Directing and Producing Science and Natural History

Entry requirements

You must be able to demonstrate your passion and commitment to developing a career in television, and may already have some experience of television production.

Typically, applicants will have a proven interest in science and natural history, which may involve a background in Physics, Chemistry, combined Natural Sciences, Zoology, Biology, Psychology, Wildlife Photography or filmmaking.

While many applicants will have a degree from a British or overseas university, we will consider applicants who do not have a degree if they have an impressive portfolio, a creative track record or an alternative qualification.

Months of entry

January

Course content

Could you make the next Life of the Universe, The Surgeon’s Cut or A Year on Planet Earth? This one-of-a-kind MA course aims to give you the skills and expertise needed to direct science and wildlife productions; the know-how to produce and direct entire shows and the ability, confidence and knowledge to generate and pitch ideas to commissioners.

The course includes masterclasses from Industry experts (including the world-renowned BBC Natural History Unit) and work experience at major wildlife and science production companies. You’ll make your own films, with all production costs met by the school, and on graduating, you’ll have the opportunity to build a brilliant list of industry contacts and relevant skills for a career as a Producer/Director.

With a passion for science and the natural world alongside a love of storytelling, you can adapt and further your knowledge at the NFTS, learning what you need to become a filmmaker at an exciting time in this industry, documenting how we interact with the world and helping to bring together the stories that need to be told.

Course Facilities

As a NFTS student, you will be given full access to the largest production facilities you’ll find at a film school in the UK, including top-of-the-range cameras and lenses, sound recording equipment and the latest editing software.

What You Will Study

This course gives you the skills to confidently direct science and natural history productions, the know-how to produce entire shows, and the ability to generate new programme ideas and formats. You’ll gain a practical working knowledge of current television production methods and insight into how the business works, as well as being on top of current trends.

We put a strong emphasis on professional practice. This means that student projects will be expected to measure up to scientific scrutiny, as well as exhibition and broadcast standards.

You will carry out assignments in the specialist skills of long-lens, time-lapse and macro-photography. In the 1st year, you will not only produce and direct, but also shoot and edit a 10-minute film. In the 2nd year, your 20-25 minute graduation film is made in collaboration with NFTS student editors, composers and sound designers.

As part of the course, you will be exposed to the development and production challenges of specialist factual genres from Blue Chip natural history and landmark science series to children’s, people and nature, live, expedition films, magazine formats and observational documentary. In addition, there will be a focus on promoting cross-genre ideas to foster creativity.

Information for international students

This course is open to UK/EU/International students.

Fees and funding

Please visit our website for fees information. All production costs are included in the course fees, including the use of School facilities and equipment.

The NFTS is committed to ensuring it is open to students of genuine ability, no matter what their background or financial circumstances, which is why we award more scholarships and bursaries to British students, relative to the size of our student body, than almost any other educational institution in the UK.