Film is subject to academic study in a variety of different areas, including film history, criticism, and production. Students often analyze the social, political, aesthetic, and narrative features of a particular work, as well as the general theories that underlie filmmaking as a whole.

Students who hold some secondary education credentials and wish to enter a specific profession might find themselves best served by a graduate diploma program. These courses often take a focused look at a subject over the period of one or two years.