MA Documentary

About this course

This dynamic and practical Documentary MA from LJMU will develop your creative storytelling and multi-media production skills.

• Explore documentary making via a variety of platforms and media
• Develop skills in entrepreneurship and internationalisation
• Work with award-winning documentary makers and experienced journalists
• Undertake a placement with a professional media company
• Attend the UK's premier documentary festival, Sheffield DockFest
• Access to industry-standard technology and equipment

Develop the core skills required to become a successful documentary maker on this new Masters course. Through the exploration of practical camerawork skills, including sound recording, editing and interviewing, you will gain confidence in your craft, while the journalism modules will develop your skills in storytelling, interviewing and journalistic principles. You will also study and understand the laws which impact responsible journalism, including the latest media law and ethics.

Recently, a group of MA Documentary students accompanied Prof Serge Wich and MSc Wildlife Conservation and Drone Applications students for a trip of a lifetime, to use their expertise to document a wildlife conversation trip to the jungles of Tanzania. Prof Wich has dedicated his career to tracking animals in the region, including how to collect data on animal behaviour and the density of animals, mapping threats to various species, and mastering complex drone data collection skills. Watch a short promotional film produced by the MA Documentary students below.

The degree is taught by two departments in Liverpool Screen School: Media Production and Journalism. The collaborative nature of the degree means you will receive the best learning support, access to the latest techniques, academic research and opportunities to engage with key external partners including the BBC, ITV; Northern Lights Partnership; Nine Lives Media; Blakeway North; Lime Pictures; and the BAFTA award-winning companies Hurricane Films and LA Productions.

"I really enjoyed the MA Documentary, and am very grateful to have been given the opportunity to further develop the technical and storytelling skills learnt on the course. Using immersive technologies, my PhD will design and develop a toolkit aimed at reducing the risk of suicide attempts. Ever since the day I joined the University, LJMU has provided the platform for a very strong guidance system. Where students have the will, the tutors here make the way."

Salma Shalaby, student, awarded an LJMU VC Scholarship to study at PhD level

• a minimum 2:2 degree

• Although most applicants will be graduates, those without a degree and other non-standard applications will be considered. The Programme Leader will consider such applications on the basis of experience

Employability

Further your career prospects

LJMU has an excellent employability record with 96% (HESA 2018) of our postgraduates in work or further study six months after graduation. Our applied learning techniques and strong industry connections ensure our students are fully prepared for the workplace on graduation and understand how to apply their knowledge in a real world context.

This MA will help you to develop into an adaptive, creative and self-reflective story-teller, with industry-relevant craft skills and the ability to produce documentaries for a variety of audiences, in a range of media forms.

I chose to study the MA Documentary because I wanted to work towards a career that could be both creative and make a difference. To me, that's what documentary making is all about."

Saoirse Crean, student, now working as a documentary producer in network TV