MA Film

Edinburgh Napier University School of Arts & Creative Industries

Full time September MA 1 year

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About the course

Prepare for a career in film and scripted drama on this Creative Skillset accredited course.

With emphasis on collaboration, this course has been designed to help you embark on a career as a professional fiction filmmaker in one of the following disciplines:

producing
directing
cinematography
editing
location sound recording and sound design (dual discipline)

Teaching is through a combination of collaborative shared modules and modules that focus on individual disciplines. The two core practice-based modules, Creative Practice and Collaborative Techniques, complement each other, concentrating on professional practice within the framework of the industry crew structure.

Entry Requirements

The entry requirement for this course is a Bachelor (Honours) Degree at 2:2 or above in any discipline. Applicants are required to submit a portfolio alongside their application. You can find our portfolio guidance below.

Please make it clear in your application which of the five specialisms you are applying for: directing, producing, cinematography, editing or location sound recording and design. There are limited spaces for each pathway to ensure a balance of technical disciplines within the course.

Fees

Please see the university website for further information on fees for this course.

Where will I study?

Edinburgh Napier University

Edinburgh Napier University is a modern, ambitious and innovative university located in Edinburgh, Scotland’s vibrant capital. At Edinburgh Napier staff and support teams nurture talent and create knowledge that shapes communities around Scotland and across the world. Their innovative research across five specialised faculties, ensures Edinburgh Napier graduates are well-prepared for the workforce, supported by strong industry links with employers and businesses. Edinburgh Napier has been consistently voted by students as number one in Edinburgh for student satisfaction in the UK’s ‘National Student Survey’ for the last five years! It is a strong community of students and staff, all driven by a shared passion for making a difference in the world.

Student Profile

Olivia Wilkinson

What encouraged you to study at postgraduate level?

I left my undergraduate studies feeling happy with the progress I had made regarding my filmmaking knowledge and abilities. But I knew there was a lot more I needed to learn before I could enter the industry. I didn’t know anything about roles on-set within larger scale productions, equipment, or on-set etiquette. I was on a completely amateur level and I really wanted to enhance my abilities. I would be lying if I said I didn’t enjoy study also, I always took a disliking to school & college, but university had a different working atmosphere of dedication and respect which enabled me to enjoy learning.

Why did you choose to study at ENU?

I had previously studied in London which was fantastic, and I loved every second. But after 4 years in the big city, there are certain things you begin to miss about living somewhere more intimate. I wanted to be able to afford more than just my living costs, and soon, the charm of the attractions began to wear off. I then noticed most of the London universities charged way beyond my means, so I started to look elsewhere and found that Edinburgh Napier had a directing course. The course had received great reviews, had promising testimonies from graduates, and had modules that filled in all the gaps in my knowledge, such as Collaborative Techniques and Creative Practice, with the added bonus of the chance to learn about screenwriting. Upon being invited for an interview, instead of doing it over Skype, I headed up to Scotland in person to take myself on a mini-break to see how I felt about my potential new home - I fell in love instantly and it’s not hard to see why.

What are your favourite parts of the course?

Highlights for me were the Collaborative Techniques shoots, where our tutors, alongside other industry professionals, would attend shoots and observe us as we shot a scene and give critique on our on-set decorum and skill. These shoots introduced me to the role of Assistant Director, a career route I am now pursuing. I felt this module gave us the foundation of knowledge we needed in order to pursue our independent filmmaking in Creative Practice - this being another one of my favourite aspects of the course. Other highlights would include the Critical Film Study.