MA Television

The course team welcomes applicants from a broad range of backgrounds, from all over the world. MA Television attracts applications from graduates of a good honours degree in a relevant subject such as either film, television or related media subject. We will also consider graduates of a good honours degree in any other subjects who can demonstrate a developed interest in, and knowledge of, current television practice and output.

Such fields may include print journalism, photography, project management, business, general management and any other discipline or area which it is felt will bring a variety of experience and imagination to the course.

If you do not have the required qualifications, but do have professional experience, you may be eligible to gain credit for previous learning and experience.

The educational level may be demonstrated by:

• Honours degree (named above);
• Possession of equivalent qualifications;
• Prior experiential learning, the outcome of which can be demonstrated to be equivalent to formal qualifications otherwise required, demonstrating relevant experience and an aptitude for film, television or other moving-image production subjects;
• Or a combination of formal qualifications and experiential learning which, taken together, can be demonstrated to be equivalent to formal qualifications otherwise required.

APEL (Accreditation of Prior Learning)

Applicants who do not meet these course entry requirements may still be considered in exceptional cases. The course team will consider each application that demonstrates additional strengths and alternative evidence. This might, for example, be demonstrated by:

• Related academic or work experience
• The quality of the personal statement
• A strong academic or other professional reference
• OR a combination of these factors

Each application will be considered on its own merit but we cannot guarantee an offer in each case.

For fees and funding information, please see website 

As a student on MA Television you will learn the key technical skills needed to make television programmes, including camera operation, sound recording and editing. However, the course is primarily designed to prepare you for the role of:

• Producer
• Production Manager
• Researcher
• Director

You will develop an understanding of the business aspects of programme-making that will stand you in good stead to work in the independent sector and/or as freelance producer/directors. Such understanding will also be attractive to employers – broadcasters or larger production companies – who will value the commercial sense and understanding offered by graduates of MA Television.

Autumn, term 1

• Media Cultures Terms 1, 2 and 3 (60 credits)
  You’ll be introduced to critical study of the factual television programme industry: not only in terms of its current practice, but also its history and future. You’ll also learn an overview of relevant formats and the underlying story development process.  
• Production (20 credits)
  Working to an editorial brief, you’ll participate in the making of 2 factual television programmes as part of an intensive, practice-based introduction to production techniques. You’ll learn about studio practice in our multi-cam television studio, and about production on location.  

Spring, term 2

• Production and Media Cultures (continues)
• Collaborative unit (20 credits)
  You’ll identify, form and develop collaborative working relationships with a range of potential partners or briefs, both across the University and externally. Learn about the concept of talent, produce a treatment and proof of concept, draft a budget and production schedule, and make a competitive pitch to industry standards.
• Major Project – Development and Commencement (60 credits across 3 terms)
  You’ll research and develop individual pitches, proposals, treatments, business plans, budgets and proofs of concept for your Major Project. 

Summer, term 3

• Major Project – Pitches, Production and Offline Post Production (continued)
  Using your research in development from the Spring term, you'll develop a presentation for competitive pitching sessions where a selection panel will determine the proposals selected for full production. You’ll then form teams to begin pre-production of your studio-/location-based Major Project television programme, before working as a production and post-production group to produce a rough cut.

Autumn, term 4

• Major Project – Post Production and Reflection (continued)
  In your fourth term, you’ll refine the rough cut of your Major Project and reflect on both your development portfolio and your group production: analysing the collaborative process in your team and its outcome, your own role within that, and the market value of your work.
• Professional Futures (20 credits)
  In this unit, you’ll be coached and mentored in your career planning through areas including: research into employment opportunities or the development of start-ups; networking and approaches to potential employers; the refinement of your CV; and the creation of a calling card portfolio.