Taught course

Film and Screen Production

Institution
University of Derby · College of Arts, Humanities and Education
Qualifications
MA

Entry requirements

You will normally be expected to have an appropriate Film/Writing, or other first degree appropriate to apply for the MA (Minimum 2:2 or above), or a professional qualification of equal standing, or significant practical or professional experience gained following your initial qualification that would support your application.

You should bring your portfolio to the interview normally arranged at the University. You will also be asked to provide a plan of how you intend to use the time on the MA to further your practice.

Months of entry

September

Course content

This practical MA has three pathways in Film, Documentary and Scriptwriting, so you can focus on what you’re passionate about. You'll join a diverse range of students with interesting stories to tell in a supportive and creative community.

You can choose to specialise in film-making, documentary-making or scriptwriting, and under the mentorship of your tutors, you will gradually build the practical, aesthetic and technical skills needed to develop an original creative project. This could be a short film or documentary, or a script for a full-length film, television series, or play. This MA also ensures you build up the commercial awareness and interpersonal skills you will need to succeed in the industry. For instance, we’ll cover pitching technique and how to articulate and sell your ideas.

Why choose this course?

  • You will be taught and mentored by staff who are experienced in the film and TV industry and knowledgeable about its opportunities for employment and commissioning. They will use their extensive professional network to help you find opportunities and placements
  • You will join a vibrant and supportive community of creative content makers, and be encouraged to experiment, take creative risks and find your talent and voice
  • We have high-spec film-making equipment available for you to use, including RED and ARRI digital cameras and traditional celluloid or ‘35mm’ film.

How you'll learn

Throughout this MA, you will get the opportunity to engage with industry professionals. Your tutors are high-profile film-makers and scriptwriters in their own right, and they use their connections to ensure you benefit from masterclasses and Q&As with other prominent directors, writers and producers.

If your interests are in research and academia, you can choose to undertake an advanced research project instead of the creative project. For this, you will conduct a major, extended, in-depth critical review of the theoretical and historical dimensions of your practice. This can be good preparation for further study, such as practice-based doctoral research.

You are initially taught through interactive lectures, seminars, workshops, and screenings. You will then learn and develop your craft in a practical setting through independent and collaborative creative projects, independent research, and study.

There will also be plenty of opportunities to attend local, national, and international events relevant to your pathway, such as film festivals, screenings, networking groups, and research seminars.

Careers

This MA in Film and Screen Production is designed to prepare you for a wide range of roles in the film and screen production industries, from entry level production assistants to producers, directors, writers, cinematographers, sound recordists and postproduction specialists.

Film graduates from our undergraduate programme have set up their own production company, Goldbox, which produces video work for high-profile individuals such as Bear Grylls. Meanwhile, graduates from our previous scriptwriting MA, Writing for Performance, have won industry scriptwriting commissions for film, television and radio and are successfully developing careers in writing.

As a graduate from this MA, you will also be valued by employers because of your high-level transferable skills in communication, technical processes and methodologies, research, and creativity. You will also possess curiosity and imagination, alongside excellent problem-solving skills.

Information for international students

For international students you will need to have qualifications and experience that are at the same level as for a UK student applying for the same course. If English is not your first language, you'll also need an IELTS score of 6.0 or equivalent.

Fees and funding

UK students
£6,750 for the full course
International students
£14,700

Learn more at the funding page.

Qualification, course duration and attendance options

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

Course contact details

Name
Enquiries
Email
marketing@derby.ac.uk
Phone
+44 (0)1332 591044