MA Documentary Film

Direct and produce your own film in a high definition professional environment on this highly regarded course. The emphasis is on strong ideas and the development of specialist skills in production, directing, camera operating, sound recording and editing. You will benefit from the extensive industry experience of our tutors, which includes BBC and Channel 4 broadcast, gallery and festival screenings. This course is taught at London College of Communication, at Elephant & Castle, part of University of the Arts London (UAL).

What can you expect?

You can expect to be grounded in documentary direction, camerawork and editing - the key artistic and technical skills for a successful production team. Each year students take their work from London College of Communication onto the competitive British and international documentary filmmaking circuit.

You will enhance your career prospects gaining valuable skills, vision and opportunities including guidance on pitching for funding and commissions. 

The course culminates in you making a short documentary film (15-20 minutes). From identifying characters, stories and locations to shooting and editing with a particular visual style, you will be the complete author of your work.

Artistic, investigative, observational and activist film ideas are all welcome. These can be developed for the context that suits your work best – from broadcast to independent or gallery exhibition.

MA Documentary Film explores the traditions of international documentary film while offering modern documentary production facilities at London College of Communication. Training includes shooting and directing on high-definition cameras and editing in Adobe Premiere. Practice is integrated with the theory so that filmmaking is critically and conceptually analysed within the historical and practical context of documentary film.

Reasons to apply 

• Practical skills – train on high-end equipment from the start and use it while making your first films.

• Critical skills – study documentary history and theory, learn to analyse films through group screenings and discussions. Get feedback from industry professionals.

• Industry skills – practice writing effective treatments, train in pitching ideas, search out work placements in production companies, meet well-known producers and directors doing special sessions.

• Networking skills – be part of information-sharing about filming opportunities with former students, tutors and industry contacts.

About London College of Communication

The communications sector is evolving fast. Through our world-leading community of teaching, research and industry partnerships, we enable our students to develop the critical, creative and technical excellence needed to succeed and to discover new possibilities and practices.

Our Design, Media and Screen Schools produce experts and award-winners across virtual reality, journalism, photography, television and sound, graphic communication, games, design management – and more.

The London College of Communication experience is all about learning by doing. Our students get their hands dirty and develop their skills through the exploration of our facilities and technical spaces.

Students work on live briefs and commissions, with everything from independent start-ups and charities in Southwark, through to major global companies. Student designers, makers and innovators have worked with Nike, Penguin, the EU Commission, Colgate, Plan International, the National Trust, Nokia and Royal Mail, to name a few.

Visit the MA Documentary Film page on the University of the Arts London website for more details!