MA Wildlife Filmmaking 12 months Postgraduate Programme By UWE Bristol (University of the West of England) |TopUniversities
Programme Duration

12 monthsProgramme duration

Tuitionfee

17,250 GBPTuition Fee/year

Application Deadline

14 Mar, 2025Application Deadline

Main Subject Area

Communication and Media StudiesMain Subject Area

Programme overview

Main Subject

Communication and Media Studies

Degree

MA

Study Level

Masters

Study Mode

On Campus

Why study this course?

Study a uniquely designed industry-led curriculum alongside a purposefully small group of peers. You'll enjoy hands-on experience of professional film equipment, develop high-level production management skills, and gain contemporary insight into crafting natural history narratives.

In our collaborative culture, you'll develop communication and production skills to engage diverse audiences and have access to talks and events from across the creative industries. You'll be encouraged to develop a distinctive, personal approach to documentary, with students in the past pursuing diverse genres – from observational and behavioural to expedition and experimental films.

Why UWE Bristol?

As a creative student you'll be perfectly placed studying in Bristol, an UNESCO City of Film, widely recognised as the global capital of natural history production. Our academic partnership with the BBC's Natural History Unit means you'll have opportunities to frequently meet with professional programme makers, giving you industry insight and knowledge.

We've established ourselves as part of the city's thriving production community. Where possible you'll receive direct editorial input on your filmmaking from an industry-based mentor, alongside expert input from our sector-leading academics and technical staff.

Where can it take me?

You'll graduate with a globally recognised qualification and have a broad range of career options available to you regionally, nationally and internationally.

Equipped with essential skills and specialized knowledge, our graduates are well-prepared for entry-level roles in the wildlife production industry. Most find positions with the BBC or independent production companies in Bristol, across the UK, and internationally. Some graduates also pursue independent funding to create their own future productions.

Our students have been nominated, and won, major emerging talent awards including at BAFTA, Wildscreen, Royal Television Society, Jackson Hole and the International Wildlife Film Festival. Graduation films have been included in BBC broadcasts and in commercial distribution, selling to broadcasters globally.

BAFTA Student award winner and alum, Nyal Mueenuddin's film, 'When the Floods Come', documents the stories of people affected by flooding near the River Indus in Pakistan. Nyal said, “I'm unbelievably honoured to have won a Student BAFTA for my documentary and I'd like to thank the team who worked alongside me on this project."

To see examples of work produced by our recent MA Wildlife Filmmaking graduates, visit our UWE Showcase site.

Programme overview

Main Subject

Communication and Media Studies

Degree

MA

Study Level

Masters

Study Mode

On Campus

Why study this course?

Study a uniquely designed industry-led curriculum alongside a purposefully small group of peers. You'll enjoy hands-on experience of professional film equipment, develop high-level production management skills, and gain contemporary insight into crafting natural history narratives.

In our collaborative culture, you'll develop communication and production skills to engage diverse audiences and have access to talks and events from across the creative industries. You'll be encouraged to develop a distinctive, personal approach to documentary, with students in the past pursuing diverse genres – from observational and behavioural to expedition and experimental films.

Why UWE Bristol?

As a creative student you'll be perfectly placed studying in Bristol, an UNESCO City of Film, widely recognised as the global capital of natural history production. Our academic partnership with the BBC's Natural History Unit means you'll have opportunities to frequently meet with professional programme makers, giving you industry insight and knowledge.

We've established ourselves as part of the city's thriving production community. Where possible you'll receive direct editorial input on your filmmaking from an industry-based mentor, alongside expert input from our sector-leading academics and technical staff.

Where can it take me?

You'll graduate with a globally recognised qualification and have a broad range of career options available to you regionally, nationally and internationally.

Equipped with essential skills and specialized knowledge, our graduates are well-prepared for entry-level roles in the wildlife production industry. Most find positions with the BBC or independent production companies in Bristol, across the UK, and internationally. Some graduates also pursue independent funding to create their own future productions.

Our students have been nominated, and won, major emerging talent awards including at BAFTA, Wildscreen, Royal Television Society, Jackson Hole and the International Wildlife Film Festival. Graduation films have been included in BBC broadcasts and in commercial distribution, selling to broadcasters globally.

BAFTA Student award winner and alum, Nyal Mueenuddin's film, 'When the Floods Come', documents the stories of people affected by flooding near the River Indus in Pakistan. Nyal said, “I'm unbelievably honoured to have won a Student BAFTA for my documentary and I'd like to thank the team who worked alongside me on this project."

To see examples of work produced by our recent MA Wildlife Filmmaking graduates, visit our UWE Showcase site.

Admission Requirements

6.5+

We normally require an honours degree of 2:1 or above but applicants with other qualifications or relevant professional experience are also encouraged to apply and will be considered on an individual basis.

Previous media skills may be helpful but are not essential. We're looking for highly motivated individuals who can demonstrate their ability to come up with documentary ideas and the potential to develop their technical, editorial and organisational skills.

Selection process

Applicants will be asked to provide the below for review:

  • A programme idea for short wildlife documentary (no more than a single side of A4).
  • A list of ten documentary titles you have seen, and a paragraph on each giving us your thoughts. These need not be all wildlife documentaries.
  • One or more samples of something you have made. This could be film, photography, written, illustrations, or another creative form.

Shortlisted applicants will be invited to an online interview. The interview will focus on ideas you have for film, what you have watched and review some of the sample work you have submitted with your application.

The deadline for applications for this course is  Friday, 14 February 2025 .

If you're an applicant from Central or South America, you may be eligible to apply for the fully funded  BBC Studios Wildlife Filmmaking Scholarship. You must apply for the scholarship at the same time as you apply for the MA Wildlife Filmmaking course. The extended deadline for applications and portfolio submissions for eligible candidates is  Friday, 14 March 2025.

Please note that due to high demand, this programme may close earlier than advertised as we have limited places. We're unable to allow applicants holding offers to defer their entry.

14 Mar 2025
1 Year
Sep

Domestic
13,200 GBP
International
17,250 GBP

Scholarships

Selecting the right scholarship can be a daunting process. With countless options available, students often find themselves overwhelmed and confused. The decision can be especially stressful for those facing financial constraints or pursuing specific academic or career goals.

To help students navigate this challenging process, we recommend the following articles:

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