Literature, Film, and Theatre Studies

If for any reason you are unable to travel to campus to start the academic year, all teaching will be available virtually. This means that you can start, or continue, your programme off-campus, wherever you are, with full flexibility to transfer to on-campus learning as soon as you are able to.

Across all our five subject areas (Journalism, Literature, Creative Writing, Film and Drama) we will be programming in our normal varied blend of lectures, seminars, news-days, and workshops (as appropriate to the subject you will be studying). Most of our teaching will be online this autumn term, although we will be teaching a few modules and classes (in Journalism, drama and practical film, with one or two selected literature classes or tutorials) on-campus with appropriate physical distancing and other measures in place such as mask-wearing and increased cleaning to keep you safe. We are planning and aiming to deliver on-campus, face-to-face teaching later in the year, in the spring and summer terms, where we possibly can, especially in practical drama and film.

For the 2020 academic year, we are focusing on ensuring that we are able to deliver a quality education and that your teaching and learning can continue if there is further disruption. That’s why we’ve been working hard to ensure that our students are able to start with us in October – in whatever way possible. The changes we have made to support you and protect your health and wellbeing mean that, for most of our courses in the autumn term we are teaching online; however some modules in journalism, documentary film-making and drama are planned for delivery face-to-face this autumn term.

Teaching online will be offered “live” but will also be available “asynchronously” to access at times that suit you.

We know that your learning experience is about more than just attending classes, and our campuses can provide you with all you need to make the most of your studies. This includes private space to study, in your on-campus study bedrooms as well as in PC labs and other spaces on our three campuses for self-study. We can also offer you access to laptops on loan and access to our library services; as well as enhanced wifi provision across our campuses.

Your learning experience will also include:

• Personalised one-to-one consultations with academic staff
  In the autumn term, these will be online, so you will be able to ‘drop in’ and discuss your academic progress one-to-one with your tutors during virtual office hours, or at an arranged time to suit you.
• Flexible learning
  If for any reason you are unable to travel to campus to start the year, we can offer you the alternative of starting your programme off-campus, wherever you are, with full flexibility to transition to on-campus learning as soon as you are able to.
• Synchronous and asynchronous learning
  This means that everyone in your online group or class will be learning together at the same time, by attending a live lecture, workshop or seminar. Other learning will be ‘asynchronous’ – that is, accessed by you at a time that suits you. This might be reading an article, watching a film or broadcast, listening to a podcast, posting a blog or a creative or critical response to something you have encountered in your course.
• No changes to module content
  Module content will not be reduced.
• Academic support hours
  Weekly academic support hours with all tutors will be available, offering you one-to-one consultation and support. In the autumn term, these will be mainly online via Zoom.
• No formal written exams in the Summer term of 2020-21 for Literature, Film, Creative Writing and Drama
  Instead the summer term will be used to complete assignments that will allow you to make the most of your literary, critical, creative and research skills, in a flexible way. 
• Timetabling practical Film and Drama teaching and learning into the Summer and late Spring term
  to maximise our chances of uninterrupted-by-the-pandemic learning in our theatres, film and drama studios and media suites. Some of these are designed as intensive periods of working together as a group, nine-to-five, every day, Monday to Friday, on creative projects, such as films or theatre productions.
• Continuous and carefully curated assessments through a variety of formats
  This includes essays, presentations, research articles, and critical, creative, or practical assignments as appropriate to your degree subject. For example, some modules will invite you to create an ‘online portfolio’ of materials, which may include writing a blog, a review, completing a quiz, or posting a contribution several times per term to an online Moodle discussion forum.
• Encouraging creativity in your assignments
  We are also making use of digital, audio and online means so that you can be as creative as possible in your assignments.

We recognise that some students may have difficulty travelling to campus in time to start the academic year. If for any reason you are unable to travel to campus to start the academic year, all teaching will be available virtually. This means that you can start, or continue, your programme off-campus, wherever you are, with full flexibility to transfer to on-campus learning as soon as you are able to. All of our modules are designed to support you to continue learning and still be able to access one-to-one consultation and guidance that you would normally get from the lecturers on your course, if further outbreaks of infection occur during the year. This means you can join us in full confidence that you can continue and complete your programme of study.

There is lots of helpful information about starting at Essex in our guide for applicants should you have any questions, feel uncertain about something in particular, or, would like up to date information on specific topics if your situation changes. If you are an overseas student and you aren't able to join us on Campus in the autumn, then you will need to be aware of some immigration changes taking place in January 2021.

In the Department

We are planning an exciting programme of events to enable us to spend time together – including outside walks or teaching events where this is possible, coffee and group conversation in a virtual café and opportunities to meet visiting speakers or poets – online or in person, as the case may be.

We will use all our ingenuity to bring students together into social situations outside of class-time, as we have always done. In the past we have run competitions, parties, picnics, pizza nights, quizzes and talent shows, and, we are adding to our extra-curricular repertoire with online poetry and play readings, conferences, and film screenings.

You will be joining a dynamic research community from day one of your studies in LiFTS. We will be continuing to schedule our regular programmes of visiting speakers from across all areas of film, journalism, drama, literature and creative writing; these will include leading industry professionals, as well as the best international academics.

You will continue to have the opportunity to take up work placements, internships and work-based learning, online or in-person depending on what conditions allow, and as appropriate to your degree course.

On Campus

We have been working in partnership with our Students’ Union to ensure that you can enjoy our clubs, societies, activities and services. We have built in flexibility to enable you to access support and activities, and to shape your experience around your life.

To learn more about the range of events Essex will be hosting, please visit our events calendar. To stay up to date with the very latest guidance on how to visit your campus, view our coming onto campus guide.

The health and wellbeing of our students is our priority, and this has been one of the focuses to ensure students can start on campus – safely – in October.

This means we are constantly monitoring advice from the UK Government, Public Health England, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, and the World Health Organisation.

To protect our community on campus once the academic year starts again in October, we will be looking to introduce the following measures:

• Enhanced cleaning and sterilising regimes
• Social distancing in line with international guidance
• Signage and floor markings in key locations to help you move around our campuses safely

We’re asking you to wear face coverings in all public campus areas where social distancing is difficult to maintain or in specifically designated locations. We’ll be supporting you by giving two washable face coverings to all students.

These include:

• Medical support and healthcare (and our online mental health programme SilverCloud)
• Mental and emotional health support
• Personalised advice and support from the Student Services Hub

The University also runs a variety of online events throughout the year including at-home yoga and mindfulness sessions.

To find out more about the network of support you will benefit from during your time at Essex, please visit the Student Directory.