Looking to list your Masters programmes? Log in here.
About the course
This is the only two-year specialist cinematography MA in the UK. Our students learn both the art and craft of cinematography, combining creative expression with technical expertise.
Students will collaborate with their colleagues to shoot several films, with the opportunity to shoot both live action and animation, and with access to 16mm and 35mm film as well as Alexa XT and Alexa Mini Cameras.
Our graduates are in demand in the UK, Europe and the US and go on to work in both film and television. Recent graduates, from the last four years, have gone on to shoot films shortlisted for Oscars and produce BAFTA-winning work as well as shoot commercials, television series and documentaries for Channel 4, Granada and Sky.
Entry Requirements
We are looking for people with innate talent. Therefore, previous training in these areas is not mandatory but some basic technical knowledge is required. Experience gained from working in the camera department of the film and television industry is helpful but not essential.
You must have an understanding of the role of the Director of Photography and its creative and logistical responsibilities. You would also need to be able to demonstrate good communication and collaborative skills and leadership qualities.
You must have a good understanding of “cinematic language” and demonstrate this in your submitted film material.
Send an enquiry to National Film and Television School
Please correct the errors indicated below to send your enquiry
The information you submit to National Film and Television School will only be used by them or their data partners to deal with your enquiry, according to their privacy notice. For more information on how we use and store your data, please read our privacy statement.
Where is National Film and Television School
Videos
Student Profile(s)
Lynne Ramsay

1995 graduate, and director of We Need To Talk About Kevin, Morvern Callar, Ratcatcher.
Roger Deakins

1975 graduate, and DoP of 007: Skyfall, True Grit, No Country For Old Men.
Melissa Byers
3D Stereographer; Credits include Gravity, Jack the Giant Slayer, Flying Monsters with David Attenborough
"The NFTS provided me with top class facilities and an opportunity to be creative"
Scholarships
The NFTS is committed to ensuring it is open to students of genuine ability, no matter what their background or financial circumstances.
In the last year, 8 in 10 UK students received support, with more than £950,000 given out in total.
As an institution that develops the next generation of creative talent we feel a special responsibility to ensure our creative industries reflect the full diversity of our country. The NFTS awards more scholarships and bursaries to British students, relative to the size of our student body, than almost any other educational institution in the UK.
All long term resident UK students, once they are offered a place on an MA or full time Diploma programme, are invited to apply for an NFTS funding award. Awards may consist of either a bursary or a scholarship or a combination of both.
NFTS Scholarships are donated by individuals or organisations with a direct involvement in the film, games and television industries. They often include a mentorship and an individual donor may take in interest in your work.
The NFTS funding awards contribute directly to tuition fees and may be between £1,000 and £10,000. They are not re-payable by the student.
They are only available to UK permanent residents.
Value of Scholarship(s)
£1,000-£10,000
Eligibility
NFTS funding is only available to UK permanent residents.
Application Procedure
Students are invited to apply in both of the two years of the MA course. Some scholarships are intended to be for a particular specialisation, for female students, or awarded on ethnicity or according to the UK region of an applicant.
The NFTS is committed to ensuring it is open to students of genuine ability, no matter what their background or financial circumstances. As an institution that develops the next generation of creative talent we feel a special responsibility to ensure our creative industries reflect the full diversity of our country.
The NFTS awards more scholarships and bursaries to British students, relative to the size of our student body, than almost any other educational institution in the UK.
So if you have the talent and the commitment, we want to give you the opportunity to fulfil your potential. We don’t want anybody to be put off applying for a place at the NFTS because of the cost. We will do all we can to help you make the finances work to come to the NFTS.Toledo Productions supports diverse new British voices and talent. The Toledo Scholarship was established in 2005 by one of the world’s most successful producers and NFTS governor Duncan Kenworthy (Four Weddings and a Funeral, Notting Hill) to enable talented newcomers from the UK’s ethnic minorities to fast-track their ambitions and join the British film industry. Since its inception, over 30 scholars have benefitted from £300,000 of funding including writer/director Shola Amoo (The Last Tree) and producer Kurban Kassam (Ginger and Rosa).
The NFTS funding awards contribute directly to tuition fees and may be between £1,000 and £10,000. They are not re-payable by the student.
They are only available to UK permanent residents.
Value of Scholarship(s)
See the website
Eligibility
The Toledo Scholarship is an NFTS scholarship specifically intended to enable talented newcomers from the UK’s ethnic minorities to fast-track their ambitions and join the British film industry.
Application Procedure
Application is made in the same way as all other NFTS scholarships but candidates will need to identify themselves as an UK ethnic minority candidate in order to be considered automatically.
The collaboration with the BFI, awarding funds from the National Lottery, will help support more applicants from under-represented groups to access highly sought after places on the School’s world leading MA and Diploma courses through bursaries and scholarships. Funding provided by the BFI will directly help students to train at the NFTS by generously supporting their tuition and maintenance outgoings.
The new partnership with the BFI will also financially support emerging filmmakers from under-represented groups to undertake the hugely popular entry-level NFTS Certificate in Filmmaking.
Eligibility
BFI scholarship funding is available for NFTS MA and Diploma courses.
Application Procedure
Apply for the course of your choice and if you’re successful at gaining a place, you will be contacted by our funding team with details on how to apply for a scholarship.
Netflix will entirely fund the two year NFTS Cinematography MA in addition to supporting annual living expenses.
Upon completion, the NFTS and Netflix will work with the scholarship recipient to plan and support their next steps into the industry, putting them forward for work placements and employment opportunities on Netflix UK productions.
From lights and shadows to colours and hues, a cinematographer decides on just about every element there is to bringing images to life on the screen. The NFTS course is the only two-year specialist cinematography MA in the UK with an intake of just 10 students per year learning both the art and craft of cinematography, combining creative expression with technical expertise.
Eligibility
Supported by Netflix, the scholarship will provide funding to support emerging black women filmmakers with the aim of increasing gender equality and representation behind the camera.
Application Procedure
To apply for the Black British Woman Cinematographer Scholarship Award you must be a UK citizen.
Applications are made online via nfts.co.uk/cinematography. If you are offered a place and are eligible, you will be invited to apply for the scholarship.