Course summary
Get ready to start your career in film, television or digital media with our hands-on degree. Develop your employability and filmmaking skills without needing previous media experience. Supported with training throughout the MA, you'll develop research skills and production methods that can be applied to many film and TV contexts. You'll learn from industry experts on real-world projects by undertaking a placement. Gain work experience and build your skills and networks to help you stand out in the sector. Our teaching combines theory with practical training so you can learn how to use camera, lighting and sound equipment, and construct an edit. Course highlights You’ll join a department of filmmakers and practice researchers – we know the ins and outs of film theory. The team also produce feature films, documentaries and video essays. At Birmingham, we have strong connections to industry and are a member of the BAFTA albert Education Partnership. You can access training in sustainability in production and gain an industry-recognised qualification in Health and Safety for productions. You’ll work alongside academics who are actively creating media content and you’ll get to work with industry professionals at broadcast television or independent production companies. Discover how students on the MA make the most of these industry connections on the FTV Birmingham blog.
- Additional support from our dedicated technical team to teach you filming and editing techniques.
- Focus on employability, combining academic theory with hands-on skills and professional training, with bespoke guidance from the Placement Co-ordinator.
- Film Editing Suites with a range of technology and kit available, including cameras, lenses, lighting and sound equipment, content creation studios and Mac Studio 4K editing suites.
- The University is the top choice for the UK's major employers searching for graduate recruits, according to The Graduate Market in 2024 and 2025, High Fliers report.
- Placement and Training module - this offers work experience to prepare you for a career in industry after graduation. Our dedicated Placement Co-ordinator will help you find placement opportunities using our existing links to a range of production companies of varying sizes. We also offer an alternative Media Industries module if you want to focus on film-making theory instead of a placement.
Modules
The programme comprises 80 credits of taught modules, a 40-credit Placement or Media Industries module, and a 60-credit dissertation. Visit the course page on the University of Birmingham website for the most up-to-date module information.
Entry requirements
You should have, or expect to get, a 2:1 Honours degree. Your degree doesn't need to be in a media or film-related discipline and you don't need to have any experience in the media industry to apply. However, you'll need excellent communication skills, with high standards of written and spoken English. We look at your degree grades, personal statement, any relevant experience in the media industry, and your English Language results (if you're an international applicant). If you plan to apply for funding to study the MA, we recommend including a research proposal for your audio-visual dissertation. In this research proposal, you'll need to: explain which mode or approach to documentary filmmaking will work best for the story you're trying to tell; show you're aware of similar media content and what makes your proposed film unique; and mention critical sources illustrating the background to your proposal as well as your creative ideas for the film.
Fees and funding
Tuition fees
No fee information has been provided for this 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
For more detailed information on available funding and fees for postgraduate courses please visit: https://www.birmingham.ac.uk/study/postgraduate/taught/fees-funding
Provider information
University of Birmingham
Edgbaston
Birmingham
B15 2TT