Master in Film Studies (MFS)

Master in Film Studies (MFS) at Kathmandu University School of Arts

The Master in Film Studies (MFS) at Kathmandu University School of Arts (KUSOA) is a two-year, 66-credit graduate program combining film theory, critical analysis, research, screenwriting, audiovisual production, specialization, internship, and independent film work.

The program is offered within KUSOA's Languages and Mass Communication academic area and operates under Kathmandu University (KU). Students complete four semesters, with an option to exit after the first year with a Postgraduate Diploma after completing 30 credits.

Quick Highlights

About the Master in Film Studies

MFS brings academic film study and practical filmmaking into the same postgraduate curriculum. Students encounter film form, narrative, aesthetics, documentary traditions, film theory, contemporary industry developments, research methods, screenwriting, production, media management, internship, and dissertation work.

The curriculum also includes practicum courses and elective choices in areas such as directing, cinematography, acting, photography, film production, screenwriting, sound, visual design, archiving, film philosophy, and creative-industry studies. This structure allows students to develop a broad understanding of cinema before concentrating on selected areas during the later stages of the degree.

Research is present from the first semester through Research Methods in Film Studies and continues into the dissertation. Practical work develops through Audiovisual Dramaturgy, screenwriting, specialized practicum options, internship, and Graduation Film Development and Production.

Academic Focus

The program is designed to develop understanding and practical ability across several connected areas of film study.

Students work with:

• Film principles, theories, history, aesthetics, and cultural contexts.

• Critical analysis of film narratives, styles, and practices.

• Film production and related creative processes.

• Research methods relevant to film, media, communication, and cultural studies.

• Screenwriting and narrative development.

• Individual and collaborative production work.

• Contemporary changes in film industries and streaming platforms.

• Independent academic and creative work through dissertation and graduation-film components.

The curriculum gives both analysis and production substantial space. A student is expected to engage with cinema as an academic subject while also working with the processes involved in developing and producing audiovisual work.

Course Structure

The 66-credit curriculum is distributed across four semesters.

First Year, Semester I

Students begin with:

• MAFS 501 Film Form and Narrative

• MAFS 502 AI and Contemporary Issues in the Film

• MAFS 543 Audiovisual Dramaturgy — Practicum

• MEDS 503 Social Sciences for Media

• MAFS 503 Research Methods in Film Studies

This semester establishes the foundation for narrative study, film research, contemporary film issues, audiovisual practice, and the social-science context of media.

First Year, Semester II

The second semester includes:

• MAFS 504 Natyashastra and Indigenous Aesthetics

• MAFS 544 Narrative Design and Screenwriting: Practice, Form, and Structure — Practicum

• MAFS 505 Documentary Cultures in the West and the East

• MAFS 506 Film Theory and Analysis

• MAFS 507 Industry Transformations and Dynamism of Streaming Platforms

The semester brings indigenous aesthetics, documentary traditions, theoretical analysis, screenwriting practice, and changing film-distribution environments into the curriculum.

Electives and Specialization

The third semester gives students a wider choice of specialized film and media subjects.

Elective I includes options such as:

• Cinema Auteurs

• Film Directing Techniques — Practicum

• Photography and Visual Culture

• Film Producing & Legal Issues

• Entrepreneurship in Media & Creative Industries

• Indigenous Visual Cultures in Nepal and Asia

Elective II includes:

• Global Women Filmmakers

• Acting for Screen — Practicum

• Cinematography in South Asia — Practicum

• Audience, Exhibition & Local Markets

• Moving Image Archiving & Preservation

• Climate Change and Green Filmmaking

Elective III includes:

• Film-Philosophy

• Advanced Screenplay Writing — Practicum

• Sound and Cinema — Practicum

• Moving Image Design — Practicum

• International Co-production in Nepal and South Asia

• Nepali Society, Culture and Communication

The elective arrangement lets students concentrate on selected theoretical, creative, technical, cultural, or industry-related areas after completing the common first-year curriculum.

Final Semester, Internship and Graduation Film

The fourth semester carries 21 credits and places greater emphasis on independent and applied work.

Students complete:

• MEDS 507 Media Management — 3 credits

• MAFS 541 Internship — 3 credits

• MAFS 542 Graduation Film Development and Production — 9 credits

• MAFS 552 Dissertation — 6 credits

Graduation Film Development and Production is the largest single component of the semester. Alongside the dissertation and internship, it brings together the practical, research, and professional strands developed throughout the program.

The broader practical structure also includes the production of short films during the program, contributing to a body of creative work developed through study.

Teaching and Learning Approach

MFS combines seminars with practical workshops and project-based study.

Learning methods include:

• Workshop-based learning

• Theoretical seminars

• Film analysis and critiques

• Screenwriting practicum

• Directing and cinematography practicum through relevant electives

• Individual projects

• Collaborative production work

• Graduation film production

• Internship

• Research and dissertation work

Practicum courses provide space for hands-on work, while theory and analysis courses involve discussion and critical examination of film. Internship and industry-oriented coursework add another dimension by connecting academic study with professional media contexts.

Eligibility and Admission Process

Eligibility: Applicants must have completed a bachelor's degree in any discipline with a minimum of 45 percent or 2.0 CGPA.

Admission also requires candidates to pass an entrance examination and interview.

The broad bachelor's-level eligibility means the course is not restricted to graduates of film or media programs. However, applicants entering from another discipline should be prepared for postgraduate work involving film analysis, research, production, writing, collaborative projects, and practical coursework.

Admission, curriculum implementation, examinations, results, and degree awards follow Kathmandu University rules and regulations.

Assessment and Graduation

Most MFS courses use two components of evaluation:

• In-semester evaluation: 70 percent

• Final examination: 30 percent

Practicum-based courses are assessed through ongoing internal evaluation rather than the same final-examination structure used for most other subjects.

Students must maintain a minimum 3.00 CGPA to graduate from the program.

Successful completion of the full 66-credit structure leads to the Master in Film Studies degree.

Students also have an exit option after the first year. Completion of the first 30 credits allows a student to exit with a Postgraduate Diploma.

Skills Students May Develop

The combination of coursework, practicum, electives, internship, research, and graduation film can support development in areas such as:

• Film interpretation and critical analysis

• Screenwriting and narrative development

• Audiovisual production

• Film research

• Academic writing

• Production planning

• Directing or cinematography through relevant elective choices

• Collaborative filmmaking

• Film-related presentation and discussion

• Independent project development

The specific mix of practical abilities will vary according to the electives selected and the responsibilities undertaken during production projects.

Career and Further Study Areas

The academic and practical scope of MFS is relevant to several areas of film and media work.

Graduates may explore opportunities connected with:

• Film directing

• Film production

• Screenwriting

• Cinematography

• Editing

• Sound-related film work

• Film criticism and journalism

• Film and media research

• Teaching and academic work

• Film festival and curation activities

• Archives and moving-image preservation

• Media and creative industries

The program can also provide a foundation for continued academic study or specialized education in film, media, communication, and related creative fields.

Career outcomes depend on individual ability, portfolio, specialization, practical experience, professional networks, and available opportunities rather than the degree alone.

Who May Consider MFS?

Master in Film Studies may suit graduates who want to study cinema through both academic and practical approaches.

It may be particularly relevant to students interested in film theory, filmmaking, screenwriting, audiovisual storytelling, documentary practice, research, criticism, cinematography, production, or the wider media and creative sector.

The course also requires students to work beyond creative production alone. Research methods, theoretical analysis, written academic work, internship, dissertation, and critical discussion form important parts of the degree.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the duration of Master in Film Studies at KUSOA?

Master in Film Studies is a two-year program divided into four semesters.

How many credits are required for the MFS degree?

Students complete 66 credits across the four-semester program.

What is the eligibility for Master in Film Studies?

Applicants must have a bachelor's degree in any discipline with at least 45 percent or a 2.0 CGPA.

Is there an entrance examination for MFS admission?

Yes. Candidates must pass an entrance examination and interview as part of the admission process.

Does Master in Film Studies include practical filmmaking?

Yes. The curriculum includes practicum courses, production work, internship, and a nine-credit Graduation Film Development and Production component.

What electives are available in the MFS program?

Electives cover areas such as film directing, cinematography, acting for screen, photography, film producing, screenplay writing, sound, visual design, film philosophy, archiving, green filmmaking, and international co-production.

Does MFS include a dissertation?

Yes. MAFS 552 Dissertation carries six credits and is completed in the final semester.

What CGPA is required to graduate?

Students must maintain a minimum CGPA of 3.00 to graduate.

Can students exit the program after the first year?

Yes. Students completing 30 credits during the first year may exit with a Postgraduate Diploma.

What career areas can MFS graduates explore?

Graduates may consider film production, directing, screenwriting, cinematography, editing, criticism, research, academic work, curation, archives, and related media and creative fields.