Film Making MA
- Creative arts
- Postgraduate
Maximise the potential of visual storytelling. Kingston University’s MA in Film Making will give you the techniques and knowledge to develop your practice and find your specialism. Kingston University alumni include award-winning filmmakers who have had films shown at the Cannes Film Festival, Toronto International Film Festival, Sheffield DocFest, London Short Film Festival, Tate Modern and the London Design Biennale.
Master the art of captivating film
You’ll examine the principles of short form film-making, the potential of visual storytelling and the importance of sound, editing, lighting, cinematography and screenplay.
Studying this masters in Film Making at Kingston University will equip you for lifelong film making and learning – whether you want to work in the film industry, go independent or pursue further study.
You’ll examine the principles of short form film-making, the potential of visual storytelling and the importance of sound, editing, lighting, cinematography and screenplay. The course takes its inspiration from forms of cultural production that have challenged conformity, including the work of artists, musicians, painters and performers, and the movements of Italian neo-realism and the cinemas of Africa, Latin America, South East Asia and the Middle East.
You'll be encouraged to synthesise your personal experience, critical knowledge and craft skills to express yourself through moving pictures and be taught film making theory and practice together. Through a blend of theoretical learning, hands-on experience and creative work, you’ll develop skills such as critical thinking, character and narrative development, and post-production.
You’ll learn to produce films independently, pragmatically and with accountability, which will boost your employability and put you in full command of your own material.
During the course, you’ll advance your visual storytelling, character building and script development skills. You’ll focus on collaborative filmmaking, share non-mainstream stories and take inspiration from conformity-challenging productions.
When you graduate, you’ll have a strong portfolio of short films that showcase your technical ability in cinematography, sound recording, editing, writing and direction. Our independent filmmaker graduates have exhibited films at the Cannes Film Festival, Toronto International Film Festival, Sheffield DocFest, London Short Film Festival, Tate Modern and the London Design Biennale, with projects commissioned by the Home Office, Tate, E4 and Film London.
Kingston's Film Making MA is very practical. I learned so much about cinematography, lighting and directing, and it gave me opportunities to make films and develop my own style.
MA Film Making at Kingston School of Art
Hear first-hand from our film making students and graduates about their experiences, creative journeys, and what it's really like to study the course.
Why choose this course
While you study, you’ll benefit from top quality teaching at Kingston University. Not only are we ranked Gold in the Teaching Excellence Framework, our staff are practising film makers, visual artists and researchers, which keeps your learning cutting-edge.
A portion of your learning will take place at our Penrhyn Road campus, where you’ll have access to a range of modern equipment. Facilities include specialist film and media labs, which are equipped with Macs running Adobe Creative Suite and a studio base room with greenscreen. The Moving Image Workshop at our Knights Park campus features two film studios, a post-production suite and individual edit suites and grading suites and a fully equipped audio recording facility and the equipment loans room.
You’ll experience a variety of production roles, using 4K digital cinema cameras, and Macs running DaVinci Resolve, Avid and Adobe Creative Cloud. Kingston University also has 8mm and 16mm cameras for exploring analogue film and a Blackmagic Cintel film scanner.
With London just a 30-minute train journey from the University, you’ll have the opportunity to access top film resources in the capital, including:
- Specialist cinemas like the BFI Southbank and the IMAX
- Organisations like the British Film Institute (with the largest film archive in the world)
- Film festivals like the annual London Film Festival, London Short Film Festival, Raindance Film Festival, London Breeze Film Festival and Open City Docs.
Kingston is host to the Kingston International Film Festival, which has links with the MA and BA film making courses, which includes screenings and workshops on campus and offers opportunities for students to gain work experience and screen their films.
The Art School Experience
As part of Kingston School of Art, students benefit from joining a creative community where we encourage collaborative working and critical practice.
Our workshops and labs are open to all disciplines, enabling students and staff to work together, share ideas and explore multi-disciplinary making.
Course content
At the heart of the course is an emphasis on developing visual storytelling and vivid characters through script development.
You will be able to use 4K digital cinema cameras, DSLRs and Macs running DaVinci Resolve, Avid and Adobe Creative Cloud to apply classical and independent principles with contemporary technology. The course focuses on the collaborative nature of the film making process and sharing stories from communities outside the mainstream.
You'll be expected to complete 180 credits across five modules, including a film making dissertation film.
Modules
You will study the basic principles of film making, develop an understanding of the nature and potential of visual storytelling, and discover the importance of sound, lighting and the screenplay. You will also gain a sound knowledge of theories and ideas that can help in the interpretation of your own work and that of other filmmakers. You will produce a portfolio of moving-image projects to illustrate your technical ability in cinematography, sound recording, editing and writing/direction.
Core modules
MA Film Making showreel
Get inspired by the creativity from our students and discover what MA Film Making has to offer.
Career opportunities
You’ll complete this course with the skills and experience you need for a successful career in the film industry. Previous graduates have progressed to roles as everything from filmmakers and producers to assistant editors, key grips and sound recordists. Others have gone on to direct, edit and develop films and documentaries, write scripts, programme festivals and more.
Teaching and assessment
You'll be assessed through film projects, production portfolios, screenplays and critical analysis essays.
Fees and funding
Fees for future course years
Part time
If you start your second year straight after Year 1, you will pay the same fee for both years.
If you take a break before starting your second year, or if you repeat modules from Year 1 in Year 2, the fee for your second year may increase.
Funding support for postgraduate students
If you are a UK student living in England and under 60, you can apply for a loan to study for a postgraduate degree. Find out more through the government's website.
Scholarships and bursaries
Interested in studying an MA in Film Making at Kingston? The following funding support is available:
Additional course costs
Some courses may require additional costs beyond tuition fees. When planning your studies, you’ll want to consider tuition fees, living costs, and any extra costs that might relate to your area of study.
Your tuition fees include costs for teaching, assessment and university facilities. So your access to libraries, shared IT resources and various student support services are all covered. Accommodation and general living expenses are not covered by these fees.
Where applicable, additional expenses for your course may include:
How to apply
Before you apply
Please read the entry criteria carefully to make sure you meet all requirements before applying.
How to apply online
Use the course selector drop-down at the top of this page to choose your preferred course, start date and mode, then click 'Apply now'. You will be taken to our Online Student Information System (OSIS) where you will complete your application.
If you’re starting a new application, you’ll need to select 'new user' and set up a username and password. This will allow you to save and return to your application.
Application deadlines
We encourage you to apply as soon as possible. Applications will close when the course is full.
After you apply
If the admission tutor wants to see your portfolio, we will email asking you to upload your zipped portfolio to the OSIS portal within three weeks. If we need more information or want to invite you for an interview, we will be in touch directly. After that you will then hear whether your application has been successful.
Course changes and regulations
The information on this page reflects the currently intended course structure and module details. To improve your student experience and the quality of your degree, we may review and change the material information of this course. Find out more about course changes
Programme Specifications for the course are published ahead of each academic year.
Regulations governing this course can be found on our website.
What our students and graduates say
The course provided me with the fundamental knowledge of understanding storytelling in film making and the importance of collaboration. One of the best experiences was creating amazingly strong relationships with other students from all over the world. Having those bonds made the entire experience unforgettable.
I value Kingston's film department because I feel part of a genuine community of scholars and practitioners. I can get support and ideas from anyone in the department, not just my supervisors. Everyone is a resource, with an eclectic and invigorating range of specialist expertise.
