MA Filmmaking

Our Integrated Pre-Master's course will prepare for postgraduate study by improving your academic and creative skills before your degree begins.

You'll build a portfolio of work whilst you explore your subject specialism and benefit from personal development tutoring that will support your academic growth and help refine your specialism. 

If you need to enhance your English language skills you can opt to join a pre-sessional English course to improve your IELTS score as well.

Learn more about the Integrated Pre-Masters course

You'll be introduced to the University and the technical workshops and facilities available to you. The first term includes a range of lectures and seminars and you’ll start to explore your creative practice.

Launch
Your launch week is all about gaining a clear understanding of what it takes to work collaboratively through a series of workshops, fully preparing you for your year of studies. 

The Craft of Filmmaking
Covering producing, directing, camera, lighting, sound, editing, post-production and health and safety, this unit is designed to provide you with a comprehensive introduction to the key craft skills, techniques, and practices used in filmmaking. You’ll demonstrate your knowledge through a combination of practical work and written assignments, including a final project where you will create your own short film.

Optional units

Depending on your pathway choice, you can choose one of the following options:

Cinematography
In addition to investigating the various tools and techniques used by contemporary cinematographers, you will study the technical and aesthetic evolution of cinematography, the principles of cinematography, camera movement, lighting, colour theory and health and safety. 

Directing
You will investigate the art, craft and techniques of directing for fiction films, engage in practical exercises to develop your skills and analyse the work of notable directors. Subjects taught include script analysis and interpretation, film grammar, visual storytelling, and working with actors and the crew. 

During term two you will begin developing your MA project, evaluating and testing out the aims of your proposal over a sustained period of self-directed study.

Opportunity Week
The 48-hour Film Challenge is a filmmaking competition where in teams, the filmmakers have just 48 hours to write, shoot and edit a short film. The week will begin with teams randomly assigned a genre, a character, a prop and a line of dialogue that must be included in the film. They present their idea on Tuesday, and have Wednesday and Thursday to write, shoot and edit their short film. On the final day, the films are screened for a panel of judges, who will award prizes for the best films in various categories.

Film Production (non-fiction and fiction)
You’ll learn about the different roles and responsibilities of the production team and how to manage each stage of production: pre-production, production and post-production. The unit will also cover the technical and logistical aspects of film production, such as budgeting, scheduling, assembling cast, crew and equipment, risk assessment, and health and safety.

Optional units

Depending on your pathway choice, you can choose one of the following options:

Screenwriting
The unit covers the fundamental concepts and techniques of scriptwriting, including story structure, character development, dialogue and formatting. You will learn how to develop your own unique voice as a writer and how to create engaging narratives and relatable characters. You’ll also cover formatting and industry standards for script submissions, and the role of the script in the entire filmmaking process.

Producing
In this unit, you will investigate each stage of the contemporary film production process, including development, pre-production, production, post-production and distribution. You’ll also learn about the financial and legal aspects of film production, including budgeting, scheduling, contracts and health and safety.

Editing and Post-Production
In addition to investigating the tools and techniques used by contemporary editors, you will study technique of film editing, current editing software, workflows, use of sound and music, colour grading, and health and safety. The unit will also cover the role of the editor in each stage of the production process.

Sound Design
You’ll gain a broad understanding of the intricacies of sound design in this unit, including sound recording, Foley, editing, mixing, current recording and post-production tools, and health and safety. The unit will also cover the role of sound design in each stage of the production process.

In the third term of the course, you'll apply the knowledge gained through your research to create a final body of work.

Final Major Project
The Final Major Project is the culmination of your course, where you will conceptualise, research, develop and produce a short film or a feature-length screenplay. For this, you will work in teams and in specific production roles. Starting with an intensive research and development phase, the unit continues with pre-production, production, and post. Each team’s work will be given a final screening, where the team will give a presentation.  

Timetable

During the early weeks of each term, you will be on campus in teaching sessions, tutorials, and workshops 3-4 days per week.

Once you begin production on your films and work on your assessments, you will typically only have one scheduled feedback session per week. You are welcome to be on campus on non-teaching days to access facilities and to work with your colleagues.

Expected learning hours

Integrated Pre-masters course

• Independent study: 70%
• Scheduled teaching: 30% 
• Online delivery: 0%
• Placement: 0%

MA course

• Independent study: 66.7%
• Scheduled teaching: 33.3% 
• Online delivery: 0%
• Placement: 0%

Please note, these details are for 2025 entry and could be subject to change for other years of entry.