Directing and Producing Science and Natural History - MA


National Film and Television School    Masters Programmes

Full time January MA 2 years full-time
Communication & Media Studies (7) Creative Arts & Design (9)

FindAMasters summary

Are you ready to make your mark in the world of science and natural history filmmaking? Look no further than the Directing and Producing Science and Natural History MA at the prestigious NFTS. This unique programme is designed to equip you with the skills and expertise needed to direct and produce captivating science and wildlife productions. With masterclasses from industry experts, work experience at major production companies, and the opportunity to create your own films, you'll gain the confidence and knowledge to pitch ideas to commissioners. Whether you have a background in science or film, this programme will nurture your passion and help you build a successful career in this exciting industry.

About the course

Designed to give you all you need to work professionally in this exciting industry. Could you make the next Life of the Universe, The Surgeon’s Cut or A Year on Planet Earth?

This one-of-a-kind MA course aims to give you the skills and expertise needed to direct science and wildlife productions; the know-how to produce and direct entire shows and the ability, confidence and knowledge to generate and pitch ideas to commissioners.

Scholarship and bursary funding is

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Entry Requirements

You must be able to demonstrate your passion and commitment to developing a career in television, and may already have some experience of television production.

Typically, applicants will have a proven interest in science and natural history, which may involve a background in Physics, Chemistry, combined Natural Sciences, Zoology, Biology, Psychology, Wildlife Photography or film making.

While many applicants will have a degree from a British or overseas university, we will consider applicants who do not have a degree if they have an impressive portfolio, a creative track record or an alternative qualification.


 Course Content

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Where will I study?

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Videos


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NFTS Behind the Scenes Promo NFTS Behind the Scenes Promo 27/07/2023 10:19:43
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StandOut with NFTS StandOut with NFTS 27/07/2023 10:19:51
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Science and Natural History Showreel 2020 Science and Natural History Showreel 2020 30/11/2020 13:01:05
Science and Natural History Showreel 2020
Create your future with the National Film and Television School Create your future with the National Film and Television School 27/07/2023 10:20:00
Create your future with the National Film and...

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.


Find out more

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.


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As part of our partnership with NFTS, the BBC offers up to 20 bursaries a year, across our 10 sponsored courses, to support exciting new talent from diverse backgrounds, who otherwise wouldn’t be able to access the School’s world class teaching.

We aim to offer at least one fully funded bursary on each of our sponsored courses – although we will flex our support according to the range of applications and financial need. On MA courses we will commit to supporting new students across the two years of the course. All BBC scholars will have a commissioning or production mentor. All our courses have a lead sponsor – but other BBC departments may also contribute to the courses, mentoring or work placements.

We strongly encourage applications from candidates with backgrounds that are under-represented in the BBC or the wider production sector: Black, Asian, Minority Ethnic, disabled and those from lower income backgrounds – where the candidates parents were working in a routine or manual occupation when they were 14. We also encourage applications from candidates meeting the above criteria, who currently live in the Nations and Regions, and plan to work there in the future.

Eligibility

The BBC offers up to 20 bursaries a year, across 10 sponsored National Film and Television School courses, for UK citizens.

Application Procedure

When you are offered a place on an MA course, and if you are eligible, you will be invited to apply for these scholarships. We will also provide advice about other potential sources of funding. Applications for NFTS funding are means tested. Awards to UK MA students for the academic year commencing January 2022 have ranged from £1,000 to £10,000, depending on demonstrated individual need.

Applicants wanting to be a BBC scholar should apply to the NFTS in the normal way – and state if they have a particular interest in being a BBC scholar.


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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.


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We are committed to supporting UK disabled talent and being a catalyst for meaningful change to issues faced by disabled talent within the UK screen and games industries. As part of our commitment to making the creative industries more accessible to disabled talent, we are providing dedicated funding to help to support UK students with disabilities to access our world-class training.

Five bursaries will be available for UK students applying to study on full time MA and Diploma courses from September 2024, providing up to £5,000 per annum each. Additional bursary support is also available for UK students applying to study part time Diploma and Certificate courses from September 2024 of up to £1,000 each. UK Students studying courses supported by NFTS scholarship and bursaries will also be eligible to apply for further funding from the School to help with tuition fee costs.

The funding aims to assist UK students who face significant additional costs because of the nature of their disability.

The bursary could be used to help with costs such as:
- Accessible accommodation
- Carers accommodation
- Additional heating and electricity costs
- Travel expenses
- Specialist and mobility equipment

The National Film and Television School is keen to take additional steps towards a more inclusive film, television and games industries and will continue to develop and secure additional support for those who need it.

Value of Scholarship(s)

£1000-5000

Eligibility

Candidates must have been permanently resident in the UK for the last three years and hold a British passport in order to be eligible.

A learning difference (e.g. dyslexia, dyspraxia, or AD(H)D)
A visual impairment uncorrected by glasses (e.g. blindness or partial sight)
A hearing impairment (e.g. D/deafness or partial hearing)
A physical impairment or challenges with mobility or dexterity
A social, behavioural or communication impairment (e.g. an autistic spectrum condition or Tourette’s Syndrome)
A long-term illness/health condition which may involve pain or cause fatigue, loss of concentration or breathing difficulties

Application Procedure

As with all NFTS funding opportunities, on receiving an offer of a place on one of our courses, applicants will be invited to apply for funding. Applications will be assessed by a panel comprised of NFTS representatives and the School’s Disability Advocate.

Applicants will need to provide medical evidence of their disability (from a GP, consultant or specialist practitioner) and provide information on how the funding will be used. Applications will be assessed by a panel comprised of NFTS representatives and the School’s Disability Advocate.


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The Crown, a globally acclaimed Netflix series, stands as a testament to the power of craftsmanship in storytelling. For over a decade, a dedicated crew, including over 60 NFTS alumni, meticulously brought this masterpiece to life on screen.

The Left Bank Pictures – The Crown Scholarship programme, fuelled by a once-in-a-lifetime auction of 450 props, furniture, and costumes from all six seasons of The Crown, will give a host of new students the opportunity to receive world-class training and follow in our alumni’s footsteps.

The proceeds from the auction will support at least 50 students to train at the NFTS over next 20 years on fully funded scholarships with additional living expenses covered, allowing them to train on a wide range of our specialist film and television MA and Diploma courses.

If you're eager to pursue a career behind the camera in a specialist craft discipline, we encourage you to apply to become one of the first Crown Scholars and begin your journey shaping the future of the industry.

Eligibility

Open to students studying full time MA and Diploma courses. Eligibility is limited to candidates who have been permanent residents in the UK for the last three years and hold a British passport.

Application Procedure

To become a Crown Scholar, prospective students need to follow a straightforward application process by applying for the course of their choice (listed above.) Upon receiving an offer of a place, applicants will be invited to apply for funding.


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