Screenwriting MA

Course overview

What does this course offer?

• Taught by academic staff who are all professional working writers, with wide-ranging industry credits
• Combines four on-campus ‘Residentials’ with four ‘Writing Periods’ in-between, guided by distance-learning seminars and tuition with support from your tutors and interaction with your fellow students on a dedicated website
• The intensive learning periods focus on scriptwriting craft, scriptwriting theory along with an awareness of industry practice
• Accredited by Skillset.

Where could this lead to?

Our graduates have gone on to find a range of career opportunities open to them, such as:

• Working for Aardman Animation
• Writing for Emmerdale, Doctors, Crossroads and similar TV programmes
• Working as a script editor
• Writing for the stage
• Writing online drama
• Producing prize winning short films
• Producing feature films
• A BAFTA win (Myles McLeod 2012)

Who should do this course?

• The course is designed for writers, members of the media industry and other suitable professions, or for those seeking such careers.
• The normal requirement is an honours degree or comparable qualification, but appropriate experience is taken into account and all applications are treated on an individual basis.
• You will be asked to submit examples of your writing work (eg. a 10-15mins script), along with your application form which best reflect your creative voice.

Tell me more....

This part-time MA Screenwriting course is taught by residential (attendance) periods combined with distance-learning, allowing you to fit study in-and-around your other commitments.

You will be on campus for approximately 20 days during the entire two-year course in a total of four residential periods. During these periods you will be involved in a range of activities that are designed to develop your knowledge and expertise, in the area of 'writing for the screen', such as:

• Lectures
• Presentations
• Seminars
• Analysed screenings
• Workshops
• One-to-one tutorials.

Forming the core of the course, all script assignments are fully prepared during these residencies. Throughout the rest of the programme the online environment enhances the learning experience with online seminars, peer feedback groups and discussion threads. A distance tutorial schedule allows for close supervision and guidance from the tutor. You will be allocated to a different tutor for each assignment, so that during the two-year programme you have the experience of working with a variety of styles and methods.

What our students say:

"I wanted to say thank you for a really exceptional MA experience. Working with all the academics on the team was enriching and helped me to meet some very fine and very professional people." - Marie Amsler, 2010 (Marie's feature film Puppe was released in 2011)

Interested in studying full time? Please also see MA Scriptwriting