MA in Scriptwriting

An intensive, practical course designed to produce professional writers and compelling scripts.

Weekend workshops at Corsham Court campus.

Taught by acclaimed industry professionals – working practitioners who continue to love what they do.

You'll craft a practical project, which leads to a showcase presentation.

Take your writing to the highest level, and develop clear strategies for professional success. With a combination of expert guidance and peer-group workshopping, we encourage you to develop your unique voice while meeting the demands of a highly competitive industry.

We cover all media, including theatre, radio, film and television, and offer extensive training in professional skills. By the end of the course, you’ll have a comprehensive portfolio of original work, a finished script to professional standards, industry connections and a fully-realised showcase presentation. Take your writing to the highest level, and develop clear strategies for professional success. With a combination of expert guidance and peer-group workshopping, we encourage you to develop your unique voice while meeting the demands of a highly competitive industry.

We cover all media, including theatre, radio, film and television, and offer extensive training in professional skills. By the end of the course, you’ll have a comprehensive portfolio of original work, a finished script to professional standards, industry connections and a fully-realised showcase presentation.

Overview

You’ll hone your writing for performance skills, while also acquiring the necessary professional knowledge needed to negotiate the industry.

Alongside completing a minimum of three polished scripts for theatre, radio and TV/film, you’ll hear from industry specialists and learn how best to pitch your work in a highly competitive field.

We recognise the importance of equipping you, as a scriptwriter, with the knowledge of how to produce your work. You'll be encouraged to engage with the local creative community, with access to the production resources of the University, to realise your own radio, theatre and film projects.

Course structure

Craft

Learn the key components of scriptwriting, including structure, characterisation, visual storytelling and dialogue.

Writing for Theatre and Radio

A comprehensive guide to writing for these important media. You’ll prepare a script for each.

Professional Skills

Develop your professional writing career. Learn to prepare proposal documents, pitch ideas, and make connections in the industry.

Screenwriting

An in-depth course in writing for film and television. You’ll prepare a single script for either medium.

Showcase Presentation

Write and produce a finished 15-minute piece in any narrative media (radio, short film, theatre), for public presentation.

Final Script

Prepare a calling card script in the medium of your choice, taken to the highest professional standard.

Course modules

This course includes or offers the following modules.

• Craft
• Writing for Theatre and Radio
• Professional
• Screenwriting
• Showcase Presentation
• Final Script.

How will I be assessed?

You’ll be assessed by coursework and practical presentation. In the first two trimesters, work will be assessed as works in progress. Your final assessment is based on three assignments: a final script (60%), a practical realisation of your work (30%), and a pitch (10%).

How will I be taught?

The course is modular and can be undertaken as either full or part-time study. Part-time students take the Dramatic Structure and Writing for the Screen modules in their first year and Theatre and Radio, Professional Skills and Final Script in their second year.

Modules are taught over three weekends of intensive tutor-led workshops.

In the Professional Skills module, a tutor will guide you through the workshops while also introducing a range of visiting speakers from the industry.

Opportunities

Careers

Many of our graduates succeed in their career goals. Some have careers as professional scriptwriters, while others work in script editing, theatre and film criticism or education.

Our students have gone on to have their work produced and some have even managed to do this while still completing their MA. Graduates have found work within the script departments of TV/film and theatre companies, while others work as script readers, theatre/film reviewers and as creative writing tutors.

Success stories

Cannes Film Festival

Brittany McComas’s short film was accepted for the Cannes Film Festival 2016.

Plymouth Theatre Royal

Oliver Gamblin had his short play "Gone Fishing", selected to be produced as part of Plymouth Fringe Festival.

New Venture Theatre

Stephen Connolly was one of eight winners of New Venture's 10 Minute Play Competition.

Channel 4

Tom Parfitt was selected as one of 12 successful writers now included in a young writer's "pool" at Hollyoaks.

Edinburgh Fringe

Richard Sheridan’s play "Odd Shaped Balls" received five-star reviews and was 18th in the ranking of over 1200 shows at the fringe in 2014.

Glastonbury Five Day Film Challenge

Rachel Whitelock, a graduate in MA Scriptwriting, won Best Film, Best Script and People's Choice in the Glastonbury Five Day Film Challenge. Rachel wrote and directed the short film "Toast".

Lecture series

You’ll be able to attend relevant seminars and lectures at Corsham Court and Newton Park. Previous lectures have included presentations by Lord Puttnam and leading story developers from Pixar and the BBC.

Cost & Fees

• UK/EU students full time - 2019/20 entry £7,395
• UK/EU students part time - 2019/20 entry £3,700
• International students full time - 2019/20 entry £14,300