Program Overview

MA Film and Television Production

Introduction

Develop as a producer/director of factual films and television programmes. Enhance your creative skills and technical knowledge and build a portfolio of work to help you stand out from the crowd.

Course Options

• 1 year full-time
• 17 months full-time
• 24 months part-time

Key Facts

• Study options: 1 year full-time
• Start dates: September
• Location: Cambridge
• Fees:
  • £9,800 UK students starting 2025/26 (full-time, per year)
  • £19,500 International students starting 2025/26 (full-time, per year)

Student Work

• Previous. Next.
• Student success
  • Eli Hakim
    • MA Film and Television student Eli Hakim’s film Monsters won the NAHEMI Best National Student Film Award for Editing.
  • No Margins Media
    • Hear how our MA Film and Television Production helped Sand and Erato, founders of No Margins Media, progress their careers.
  • Why Don't You Stay For Tonight?
    • By our MA students won the best Entertainment and Comedy Drama Award at the national Royal Television Society Student Television Awards 2024.
  • ARU Spotlight
    • Megan came from Long Beach, California to study our MA Film and Television Production and is now working on her first feature-length documentary.

Teaching and Assessment

1 year full-time (September start)

• Year 1
  • Our MA Film and Television Production will give you a broad experience of specialist film-making technologies and production skills that will help you decide which area of the industry most interests you.
  • Alongside your film work you’ll take modules in which you’ll explore visual storytelling, scheduling and programming, and the relationship between research and filmmaking.
  • You’ll prepare film pitches and write essays and reflective commentaries.
  • Tutorials and your independent research will give you a strong critical and contextual grounding for your practical work.
  • You’ll demonstrate your learning by producing and directing films of different lengths and styles and working in a team on a TV studio production.
  • The final Masters Project is your ‘calling card’ for the industry. This is your opportunity to create a whole film package at a professional standard, with accompanying documentation. It can be a substantial piece of audio-visual work, or collection of shorter audio-visual materials.
  • Modules are subject to change and availability.
• Assessment
  • You’ll demonstrate your learning, and ensure you’re developing the knowledge and skills to complete the course, through producing and directing films of different lengths and styles; working in a team on a TV studio production; written production analyses and reflective commentaries; essays; filming schedules and budgets; film pitches; and your final Masters Project.
  • Your assignments are usually submitted at the end of each term.
  • You’ll also be assessed informally and given feedback during the term to help you achieve to the highest level.
  • Feedback could be on a film, a presentation or group participation; it will be given by your tutor and your fellow students.
• Core modules
  • Film and Television: Research and Context
  • Visual Storytelling
  • Understanding the Audience
  • Master's Research Assignment: Film & Television
  • Master's Project: Film & Television

Entry Requirements

• A first degree, with honours, in a related subject and at a minimum final classification of lower second (2:2) or equivalent.
• Applicants with professional experience are encouraged to apply.
• If English is not your first language you will be expected to demonstrate a certificated level of proficiency of at least IELTS 6.5 (Academic level) or equivalent English Language qualification, as recognised by Anglia Ruskin University.
• All prospective students must submit evidence of their creative abilities by providing a portfolio.

Fees and Paying for University

Tuition fees for UK students (2025/26)

• £9,800 UK students starting 2025/26 (full-time, per year)
• ARU graduates may be eligible for an Alumni Scholarship and get a 20% fee discount.

Tuition fees for international students (2025/26)

• £19,500 International students starting 2025/26 (full-time, per year)
• You can pay your fees upfront, in full or in two instalments.
• We will ask for a deposit of £4,000 or a sponsorship letter.

Facilities and Showcase

• Industry-standard equipment
  • Film studio with overhead lighting, tracks, dollies and green screen
  • Multi-camera television studio with modular set panels and modern set dressing
  • Arri Alexa cameras
  • Full range of location kit from 4K digital cameras, professional lighting, to Steadicam
  • Sound-recording equipment for location filming
  • Editing suites with Da Vinci Resolve and the full Adobe Creative Cloud software suite
  • Finishing suite with audio monitoring and grading panels
  • Aaton Cameras and Steenbeck editors for 16mm film production
  • Motion capture equipment
  • Podcast and video capture system
• Futures Lab and workshop equipment
  • 3D printers and scanners - FDM printers; material-specific extruders; SLA Formlabs printers; SLS Formlabs Fuse1; structured light 3D scanners
  • 2D printing and cutting machines - laser cutters; Roland BN20 vinyl printer & cutter; Gerber substrate cutter; Mimaki TX300P sublimation printer.
• Learn outside the classroom
  • Guest lectures from film and television professionals
  • Cambridge Film Festival
  • An annual trip to Sheffield International Documentary Film Festival and trips to see live TV studios in action
  • Events offered through our student-led film societies.

Accreditation

• ARRI
  • We are an officially licensed ARRI Certified Film School, allowing you to get ARRI certification through our training programmes on the ARRI camera systems.
  • Certified trainers: Nick Howard (Technical Team Leader) and Sam Holmár (Media Services Team Leader).
• albert
  • ARU’s BA and MA Film and Television Production courses are partnered with albert, the BAFTA-owned screen industry organisation for environmental sustainability.

Lecturers

• Catherine Elliott
  • Senior Lecturer
  • Catherine Elliott's profile page
• David Scott
  • Senior Lecturer
  • David Scott's profile page
  • Visit David's website
• Josh Newman
  • Senior Lecturer
  • Josh Newman's profile page

Careers

• Our MA Film and Television will prepare you for a career in TV or the broader media and help you to decide which areas of the industry attract you the most.
• Although the emphasis is on directing and producing, you might choose to move into cinematography, production management or even television programme sales.
• You might also develop a particular interest in observational documentary, natural history films or science programming and decide to follow a career in these fields.
• The specialist skills you’ve gained as a postgraduate student will be useful for traditional, experimental and creative documentary making, or films for education, training, public relations, current affairs, marketing and campaigning.
• Our course will prepare you to create a portfolio for a freelance career and give you the ability to make high-quality content for broadcast, web, film festivals or cinema.
• While you’re studying here and after you graduate, you can access support through our dedicated Employability Service.
• Graduation doesn’t have to be the end of your time with us. You could choose to continue your academic career with a research programme at ARU, such as our PhD Film and Television Production.
• Take advantage of our Alumni Scholarship and save £400 on your fees.
• If you studied for the Postgraduate Certificate or Postgraduate Diploma initially, you can choose to complete further modules and top-up to a full Masters degree.

Student Testimonial

• STEPHANUS PRETORIUS
  • "I have gained skills that will be used throughout my life and career. As as result I am much more confident and feel as though I achieve more than I ever thought I could."