MA Cinematography for Film & Television

• Approaches to Cinematography: Develop skills for employment in the field of digital camera operation and lighting. You'll become familiar with a range of camera, grip and lighting equipment and use these for completing projects through independent working and collaboration.
• Storytelling: This unit aims to examine concepts of storytelling across audio visual formats, cultures and production industries. You’ll engage with practice research methodologies to critically engage with a diverse range of narrative forms and approaches. 
• Exploring Cinematography: Knowledge and skills necessary for employment in the field of digital camera operation and lighting. You will learn how to use a range of camera, grip and lighting equipment for documentary production, and spend most of your time in a production environment. All projects are filmed in collaboration with MA Directing Digital Film and Television students.
• Approaches to Industry: This unit provides an introduction to key skills and knowledge you'll need for employment in the media industries and an opportunity to develop your ambitions and strategies for entering the creative industries wherever you choose.
• Media Production Masters Project: This is where you can create a calling card for the industry. Working with your cinematography tutor, you'll take advantage of the Faculty of Media & Communication collaborative environment to work with writers, producers and directors to create shorts, dramas and documentaries, or even a low-budget feature film for you to light and shoot using professional equipment.  you can alternatively produce a practice-based research artefact supported by a written analysis, or an individually or collaboratively written thesis.

Programme specifications provide definitive records of the university's taught degrees in line with Quality Assurance Agency requirements. Every taught course leading to a BU Award has a programme specification which describes its aims, structure, content and learning outcomes, plus the teaching, learning and assessment methods used.

Whilst every effort is made to ensure the accuracy of the programme specification, the information is liable to change to take advantage of exciting new approaches to teaching and learning as well as developments in industry. If you have been unable to locate the programme specification for the course you are interested in, it will be available as soon as the latest version is ready. Alternatively please contact us for assistance.

The admissions team will look at your online application including your qualifications, personal statement and any work experience. All applicants will be asked to provide a showreel and/ or take part in an online interview if you do not meet our entry requirements.

The showreel is to demonstrate how you have engaged with the filming process at a practical level prior to embarking upon this course. The short showreel of your work should exhibit what you perceive as being the best examples of your craft, along with your application form. Showreels should last no more than 20 minutes.

Please see our website for the application deadlines. You should apply as early as possible to be considered for your course of choice. If you require a student visa, apply for the visa as soon as you have an unconditional offer and receive your CAS. There may be delays in visa processing in your country and you need to be in Bournemouth ready to study for the start of term.

Click the green ‘Apply now’ button to submit your application free of charge online through myHub, our application portal. You will create your own myHub account so that you can track the progress of your application. Don’t forget to save your application as you go; you can return to it at as many times as you want before you submit it. For more information visit our How to apply section.

This course has compulsory elements involving practical production activities. When required, students must complete a health and safety risk assessment to take part in these activities, for their safety and that of others. As part of that assessment students provide information about any conditions or disabilities that might affect their ability to undertake these activities fully or safely. 

If you have such a condition or disability, please let us know as soon as possible. You can contact our Additional Learning Support (ALS) service about this before or after making an application. We will then work with you to identify any support or adjustments you would need. Our ALS team works with the Faculty to seek to put in place reasonable adjustments and health and safety plans.

Exceptionally, it may not be possible to arrange for a student to access these courses without either over-riding their core standards or competencies or creating unacceptable risks to health and safety. If that is the case we will help you explore alternative course choices.

• A Bachelors Honours degree with 2:2 in any subject, or equivalent
• Applicants without a first degree but with significant industry experience may be considered in exceptional circumstances
• Applicants are encouraged to provide details of relevant work experience

The academic team will look at your online application including your qualifications, personal statement and any work experience. We may ask you to provide a showreel and/or take part in an online interview if you do not meet our entry requirements.

If you lack the formal academic qualifications needed to enter a postgraduate or post-experience degree, there are several alternative routes to follow - some based on experience. Contact the Future Students Enquiry Team for more information.

You can find details of the international qualifications we accept, and what level of study they apply to, on our entry requirements for non-UK students' page.

Please see below some examples of the qualifications for entry:

• India: Bachelor’s degree (4 years) from a recognised HE institution with a minimum overall result of 55% 
• Nigeria:  Bachelor's degree from a recognised institution with a minimum classification of 2:2 
• China:  Chinese Bachelor's (Honours) degree from a recognised higher education institution with 65% or above 
• Turkey: Bachelor’s degree (Lisans Diplomasi - four years) with a minimum overall GPA of 2.3/4.0 
• Vietnam:  Bachelor's degree/Bang tot nghiep dai hoc with an average score of 6.5/10, or 2.25/4, or a Master’s degree/Thac si. 

All applications will be subject to a minimum grade and your degree may need to be in a relevant subject area.

English language requirements

If English is not your first language, you will need to provide evidence that you understand English to a satisfactory level. English language requirements for this course are normally:

IELTS (Academic) 6.5 with a minimum of 6.0 in writing, speaking, listening and reading, or equivalent.

View further information about our English language requirements.

Bournemouth University International College offers a number of pre-sessional English and preparatory programmes to prepare international students for postgraduate study at BU. Admission to the degree is guaranteed on successful completion of your course to the required level.

This degree aims to develop creative skills, techniques and collaborative approaches which will prepare you for employment in today’s evolving media industry. Through collaborative and individual production you will build up a strong and distinctive showreel, which will prepare you for entry into the industry. Future career roles could be very diverse including the following example job roles:

• Director of Photography
• Cinematographer
• Camera Operator
• Camera Assistant

If you want to continue your studies after achieving your Master’s, you can look into our range of doctoral programmes.

Please note it is recommended that all Cinematography students purchase a camera assistant’s bag and contents before commencing the course and this will cost a minimum of £400 in total.

Production Costs

The cost of making films and television programmes on the course can vary according to what the student wishes to do. For some, the costs can be very little while others may wish to spend more: how much you spend doesn't affect the assessment of your work and some good productions are often produced for very little money. The focus and attention of the course are on developing your learning, and your projects are the vehicles for that to flourish. And of course the university provides all the kit and facilities you need to undertake your work.

What’s included in your tuition fee?

Your tuition fee covers expenses associated with your course including tuition materials, access to facilities, mandatory field trips and the following:

• Materials for laboratory and field-based teaching activity
• Support for finding placements (UK or abroad) and fieldwork, and non-financial support whilst on placement if this is part of your course of study.
• A range of student services – advisors, help desks, counsellors, placement support and careers service.
• The Library – access to a wide range of electronic resources (databases, e-journals and e-books), print and multimedia collections, subject librarians and study spaces.
• Access to Brightspace, our virtual learning environment, which offers a responsive and personalised learning experience with powerful learning analytics capabilities, integrated social media and advanced video features.
• IT labs (some open 24/7), wireless network, AV equipment to borrow
• Disability and additional learning support, according to individual circumstances.
• The BU Language Centre to help you develop/improve foreign or English language skills
• 24 hours a day, 365 days a year security team.

Additional costs

We are committed to offering you value for money and ensuring there are no hidden costs while you are studying with us, therefore we have listed below any additional costs you may incur that are not covered by your tuition fee:

• Laptops, tablets and mobile devices and any software used on personal devices. Access to a personal computer is strongly recommended for your study. If you are experiencing financial difficulty, visit our website for information regarding hardship funds.
• Accommodation and living costs. Please visit our website for more information.

• Textbooks, general stationery and other supplies. Our award-winning library is stocked with a large range of text books and online resources, free of charge. The Students’ Union shop stocks a wide range of stationery supplies.  

• ​Travel costs for optional field trips, outdoor wear and footwear for mandatory and optional field trips (if applicable).
• Travel costs to and from the University campus. An annual bus pass can be purchased alongside your rent if you are living in halls of residence/Unilet accommodation or may be purchased separately.
• ​Travel costs to and from your placement (both in the UK and overseas) if this is part of your course of study. Placement year funding information can be found on our website.
• Clothing or equipment costs required for your placement if this is part of your course of study. 
• SportBU membership.

While all aspects of the programme, including required field trips, are included in the fee, additional, optional or extra curricula activities may be available for which a student contribution is required.

If you need to repeat one or more units during the course of your studies (with or without attendance) the pricing will be pro-rata of the full time fee.

We offer a range of scholarships to eligible students who are beginning their studies at BU. Please visit our funding pages for details on living costs, budgeting and paying your tuition fees.

International (not Rep. of Ireland) students need to pay a non-refundable deposit to secure their place on a postgraduate course. For September 2024 and January 2025 entry, a £5,000 deposit is required. You will need to pay your deposit by the date stated in your offer letter. The remainder of your fee will be payable on registration/enrolment. There are two exceptions to the non-refundable rule on the deposit:

• You fail to meet the academic or English requirements of your offer
• You are refused a visa to enter the UK, provided the reason for the refusal is not a fraudulent application.

Mark Bond is a Senior Lecturer in Cinematography in the Media Production Department and is the Programme Leader for MA Cinematography for Film and Television. His professional industry experience informs his research and teaching across undergraduate and postgraduate programmes.

Mark joined BU in 2010 after a successful career as a Director of Photography with over 20 years of freelance experience. He has worked in a variety of genres including documentary, comedy, drama, music, commercials and stop-frame animation. He has filmed a number of award-winning shows, travelled around the world to pursue his career and photographed six children's books.

He is currently conducting research for a practice-led PhD. His research investigates the impact of emerging digital technology on the craft of the cinematographer. Mark continues his professional practice combining research and teaching, collaborating with postgraduate students, external stakeholders and professional industry bodies.

Steve Hubbard is an animator by trade, and currently a Senior Lecturer in Effects. He currently works across both Media Production and Computer Animation Departments, teaching Cinematography, Storytelling and Visual Effects. In the past he has served as Programme Leader of MA Digital Effects, Associate Dean for Computer Animation and Programme Leader of MA Cinematography for Film and Television. He is currently undertaking PhD research in the experience of Sculpture through the mediums of Photography and Cinematography. Other interests include Screenwriting, Astronautics and Comic Books.