Wildlife Documentary Production

University of Salford

United Kingdom, Salford

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945

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Home/United Kingdom/Salford /University of Salford/Wildlife Documentary Production

University of Salford

United Kingdom , Salford

Key Facts

Program Level

Master by Course Work

Study Type

Full Time

Delivery

On Campus

Campuses

Main Site

Program Language

English

Start & Deadlines

Next Intake DeadlinesSeptember-2026

Apply to this program

Go to the official application for the university

Duration 1 year(s)

Tuition Fee

GBP 17,520 / years

Next Intake September-2026

Wildlife Documentary Production

About

Introduction

In a nutshell

Do you see yourself staging shots of wildlife species in their natural habitats? Or perhaps you want to shed light on the pressing environmental issues affecting the natural world? Wherever your filmmaking interests lie, this MA Wildlife Documentary Production degree will give you the research, scriptwriting and technical skills you need to take the first step in your professional career.

Designed to give you the hands-on experience you’ll need to establish yourself as a skilled filmmaker, this wildlife documentary master’s degree will provide you with the opportunity to attend fascinating masterclasses given by expert practitioners with links to the television industry. So, alongside your lectures, seminars and field trips, you’ll also have access to advice from people with firsthand experience of the industry.

What’s more, as a postgraduate student studying at Salford, you’ll be able to make the most of the creative opportunities this exciting city has to offer. From the top of the range studio facilities and equipment on campus to the variety of reputable TV production and media companies across Greater Manchester, you’ll be joining a vibrant community of like-minded creatives with a wealth of experience.

Want to find out more about our degree in MA Wildlife Documentary Production degree? Sign-up for an Open Day.

International applicants: Please check the international intakes page for the latest information and application dates.

Below, you can watch a documentary by a graduate from the programme, Luca Antonio Marino, who said:

"The MA in Wildlife Documentary Production was very important to learn how to produce wildlife films that meet broadcast standards and to know better the industry of natural history documentaries. A strong emphasis is given to storytelling and the production of individual projects and this gave me the chance to put into play my filmmaking skills and practise with the equipment. I really appreciated studying in a stimulating environment close to some of the most important production companies in the world and along with expert practitioners with links to the television industry."

You will:

Gain the tools and training you need to take the first step in your professional wildlife documentary filmmaking career
Learn from experts in the field through a variety of masterclasses
Develop a strong portfolio of work evidencing your ability to produce polished and informative wildlife documentaries

International

students accepted

This is for you if...

You have a passion for using documentary to communicate knowledge about wildlife and the environment.

You want to learn from expert practitioners with links to the television industry.

You want to graduate with a portfolio of work that can be used to establish yourself as a successful wildlife documentary producer.

Requirements

Entry Requirements

Requirements

What you need to know

Applicant profile

Are you passionate about shedding light on the natural world in interesting and informative ways? Are you hoping to develop your skills in research, scriptwriting and camerawork? Do you see yourself following in the steps of the great Sir David Attenborough?

If so, weâd like to hear from you. Weâre looking for committed science graduates who are eager to take their abilities to the next level. You will need some experience of the documentary form, whether thatâs in a professional context or through undergraduate study.

In addition, you should have a keen interest in wildlife documentary production and how it relates to the natural world. Ideally, youâll want to explore this further in the form of developing your knowledge of the technical skills used in documentary filmmaking.

The application process

To apply for this MA Wildlife Documentary Production course, youâll need to prepare a personal statement, Weâll want to understand:

What motivates you and what current experiences do you have in terms of film and media creation; whether thatâs scriptwriting, filming cameras, and editing for example?
How have you been involved and what did you do?
Are you a creative thinker and how do you develop ideas?
Do you have any knowledge of the film production industry or film sector; are there any projects that inspire you?
Why do you want to work in the film and TV sector?
Why is this degree at the University of Salford the right choice for your future goals?

For some applicants, youâll be asked to provide us with a portfolio of work.

Once youâve made your application to study with us, weâll contact you and let you know the next steps.

Standard entry requirements

To join this MA you should have a relevant second class honours degree, 2:2 or above.

For the MA programmes in Media Production you will be required to submit a project proposal related to your chosen specialist field, to support your application. A brief written synopsis (max. 500 words) of your ideas would also be required. Please note that this would be for discussion purposes at the interview only.

International students

International applicants will be required to show a proficiency in English. An IELTS score of 6.5, with no element below 5.5, is proof of this.

We accept qualifications from all around the world. Find your country to see a full list of entry requirements.

We also accept a range of other English language qualifications. If you do not have the English language requirements, you could take our Pre-Sessional English course.

Alternative entry requirements

Accreditation of Prior Learning (APL)

We welcome applications from students who may not have formal/traditional entry criteria but who have relevant experience or the ability to pursue the course successfully.

The Accreditation of Prior Learning (APL) process could help you to make your work and life experience count. The APL process can be used for entry onto courses or to give you exemptions from parts of your course.

Two forms of APL may be used for entry: the Accreditation of Prior Certificated Learning (APCL) or the Accreditation of Prior Experiential Learning (APEL).

English Program Requirements

Equivalent qualifications

English language requirements are shown on individual course pages. Generally, this is shown as an IELTS grade, however we accept a range of equivalent qualifications.

As a general guide:

For undergraduate courses we require IELTS 6.0 (with a minimum 5.5 in each component) or equivalent

For postgraduate courses, we require IELTS 6.0 (with a minimum 5.5 in each component) or equivalent

For the International Foundation Year, we require IELTS 4.5 (with a minimum 4.0 in each component) in UKVI IELTS for UKVI (Academic)

The approved equivalent qualifications list includes the following:

Secure English Language Tests (SELTs)

University of Salford English language courses

Regional-based qualifications

Majority English Speaking Countries as deemed by UKVI

Medium of English Institutions

Applicants who require a Student Route visa to study in the UK may require evidence of a Secure English Language test rather than an examination or qualification due to visa requirements, as deemed by the UK Government Home Office, Visa and Immigration (UKVI).

Career

Employment and stats

What about after uni?

Employment

If you’ve always wanted to work in wildlife documentary production, this course will open up a range of exciting career opportunities. With the knowledge, practical skills and confidence gained throughout this programme, many of our recent graduates have gone on to secure professional roles in a variety of areas, including producing, directing and researching.

But the possibilities don’t end there. Graduates of this course have gone on to work for internationally renowned organisations, including the BBC Natural History Unit. Others are working for ITV, producing short films for their wildlife images catalogue, and as an assistant cameraman for a leading independent wildlife company. So, where will your journey take you?

Read about Sevim's wildlife career journey after graduating

Further study

Graduates showing strong academic and research skills can pursue a further academic research path through our doctoral (PhD) programmes on a full-time or part-time basis subject to a satisfactory proposal.

A taste of what you could become

A director

A filmmaker

A camera operator

An editor

And more...

Career Links

This course has a number of links with media companies throughout the UK including the BBC Natural History Unit in Bristol. Students have undertaken work experience both at the BBC, Warehouse51 Wildlife Production Company and Films@59, the post production company that works on a range of wildlife programmes for the BBC and Disney Nature.