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Students
Tuition Fee
Start Date
2026-09-01
Medium of studying
On campus
Duration
2 years
Program Facts
Program Details
Degree
Masters
Major
Creative Writing | Film Production | Screenwriting
Area of study
Arts
Education type
On campus
Timing
Part time
Course Language
English
Intakes
Program start dateApplication deadline
2026-09-01-
About Program

Program Overview


MA Screenwriting | Part-time

About this course

This MA in Screenwriting from LJMU invites you to explore your creative potential, by giving you the creative space to develop as a writer.


  • Next intake is September 2026
  • Develop your own original voice to create challenging and innovative TV and feature film ideas
  • Learn key industry-skills within a professional writers’ room environment
  • Produce a substantial screenwriting portfolio to industry standard
  • Be taught by highly experienced professionals who have collaborated with such scriptwriters as Julian Fellowes (Downton Abbey) and Peter Morgan (The Crown) amongst others.
  • Benefit from Liverpool’s reputation as a world-leading hub for TV and film production.
  • Experience masterclasses from top visiting industry professionals
  • Forge links with award-winning production companies

Course modules

Discover the building blocks of your programme

  • Adaptation (30 credits)
    • The module aims to introduce and practice creative, formal, research and technical skills appropriate to Screenwriting at Masters level.
    • You will gain an understanding of the adaptation process, identify and develop an original and creative voice.
    • We emphasise the importance of presenting work to professional standards and working in a professional manner within a writers' room environment.
    • You will initiate a comprehensive understanding of theoretical screenwriting techniques that enriches and advances your creative work.
  • Writing the Feature (30 credits)
    • The module will further develop key research skills.
    • It aims to further expand workshopping and feedback insights on peers' work as you write a feature length film script and identify potential markets.
    • You will further develop key screenwriting skills based on theoretical analysis of films and craft texts.
  • Developing TV Series (Research Methods) (30 credits)
    • The aims of this module is to increase students’ awareness of screenwriting concepts relating to TV series.
    • You will further develop an understanding of the writing process and the theoretical elements that make an effective screenplay and write an industry standard script report on peers' creative work.
    • You will further develop the ability to communicate ideas effectively, while creating work and stories in a group setting across a vast range of different dramatic proprieties.
  • Writing the Pilot (30 credits)
    • During this module, you will further develop key screenwriting skills based on theoretical analysis of TV series and craft texts.
    • You will further expand workshopping and feedback insights on peers' work, and write a 45-min TV pilot episode script and identify potential markets.
    • You will further develop relevant research skills and work collaboratively in writers’ room environment.
  • Writing is Rewriting (60 credits)
    • The module aims to further develop your creative voices.
    • You will further develop students’ understanding of screenwriting techniques based on theoretical analysis of existing work and craft texts.
    • You will reflect upon your own creative process in relation to screenwriting theory and develop the capacity and skills to rewrite the TV Pilot script.

Professional accreditation

The Liverpool Screen School is a BAFTA albert Education Partner and proud to be working with albert to arm students with the sustainability knowledge they’ll need when joining the screen industries. BAFTA albert is the leading screen industry organisation for environmental sustainability.


Your Learning Experience

  • Teaching Assessment
    • This master is a part-time degree which is designed specifically around creating a programme of study ideally suited to people in work or with other responsibilities.
    • The two-year programme duration gives students the time and space to concentrate on improving their writing skills, giving more time for reflection, editing, group critique and hearing from practising writers.
  • Teaching methods
    • Teaching staff on this course are practicing award-winning writers with years of experience in the industry.
    • You will participate in small seminar groups, where your tutor contact time will be maximised and you will receive more opportunities to discuss ideas and techniques with classmates.
  • Applied learning
    • You will receive continual feedback from peers and tutors, helping you to improve as a writer while developing your critical skills when looking at synopses and scripts.
    • During your studies you will hear from current practising screenwriters, editors and producers.

Career paths

  • Alumni from this course have enjoyed success as writers, directors and producers.
  • Our dazzling list of alumni includes:
    • Joe McNally, graduated from the MA in 2022, and recently won the Channel 4/Bonafide Films Northern Writers Award for his screenplay for
    • Adam Bennett-Lea, who since graduating has been a part of Royal Exchange Theatre's Young Writers programme. He has had several scratch comedy productions staged regionally, and co-created the comic-book series Queer Tales
    • Gail Young, whose play Bouncing Back & Cheshire Cats was recently performed at Royal Court, Liverpool & Theatr Clwyd (National Theatre of Wales)
    • Laurence Wilson, recently adapted George Orwell's Animal Farm for the Young Everyman Players at the Everyman & Playhouse Theatre, Liverpool. His recent audio work can be listened to on Soundcloud

Tuition fees and funding

  • Home
    • Part-time per credit: £52
  • Fees
    • The fees quoted above cover registration, tuition, supervision, assessment and examinations as well as library membership and student IT support with access to printed, multimedia and digital resources including programme-appropriate software and on campus wifi.
  • Financial Support
    • There are many ways to fund postgraduate study for home and international students. From loans to International Scholarships and subject-specific funding, you’ll find all of the information you need on our specialist postgraduate funding pages.

Entry requirements

  • Qualification requirements
    • Undergraduate degree
      • a minimum 2:1 in Media Production, Drama, Journalism, English, or a related degree
  • International requirements
    • IELTS
      • IELTS English language requirement: 6.5 (minimum 6.0 in each component)

How to apply

  • To apply for this programme, you are required to complete an LJMU online application form.
  • You will need to provide details of previous qualifications and a personal statement outlining why you wish to study this programme.
  • Due to the competitive nature of this programme, applications are considered in stages. As the programme recruits biennially the next intake is September 2026.
  1. Applicants should complete the online application form and include in the personal statement section reasons why they wish to study this programme.
  2. Attach a 15-page sample script
  3. Attach a synopsis (maximum 500 words)
  4. Attach a CV
  5. Provide a reference which should concentrate on the following areas: Attendance, punctuality, participation, ability to meet deadline, response to feedback and communication skills

Stage 2 Interviews for short-listed applications submitted prior to the February deadline will be interviewed late February. Short-listed applications submitted after the February deadline will be interviewed in May. Short-listed applicants will be advised on interview dates as soon as possible. Applicants will be invited to a face to face interview, however if this is not possible applicants will be invited to attend a Microsoft Teams interview.


Applications received after the May application deadline may not be considered if the programme is full.


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