MA Filmmaking*
- Entry year
- 2025/26
- Course code
- P31T12
- Application
- University
- Level
- Postgraduate
- School
- School of Arts
- Campus
- City Campus
- Duration
- One year full-time
- Delivery
- Full-time, starts September
- Programme leader
- Stuart Mitchell
* subject to final UWE Bristol approval
This course is open for applications
Page last updated 7 October 2024
Introduction
UWE Bristol’s MA Filmmaking is ideal if you’re looking for an immersive learning experience designed to prepare you for a successful career in the film and television industry. This practice-based course allows you to specialise while gaining a broad understanding of the filmmaking process.
Accreditations and partnerships:
Why study this course?
In recent years, the way we consume media has evolved, leading to a period of transformation and innovation in the film and TV industry. Forward-thinking filmmakers adopt new technologies in film, like virtual and augmented reality. And the rise of streaming services has opened new opportunities to connect with audiences and create truly cinematic storytelling.
Our MA Filmmaking is for passionate storytellers with a desire to make their mark in the film and television industry. This practice-based course celebrates hands-on learning, developing and refining your craft in a collaborative environment that replicates the dynamics of the professional world.
Why UWE Bristol?
Based at Bower Ashton, you’ll hone your craft using industry-standard facilities and resources. These include digital media studios and production and fabrication workshops, offering traditional tools alongside the latest technology.
You'll work both independently and collaboratively on short films, documentaries, and live industry briefs, guided by industry-experienced tutors, visiting professionals and contemporary practice. The course concludes with a major film project, designed to showcase your skills in a format that can serve as the centrepiece of your portfolio.
As a creative student, you’ll be perfectly placed studying in Bristol. As a socially and politically progressive city, it’s widely recognised as one of the most creatively influential settings in the UK. In this UNESCO City of Film, students and workers in the creative industries often collaborate.
Our strong industry contacts include the BBC, ITV, Aardman, Films@59, Bottle Yard Film Studios and E3 Media, who provide ongoing professional input. Our teaching faculty also work at the forefront of contemporary media practice, with high levels of practical experience and expertise.
Where can it take me?
You’ll graduate with a globally recognised qualification and have a broad range of careers options available to you regionally, nationally and internationally. Our graduates leave with the skills and knowledge for careers in directing, film production, cinematography, editing, and sound design.
Watch: Welcome to the School of Arts at UWE Bristol
Structure
Content
The structure and content of this new course is currently under review and subject to final UWE Bristol approval. It will be published here page as soon as possible.
Learning and Teaching
Taught by a team with industry expertise across a breadth of creative practice, you’ll learn to understand and push filmmaking boundaries through technical and theoretical input. You’ll study through a combination of practice-oriented lectures, seminars, workshops, and tutorials, and you’ll also benefit from events with industry experts.
Learn by making; applying advanced craft techniques used in professional media organisations. You’ll also build a unique mixture of editorial, creative and technical skills that you can apply to this rapidly expanding industry. Working individually and in collaborative teams, you’ll conceptualise, research, plan and deliver a series of creative projects.
All School of Arts MA courses actively encourage cross-disciplinary dialogue and multi-disciplinary interaction across our diverse community of postgraduate artists, filmmakers, and designers. This ensures you’ll bring different perspectives to your creative practice.
See our full glossary of Learning and Teaching terms.
Study time
This is a full-time course, which starts in September and runs for three terms over 12 months. Learning and teaching sessions typically take place over three days per week. Outside of your contact hours, you’ll have the opportunity to access the available resources.
You’ll be expected to undertake a substantial amount of independent study and attend relevant events.
Assessment
You’ll be assessed through a range of methods designed to mirror professional practices in the film and television industries. You’ll be evaluated through presentation, portfolio, practical work and written reflection with ongoing feedback from tutors.
You’ll spend your last term working towards your final outcomes for the year, which includes an opportunity to screen your work publicly.
Features
Study facilities
Develop your skills in the new filmmaking studios and digital media laboratories at Bower Ashton. These include industry-standard production studios and workshops, a media equipment store and a student production hub.
Access specialist post-production facilities, including digital production labs for animation and VFX, editing and colour grading suites, dubbing theatres and sound production studios.
Plus, you’ll use the latest VR and AR equipment at Arnolfini on Bristol's historic harbourside.
Take a personalised virtual tour of the Filmmaking, Animation and Photography facilities and experience what a typical day could look like here for you.
Learn more about UWE Bristol's facilities and resources.
Life
Postgraduate support
Our support includes access to fantastic facilities, study tools and career consultants, plus practical help to access everything from funding to childcare.
Bristol
A stunning city for student living with all the qualities to make you want to stay.
Sports, societies and activities
There is more to your experience here than study. Choose to make the most of it and try new things.
Health and Wellbeing
We provide support in the way you need it.
Campus and facilities
Discover our campuses and the wealth of facilities provided for our students.
Careers
Careers / Further study
It’s a hugely exciting time to join the filmmaking industry, and it doesn't seem to be slowing down any time soon. The industry needs creative new filmmakers to produce adverts, music videos, social media campaigns, independent films, documentaries, TV series, drama shorts and pilots.
Our MA Filmmaking is your launchpad into a dynamic and rapidly evolving industry. Whether you aim to join a production company, work as a freelancer, or start your own film or TV project, this course provides the skills, knowledge, and network to help you succeed. You may also choose to progress to further study, such as a PhD.
Throughout the course, you’ll learn from practising filmmakers, directors, and producers, bringing their skills and expertise exclusively to you studying at postgraduate level. As a graduate, you’ll also benefit from our strong industry links, with opportunities for networking, internships, and collaboration with professionals in the field.
Our award-winning Careers Service helps you develop your employment potential through career coaching, a vacancy service for internships, placements, jobs, global opportunities, volunteering and community activity plus support for entrepreneurial activity, and access to employer events.
Learn more about graduate destinations.
Entry
Entry requirements
We're seeking highly motivated students from any background, committed to creative growth in our supportive School of Arts community. Most applicants would have an honours degree in the arts, but those with qualifications in other disciplines or prior professional experience are also encouraged to apply.
While some students enter the course after years of independent work, we also welcome entries from ambitious applicants directly from undergraduate courses.
International applicants
For country specific entry requirements please find your country on our country information pages.
Selection process
Applicants will be asked to provide a portfolio of practical or project-based work and a personal statement for review.
In your portfolio you may want to include your most recent or ambitious works alongside developmental or process-based details. The work you include can be in media from outside or beyond your chosen discipline, and may include personal or professional outcomes. We are looking for applicants with the potential to connect creatively with contemporary practice; the motivation to excel; and the capacity to contribute to our dynamic campus.
Your personal statement should communicate confidently and coherently your rationale for application: what you hope Master’s study will help you achieve in your future. You may want to include detail of the influences that have led you to application, and the attributes you think will be important for success as a postgraduate. We would like to know more about you, and your understanding of what we do.
Most personal statements we receive are around 500 words in length.
Applicants may be invited for an online interview, if we have any further questions about your portfolio.
English Language Requirement
International and EU applicants are required to have a minimum overall IELTS (Academic) score of 6.5 with 5.5 in each component (or approved equivalent*).
*The University accepts a large number of UK and international qualifications in place of IELTS. To find details of acceptable tests and the required grades, please visit English Language requirements.
English language support
If you meet the academic requirements but require additional support to take your language skills to the required level, you may be able to attend one of our pre-sessional English courses. Students who successfully complete the pre-sessional course can progress onto their chosen degree course without retaking an IELTS or equivalent.
Read more about our pre-sessional English programme.
How to apply
We accept applications throughout the year but if you are working to a funding deadline, you should build this into your application process.
Read more about postgraduate applications.
Read more about international applications and key international deadline dates.
For further information
- Email: Admissions@uwe.ac.uk
- Telephone: +44 (0)117 32 83333