From mastering lighting design and camera operation to advanced soundstage and location production methods - including grips and electrics - you will build a comprehensive, professional toolkit in cinematography.
You'll explore the practical, creative and commercial realities of production for both film and television. Through critical analysis, you’ll discover the 'why' behind the 'how' - deepening your understanding of composition, visual mood and the creative choices that bring screen stories to life.
Because film- and TV-making is inherently collaborative, you’ll work closely with peers on both factual and fictional productions. Pitching, shooting and managing these group projects hones your communication, problem-solving and resource management skills - the exact qualities required to succeed in industry.
During the summer and vacation period, you'll have the freedom to follow your own creative ambitions through a major individual project. Accounting for a third of your total course credits, this dedicated project allows you to focus deeply on your specific area of interest, refine your unique visual voice and produce a flagship piece for your portfolio and showreel.
You’ll study 5 core modules, including an extended individual project over the Summer period.
Our modules give you a rigorous technical and aesthetic grounding in visual storytelling for both fiction and documentary. You will master high-end digital workflows using our cutting-edge ARRI, RED and Sony camera systems. Every module stresses the importance of teamwork in the creative process, providing you with constant opportunities to collaborate with like-minded students to develop original content
You will also study one option module each semester. Examples may include:
Some option module combinations may not be possible. The option available to you will be confirmed after you begin your course.
Our modules may change to reflect the latest academic thinking and expertise of our staff, and in line with Department/School academic planning.
The culmination of your MA is your Individual Project - the most challenging, rewarding and important piece of work you will produce.
Film & Television Production Individual Project
You can choose between two different types of individual project:
In all cases you’ll agree your project scope and crew collaborations directly with your academic supervisor before launch to ensure clear, expert guidance from day one of your project all the way through to project delivery.
Every course at York is built on a distinctive set of learning outcomes. These will give you a clear understanding of what you will be able to accomplish at the end of the course and help you explain what you can offer employers. Our academics identify the knowledge, skills, and experiences you'll need upon graduation and then design the course to get you there.
Learn alongside active practitioners and leading academics who will challenge and support you to excel. You’ll gain the technical confidence and industry insight needed to thrive in a global marketplace.
Practical, hands-on learning : Modules combine weekly lectures and film and TV screenings with practical workshops designed to simulate real industry environments - mastering professional lighting, grips, and camera systems.
You'll also have the opportunity to attend events such as talks, productions and festivals outside of your modules.
You'll be assigned a member of our teaching staff who will act as your personal supervisor for the duration of the course. They are there to give advice on academic matters as well as other areas of University life.
Train on professional, production-grade equipment used across the global film and broadcast industry:
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You will be based at the School of Arts and Creative Technologies on Campus East.
You will need to submit a sample of your creative work with your application. Please see our guidance on submitting creative work .
If English isn't your first language you may need to provide evidence of your English language ability. We accept the following qualifications:
For more information see our postgraduate English language requirements .
You may be eligible for one of our pre-sessional English language courses . These courses will provide you with the level of English needed to meet the conditions of your offer.
The length of course you need to take depends on your current English language test scores and how much you need to improve to reach our English language requirements.
After you've accepted your offer to study at York, we'll confirm which pre-sessional course you should apply to via You@York .
You can apply and send all your documentation online. You don’t need to complete your application all at once: you can start it, save it and finish it later.
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