MA Filmmaking (Cinematography)

If you are passionate about pursuing a career as a cinematographer in an environment that promotes innovative filmmaking, this programme is for you.

• The MA Filmmaking (Cinematography) is a pathway of the Goldsmiths MA Filmmaking. It is housed in a new purpose-built media facility with state-of-the-art teaching spaces including film and photography studios equipped with Arri cameras and lighting.
• It is a unique blend of hands-on workshops, studio and location filming exercises, and high production value collaborative film projects, the MA elevates your skills as a moving-image storyteller to the level of Director of Photography.
• You'll learn sophisticated camera, lighting and gripping techniques, and will perform all camera department roles from director of photography to camera operator, focus-puller, gaffer, camera assistant, spark and grip.
• You’ll work on a number of exercises and films per term in your specialist role, culminating in a major film production towards the end of the degree.
• You’ll attend classes in related disciplines such as directing and editing, and advance your collaborative skills by working with students across all specialisations, including writers, producers and sound designers.
• Experienced tutors and industry guests provide expert guidance. Recent guest speakers include Barry Ackroyd BSC, Cesar Charlone ABC, Jess Hall BSC, Martin ‘Teddy’ Testar BKSTS, Adam Scarfe (DoP), Howard Davidson (Gaffer), Steve MacCarthy (Operator) and our very own Witold Stok BSC.
• You'll be able to join the British Society of Cinematographers Club as a student member and have the opportunity to interact with the world’s top cinematographers during our annual trip to the world’s largest cinematography festival Camerimage in Poland.
• You'll leave the MA with a diverse portfolio of moving-image work that spans fiction and documentary, as well as hybrid and experimental genres.
• The programme will prepare you to enter the global job market, armed with an enhanced understanding of your practical, intellectual and creative capacities as a cinematographer.
• The Department of Media, Communications and Cultural Studies has been ranked second in the UK for 'world-leading or internationally excellent' research (Research Excellence Framework, 2021) and 16th in the world (third in the UK) in the 2024 QS World Rankings for communication and media studies.

Contact the department

If you have specific questions about the degree, contact Tracy Bass or Brian Fawcett.

You should have (or expect to be awarded) an undergraduate degree of at least second class standard in a relevant/related subject as well as a level of practical experience from work in the arts or the media.

You might also be considered for some programmes if you aren’t a graduate or your degree is in an unrelated field, but have relevant experience and can show that you have the ability to work at postgraduate level.

Because funding deadlines and requirements vary around the world, applications are considered on a rolling basis from February onwards and places on the programme fill up across the recruitment cycle. For this reason, we strongly advise you to submit your completed application as early as you can.

International qualifications

We accept a wide range of international qualifications. Find out more about the qualifications we accept from around the world.

If English isn’t your first language, you will need an IELTS score (or equivalent English language qualification) of 7.0 with a 7.0 in writing and no element lower than 6.5 to study this programme.

Where this degree can take you

Our graduates

Recent alumni are active in the film, media and cultural industries around the world as:

• Cinematographers
• Film camera operators
• Television camera operators
• Lighting designers
• Focus pullers
• Gaffers
• Grips
• Steadicam operators

Find out more about employability at Goldsmiths.

Skills you'll gain

The programme will prepare you to enter the global job market, armed with an enhanced understanding of your practical, intellectual and creative capacities as a cinematographer. You will also develop a variety of transferable intellectual, organisational and communication skills to equip you for a broad range of employment opportunities across the arts and media landscape.

You'll learn sophisticated camera, lighting and gripping techniques, and will perform all camera department roles from Director of Photography to Camera Operator, Focus-puller, Gaffer, Camera Assistant, Spark and Grip.

Classes in related disciplines such as Directing and Editing will advance your collaborative skills, and by working with those studying all specialisations, including writers, producers and sound designers. The horizontal framework is designed to stimulate collaborative practice by introducing you to a breadth of filmmaking knowledge combined with a high level of expertise as an accomplished cinematographer.