Triangle

Course overview

Develop the essential knowledge and skills needed for a career in one of the most exciting and growing sectors in the world’s economy.

  • Designed using the expertise and insider knowledge provided by our industry partners.
  • Taught by our in-house experts who are engaged in cutting-edge industry-related projects.

Core learning

  • The place and role of film and television industries within a wider network of production and consumption.
  • Key regulatory frameworks that shape production.
  • Relationships between film/television makers and producers/studios and related labour practices.
  • The impact of new technologies of consumption and their use by both audiences and makers.
  • The need to address industry challenges by collecting, analysing, synthesising and presenting information and ideas.

Career opportunities

By the end of the course you'll be well placed to develop a career in fields such as:

  • studio operations
  • production development
  • marketing and branding
  • audience intelligence
  • international markets and regulations

Unique internship opportunities

We're the only MA programme in the UK that offers opportunities to apply for internships with leading US studios in Hollywood. Please note; these opportunities are confirmed and details advertised annually, therefore we can not guarantee their availability. 

Your department

Why choose this course?

Apply for internships

Apply for competitive Hollywood internships in studios and organisations, including Walt Disney Company.*

*These are arranged after publication of the prospectus, therefore their availability cannot be guaranteed.

Oscar and Emmy winners

Masterclasses and guest lectures with award winners and experts in key industry areas.*

*These are arranged after publication of the prospectus, therefore individual speakers cannot be guaranteed.

Thriving community

Join a thriving postgraduate teaching and research community

Creative development

Build skills, get careers advice and network with our Creative Student Network

Course content

You'll complete 180 credits worth of modules:

  • taught modules (120 credits) - covering the full spectrum of issues including development, audiences, marketing, regulation and practices
  • research project (60 credits) - focus on the area that interests you most

The programme can be taken either full-time over 12 months or part-time over 24 months.

Research project

You will carry out a year long research project that focusses on any aspect of the industry you choose.

Through the project you will develop advanced knowledge of the skillset, terminology and professional practices relevant to your main area of interest. You'll also develop materials and activities that demonstrate to industry employers the skills and potential you can bring to their organisation and projects.

You'll receive expert supervision and guidance from our experienced staff.

Modules

Audiences and Consumption

Operating on a global scale, and with often large budgets at stake, the film, television and screen industries want to ensure their products reach the widest audience possible. They also want to be able to measure the size of these audiences.

You will explore the main processes and people involved in researching and managing screen audiences. In particular, we’ll cover:

  • Developing research for better industry solutions
  • Spaces and modes of consumption
  • Designing content for audiences
  • Distributing content to audiences

 This module is worth 20 credits.

Development and Production

This module considers the main processes and people involved in the development and production of screen content. In particular, it will cover the following areas: People (talent development and management); Ideas (development and content creation); Money (financing and assets); Places (global production trends).

This module is worth 20 credits.

Investigating Cultural Industries

Explore the specific characteristics of the cultural industries and the main dynamics which shape the operations of those industries. You will be introduced to key critical perspectives on the cultural industries:

  • the processes of cultural production
  • distinctions between cultural industries and 'creative industries'
  • the concept of 'cultural economy'
  • matters of industry structure and cultural markets
  • the specificities of cultural work and the challenges confronting employment in the cultural industries
  • the role and importance of intellectual property rights in the cultural industries
  • the impacts of digitalisation and globalisation.

 This module is worth 20 credits.

Marketing and Promotion

You'll explore the main processes and people involved in the global marketing of film, television and screen media and the associated promotional screen content. In particular, we'll cover:

  • the companies and intermediaries that operate in the sector of marketing and promotion, their role and expertise
  • how marketing strategies are developed around screen content, and how this accounts for specific audiences and media environments
  • the textual and paratextual status of promotional content
  • the cultural or creative issues at stake in the production and distribution of this content
  • how marketing and promotion develops brand relationships/experiences/emotions

 This module is worth 20 credits.

Markets and Regulation

All countries are different. What people are interested in, how they watch it, what governments allow and how they allow it.

You’ll explore the make up of these markets and how they differ across the world. You will also examine the different regulations governments impose and how they relate to the local market.

We’ll also look at how to find data about markets – historic, current and future trends.

This knowledge will put you in a strong position for work in the industry by understanding the challenges and opportunities faced by individuals and organisations working across global markets and regulatory frameworks.

Screen Industries Practices

The film, television and screen industries offer a huge variety of areas of practice. Show running, producing, directing, below-the-line practices, and guilds and professional organisations are integral parts of the industry but not always understood without insider knowledge.

Using a combination of our staff expertise and industry speakers we’ll examine some of these areas and the many ways you can engage with them. You’ll explore what is available in terms of jobs and employment, but also the debates and challenges they can face, such as gender bias and lack of diversity.

This module is worth 20 credits.

The above is a sample of the typical modules we offer but is not intended to be construed and/or relied upon as a definitive list of the modules that will be available in any given year. Modules (including methods of assessment) may change or be updated, or modules may be cancelled, over the duration of the course due to a number of reasons such as curriculum developments or staffing changes. Please refer to the module catalogue for information on available modules. This content was last updated on Friday 07 June 2024.

Due to timetabling availability, there may be restrictions on some module combinations.

Full-time

  • Taught modules - you'll take three in each of the Autumn and Spring semesters
  • Research project - you will develop this over the Autumn and Spring semesters and complete and write up over the summer

Part-time

  • Taught modules - you'll take three per year. There is flexibility over which are taken each year (subject to timetable scheduling)
  • Research project - you will work on this throughout the course with final completion and writing up in the summer of the second year

Learning and assessment

How you will learn

  • Tutorials
  • Workshops

Teaching and learning may be both in-person and online.

Most scheduled time is in workshops. The format varies according to the activity - typically lectures, task-based contributions and group work.

You may also take part in masterclasses from industry professionals and work through real-life case studies.

Online teaching will be in Moodle, the university's 24/7 virtual learning environment. It holds materials such as additional reading, lecture recordings, seminar tasks, online quizzes to assess learning and discussion forums.

How you will be assessed

  • Dissertation
  • Essay
  • Presentation

Most modules are assessed through coursework. Your research project will be an extended piece of work with the potential to tailor the output to the specific topic.

You must pass each module with a minimum pass grade of 50%.

Contact time and study hours

The nature of an advanced course is that you take greater responsibility for your learning than at undergraduate level. As well as scheduled teaching you’ll carry out extensive self-study such as reading set academic texts, preparation for seminar tasks, and writing assessments.

A 20 credit module typically involves weekly work of:

  • two to three hours of workshops (which may include lectures or group work)
  • approximately 10 hours of self-study time.

Your lecturers will usually be permanent academic staff from the Department of Cultural, Media and Visual Studies.

Entry requirements

All candidates are considered on an individual basis and we accept a broad range of qualifications. The entrance requirements below apply to 2025 entry.

Undergraduate degree2:1 (or international equivalent)

Applying

Our step-by-step guide covers everything you need to know about applying.

How to apply

Fees

Qualification MA
Home / UK £9,250
International £24,300

Additional information for international students

If you are a student from the EU, EEA or Switzerland, you may be asked to complete a fee status questionnaire and your answers will be assessed using guidance issued by the UK Council for International Student Affairs (UKCISA) .

These fees are for full-time study. If you are studying part-time, you will be charged a proportion of this fee each year (subject to inflation).

Additional costs

All students will need at least one device to approve security access requests via Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA). We also recommend students have a suitable laptop to work both on and off-campus. For more information, please check the equipment advice.

There are no extra compulsory fees to be paid beyond your standard tuition fees.

You'll be able to access most of the books you’ll need through our libraries, though you may wish to buy your own copies of core texts. The Blackwell's bookshop on campus offers a year-round price match against any of the main retailers (i.e. Amazon, Waterstones, WH Smith). They also offer second-hand books, as students from previous years sell their copies back to the bookshop.

Should you be selected for one of the prestigious Hollywood internships, you will have to cover living costs while in the US.

Funding

Funding opportunities for Faculty of Arts students

There are additional funding opportunities available to you as a Faculty of Arts student.

Other sources of funding

There are many ways to fund your postgraduate course, from scholarships to government loans.

We also offer a range of international masters scholarships for high-achieving international scholars who can put their Nottingham degree to great use in their careers.

Check our guide to find out more about funding your postgraduate degree.

Postgraduate funding

Careers

We offer individual careers support for all postgraduate students.

Expert staff can help you research career options and job vacancies, build your CV or résumé, develop your interview skills and meet employers.

Each year 1,100 employers advertise graduate jobs and internships through our online vacancy service. We host regular careers fairs, including specialist fairs for different sectors.

International students who complete an eligible degree programme in the UK on a student visa can apply to stay and work in the UK after their course under the Graduate immigration route. Eligible courses at the University of Nottingham include bachelors, masters and research degrees, and PGCE courses.

Graduate destinations

This course will provide you with the skills and knowledge that studios, film/television makers, organisations and other relevant industry bodies have highlighted as essential to the industry.

This programme was designed in consultation with industry organisations and leading professionals. As a consequence, we expect students to find employment in all areas of industry operations, including, though not exclusively:

  • Production (development)
  • Marketing (digital, print)
  • Acquisitions (production slates development, identifying relevant films/TV programmes to purchase and distribute)
  • International (analysis of international markets, addressing cultural and regulatory issues involved in international agreements and collaborations)
  • Labour relations and education (developing training and other education opportunities for professionals, working with craft guilds and organisations)

We also expect that some students will go on to develop their ideas further with a research degree.

Three arts masters students share what they got out of their advanced study.

Career progression

66.7% of postgraduates from The School of Cultural Media and Visual Studies secured graduate level employment or further study within 15 months of graduation.*

*HESA Graduate Outcomes 2019/20 data published in 2022. The Graduate Outcomes % is derived using The Guardian University Guide methodology.

You will have the opportunity to apply (on a competitive basis) for internships in leading studios and organisations in Hollywood and the UK.

Hollywood Internships programme

This course is perfect for a career in the creative industries. At Nottingham, you can gain valuable experience through internships, placements, and work opportunities. No more so though than with our prestigious Hollywood Internships programme, unique to Nottingham. Previous internships have involved:

  • First-reading of incoming film and television scripts
  • Collecting audience data and preparing evaluation reports
  • Filming interviews with Hollywood veterans for the archive
  • Training, masterclasses, professional lectures and panels
  • Working front of house at special screenings and industry events

Indicative partner organisations include A24, CAA, Disney, Warner, Paramount, Sony, Lionsgate, UTA, and WME.

The partners, number and nature of the internships change each year, advertised in the Autumn term. These are highly competitive positions, and places are not guaranteed. Terms and conditions apply.

The internships are supported through the generosity of Peter Rice, Nottingham graduate and former Chair of Disney General Entertainment Content.

Two masters graduates proudly holding their certificates
" During my masters, I was on the executive committee for two student societies. Although this was a big commitment, it was thoroughly worth it. I gained first-hand experience of creating and executing marketing materials and campaigns. "
Laura Estrop, Film ,Television and Screen Industries MA

Related courses

This content was last updated on Friday 07 June 2024. Every effort has been made to ensure that this information is accurate, but changes are likely to occur given the interval between the date of publishing and course start date. It is therefore very important to check this website for any updates before you apply.