Course summary
The MA Screenwriting programme is designed to enable you to develop the skills and understanding needed to work as a writer in today’s screen industries. You will gain advanced insight into the work of a screenwriter – deep understanding of screen storytelling and professional scripts, working across a variety of screen platforms and industry contexts, writing short form and feature length scripts, the writer’s role as initiator and enabler, professional working practices and employment strategies. Specific topics range from storytelling and formatting scripts to pitching ideas and projects, from working alone, in partnership or in writers’ rooms to selling ideas to producers and editing scripts in collaboration with other creatives.
- Practical: Pitch your script to a panel of industry experts, see your script performed by actors, and receive script development support from leading UK film and television production companies.
- Comprehensive: Learn about writing for different platforms, including film, television, web, radio, games and commercials.
- Industry-facing: Learn from leading industry tutors and guest speakers with extensive professional experience as writers, directors, showrunners, and script developers in the screen industries.
- Real-life Experience: Write for an external client, and receive real-life screenwriting experience to improve your communication, teamworking, and pitching skills.
- Portfolio: Graduate with a portfolio of content, normally including short film script, treatments for genre feature films, a pilot screenplay, online video scripts, industry-standard script reports, synopses, outlines, project pitches, and a final project feature-length script.
Modules
Screenwriting Craft and Industry: The key roles and responsibilities of the contemporary screenwriter are explored from industrial, ethical, and craft perspectives. You will develop your communication skills by pitching an idea for a short form project, and you will join students from other disciplines for your first collaborative production exercise using a smartphone to make a statement. Writing for Film: In this module you will study the craft of feature film screenwriting, analysing key screenwriting principles including concept, character, and structure. You will receive extensive support to outline a feature film narrative and deliver a scripted first act. Professional Profile: You will develop authentic and detailed career paperwork and supporting materials including a CV and personal profile. As part of the module you will be offered Elective Upskilling sessions – opportunities to develop screen industry skills outside of your chosen discipline or as part of your multi-skilling profile. Writing Digital Content: Using contemporary examples of online content, the module will offer a greater understanding of the practice of writing for different media and encourage both creativity and independent critical thinking. Additionally, you will work collaboratively with students from other disciplines to produce a video artefact for an external client. Writing for Television: You will learn the particular skills a television writer needs to equip themselves with and understand how a 'series bible' is developed, and then maintained, through seasons, with both single writers and multiple writers in a Writer's Room. Practice-based Research: Building on the work of previous and concurrent modules, you will gain a deeper insight into current theories, principles, and discussions relating to issues of diversity, sustainability and ethics within the screen industries. Final Project and Career Plan: Your project is an opportunity to deliver work that is distinctive, industry-aware, based in research and reflects awareness of a diverse and inclusive world. You will also present your career plan, including evidence of new skills to be assessed by industry employers as you prepare to enter or re-enter the screen industries on graduation.
Assessment method
Assessment includes a final Master’s project.
Qualified teacher status (QTS)
To work as a teacher at a state school in England or Wales, you will need to achieve qualified teacher status (QTS). This is offered on this course for the following level:
- Course does not award QTS
How to apply
International applicants
For more information please visit our website: https://www.metfilmschool.ac.uk/admissions/international/ LANGUAGE LEVEL REQUIREMENTS Students applying for a visa via the Student Route must provide evidence of their English language ability. The following tests are satisfactory to demonstrate this: IELTS, TOEFL, Cambridge PET, ESOL Skills for Life Level 1 and 2, Trinity Level 1. - IELTS – MA Postgraduate courses requirements: Students need to achieve an IELTS overall score of at least 6.5 with at least 6.5 in writing and at least 5.5 in listening, reading and speaking.
Entry requirements
Applicants must have a minimum 2:1 honours degree from a UK university or overseas equivalent. Applicants without this qualification, but possessing relevant work experience, are also invited to apply. Each application is considered on its individual merits.
Fees and funding
Tuition fees
| England | £21000 | Whole course |
| Northern Ireland | £21000 | Whole course |
| Scotland | £21000 | Whole course |
| Wales | £21000 | Whole course |
| Channel Islands | £21000 | Whole course |
| Republic of Ireland | £21000 | Whole course |
| EU | £23000 | Whole course |
| International | £23000 | Whole course |
Tuition fee status depends on a number of criteria and varies according to where in the UK you will study. For further guidance on the criteria for home or overseas tuition fees, please refer to the UKCISA website .
Additional fee information
Course fees include:
Tuition, production equipment and support, first aid and health & safety training, production and post production facilities, access to industry masterclasses and networking.
Provider information
MetFilm
Ealing Studios
Ealing Green
Ealing
W5 5EP