Entry requirements

A second-class honours degree (2:2) or above in any related subject; other qualifications or experience will be considered. Applications are welcomed from those with or without prior experience in writing for screen and stage.

As part of the application process, you will need to submit 15-20 pages of a play, or a script for a film or TV drama that you have written. To submit your writing please do the following:

Submit application.
Wait up to 48 hours.
Submit 15-20 pages of a play or script you have written in a single file (Word or PDF) by logging into your MyBirkbeck profile, then going to the ‘Manage my application’ link and attaching the document.

Applications are reviewed on their individual merits, and your professional qualifications and/or relevant work experience will be taken into consideration positively. We actively support and encourage applications from mature learners.

Months of entry

October

Course content

Our MA Writing for Screen and Stage supports your development as a writer across a range of forms, genres and industry contexts, including for film, TV, narrative gaming, theatre and performance. It is ideal if you are keen to work across different media as a scriptwriter who can write for both screen and the stage.

Why choose this course?

You will be taught by established, award-winning writers, script consultants and editors for screen and stage writing, including Daragh Carville (The Bay, Middletown and Being Human), David Eldridge (The Spy Who Came in from the Cold, Beginning, Middle, End, The Scandalous Lady W, In Basildon) and Barbara Cox.
Birkbeck has a leading reputation in creative writing, screenwriting and theatre practice and teaching, with many of our graduates enjoying successful careers in these arenas.
Your studies will be supported by extensive industry engagement designed to help you to progress on your career path beyond this Master’s.

What you will learn

You will learn how to develop scripts for screen and stage: from the conception of an idea, to the writing of a treatment, to the development of a complete script and its pitching. You will also gain an understanding of different forms, genres, histories and theories of scriptwriting and production in national and international contexts.

You will learn how to research and develop writing projects individually and as part of a team. You will also learn about industry practices and expectations, drawing on central London’s wealth of companies and contacts, and how to build a career in the field.

How you will learn

This course is available to study full- or part-time. It has an evening timetable with classes taking place in the evening, so that you can balance studying with work and other commitments.

Teaching on this course is innovative, flexible and engaging. It is conducted in small groups and one-to-one tutorials, with writing practice and script development at the heart of the course. Your final project, which allows you to develop an extended script, will be supported by one-to-one supervision and feedback.

Your learning will be supported by workshops, history and theory, alongside guest lectures from industry writers and leaders, to help you to hone your craft, successfully understand the workings of the sector and find your place within it. You will also write outlines, treatments and full scripts, so you can develop a portfolio of original projects you can use to build your career.

Highlights

Your experience will be enriched by engagement with the Birkbeck Creative Practice Lab, which includes a cinema and performance studio, and supports teaching and research in film, digital media, journalism, theatre and performance.
You will be able to experience the wider research culture of the School of Creative Arts, Culture and Communication, including the opportunity to engage in our annual Arts Week events programme.
Birkbeck was ranked 2nd in the UK for its English Language and Literature research in the 2021 Research Excellence Framework.
We offer a number of bursaries for postgraduate students.

Careers and employability

On successfully graduating from this MA Writing for Screen and Stage, you will have gained an array of important transferable skills, including:

an understanding of the relationship between conceptualising ideas and using practical formats to realise them
an ability to analyse a creative brief and identify appropriate creative models
an ability to work collectively and collaboratively in the production of research and artistic outputs
a comprehensive understanding of different research techniques and methodologies appropriate to postgraduate-level study
refined skills in critical and contextual analysis.

Graduates can pursue career paths in:

writing for TV
writing for film
writing for theatre and performance
writing for gaming
script development
criticism and journalism
the creative arts and industries

We offer a comprehensive careers service - Careers and Enterprise - your career partner during your time at Birkbeck and beyond. At every stage of your career journey, we empower you to take ownership of your future, helping you to make the connection between your experience, education and future ambitions.

Information for international students

If English is not your first language or you have not previously studied in English, the requirement for this programme is the equivalent of an International English Language Testing System (IELTS Academic Test) score of 6.5, with not less than 6.0 in each of the sub-tests.

Qualification, course duration and attendance options

MA
full time
12 months
- Campus-based learningis available for this qualification
part time
24 months
- Campus-based learningis available for this qualification

Course contact details

Name: Student Advice Service
Email: studentadvice@bbk.ac.uk

Phone: +44 (0)20 3907 0700

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Writing for Screen and Stage