Postgraduate MA Screenwriting - Admissions
The target applicant is one with the talent, flair and energy to tell their own stories in a contemporary way for a 21st Century audience.
Admission requirements
Candidates should normally hold a second class honours degree or above in a relevant subject. Alternatively, candidates may be non-graduates with significant practical experience in the film and television industry, whether actors, directors or those working in a production or technical context. Conversely, as long as candidates can demonstrate that they have the potential to succeed on this masters programme, applicants may come from diverse professional and educational backgrounds wishing to make a change in direction and keen to pursue postgraduate studies in London.
All candidates should have some writing experience, and a strong desire to get their work commissioned. Applicants will be asked to submit part of a screenplay (no more than 3,000 words). This could be an extract from a full-length script, or a short film, or a treatment for film, television or radio. In the case of the treatment, it should include at least two pages of dialogue.
Overseas/ESOL applicants
Candidates whose first language is not English must provide proof of their English proficiency by having achieved one of the following in the last two years:
• IELTS overall score of 7 with a 7 in writing and no section scoring less than 6.5
• Overall TOEFL score of 260 in the computer-based test
• Overall TOEFL score of 620 in the paper-based test
The UK Government is reviewing the systems whereby overseas students from non-EU countries can study in the UK. We are currently taking advice from the UK Borders Agency as to how to proceed which may cause a delay in the processing of your application to study at Arts Educational Schools. We apologise for any inconvenience this may cause.”
Interview
Candidates will be selected for interview based on the evidence provided in the school’s application form and submission of the portfolio of written work described above. The interview will give candidates the opportunity to discuss their writing experience, find out more about the course and the school, and demonstrate that they are qualified and prepared for the programme. Candidates who are unable to attend an interview in person may, in exceptional circumstances and at the discretion of the Course Director, be offered the opportunity of a distance interview by telephone or email.
The selection process is based on the extent to which the applicant demonstrates the criteria for admissions.
Criteria for admissions
Candidates must be eligible to satisfy the admission requirements. Applicants will normally be able to demonstrate the following:
• undergraduate degree or equivalent, or extensive relevant professional experience
• evidence of appropriate writing talent together with the ambition to get work commissioned
• evidence of commitment to the course with an understanding of industry practices and expectations
• evidence of the ability to work alone and in collaboration with others
• evidence of the capacity to work at masters’ level, e.g. the ability to engage with complex ideas and demonstrate originality in the application of knowledge
To apply please download the application form and return along with the appropriate attachements to:
MA Screenwriting Applications c/o School of Acting
Cone Ripman House
14 Bath Road
Chiswick
London
W4 1LY
The application forms are in Adobe Acrobat format. If you do not already have Acrobat Reader installed you can download it for free here.
