Find out more about studying MA Screenwriting: Feature Film and Continuing Series at Leeds Beckett University? We've gathered all the key details, entry requirements, modules, fees, and more. Take the next step by booking an open day to explore it for yourself.
MA - Master of Arts
City Campus
Part Time
Sep 2027
36 Month
This innovative master’s course is taught by practising screenwriters. It’s hands-on, industry focused and is based in the Northern Film School. This vocational course will enable you to develop your creative screenwriting practice. It will emphasise the formulation of new ideas through provocation, stimulation, and inspiration. You’ll develop a portfolio of work in preparation for a career in screenwriting, possibly using the skills you have learned in an associated role. As part of this course, you’ll: Gain a thorough grounding in the key concepts and concerns of screenwriting for a range of screen media Learn through lectures, seminars, tutorials, talks, discussions and screenings Be supported as you work on self-directed projects and writing exercises Explore your creative potential and test your ideas across a range of platforms including film and television Develop an understanding and appreciation of the impact of new technologies on the industry Explore a wide range of ideas from industry which will inform and inspire your development as a writer Study the history, context, and application of various forms of screenwriting to develop a sophisticated understanding of genre conventions and how to use them.
Explore why we tell stories. This module will develop your awareness of the fundamentals of visual storytelling. You'll spend time considering the core aspects of storytelling, the script and how it is developed for screen. You'll be encouraged to explore narrative theories and debates about how we tell stories to audiences of different sizes and through different platforms and technologies. This module will also explore the insights that scholars have offered to the different ways we write for the screen. You'll be encouraged to apply these insights to your own writing.
Explore the detail of screenwriting craft and examine how we tell stories for screens. This module will develop your expertise in current screenwriting and the skills you'll need to consider your own work in context. This means that you'll practise script reading and editing to improve your own writing and begin to understand what is required from professional work. The skills you'll develop will prepare you for the peer critique and workshopping you'll need to complete the course. We'll cover how to structure your work, how to embody theme, and how to build convincing characters and worlds. This module will also highlight techniques of visual storytelling as well as exploring scene construction and building, writing dialogue and tone and pace. You'll gain the skills and knowledge you'll need for entry-level work in the industry.
Examine effective strategies to promote yourself as a freelance writer in the creative industries. You'll research contemporary practice to use in the organisation and development of a conference or event. You'll develop and possibly hold a conference or event in order to pitch your ideas to industry guests for feedback.
Learn to write for a range of different narrative genres and screen platforms. The expansion of online delivery of film and in particular TV presents us with a wide and developing range of ‘shows’ and ‘programmes’ in screen production. This module will focus on structure and style of narrative genres and forms. You'll be encouraged to study and understand past and current forms and think critically how they can be combined, altered and challenged to produce new work. This module will investigate the visual elements that are at play in established and contemporary production practices. You'll choose to research specific narrative genres and consider the variety of available platforms to construct work that is informed by that study. You'll be encouraged to follow your interests and discuss and develop a number of treatments for one or a variety of narrative genres and platforms.
Explore and develop themes, narrative, character development and structure for the longer form with an emphasis on writing for feature film. The focus of this module will be the development of your individual portfolio of work. You'll create it with a professional context in mind, taking note of current trends and developments within the field. You'll study vision and voice as you explore the writer’s creative process. We'll also investigate major script elements including character, structure dialogue, style, tone, setting and theme in detail. The work you develop in the module will be workshopped within the group.
Focus on learning to write in a group setting. You'll work collaboratively on a professional brief developing outlines, step outlines, episode plans, storylines, vision statements and scripted work that will contribute towards the creation of a show or pitch bible. Particular attention will be paid to structure, devising characters and plotting storylines. Together with your peers, you'll decide on the form and genre of the collaborative project. The focus will be on the creation of something unique that complements what is currently available in professional media settings.
Work on a major script development project for any platform. You'll bring together all the screenwriting skills that you've gained on the course and apply them to a longer script. You could choose to develop the work you've produced in other modules or begin a new idea. If you decide to develop an idea from another module, you must be prepared to completely re-evaluate and change it.
