United Kingdom

University of the Arts London

MA Screenwriting

University degrees: Postgraduate

Course length: 1 year 3 months full time (45 weeks across a four-term model)

MA Screenwriting is an industry-focused screenwriting course that develops writers and script editors for the film, television and radio industries.

MA Screenwriting at London College of Communication is one of the UK’s leading film and TV scripting courses, with a strong reputation in the industry.

Graduates of MA Screenwriting have gone on to win numerous awards, both UK and international, work on major film projects in active development and are writing for a wide range of programmes currently being screened on UK television.

Leading the field, this industry-focused screenwriting course is aimed at developing writers for film, television and/or radio industries. The course will provide you with the opportunity to develop the abilities, knowledge and skills you will need for a career in scriptwriting.

What can you expect?

MA Screenwriting introduces you to the foundations of contemporary scriptwriting practice in a theoretical context.

You’ll develop research methodologies that will become the foundation for future practice and analysis.

The course offers you the opportunity to study feature film, television and radio narrative, the development of a script from a short story and research, which lays the foundation for your major project.

You will also complete a collaborative unit that reflects your specialist interests in scriptwriting and related topics, whilst engaging with the need to understand and communicate with the industry you wish to work in.

In the last term of the course, you’ll undertake a major project that allows you to focus on a specialist area of interest that you identified during your previous study.

You will write several drafts of an original screenplay for film or TV or a TV pilot episode(s) with format documents. In addition, you’ll engage in peer-to-peer review and the writing of reader reports.

Mode of Study

MA Screenwriting is in Full Time mode which runs for 45 weeks over 15 months. You will be expected to commit 40 hours per week to study.

Course units

Each course is divided into units, which are credit-rated. The minimum unit size is 20 credit and the maximum 60 credits. The MA course structure involves 7 units, totalling 180 credits.

Autumn, Term 1

Short Film: Process and Practice (20 credits)
Industry Knowledge, Skills and Methodologies (40 credits)

Spring, Term 2

TV / Film / Radio: Adaptation – Existing Format – Process and Practice (20 credits)
TV / Film / Radio: Adaptation – Critical Analysis and Research Methodologies (20 credits)
Industry Knowledge, Skills and Methodologies (continued)
Collaborative Unit (20 credits)

Summer, Term 3

TV / Film / Radio: Adaptation – Existing Format – Process and Practice (continued)
TV / Film / Radio: Adaptation – Critical Analysis and Research Methodologies (continued)
Industry Knowledge, Skills and Methodologies (continued)
Major Project – Applied Research (20 credits)
Major Project – Process and Practice (40 credits)

Autumn, Term 4

Major Project – Applied Research (continued)
Major Project – Process and Practice (continued)

If you are unable to continue or decide to exit the course, there are two possible exit awards. A Postgraduate Certificate will be awarded on successful completion of the first 60 credits and a Postgraduate Diploma will be awarded on successful completion of the first 120 credits.

Learning and teaching methods

  • Workshops
  • Practical exercises
  • Lectures
  • Independent study
  • Screenings
  • Seminars and tutorials

Assessment methods

  • Screenplay/radio play
  • Analytical reader reports
  • Theoretical analysis
  • Collaborative unit
  • Major project (film or tv)
  • Industry pitching ‘sales’ documents
  • Critical reflection, research report/ dossier

Programs, Courses, Workshops