MA Screenwriting - Edinburgh Napier University

Screenwriter Allan Shiach	Eleanor Yule and Nigel Smith	Sam Kelly   and Graphic Novelist Mark Millar

course structure: full-time and part-time options available.	MA SW Part time - Course Details
dates: September – September	Fees/Funding - Part time
location: 2A Merchiston Avenue Production Centre	MA SW Full time - Course Details
application deadlines: Rolling deadline for Sept entry	Fees/Funding - Full time
Are you an International student?	How to Apply - Full time
	How to Apply - Part time

Student Success – Find out what it’s like to be a student at Edinburgh Skillset Screen & Media Academy and what some of our graduates did next.

 

An  Introduction to the MA Screenwriting by Programme Leader James Mavor

The MA Screenwriting at Edinburgh Napier University was launched in 2006 and has adapted and developed since then to a point where we feel confident that this is one of the best screenwriting Masters courses on offer in the UK. As Programme Leader, I am very aware that there are a growing number of screenwriting courses out there – at all sorts of levels and for all kinds of people.

As you will see, our screenwriting programme takes a broad approach rather than narrowing down on one particular type of screenwriting. Over 12 months (or 24 if taking the course part-time), you will write AT LEAST one short film, one thirty minute TV script, develop a project for interactive or new media and, in the summer term, write either a feature film screenplay or an equally substantial script for television. On top of this you’ll write a couple of essays, script reports, case studies for assessment, plus, we hope, as many other projects as you can squeeze in.
The course here takes in around 15-20 students each year, from all over the world. In 2010-11 we have students from Austria, Australia, Belgium, Spain, Lebanon, Finland, Russia, Denmark, Ireland and Romania among our full-time group of 17 students. We have seven part-time students, who take the course over two years. There are usually slightly more men than women on the course (roughly 60:40 this year). There’s a wide range of ages from 25 upwards with the average in the late 20’s, early 30’s.

In the past few years, we have seen the numbers of applications go up (we receive roughly 40-60 each year, so there is genuine competition for places). Our students have won or placed well in prestigious script competitions. Collaborations between writing,
producing and directing students at Edinburgh Napier and Edinburgh College of Art have resulted in a range of short films and longer-term professional relationships. Buzz and word of mouth around the course and Screen Academy Scotland is generally very positive with an increasing number and range of industry guests coming to teach and work with our students.

The programme is accredited by Skillset (the government body responsible for training in the film, TV and audio-visual sector), and the Edinburgh Skillset Film and Media Academy (of which Screen Academy Scotland is a part) is one of only three similar academies in the UK, along with the National Film and Television School and London Film School.

An exciting new development is the launch of a new MA Film, which aims to recruit directors, cinematographers, editors and post-production sound students for a 12-month, project-led programme. A number of collaborations are already under way with MA Screenwriters generating scripts for MA Film students as exercises and live projects.

We are fortunate to have a world-class Film Festival on our doorstep.  Screen Academy Scotland students are able to attend the Edinburgh International Film Festival in June at a special student rate and take in a wide range of screenings, master-classes and industry events. Please take a look at the programme  modules in greater detail and do get in touch if you have any questions.

How to apply