MA Film Production
- Course type
- Postgraduate
- Course qualification
- MA
Course summary
What is the fee?
For all course options, see fees and funding
Where will I study?
Salford School of Arts, Media and Creative Technology
How long will I study?
One year
Overview
The MA Film Production course at Salford is designed for bold, imaginative filmmakers ready to challenge conventions and shape the future of film. In an industry undergoing rapid transformation, this course nurtures adaptable artists and critical thinkers who are eager to explore new storytelling paradigms and production workflows.
Whether you're a recent media graduate, a passionate storyteller, or a working professional seeking to expand your creative practice, this course invites you to push boundaries. It encourages you to question established norms, reflect deeply on your artistic identity, and experiment with emerging technologies and collaborative methods.
Based at MediaCity, in the heart of the UK’s dynamic media landscape, you’ll engage in a rigorous, practice-led journey of creative exploration. You'll develop versatile skills across all areas of film production, working closely with peers and industry professionals on hands-on projects that foster innovation and teamwork.
This is a course for filmmakers who see limitations as creative opportunities. You’ll be encouraged to explore radical ideas—where filmmaking is driven not just by technology or economics, but by the artist’s vision and collaborative spirit. The focus is on developing a forward-thinking approach to film, preparing you to thrive in an industry that’s constantly evolving.
If you want to hear from our staff, students and industry guests, you can listen to our Film Production Podcast on Spotify, PodVine, and other platforms.
You will:
- Be taught by specialist staff and industry professionals
- Study at our MediaCity campus - one of the UK's leading media hubs
- Use state-of-the-art, industry-standard kit
We are an ARRI Certified Film School
How you learn
Future careers
Upon graduating you will become agile, highly adaptable, fast-thinking decision-makers and team players, ready to explore a variety of career paths within the film industry both as an independent filmmaker or in-house practitioner.
The MA will provide subject specific knowledge and, through a practice as research approach, you may choose to develop your academic skills through PhD study and beyond.
Graduates showing strong academic and research skills can pursue a further academic research path through our doctoral (PhD) programmes on a full-time or part-time basis subject to a satisfactory proposal.
Career Links
This new programme has been developed with industry in response to the increasing local, national and international demand for graduates with an eye on the future of film industry trends. It builds upon the established success and reputation of existing courses in Film and Media Production as well as the strong regional industry partnerships that have been developed over many years.
The course will be of benefit to those seeking employment with local and national companies, others who want to set up their own independent production companies and benefit from visiting specialist lecturers and professionals.
It is widely recognised that young professionals, newly entering the industry, are rarely given the opportunity or time to pursue specialist research with a practical approach. Industry leaders acknowledge a gap in the industry for such training and experience and believe this course will benefit the ‘trade’ in the long run.
The companies connected to this course include BBC Research & Development; online streaming platform paus.tv; Bolton Film Festival; individual independent filmmakers with an interest in the future of film.
Modules
This course delivers comprehensive training linked to traditional production skills, such as directing, screenwriting and cinematography, but it also brings these skills together with the latest industry developments. In this way, it incorporates the latest technological trends and responds to current industrial opportunities while preparing you for as yet unimaginable horizons – nurturing a creative attitude defined by professional confidence and productive playfulness.
You will become grounded in Practice as Research (PaR) as an approach to rethinking practical and academic work. By challenging your existing knowledge and experience, this programme will equip you with the skills necessary to become independent thinkers, original filmmakers and creative leaders.
MA Film Production is made up of three core 60-credit modules, taught over a 12-month period, delivered via lectures, practical studio sessions, and workshops provided by teaching staff in Film Production, other relevant programmes at MediaCity and beyond. Formal curricular teaching will be enhanced by industry-led masterclasses and seminars.
During the 2024/25 academic year full-time students are taught on Wednesdays and Thursdays. While we cannot guarantee this exact schedule for future years, this provides an example of how we aim to deliver the course each year.
The University of Salford is tremendously proud to have been the premier partner for the Asian Media Awards over the last ten years and is determined to play its part in inspiring the next generation of Asian talent to consider and pursue a career in the creative industries.
Core modules
Established and Innovative Practices – 20 credits
This module is about interrogating established conventions and examining the future use of technology and the emerging landscape of film production. The aim is to enable you to understand and develop rigorous practices of communication and storytelling. You will identify problems and opportunities within your own work allowing you to explore where your creative potential lies.
The module will be structured around storytelling, established and innovative practice challenges. You will produce a range of short pieces (films, scripts and video essays) and develop methods to address your chosen challenge, thereby consolidating your understanding of existing creative technical tools and practices.
Collaboration and Co-creation – 20 credits
This module challenges previous learning by exploring new and unfamiliar filmmaking processes. The module draws on three collaborative processes of filmmaking that offer alternatives to industrial practices. By learning, adapting, and experimenting with these processes, the module enables students to expand their repertoire of filmmaking techniques and collaborative strategies. Processes students explore may include devised filmmaking, community-based filmmaking, and artists’ film and video, but these are flexible, and other areas may also be chosen in discussion with students during the first trimester. Students make three short films throughout the trimester, reflecting the use of these alternative processes.
Ultimately, the aim of the module is to discover how alternative methods of collaboration and co-creation can offer the filmmaker the freedom to take risks and the ability to find new, productive directions for their creative practice.
Major Project - Practical Project and Portfolio – 20 credits
In this module, you will draw on your learning experiences to establish a research question, which is investigated via a practical project. Your practice-research major project is a substantial piece of work including a practical piece such as a short film, a feature film script, a series pilot, gallery installation or other appropriate alternative project devised by you in consultation with lecturers. You will produce a portfolio containing evidence of the development of your idea and make a presentation of your practice-research findings to your peers. You can run the project solo or take on a role in a collaborative project.
We take a flexible approach to our course delivery that promotes diversity and inclusivity and provides a blended learning experience, which will vary to meet specific programme requirements. This learning time includes formal lectures and interactive activities such as seminars, tutorials, practical sessions, laboratory and studio learning. Smaller classes may be used to support collaborative activities such as project and group work and presentations. A range of different assessments and feedback is offered to meet the needs of both our diverse student body and specific subject needs.
Our postgraduate taught courses are normally made up of 30 credit modules which are equal to 300 hours of learning time, or 15 credit modules which are equal to 150 hours of learning time. A Master’s degree typically comprises 180 credits, a PGDip 120 credits, and a PGCert 60 credits.
Please note that exact modules and content offered may vary in order to keep content current and, for courses that offer optional modules, may depend on the number of students selecting particular options. When accepting your offer of a place to study on a programme with optional modules, you should be aware that optional modules may not all run each year. Your tutor will be able to advise you as to the available options on or before the start of the programme. Whilst the University tries to ensure that you can undertake your preferred options, it cannot guarantee this.
Entry requirements
The film industry needs artists who can adapt to changing production environments; practitioners who have the ability to invent new paradigms in storytelling.
If your interest in film production extends beyond the standard, into a modern practice-based approach and into emerging workflow and frontier technology, then this is the course for you.
You may have just finished a media production degree, have an abiding interest in telling stories and scriptwriting, or already be working in the film industry but want to gain more experimental experience.
To apply for this Master's in Film Production course, you’ll need to prepare two documents:
A Personal Statement.
Your cover letter (or Personal Statement) should be concise, focused, and directly address the following points.
Motivation & Goals:
Why is this MA in Film Production essential for your career right now?
What specific skills do you want to develop during the course?
What is your ultimate career goal, and how will this MA help you achieve it?
What aspects of this course appeal to you most?
Why do you want to explore diverse filmmaking methods?
Critical Approach:
How do you hope to challenge your creative and critical approach to filmmaking?
Practical Experience:
What are your core skills and roles in past film/media projects (e.g., Director, DoP, Editor)?
Briefly describe key projects and your contributions.
A Portfolio of Work
This portfolio can be films, photography work, scripts, podcasts, etc. In the portfolio, do please clearly label what roles you undertook on the project so the tutors can know what to look for.
Some applicants may be invited to an interview. Once you’ve made your application to study with us, we’ll contact you and let you know the next steps.
Standard entry requirements
Standard entry requirements
A 2:2 (with a portfolio) honours degree or above
International students
International applicants will be required to show a proficiency in English. An IELTS score of 6.0 (with no element below 5.5) is proof of this.
We accept qualifications from all around the world. Find your country to see a full list of entry requirements.
We also accept a range of other English language qualifications. If you do not have the English language requirements, you could take our Pre-Sessional English course.
Alternative entry requirements
Alternative entry requirements
We welcome applications from students who may not have formal/traditional entry criteria but who have relevant experience or the ability to pursue the course successfully.
The Accreditation of Prior Learning (APL) process could help you to make your work and life experience count. The APL process can be used for entry onto courses or to give you exemptions from parts of your course.
Two forms of APL may be used for entry: the Accreditation of Prior Certificated Learning (APCL) or the Accreditation of Prior Experiential Learning (APEL).
Fees and funding
2026/27
| Type of study | Fees |
|---|---|
| Full-time | £10,620 per year |
2026/27
| Type of study | Fees |
|---|---|
| Full-time | £21,540 per year |
Additional costs
You should also consider further costs which may include books, stationery, printing, binding and general subsistence on trips and visits.
Scholarships for International Students
If you are a high-achieving international student, you may be eligible for one of our scholarships. Explore our international scholarships.