history, then it will not be of many benefits to you.

The IPU CET 2026 exam will be conducted from April 2026. The registration link for IPU CET 2026 will be active from February  2026 to April 2026. The IPU CET 2026 will be conducted for various courses by the university. 

Common University Entrance Test (CUET) result is released by National Testing Agency. CUET syllabus is divided into three sections viz., Languages, Domain Subject and General Test. CUET language section assesses candidate through reading comprehension (factual, literary, and narrative), literary aptitude and vocabulary. CUET syllabus second section- domain subject assesses the candidate's in depth knowledge on the subject he/she has opted for. CUET third section- general test includes general knowledge, current affairs, general mental ability, quantitative reasoning and logical and analytical reasoning. CUET syllabus is available now. Candidates can check the section wise detailed CUET syllabus here.

In the IPU CET (Indraprastha University Common Entrance Test), there is negative marking. This means one mark is deducted for each incorrect response. However, it's important to note that marks are not deducted for unanswered questions. This means that if a candidate leaves a question unanswered, no marks are deducted.

The provision of negative marking implies that candidates need to be cautious while answering questions and should only attempt those for which they are reasonably confident about the correct answer.

JMI selection criteria includes shortlisting of candidates on the basis of scores obtained in JMI exam. For some courses candidates are required to also appear for Group Discussion (GD) and Personal Interview (PI). The cut off for each course is released after the selection procedure is over and candidates are called for counselling and document verification. Candidates should go through the selection process mentioned in the e prospectus of JMI for their respective course.

Candidates are asked questions about the History of Films, Creative Aptitude, English, Current Affairs etc.

Candidates interested in pursuing a film studies/appreciation course can enrol themselves in colleges mentioned below:

• Film and Television Institute of India
• Satyajit Ray Film and Television Institute
• Jamia Millia Islamia
• St Xavier's College
• University of Mumbai
• Alagappa University
• Symbiosis School of Liberal Arts
• Maaya Academy of Advanced Cinematics

Below is the Admission process to get admission in Amity School of Film and Drama:

• BVA Admission Process: Generally, the selection process includes a written English test, Group Discussion, Interview, and Extempore.
• BVA Eligibility Criteria:

1. 1. Students must have passed Class 12th or equivalent from recognised Board/Council
   2. English is a mandatory subject In aggregate percentage of class XII
   3. Physical Education, Fine Arts, Performing Arts, vocational, and non-written subjects will only be considered for respective disciplines.

In India, there are several institutes and universities that offer degree courses in film making or related fields. These courses provide comprehensive training in various aspects of film production, direction, editing, cinematography, sound design, screenwriting, and more.

• Here are some popular institutes that offer film making degree courses in India:
  Film and Television Institute of India (FTII), Pune: FTII is one of the most prestigious film institutes in India, offering a 3-year postgraduate Diploma course in various disciplines of filmmaking.
• Satyajit Ray Film and Television Institute (SRFTI), Kolkata: SRFTI offers a 3-year postgraduate Diploma course in film direction, cinematography, editing, and sound design.
• Whistling Woods International, Mumbai: Whistling Woods offers a variety of undergraduate and postgraduate degree courses in film making, animation, media, and communication.
• National Institute of Design (NID), Ahmedabad: NID offers a 4-year Bachelor of Design (B.Des.) course with a specialisation in Film and Video Communication.
• Symbiosis Institute of Media and Communication (SIMC), Pune: SIMC offers a 2-year Master of Arts (MA) programme in Film and Television.
• Asian Academy of Film & Television (AAFT), Noida,
• Annapurna International School of Film and Media (AISFM), Hyderabad: AISFM offers a Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) degree programme in Film + Media.
• Center for Research in Art of Film and Television (CRAFT), Delhi.

These are just a few examples of the institutes offering film making courses in India.

Dear aspirant,

A limited number of colleges offer this course in India. Some of the most prominent colleges offering M.A. Film Studies are : 

• Jadavpur University
• Mumbai university
• Ambedkar University
• West Bengal State University
• Thunchath Ezhuthachan Malayalam University.

The average fees charged by the colleges for M.A. Film Studies in India ranges between INR 10,000 to 1,00,000. The government universities charge less fees than the private universities.

Candidates can earn up to INR 10 LPA in this field. Although the salary depends on many factors like the job profile, experience etc.

Candidates must have excellent written and verbal communication skills, knowledge of filmmaking and an eye for perfection.

Criticism is an area of study and so study it as a subject for a better idea of criticism. But, improve your language and writing fluency also.

The fee for MA in film studies/appreciation course ranges from INR 30,000 to INR 9 LPA.

It depends on the area of interest such as film, literature etc. First, you should go for Journalism and Mass Communication courses. With the study, you should try to enhance your writing skills. Blog writing is a better option including writing features in editorial page and writing letters to editor. A regular writing practice in newspapers and blogs can give you the identity of a critic. Many content writing companies hire critics. You may start your career from a salary of INR 21,000 to INR 30,000.

Hi Subodh,

Film Critics review movies and offer their opinions on the Acting, Writing, Editing and Cinematography, among other facts. Critics provide readers with an analysis of the film and compare the plot and story line to similar movies within the same genre. These reviews may be published online or in a Newspaper or Magazine.

Working for a publication or website may require film critics to work with editors and meet deadlines. In some instances, Film Critics may also vote on films during award season. While there are no standard educational requirements to become a Film Critic, the job requires good communication skills, most commonly in writing. However, those interested in providing critical skills for Television should be proficient in public speaking as well. With the onset of public movie review websites and Internet Film Bloggers, prospective

Film Critics might want to consider earning a Bachelor's degree in Journalism or a degree in Film Studies/Appreciation to offer an advantage to potential employers. These degree programs facilitate development of Oral and Written communication skills and might be required for a publication. In order to review films successfully, you have to know the intricate world of cinema. Become acquainted with different directors and study their varying styles, paying close attention to aesthetic differences in art direction, cinematography, plot development, and even musical scores.

The more you know about Film, the more effectively you'll be able to compare and contrast the works of different artists.

Feel free to raise more questions. Appreciate by giving it thumbs up or marking as best. All the Best.

Hi Anjali,

FTII, Pune is the premium institute for filmmaking in India. Apart from this, there are following institutes which are no less: 

• Whistling Woods International, Mumbai
• Satyajit Ray Film and Television Institute, Kolkata
• Asian Academy of Film and Television, Noida
• Zee Institute of Media Arts.