MA Screenwriting (by research)

Explore your screenwriting interests within a research context, guided by an expert within the field.

Year of entry: 2024/25 (see 2023/24 entry)

International fees

	Length	Start dates (semester dates)
MA by research	1 year full-time 2 years part-time Apply for MA by research	February September
MA by research (distance learning)	1 year full-time 2 years part-time Apply for MA by research (distance learning)	February September

Length

Start dates (semester dates)

MA by research

1 year full-time
2 years part-time

Apply for MA by research

February
September

MA by research (distance learning)

1 year full-time
2 years part-time

Apply for MA by research (distance learning)

February
September

Put your creative skills into practice, working from an initial story idea to the final creative project with the MA Screenwriting by research.

You will work from initial story idea to second draft a feature film screenplay (90-120 pages), or a fully developed pilot episode (45-60 pages), and a series bible for a television project. You will also submit an analytical essay of 3,000-5,000 words to set your creative work within its research context.

The MA Screenwriting (by research) has no taught element. You will work independently with support from your academic supervisor.

This degree is particularly aimed at individuals who wish to develop advanced research skills to enhance their undergraduate degree and/or as a prelude to developing a research-based career. As such, whilst counting as a research degree in its own right, this Masters by research may enable you to transfer to PhD study. This is provided your research project is of a sufficiently high standard and has the potential to be explored in greater depth.

Contact us

Course location

This course is run by the School of Arts and Creative Technologies.

You'll be based in the School of Arts and Creative Technologies on Campus East. Most of our facilities and supervisory staff are housed here.

We offer a distance learning (DL) option for this programme if you cannot live in York full or part-time. As part of the application process, we will ask for justification for taking the DL option and will then assess the feasibility for this research programme.

Entry requirements

You will normally be expected to have at least a 2:1 undergraduate degree or equivalent qualification. There will be an interview and you will be asked to send samples of your creative practice work.

English language requirements

If English is not your first language you must provide evidence of your ability.

English language requirements

Applying

Apply for the MA in Screenwriting by research

Apply for the MA in Screenwriting by research (distance learning)

Find out more about how to apply.

You will require the following supporting documents:

Application form
Curriculum Vitae (CV)
Degree transcript
Two references
Research proposal
Sample work

The research proposal should be two pages. The first page should outline the script you plan to write while on the programme, including the title, logline, genre, setting, and overview of the story. The second page should be a personal explanation of why you want to do the MA by research, including references to relevant films or television programmes.

We will also require a ten-page script extract as evidence of your creative work. It can be a stage play or a screenplay.

Careers and skills

The MA Screenwriting (by research) course will help to extend your knowledge of the TV and film industry, develop network connections, gain access to TV and film equipment and facilities and build up your creative portfolio and skills. You will develop your collaborative working, creative thinking, storytelling and investigative research skills, opening the door to a wide range of career opportunities.

Our dedicated careers team offer specific support including a programme of professional researcher development and careers workshops and 1:1 career support sessions. They will help you to build up your employability portfolio and to engage in activities that will build up your skills and experience within and outside of your research work.