MA Film and Television Production with Directing
Take your vision from script to screen
Year of entry: 2025 (September)
Explore directing for single-camera film and television productions. Develop your screen storytelling skills with our collaborative, practically-focused course that is underpinned by theory.
From identifying and developing story ideas, to analysing and visualising scripts, from working with actors and crew, through to the latest postproduction methods, you'll learn all aspects of directing both fiction and non-fiction projects. You'll collaborate with others to produce professional work and bring your stories to life.
We'll teach you through a mix of workshops, lectures, screenings and masterclasses with leading academics and industry professionals. You’ll use industry-standard facilities in a creative and supportive environment.
You'll develop essential expertise and will be equipped to pursue a career in film and television. Our graduates have gone on to roles in British and European film industries, and in film, TV and commercial production in China, Latin America and the Middle East.
Accreditation
This course is industry recognised by ScreenSkills, the industry-led skills body for the UK's screen-based industries, and carries the ScreenSkills Select quality-mark which indicates courses best suited to prepare students for a career in the screen industries. The accreditation means that our students learn professional skills on courses approved and supported by the industry; and it gives access to various schemes, eg internships and traineeships with the BBC, ITV and other broadcasters, as well as independent production companies in British film and television.
The School of Arts and Creative Technologies is part of the BAFTA albert Education Partnership. albert is the leading screen industry organisation for environmental sustainability. Through this partnership students are introduced to the sustainability knowledge they'll need when joining the production workforce.
Course content
Our practical and theoretical modules will develop your creative, technical, critical and teamworking skills. You’ll build on your understanding of filmmaking and television production, and learn the director’s role in visual storytelling for fact and fiction. We’ll also teach you about the industry and cover the business aspects of film and TV production.
You'll take on projects, conceptualise, develop, and shoot them as part of a group, an essential experience for industry, advancing your skills in project management and collaboration. You'll be able to follow your interests with an individual project over the summer and the vacation period, worth a third of your total degree credits.
Our masterclasses will bring industry professionals to you, giving you further insights into commercial film and television production.
Modules
You'll study taught modules in the first part of the year. You’ll then go on to make a short dramatic or documentary film and write a reflective essay and technical report.
You’ll develop the key skills typically used by directors working on the studio floor or on location - including blocking camera positions, directing actors, managing the set, and collaborating with crew members. You'll learn about script development, from pitching and script drafting, though narrative structure and character development, to visualisation tools such as storyboards and concept art. You'll also learn more about the business of television and film production, and will plan projects, manage resources, and solve problems.
Core Modules:
- Directing for Film & TV I
- Directing for Film & TV II
- Group Projects
- Individual Project
- Screenwriting
Option modules:
You will also study one option module each semester.
Some option module combinations may not be possible. The options available to you will be confirmed after you begin your course.
Our modules may change to reflect the latest academic thinking and expertise of our staff, and in line with Department/School academic planning.
Dissertation
The course culminates in the design and development of individual piece of work and accompanying report. It's the most important and also the most challenging part of the course.
Film & Television Production Individual Project
You may choose from two different types of individual project:
1) A production project that involves creating a short film or pilot television episode – either fiction or nonfiction – along with a written 7,000-8,000 word production report describing your approach to making the project in your role as a director. You can work either individually or collaboratively with other students on this type of project.
2) An individual research project focusing on a specific area related directly to your chosen specialism. This could take the form of a traditional written dissertation of 8,000 words or a hybrid involving the creation of some sort of artefact such as video, audio or written elements based on your research, along with a 7,000 word written dissertation describing the project.
In all cases, the precise nature of the project undertaken, including the involvement of any group members or other collaborators, will be agreed with your academic supervisor prior to the start of the project.
Learning outcomes
Every course at York is built on a distinctive set of learning outcomes. These will give you a clear understanding of what you will be able to accomplish at the end of the course and help you explain what you can offer employers. Our academics identify the knowledge, skills, and experiences you'll need upon graduation and then design the course to get you there.
Learning outcomes for this course
- Carry out single-camera film and television production to a professional standard by employing an in-depth knowledge of the directing process to create effective screen-based stories.
- Exercise critical judgement and intellectual rigour in approaching complex creative challenges and opportunities. Be able to communicate clearly and persuasively using appropriate written, oral and visual media.
- Work independently in initiating and developing high quality works by applying a range of creative, technical and practical skills – including project development and production.
- Work collaboratively – as leader or team member – in producing high quality works, in line with current industry practices and standards.
- Deploy confidently a range of industry standard digital technologies to produce creative works initiated by yourself and others.
- Creatively apply the practical and technical components of directing – with an understanding of how it relates to and informs different component parts of production (eg cinematography, sound and editing) – to the art of cinematic fiction and non-fiction storytelling.
- Apply transferrable skills in a range of contexts relevant beyond media production.
Fees and funding
Annual tuition fees for 2025/26
| Study mode | UK (home) | International and EU |
|---|---|---|
| Full-time (1 year) | £13,300 | £31,900 |
Students on a Student Visa are not currently permitted to study part-time at York.
Fees information
UK (home) or international fees? The level of fee that you will be asked to pay depends on whether you're classed as a UK (home) or international student. Check your fee status.
Find out more information about tuition fees and how to pay them.
Funding information
Discover your funding options to help with tuition fees and living costs.
We'll confirm more funding opportunities for students joining us in 2025/26 throughout the year.
If you've successfully completed an undergraduate degree at York you could be eligible for a 10% Masters fee discount.
Funding opportunities
Chevening Scholarships
We are pleased to work with Chevening Scholars to offer funding for our Masters programmes. Chevening Scholarships provide one year of fully-funded postgraduate study in the UK for international (including EU) students. The scholarships are open to early and mid-career professionals who have the potential to become future leaders.
School scholarship information
Teaching and assessment
You’ll work with world‐leading academics who’ll challenge you to think independently and excel in all that you do. Our approach to teaching will provide you with the knowledge, opportunities, and support you need to grow and succeed in a global workplace.
Teaching format
The course involves a range of different teaching styles. Most modules will include lectures to give you a fundamental understanding of the subject and then lead on to practical work. The practical work will primarily involve workshops where you can become familiar with industry techniques and equipment. You may also attend film screenings.
You'll also have the opportunity to attend events such as talks, productions and festivals outside of your modules.
You'll be assigned a member of our teaching staff who will act as your personal supervisor for the duration of the course. They are there to give advice on academic matters as well as other areas of University life.
Facilities
The equipment and facilities available are the highest quality found in professional film and programme making.
You'll have access to ARRI, RED and Sony digital cinema cameras with Angenieux, Zeiss, RED, Sony, Sigma and Samyang lenses, industry-standard lighting, grips and sound production kit, dedicated picture finishing and audio postproduction suites (including Foley and ADR) that have been used on many commercial projects, as well as fully equipped sound stages (including green screen), TV studios, rehearsal rooms, dressing rooms, a props store and workshop.
You'll also have 24/7 access to a postproduction suite exclusively for postgraduates.
Teaching location
You will be based in the School of Arts & Creative Technologies on Campus East.
Most of your contact hours will be in the Theatre, Film, Television & Interactive Media building, with some additional teaching elsewhere on Campus East.
About our campus
Our beautiful green campus offers a student-friendly setting in which to live and study, within easy reach of the action in the city centre. It's easy to get around campus - everything is within walking or pedalling distance, or you can always use the fast and frequent bus service.
Assessment and feedback
You'll be assessed throughout your course. Some modules have an early assessment that contributes a small amount to your final mark and gives an opportunity to check your progress.
Types of assessment vary depending on the module and include the following:
- In-class tests
- Presentations and pitches
- Essays, draft scripts and reflective reports
- Individual projects in which you'll use provided source material to produced finished scenes
- Individual film project demonstrating skills of directing
- Blocking exercises
- Group projects working with others across the Department to create short film projects
- 7,000-8,000 word project dissertation that could include practical work and/or creation of a short film.
Careers and skills
A large number of our graduates have made striking progress in their careers since completing their course. There’s a wide variety of possible career paths open to you after completing this MA, both across industry and academia. While you train to be a professional in television and film you'll also develop skills that are useful in any industry.
Career opportunities
- Film producer
- Film director
- Programme researcher
- Television camera operator
- Film and television scriptwriter
- Editor for television and online distribution
Transferable skills
- Collaborative working
- Problem solving
- Investigative research
- Time management and organisation
- Technical analysis
- Critical evaluation
- Reflective learning
Entry requirements
| Qualification | Typical offer |
|---|---|
| Undergraduate degree | 2:2 or equivalent, and evidence of professional experience or a commitment to film making. |
| International pre-masters programme | Pre-masters from our International Pathway College |
| Other international qualifications | Equivalent qualifications from your country |
Additional requirements
You will need to submit a sample of your creative work with your application. Please see our guidance on submitting creative work.
English language
If English isn't your first language you may need to provide evidence of your English language ability. We accept the following qualifications:
| Qualification | Minimum requirement |
|---|---|
| IELTS (Academic and Indicator) | 6.5, minimum 6.0 in each component |
| Cambridge CEFR | B2 First: 176, with 169 in each component |
| Oxford ELLT | 7, minimum of 6 in each component |
| Oxford Test of English Advanced | 136, minimum 126 in each component |
| Duolingo | 120, minimum 105 in all other components |
| LanguageCert SELT | B2 with 33/50 in each component |
| LanguageCert Academic | 70 with a minimum of 65 in each component |
| Kaplan Test of English Language | 478-509, with 444-477 in all other components |
| Skills for English | B2: Merit overall, with Pass with Merit in each component |
| PTE Academic | 61, minimum 55 in each component |
| TOEFL | 87, minimum of 21 in each component |
| Trinity ISE III | Merit in all requirements |
For more information see our postgraduate English language requirements.
If you haven't met our English language requirements
You may be eligible for one of our pre-sessional English language courses. These courses will provide you with the level of English needed to meet the conditions of your offer.
The length of course you need to take depends on your current English language test scores and how much you need to improve to reach our English language requirements.
After you've accepted your offer to study at York, we'll confirm which pre-sessional course you should apply to via You@York.
Next steps
Contact us
Get in touch if you have any questions
Postgraduate Admissions team
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