Screenwriting MA
Birkbeck, University of London
Key Course Facts
Student Reviews
Below you can see course specific reviews of 10 graduates of Screenwriting MA and other courses in Languages and Area Studies at Birkbeck, University of London for each of the survey questions in comparison to the average for all UK degree courses in Languages and Area Studies .
Primarily based on data from undergraduate degree students.
All Languages and Area Studies courses of Birkbeck, University of London
Salary
Salary of Graduates in CAH19
Important: Salary data below is not course specific, but contains data of all students of Languages and Area Studies at the university. Due to data collection methodology, salary data is mainly based on data related to undergraduate students.
| 15 months after graduation | 3 years after graduation | 5 years after graduation | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median salary | £33500 | £18000 | £27500 |
| 25-75 percentile range | £24500 - £45000 | £9500 - £27500 | £11500 - £43000 |
All History of Art, Architecture and Design courses of Birkbeck, University of London
Salary of all UK Graduates of CAH19
| 15 months after graduation | 3 years after graduation | 5 years after graduation | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median salary | £25625 | £23693 | £27744 |
| 25-75 percentile range | £22269 - £29904 | £17937 - £29563 | £21216 - £36573 |
All CAH19 courses in the UK
Course Description
Our postgraduate screenwriting course offers you an integrated programme in the history, theory and practice of screenwriting. It will develop your practical screenwriting skills and techniques, and you will be able to develop outlines, treatments and scripts towards a portfolio of original projects. Projects may be for film or television, and the course will encourage you to write in different genres and expect you to rewrite draft scripts with feedback and tutor support.
One distinctive feature of the course is the fast-track core module which will allow all students enrolling on the course, including graduates in other fields, to gain detailed knowledge of screenwriting theories, conventions and formats, and develop the ability to apply these to writing practice. Subsequent modules will deepen your writing skills and knowledge of screenwriting with assignments of increasing length designed to meet industry requirements, such as feature film script and television series writing. You will also study the discourse and practices of screenwriting.
If you progress to the Master's degree, central to that course is examining how the industry works, and to this end there are six autumn industry talks with guest speakers, and a four-day summer school, which focuses on the writer working in the industry, and includes pitching and storytelling workshops.
We offer this course as a Master’s and a Postgraduate Certificate. For the Certificate you study fewer modules and do not complete a final project/portfolio.
Highlights
- Graduates in other fields can achieve professional standards of practice and understanding of the industry.
- We have state-of-the art cinema and exhibition spaces, all housed in a historic building that was a former home to key members of the Bloomsbury Group, including the author Virginia Woolf and the artist Vanessa Bell. Birkbeck has a number of institutes specifically designed to foster work across disciplines, such as the Birkbeck Institute for the Moving Image.
- Located in central London, in the heart of historic Bloomsbury, Birkbeck is within easy reach of cinemas and galleries, as well as facilities such as the British Film Institute and the British Library.
- We offer a number of bursaries for postgraduate students.
Careers and employability
Graduates can pursue career paths in the creative industries, such as screenwriting, script editing and collaborating with readers/directors/producers/co-writers. Possible professions include:
- screenwriter
- script writer
- creative writer
- magazine or newspaper journalist
- English as a Foreign Language (EFL) teacher
- higher education lecturer.
We offer a comprehensive careers service - Careers and Enterprise - your career partner during your time at Birkbeck and beyond. At every stage of your career journey, we empower you to take ownership of your future, helping you to make the connection between your experience, education and future ambitions.
Jobs & Career Perspectives
15 months after graduation, graduates of this course were asked about what they do and, if they are working, about their current job and their perspectives.
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Current jobs
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Required skill level of job after 15 months
All Others in Language and Area Studies courses of Birkbeck, University of London
Jobs of graduates of this course (15 months after graduation)
Example below based on all graduates of Screenwriting MA at Birkbeck, University of London
| 20% | Process, plant and machine operatives |
| 10% | Engineering professionals |
| 10% | Elementary occupations |
| 10% | Engineering professionals |
| 5% | Managers, directors and senior officials |
| 5% | Science, engineering and technology associate professionals |
| 5% | Skilled trades occupations |
| 5% | Process, plant and machine operatives |
| 5% | Managers, directors and senior officials |
| 5% | Elementary occupations |
Entry Requirements / Admissions
Requirements for international students / English requirements
IELTS academic test score (similar tests may be accepted as well)
-
- 6.5
- Mphil / PhD
A second-class honours degree (2:2) or above in any related subject; other qualifications will be considered.
Applications are encouraged from those with or without prior screenwriting experience.
In addition to our online application, you will need to complete and submit an entrance task.
Applications are reviewed on their individual merits and your professional qualifications and/or relevant work experience will be taken into consideration positively. We actively support and encourage applications from mature learners.
Costs
Tuition Fees Screenwriting MA
| England UK | £3600 | year 1 |
|---|---|---|
| Northern Ireland | £3600 | year 1 |
| Scotland | £3600 | year 1 |
| Wales | £3600 | year 1 |
| International | £6610 | year 1 |
Additional fee information
Students are charged a tuition fee in each year of their course. Tuition fees for students continuing on their course in following years may be subject to annual inflationary increases.
Average student cost of living in London
| Rent | £518 |
| Water, gas electricity, internet (at home) | £50 |
| Supermarket shopping | £81 |
| Clothing | £35 |
| Eating out | £33 |
| Alcohol | £27 |
| Takeaways / food deliveries | £30 |
| Going out / entertainment (excl.alcohol, food) | £24 |
| Holidays and weekend trips | £78 |
| Transport within city | £17 |
| Self-care / sports | £20 |
| Stationary / books | £13 |
| Mobile phone / internet | £13 |
| Cable TV / streaming | £7 |
| Insurance | £51 |
| Other | £95 |
| Average student cost of living | £1092 |
London costs approx 34% more than average, mainly due to rent being 67% higher than average of other cities. For students staying in student halls, costs of water, gas, electricity, wifi are generally included in the rental. Students in smaller cities where accommodation is in walking/biking distance transport costs tend to be significantly smaller.
University Rankings
Positions of Birkbeck, University of London in top UK and global rankings.
See all 17 university rankings of Birkbeck, University of London
About Birkbeck, University of London
Birkbeck, University of London (BBK) was established in 1823, and takes a different stance towards admissions than many other universities. Applicants are encouraged by BKK to apply even if they don’t possess the traditional qualifications normally required, as applications here are also considered based on an assessment of your knowledge on the subject, and any work experience you might have. Being located in the very centre of London, students will have all the advantages of the city’s public transport connections, as well as the chance to live in such a diverse and vibrant city with all that it offers.
List of 197 Bachelor and Master Courses from Birkbeck, University of London - Course Catalogue
Student composition of Birkbeck, University of London
-
Total number of students enrolled at Birkbeck, University of London by level Academic year 2021/22 - Full-time equivalent student enrollments published by Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA) on February 2022
- undergraduates:
- 4800
- postgraduates:
- 2810
- Total:
- 7610
-
Number of students enrolled in courses of subject “Scriptwriting”: Academic year - Full-time equivalent student enrollments published by Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA) on February 2022
Where is this programme taught
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