Course summary
Our Course Our one-year MA in Screenwriting is perfect for those seeking advanced screenwriting training within an industry setting. This course is an ideal choice for aspiring writers who wish to refine their screenwriting skills and find opportunities for their scripts on both the big and small screens. This course offers resources to prepare you for a career in screenwriting through tailored guidance and training designed to enhance your writing craft for film and television. Alongside lectures and seminars focusing on genre, story, world-building, character, plot, and dialogue, you will benefit from mentorship by scriptwriting professionals to develop feature and television projects. All our tutors and guest speakers are practising screenwriters, agents, or producers, providing you with insights into the industry and a better understanding of the pathways available to you. We welcome creative individuals with a strong sense of visual storytelling and a passion for a professional career in screenwriting. We value self-motivation, the ability to thrive in a collaborative environment, and an openness to challenging your perspectives on the evolving landscape of film. MA Screenwriting Key Features
- Intensive and in-depth practical training in the craft of screenwriting
- Development of a substantial writing portfolio - feature film script and television script and bible
- Training on the evolving landscape of storytelling platforms
- Workshopping your scripts with professional directors and actors
- Development of pitching technique and other important soft skills
- Training and mentoring by practising film & TV industry tutors and guest speakers
- Masterclasses and Q&As with prominent filmmakers
- Advanced critical thinking to inform your screenwriting practice
- Excellent tutor-to-student ratios
- Final Draft license or equivalent
- Focus on future screenwriting career and employability
Modules
Module One: Feature Film Development Students learn how to research and prepare for feature projects by writing treatments, synopses, beat sheets and scene-by-scene breakdowns. This material forms the foundation of the writing process, as well as a selling tool when pitching to film and TV industry companies after graduation. The development and individual feedback sessions integral to the module are overseen by a range of screenwriters working in the feature film industry. By the end of module one, participants will have completed a feature length script (80+ pages). Module Two: Writing for Television Students produce a TV Bible for an original series in addition to writing and developing an accompanying TV episode script. Industry led discussions from working writers, producers and directors will offer insight on a variety of television formats and genres. You will undertake detailed academic and industry-led workshops and research in order to help you realise and reflect on your own work in the context of the wider cultural and academic landscape. Pitching sessions serve as a rehearsal for the actual industry pitching panel that you will encounter in the later stages of the course. This panel consists of film and TV industry professionals and is followed by a one-to-one tutorial to discuss the merits and challenges of proposed ideas. Module Three: Research by Practice The final module has a professional focus with students' prioritising next steps and employability. It also enables students to contextualise their creations within the relevant critical framework and adhere to sound ethical principles. Students will design and undertake a personal research project (a negotiated dissertation), aligned to their professional ambitions. These dissertations include work placements and scripts as research.
Entry requirements
To begin your application process for a place on this course please visit the course page on the LFA website by visiting www.londonfilmacademy.com/course/ma-screenwriting. Applicants should have the following: A good Bachelor’s degree (a Bachelor’s degree with Honours, a Merit (2:1) or a Distinction (1:1) from a UK university or equivalent if applying from abroad). We welcome applicants with a wide range of degree subjects. Please provide us with a copy of your Bachelor’s degree certificate or formal transcript from your university, should you not yet have received your final degree certificate. Not a graduate? Exceptions apply for applicants aged 21 or above, who may be considered through the experience route. To qualify, candidates must have 4-5 years of professional experience with established production companies or charitable organisations, demonstrating exposure to industry workflows, professional standards, and collaboration. Eligible experience includes professional work with recognised production companies or films that have had a mainstream cinematic release (paid screenings) or have been broadcast on terrestrial TV or pay-to-view streaming platforms. This ensures that applicants possess the practical experience and industry insight necessary to engage fully with the course and contribute meaningfully to their peers and learning environment. We evaluate each application on a case by case basis. Entry materials: What do you need to submit for your application? - LFA application (completed online) - Creative materials - Showcase example(s) of your screenwriting - the first 20 pages of a feature script , a feature film treatment of 10-15 pages , two short film screenplays . Alternatively, if you have no screenplay material, we will accept an extract from other creative writing such as: a play, short story, novel, or poetry etc. - CV/Resume - outlining your educational and employment history, relevant skills and filmmaking work experience you may have undertaken. Maximum 2 sides of A4. - Personal statement (up to 750 words) that outlines your motivations, your background and screenwriting ambitions and why this course, and LFA as an institution, is the right choice for you. - Education certificates (degree-level qualifications only) - Two references: academic or professional - including the referee’s contact details, containing a personal recommendation for your application, detailing your work ethic, interaction with others and your suitability for an MA. - Scanned copy of your passport. Next Steps We will review your application and if you meet our entry requirements, we will invite you to an interview. The interview will allow us to gain further insight into your creative filmmaking abilities, as demonstrated in the visual or written work you’ve submitted. It’s also an opportunity to discuss your understanding of film, your awareness of the key aspects of the programme, and how completing it aligns with your career aspirations.
English language requirements
You must prove you can read, write, speak and understand English to a minimum of a B2 level on the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) scale or equivalent in order to be able to access the course content and understand the technical filmmaking terminology used when delivering our courses. You will normally have to provide an IELTS Academic score of 6.0 with no band below 5.5.
Fees and funding
Tuition fees
| EU | £17500 | Whole course |
| International | £17500 | Whole course |
| Channel Islands | £17500 | Whole course |
| Republic of Ireland | £17500 | Whole course |
| England | £17500 | Whole course |
| Northern Ireland | £17500 | Whole course |
| Scotland | £17500 | Whole course |
| Wales | £17500 | Whole 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
*Fee subject to annual review
Provider information
London Film Academy
The Old Church
52a Walham Grove
London
SW6 1QR