Advanced Film Practice MFA



This one-year course gives you the chance to focus on your personal and professional development as a screenwriter, producer or film-maker.

Overview

This course is ideal for talented writers, directors, producers, cinematographers, sound designers or editors looking to take their careers to the next level. The MFA Advanced Film Practice provides a space to focus on your personal, professional and creative development.
 
The MFA is designed as an additional year of study on top of a Masters Degree. It might also appeal to talented individuals without a post-graduate degree but with an equivalent body of creative work and/or industry experience.

As part of your application, you will propose a project which will be the focus of your MFA studies. Screenwriters might wish to develop a screenplay or TV pilot and bible ready to send to producers, broadcasters and agents. A director might develop a project ahead of a funding application, or focus on a specific area of their craft - working with actors, camera or sound. A producer might develop a single project in preparation for a funding application or as a ready-to-go low budget feature, or work on a slate of projects. Cinematographers, sound designers and editors can work on aspects of their craft, seek out work experience, and emerge with a professional CV and showreel.

MFA students will work individually on a series of exercises and on a project. Nevertheless, there is the opportunity to collaborate with fellow students on Edinburgh Napier's postgraduate programmes - MA Screenwriting, MA Film and the Kino Eyes International Masters in Film. At Edinburgh Napier, you can also access students studying music, photography, graphic design and other subjects within our School of Arts and Creative Industries (SACI). 

Applications submitted after 30 June are not guaranteed to be considered for September entry.

Please contact the Course Leader by email in the first instance: j.mavor@napier.ac.uk.

Man holding a camera to Film a scene at Craighouse campus

Mode of Study:

Full-time

Duration:

2 years

Course details

The course is taught over three trimesters, starting in September.

In the first and second of these, you will focus on research into your idea and into the professional context for your work in the PROFESSIONAL PRACTICE MODULE (60 credits). We will agree a set of exercises and tasks to help develop craft skills, professional contacts and industry knowledge relating to the area in which you wish to work. These exercises are gathered into a portfolio for assessment. 

In the final trimester, you will apply these ideas, skills, contacts, connections and confidence to the development of your final project in the PROJECT DEVELOPMENT MODULE (60 credits). You will get feedback on your final project from Edinburgh Napier staff and from an industry professional working in your area. 

Students will work with Programme Leader James Mavor and other key staff at Edinburgh Napier. 

In addition, each student will have access to a pool of industry mentors, building on contacts and connections with industry developed over the 15 years since the launch of Screen Academy Scotland. A number of former MFA students, now working professionally, may be available as mentors. 

You will also have access to a range of classes, master-classes and workshops across the range of postgraduate programmes at the Screen Academy Scotland and Edinburgh Napier University. Students will have access to the production and post-production facilities and resources at Edinburgh Napier University. 

Subjects include:

  • Professional Practice - personal and project research, industry context, professional Development;
  • Project Development - preparation, feedback, reworking and final presentation.

Disclaimer

Study modules mentioned above are indicative only. Some changes may occur between now and the time that you study.

Full information is available in our disclaimer.

Entry requirements

What are the entry requirements for Advanced Film Practise?

The entry requirement for this course is a Master's Degree in Film or relevant area. You can also apply with an Undergraduate degree alongside film related work experience, or substantial professional experience. 

All applicants must submit the following items with their application:

  • A professional CV or bio outlining your previous education, work history, credits and any other experience
  • A personal statement outlining why you want to study this MFA and how you hope it will help you step up in your professional career in film, television or digital media
  • A portfolio of work that best shows your abilities as a screenwriter, producer, director, cinematographer, editor or sound editor/designer e.g. scripts, links, showreels etc.
  • A proposal outlining the project that you want to develop on the MFA

Can I get admission into Advanced Film Practise based on my working experience in this sector?

This course has academic entry requirements which are assessed alongside relevant work experience. Full details of any relevant work experience, including references should be submitted with your application and may be considered for entry where the minimum academic entry requirements are below those required.

Usually, unrelated work experience is not considered sufficient for entry without meeting the minimum academic entry requirements. Please contact us with your specific circumstances by submitting an enquiry form above and we will be happy to discuss your options.

Can I make an appointment with an advisor to discuss further about the admission process?

If you want to get more information on the admission process, please get in touch with the postgraduate admissions team by submitting an enquiry form above.

If your first language isn't English, you'll normally need to undertake an approved English language test.  The English Language requirements for this programme are IELTS (Academic) with 6.0 with no individual component score less than 6.0.  For guidance on the acceptability of other English Language tests please contact pgadmissions@napier.ac.uk

This may not apply if you have completed all your school qualifications in English, or your undergraduate degree was taught and examined in English (within two years of starting your postgraduate course). Check our country pages to find out if this applies to you.

We welcome applications from students studying a wide range of international qualifications.
Entry requirements by country

Please note that international students are unable to enrol onto the following courses:
  • BM Midwifery/MM Midwifery
  • All Graduate Apprenticeship courses.

See who can apply for more information on Graduate Apprenticeship courses.

We’re committed to admitting students who have the potential to succeed and benefit from our programmes of study. 

Our admissions policies will help you understand our admissions procedures, and how we use the information you provide us in your application to inform the decisions we make.

Undergraduate admissions policies
Postgraduate admissions policies

Fees & funding

The course fees you'll pay and the funding available to you will depend on a number of factors including your nationality, location, personal circumstances and the course you are studying. We also have a number of bursaries and scholarships available to our students.

Tuition fees
Students from 2023/24 2024/25
Scotland, England, Wales, Northern Ireland, and Republic of Ireland £6,720 tba
Overseas £15,515 £17,070
Please note tuition fees are subject to an annual review and may increase from one year to the next. For more information on this and other Tuition Fee matters please see Frequently Asked Questions about Fees Click this link for Information of Bursaries and Scholarships
Please note that the tuition fees liable to be paid by EU nationals commencing their studies from 1 August 2021 will be the Overseas fee rate. The University offers a range of attractive Tuition Fee bursaries to students resident in specific countries. More information on these can be found here.


Please note:

The discount for Edinburgh Napier alumni can only be applied to year one of a full-time Postgraduate degree, any additional years are exempt from the discount.

For part time Postgraduate degrees the discount will apply to years one, two and three only and any additional years will be exempt from the discount.

Please read our full T&C here

Careers

This course is intended as a 'step-up' for mature individuals with a clear focus on a professional career in the film, television and broader creative industries. You will meet and work with industry practitioners, gain experience and build the confidence, contacts and networks that will help form the basis of a future career.

The MFA is recognised as a teaching qualification in certain countries, including the USA.
Close up of Film Equipment