This interdisciplinary masters programme is designed to help you take the specialist academic knowledge from your first degree and apply it in practical ways to kick-start your career in broadcasting or scholarly research. Combining academic and professional training, the programme provides hands-on skills with a core of understanding about how the industry works, promoting both critical and creative thought. This programme also offers the opportunity to gain a Skillset accredited qualification in Health and Safety, in addition to your MA, which is a great enhancement to your CV.
The MA also includes a unique 12-week work placement in the media industry at a partner company, such as Maverick Television.
The quality, creativity and originality of the UK’s production industry is highly respected across the globe – hence its position as the biggest exporter of programmes after the US. British programming leads the way in factual entertainment, documentaries and light entertainment, and the US now looks to the UK as a source of inspiration. The MA in Film and Television: Research and Production gives you the chance to come and train alongside the creative talent who set the standard for the rest of the world.
Successfully completing the History, Film and Television course will reward you with a Masters degree in just one year, as well as providing real experience within a UK media company.
You will complete the following taught modules:
Development and Production for Film and Television
This module is delivered through a combination of small project assignments, masterclasses from industry experts, and group seminar work. It provides you with a realistic overview of the challenges of both development and production.
Documentary Filmmaking
This module acquaints you with critical concepts in documentary filmmaking, recognisable across histories, genres, nationalities and media. Weekly seminars cover a range of styles and tones of documentary film from early cinema to reality television, providing you with a strong appreciation of the technical and editorial complexities of documentary filmmaking, and an understanding of the relationship between intention and form.
Research Skills and Methods
This module helps you to decide on a topic and plan for your audio-visual or written dissertation. It guides you through using research resources such as academic journals and online databases, and it shows you how to plan your final piece of work.
In addition, you will complete a placement and a dissertation:
Placement
In the second or third semester, you will complete a placement in the production and broadcast industry, lasting up to 12 weeks. You might want to work in a well-known company or gain your experience working for a specialist or newer production house. We have strong links with local companies and there is also a possibility of working in London, other cities in the UK or even abroad. We’ll work with you to identify and target the right company – helping you to become proactive about networking and learn to seek out your own opportunities in a freelance career path. During the placement you can build on your skills and contacts in a highly competitive industry.
Dissertation
You have the option of submitting a written or audio-visual dissertation. Most students take this opportunity to build their production skills further, creating a film for their show reel or portfolio. You will work towards getting your film broadcast on internet or cable television channels, at cinemas or film festivals. Your film will be underpinned by independent research and academic supervision. If you choose to do an audio-visual dissertation you will also submit a 4,000-word evaluation. If you choose to do a written dissertation, its length will be 15,000 words.
Modules and courses are constantly updated and under review. As with most academic programmes, please remember that it is possible that a module may not be offered in any particular year. The University of Birmingham reserves the right to vary or withdraw any course or module.
We charge an annual tuition fee. Fees for 2013/14 are as follows:
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Home / EU: full-time - £5,490
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Overseas: full-time - £13,200
Part-time programme fees are one half of the full-time programme fees.
Learn more about fees and funding
Scholarships and studentships
Scholarships to cover fees and/or maintenance costs may be available.
For further information, visit the College of Arts and Law scholarships page or email financialsupport@bham.ac.uk
International students can often gain funding through overseas research scholarships, Commonwealth scholarships or their home government.