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MA Documentary Film

University of the Arts London (UAL)

United Kingdom, London

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Home/United Kingdom/London /University of the Arts London (UAL)/MA Documentary Film

University of the Arts London (UAL)

United Kingdom , London

Key Facts

Program Level

Master by Course Work

Study Type

Full Time

Delivery

On Campus

Campuses

London College of Communication

Program Language

English

Start & Deadlines

Next Intake DeadlinesSeptember-2022

Apply to this program

Go to the official application for the university

Duration 1.3 year(s)

Tuition Fee

GBP 23,610 / year

Next Intake September-2022

MA Documentary Film

About

MA Documentary Film is a leader in exploring the traditions of the documentary film genre and its modes of production. Integrating practice with theory, youll analyse filmmaking critically, historically and conceptually within a practical context.

Documentary has the power to investigate and inspire - to reveal the human experience, call the powerful to account and help effect lasting change.

As a student of documentary film, youll be naturally inquisitive and interested in the lives of others, committed to understanding the world that surrounds you, and keen to examining the most pressing issues of our time.

On this course, youll undertake the roles of producer, director, camera operator, sound-recordist and editor. Youll learn how to self-shoot, to work in teams, and to direct and produce for broadcast, independent and web media.

For your Major Project, youll develop ideas in ways that suit your work best. From identifying characters, stories and locations to shooting and editing with a particular visual style, you can choose to be the author of your work or to collaborate with peers.

What to expect

Youll become grounded in direction, camerawork and editing, and learn key artistic and technical skills alongside sustainable practice for a successful documentary filmmaker.
Youll contextualise theoretical and ethical debates surrounding the documentary form to compliment and nourish your growing practical skills in documentary filmmaking.
Youll introduce your work to the competitive British and international documentary filmmaking circuits.
Youll enhance your career prospects, gaining valuable vision, opportunities and skills including guidance on pitching for funding and commissions.
In return, youll need to be committed to the practice, ready with strong ideas, and open to constructive and supportive criticism so that you can push boundaries in your thinking, writing and reflection alongside making films.

â€‹Work experience and opportunities

Youll collaborate with external partners for projects and live briefs. Previously, weve worked with a variety of partners, including a collaboration with the Independent Film Trust, collaborating on the Coldharbour Project, an oral documentary series.

We have a long, successful history of graduates finding freelance work as directors, self-shooters and editors with companies ranging from The Guardian, Century Films and True Vision, to the BBC, Channel 4 and Channel 5.

The Screen School at LCC belongs to the BAFTA albert Education Partnership providing graduates with the opportunity to understand sustainability and its professional and personal relevance. You willhave the opportunity to undertake an optional assignment where youll learn about topics including sustainable production solutions, the role of and opportunities for - responsible businesses, and how to create content with a strategic environmental purpose.

Mode of study

MA Documentary Film is in Full Time mode which runs for 45 weeks over 15 months. You will be expected to commit 40 hours per week to study.

Requirements

Entry Requirements

An applicant will normally be considered for admission if they have achieved an educational level equivalent to an honours degree.

Applicants should have a proven interest in documentary films and a keen desire to make documentary films. You should know what kinds of documentary interest you and why you have an ambition to deepen your involvement in documentary film study and production.

Successful applicants have generally made their own videos and have some experience of filming, but we can also consider candidates without a production background who demonstrate exceptional film ideas and directing potential. We often have applications from mid-career photographers or producers in related fields.

Your experience is assessed as a learning process and tutors will evaluate that experience for currency, validity, quality and sufficiency. Your educational level may be demonstrated by:

Honours degree;
Possession of equivalent qualifications;
Prior experiential learning, the outcome of which can be demonstrated to be equivalent to formal qualifications otherwise required;
Or a combination of formal qualifications and experiential learning which, taken together, can be demonstrated to be equivalent to formal qualifications otherwise required.

APEL (Accreditation of Prior Learning)

Applicants who do not meet these course entry requirements may still be considered in exceptional cases. The course team will consider each application that demonstrates additional strengths and alternative evidence. This might, for example, be demonstrated by:

Related academic or work experience
The quality of the personal statement
A strong academic or other professional reference
OR a combination of these factors

Each application will be considered on its own merit but we cannot guarantee an offer in each case.

Language requirements

All classes are conducted in English. If English is not your first language, we strongly recommend you let us know your English language test score in your application. If you have booked a test or are awaiting your results, please indicate this in your application. When asked to upload a CV as part of your application, please include any information about your English test score.

IELTS 7.0 (or equivalent) is required, with a minimum of 6.0 in each of the four skills.
If your first language is not English, you can check you have achieved the correct IELTS level in English on the Language Requirements page.

For further details regarding international admissions and advice please visit the International Applications page.

Selection criteria

Offers will be made based on the following selection criteria, which applicants are expected to demonstrate:

Evidence that you have knowledge and awareness of documentary film culture, practice, directors, films and debates
Evidence of an understanding of what goes into making a good documentary idea and a keen desire to make your own authored documentary films

English Program Requirements

All students need to show proof of their English language ability to enrol at UAL. Most students from outside the UK need to submit an English language test as proof of their language ability.

If you need help to reach the required language level, UAL's Language Centre offers a range of English courses and a Presessional course for students with a conditional or unconditional offer. Current students at UAL, progressing to the next level of university study (e.g. from Foundation to BA) can take UAL's Progress Test to achieve the IELTS score required for the next level.

To find out if you are exempt from English language testing, please read exemptions from language testing at the bottom of this page.

English language tests

Your English language requirement is generally expressed as an IELTS score but UAL accepts several other English language tests in addition to IELTS.

Where we state 'IELTS Academic for UKVI', you must provide a certificate for this test. IELTS Academic (not for UKVI) cannot be used to support a student visa application for these levels of study. The University does not accept IELTS General or IELTS General for UKVI for any level of course.

Please note that you must achieve the required language scores - overall and all 4 skills (unless the test provider exempts you from sitting a skill on the basis of disability) - from a single sitting of a test examination. We cannot accept a combination of 'best' scores from multiple test results.

Please note that if you take a Cambridge IGCSE exam, you must provide 2 documents:

The Certificate
The Certifying Statement for CEFR. You will need to request this and pay the fee.

Minimum IELTS scores

Our IELTS requirements vary depending on the course and level of study. The requirement for each course is shown on the individual course pages.

Jump to minimum scores for:

Courses that require IELTS 5.0
Courses that require IELTS 5.5
Courses that require IELTS 6.0
Courses that require IELTS 6.5
Courses that require IELTS 7.0
Courses that require IELTS 7.5

Career

Graduates go into a range of film-making options such as production and academic research. Alumni of this course have also gone on to associate producer roles and commissions in broadcast and independent sectors. Much depends on individual focus and aspiration.

Many former students are now building strong reputations for their work on the course. Alana McVerry is a producer at VICE after making documentaries for the BBC; Leila Hussain is making short documentary features all over the world for CNN; Anahi Aradas has made films for BBC World and Victoria Burns won a Mead Fellowship to make a one-hour observational documentary on the Elephant & Castle Shopping Centre.

What are our graduates doing?

Daryl Mulvihill â€“ Filmmaker and lecturer at Academy of Architecture
Virgilio Oliveira â€“ Designer and Mix Media Creator
Zena Merton
Alana McVerry â€“ Director and Filmmaker
Jose Paya-Cano â€“ Video Producer
Kagweni Micheni

Fee Information

Tuition Fee

GBP 23,610

How to Apply

All applications will be considered by the course team who will consider key elements when making a decision on your suitability to join the course:

Firstly they will look at your qualifications and transcript (or projected results).
Secondly, they will review your personal statement, portfolio and study/project proposal.
There is no requirement for an academic or professional reference.

Required information for postgraduate course applications

Before you apply, please take time to read the guidance below. You will be asked to provide the following items and upload documents when completing the online application form:

Personal details (including full name; date of birth; nationality; permanent address and English language level)
Current and/or previous education and qualification details
Employment history
CV
Personal statement

Please note: we will ask you for copies of certain documents (for example, English language qualification/certificate and copies of any previous UK study visas). Read our immigration and visa information to find out if you need a visa to study at UAL.

You can only apply to the same course once per year. Any duplicate applications will be withdrawn. Read the UAL international application advice for further information on how to apply.

Extra information required for applications to this course

Portfolio.
Video task.
Study / project proposal.

Start your application now

There are 2 ways international students can apply to a postgraduate course:

Through one of our official representatives in your country
By direct application

The application form can be saved as you fill it out, so you do not need to complete it all at once. You will also have the chance to review all the information and make any necessary amendments before you submit the application form.

Deferring your place

This course accepts requests from offer holders to defer their place for one academic year. Deferral requests are granted on a first-come, first-served basis until all deferral places are filled, or a deadline has been reached, whichever is sooner. Read our Admissions Policy for details, including how to request a deferral and by when.

External Student Transfer Policy

If you are currently studying at another institution and have successfully completed 60 credits in the equivalent units/modules on your current PG course and wish to continue your studies at London College of Communication, you can apply to transfer.

The Admissions Tutor will consider applications on a case by case basis, subject to places being available. You must apply directly to the course via the course webpage as early as possible.

Further information about the external student transfer policy can be found on the Office for Students Information page.

CV

Please provide a CV detailing your education, qualifications and any relevant work or voluntary experience. If English is not your first language it is important that you also include in your CV details of your most recent English language test score.

Personal statement advice

You’ll be asked to complete a personal statement describing why you want to study on MA Photography.

Your personal statement should describe what you specialised in during your undergraduate course , why you now want to study on MA Photography at LCC, and what you are hoping to do after the course.

The majority of our students have studied either BA Photography or other lens-based/fine-art subjects before applying to our course.

If you didn’t previously undertake a BA Photography course, please explain why you feel that you meet the academic criteria needed for further study in this subject area.

Project proposal advice (250 words maximum)

Your Project Proposal should be a feasible, researched outline of the intended project you plan to photograph during your time on the course.

This should include how you plan to develop your project, and also provide a sense of subject matter, visual style, conceptual approach and associated research, as well as your existing knowledge of contemporary fine art photography.