MA Film Making
Key details
- Attendance
- Full Time
- Award
- Degree of Master of Arts
- Course Length
- 1 year
- Course Start Date
- September 2027
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UEA is ranked top 20 in the UK for Research QualityCourse Overview
Why MA Filmmaking at UEA?
Develop your portfolio as an independent filmmaker and prepare for the screen industry with MA Filmmaking.
Why Choose UEA
- Serious filmmaking: Take your practice to the next level by making festival-ready, showreel-worthy content
- Real mentorship: Work with leading academics and industry mentors to develop your creative voice
- Tell your story: Connect with like-minded creatives using industry-grade facilities to build your portfolio
What is MA Filmmaking?
This course is designed to harness your skills in screen storytelling and help you enter the UK screen industry. We’ll help you refine your filmmaking practice, allowing you to develop your profile as an independent filmmaker.
The course is centered on independent filmmaking practice with opportunities to enrich your profile with modules in topics like festival organisation, creative business, screenwriting and online video production. The course also allows for professional placements so that you can take advantage of emerging opportunities while you study.
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Careers
Career Pathways
With MA Filmmaking, you could develop a career as a:
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Film Director: Lead the creative vision of a film and guide cast and crew during production
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Film Producer: Manage film projects, securing funding and coordinating cast, crew, and production
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Cinematographer: Shape the visual style of a film through lighting, camera work, and composition
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Film Editor: Assemble footage and craft the final story during post-production
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Screenwriter: Write scripts and develop stories for film and screen productions
Career Support
Teaching is delivered by staff with extensive, real‑world experience in film and television production, ensuring you’re fully prepared for a career in the screen industries.
Our Industry Week and guest speaker events connect you with relevant industry professionals, alongside ongoing support from industry mentors who guide your development and help shape your practice.
Alongside the portfolio you’ll produce, our dedicated careers service, Career Central(opens in a new window), can help you refine your creative industry profile, and maximise your visibility to prospective employers.
After the Course
Graduate with the skills to work in the film and television and media industries, both in the UK and elsewhere in the world. You’ll be prepared for creative, technical, and logistical roles in film and television production and digital media making.
Study and Modules
Structure
Across your compulsory core modules in semesters one and two, you'll work closely with academic tutors and industry mentors to produce a range of short, filmed projects that develop your practical filmmaking skills and strengthen your professional profile. These projects are designed to build confidence across key areas of film and video production, while encouraging creative experimentation and collaboration within a supportive learning environment.
The work you produce will form the basis of a comprehensive online portfolio that showcases your creative abilities, technical competence, and emerging personal style. Alongside this, you'll develop an eye‑catching showreel suitable for sharing with professional and creative networks, helping you to begin positioning yourself within the industry. Your creative and technical processes will be guided through intensive practical workshops, complemented by group and individual tutorials with academic staff and industry mentors, ensuring regular feedback and professional insight throughout your development.
In addition to finished film work, you'll develop professional documentation and reflective practices, including behind‑the‑scenes materials, development work, and an artist statement. These elements will help you articulate your creative identity, working methods, and areas of expertise for public and professional audiences. The core modules provide opportunities to generate high‑quality content, pursue externally focused or client‑led projects, establish a track record within your preferred genres or formats, and refine skills tailored to your intended career path.
Alongside the core curriculum, optional modules in Semesters one and two allow you to explore specialist areas of film and video production in greater depth. Options may include screenwriting, online video production, Film festival organisation, and pitching or development, enabling you to shape the course around your interests.
In your final semester, you'll produce a substantial showpiece film intended for festival submission, consolidating your learning and supporting your transition into professional practice.
Compulsory Modules
Optional A Modules
(Credits: 20)Optional B Modules
(Credits: 20)Whilst the University will make every effort to offer the modules listed, changes may sometimes be made arising from the annual monitoring, review and update of modules. Where this activity leads to significant (but not minor) changes to programmes and their constituent modules, the University will endeavour to consult with students and others. It is also possible that the University may not be able to offer a module for reasons outside of its control, such as the illness of a member of staff. In some cases optional modules can have limited places available and so you may be asked to make additional module choices in the event you do not gain a place on your first choice. Where this is the case, the University will inform students.
Teaching and Learning
Teaching is delivered through a mix of group sessions and one‑to‑one tutorials, giving you plenty of opportunities to develop your films in a supportive, practical learning environment. Regular workshops focus on making, testing and refining work, helping you learn by doing and encouraging you to experiment with ideas, techniques and equipment.
The course is taught by experienced academics who are also active practitioners, bringing real‑world film and television production knowledge directly into the classroom. Alongside the teaching team, you'll be supported by industry mentors who work with you at key stages of the course. These mentors offer practical advice on developing projects, overcoming creative and technical challenges, and understanding professional production workflows.
Throughout your studies, you'll receive regular feedback on work in progress and be encouraged to reflect on your creative decisions. This practical, industry‑focused approach helps you build confidence on set, strengthen your collaboration skills, and develop a body of work that reflects your growing identity as a filmmaker.
Assessment
Across your core modules, assessment focuses on the creation of a professional portfolio of film material and a developing showreel, designed to support your entry into industry networks and showcase your creative and technical skills. These assessments reflect real-world workflows and emphasise the importance of producing high-quality work suitable for professional contexts.
For your capstone project, assessment centres on the production of a substantial, showpiece film that is fully developed, polished, and ready for submission to film festivals or similar public platforms. This final project represents the culmination of your learning and creative development throughout the course.
In addition to film production outcomes, assessment may also include a range of complementary formats such as screenplays, project pitches, short-form video content, presentations, and reflective written pieces. Together, these assessment types support both practical skill development and critical reflection on your creative practice.
Teaching and Learning, and Assessment
Teaching and Learning
Teaching is delivered through group and individual tutorials with reflective workshops guiding your film making.
The course is taught by leading academics and supported by industry mentors who will guide you at key points of study and advance your filmmaking experience.
Assessment
In your core modules, you'll be assessed on the portfolio of film material and showreel that you produce to share with your developing networks. For your capstone project, you'll be assessed on the showpiece, festival submission ready film that you produce. Other assessment types may include screenplays, pitches, video content, presentations, and reflective pieces.
Entry Requirements
- This course is open to
UK and International fee-paying students. Choose UK or International above to see relevant information. The entry point is in September each year.
- Typical UK Entry Requirements
Degree classification
Bachelors degree - 2.2
Degree Subject
Any subject area
- Additional Entry Requirements
Applicants are expected to submit a video reel of 3 to 5mins. This will be requested at a later stage in the application.
Please submit any short films and any other moving image work you wish to include by sending us a weblink (e.g. Vimeo/YouTube/Cloud Drives etc.).
You will also be able to provide this in one of the following formats: .vi, .mov, .mpeg, .mpg, .swf, .mp4. Maximum file size is 1GB.
- Admissions Policy
Our Admissions Policy applies to the admissions of all postgraduate applicants.
- This course is open to
UK and International fee-paying students. Choose UK or International above to see relevant information. The entry point is in September each year.
- Typical International Entry Requirements
Degree classification
UK Bachelors degree - 2.2 or equivalent
Degree Subject
Any subject area
- Additional Entry Requirements
Applicants are expected to submit a video reel of 3 to 5mins. This will be requested at a later stage in the application.
Please submit any short films and any other moving image work you wish to include by sending us a weblink (e.g. Vimeo/YouTube/Cloud Drives etc.).
You will also be able to provide this in one of the following formats: .vi, .mov, .mpeg, .mpg, .swf, .mp4. Maximum file size is 1GB.
- English Foreign Language
Applications from students whose first language is not English are welcome. We require evidence of proficiency in English (including writing, speaking, listening and reading):
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IELTS: 6.0 overall with minimum 5.5 in each component.
Test dates should be within 2 years of the course start date.
We also accept a number of other English language tests. Review our English Language Equivalencies(opens in a new window) for a list of qualifications that we may accept to meet this requirement.
If you do not yet meet the English language requirements for this course, UEA International Study Centre offer a variety of English language programmes which are designed to help you develop the required English skills.
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- Admissions Policy
Our Admissions Policy applies to the admissions of all postgraduate applicants.
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Fees and Funding
Tuition fees for the Academic Year 2027/28 are:
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UK Students: £11,750
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International Students: £25,000
We estimate living expenses at £1,171 per month.
Further Information on tuition fees can be found here(opens in a new window).
Scholarships and Bursaries
The University of East Anglia offers a range of Scholarships(opens in a new window); please click the link for eligibility, details of how to apply and closing dates.
Course Related Costs
Please see additional course fees(opens in a new window) for details of course-related costs.
How to Apply
How to apply
Applications for Postgraduate Taught programmes at the University of East Anglia should be made directly to the University.
To apply please use our online application form(opens in a new window).
Further information
If you would like to discuss your individual circumstances prior to applying, please do contact us:
Postgraduate Admissions Office
Tel: +44 (0)1603 591515
Email: admissions@uea.ac.uk(opens in a new window)
International candidates are also encouraged to access the International Students(opens in a new window) section of our website.