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Postgraduate

MA Television

Close-up of a student holding a film camera in a studio.
MA Television, London College of Communication, UAL.
College
London College of Communication
Start date
September 2024
Course length
1 year 3 months full time (45 weeks across a four-term model)

MA Television will enable you to develop the skills you need to design and produce great factual television programmes. On this future-facing course, you’ll have opportunities to learn about programme-making from expert industry practitioners.

Applying for more than 1 course

You can apply for more than 1 postgraduate course at UAL but we recommend that you apply for no more than 3. Find out more in the Apply Now section.

Why choose this course at London College of Communication

    • Factual focus: We combine advanced programme development and production with critical analysis of today’s television industry - exploring what it is, what it means, how it works, and how it’s changing.
    • Outstanding facilities: You’ll have opportunities to make ‘live’ television programmes in LCC’s broadcast-standard, multicamera TV Studio.
    • Multiple perspectives: You'll explore key industry issues including television genres and formats; linear and digital; ethical, commercial and legal frameworks; representation, diversity and sustainability; and mixed media production.
    • Employability and entrepreneurship: You’ll build the knowledge and screen-storytelling skills to thrive in the TV industry. Developing your entrepreneurial abilities and your industry intelligence, you’ll build your own future-facing career strategy.
    • Industry connections: You'll be taught by leading producers, directors and presenters of features and factual television for broadcasters such as Netflix, BBC One, ITV, Sky and Channel 4.

Open Evenings

The next Open Evening for this course will be announced soon.

Course overview

MA Television combines industry intelligence (both intensive research and critical analysis) with programme production and development. Bringing a 360-degree perspective to the business of television, we ask what it means, who it’s for, how it works and what it might become.

On this course, you’ll learn key skills needed to develop and produce factual TV programmes, covering areas including format, narrative, scripting, treatments, proposals, proofs of concept and pitches together with techniques across camera, sound and editing.

In a world where streaming giants like Netflix, Amazon Prime, YouTube and TikTok sit alongside traditional broadcasters like the BBC and established pay networks like Sky and HBO, you’ll also explore the digital revolution’s transformative impact on television production, distribution and consumption, and analyse how TV intersects with social media.

Other units will consider the nature of the TV industry and potential markets for your ideas.

What to expect 

  • With a focus on factual programmes, you’ll analyse and practice the craft of TV storytelling, exploring the genres and formats driving a global trade in television ideas.
  • You’ll explore different production values and techniques, working in teams to develop and produce TV shows while drawing on analysis of contemporary factual genres.
  • You’ll approach the practice of programme-making through complimentary, connected and direct exercises of creative imagination and project management across demands on time, resource, cost and quality.
  • You’ll be introduced to key issues around the production, use and consumption of factual TV programming through our Media Cultures strand. You’ll consider whether television holds a mirror up to - or indeed shapes - culture, identity and society.

Industry experience and opportunities

You’ll gain valuable experience of real-world contexts, conditions and outcomes of productions using briefs set by/agreed with your tutors. 

In your second term, you’ll collaborate with fellow students and/or external partners such as local charities and NGOs, small businesses, artists, or arts organisations.  

The Screen School also belongs to the BAFTA albert Education Partnership, which offers students the opportunity to learn about environmentally responsible working practices, their professional relevance, and their contribution to the transformation of the film and television industry. During your time on the course, you will be encouraged to engage with and achieve the albert graduate employability certificate.

Mode of study 

MA Television is offered in full-time mode and runs for 45 weeks over 15 months, with a break over the summer. You will be expected to commit an average of 40 hours per week to your course, including teaching hours and independent study. 

Course units

In response to the Climate Emergency, UAL has embedded responsible practices within the curriculum. We shaped our courses around principles of social and racial justice, and environmental sustainability that ensure learning outcomes reflect the urgent need to equip you with the understanding, skills, and values for ethical practice and empower you to work towards an equitable future.

Each course is divided into units, which are credit-rated. The minimum unit size is 20 credits. The MA course structure involves 5 units totalling 180 credits.

Autumn, term 1

Media Cultures Terms 1, 2 and 3 (60 credits)

You’ll be introduced to critical study of the factual television programme industry: not only in terms of its current practice, but also its history and future. You’ll also learn an overview of relevant formats and the underlying story development process.  

Production (20 credits)

Working to an editorial brief, you’ll participate in the making of 2 factual television programmes as part of an intensive, practice-based introduction to production techniques. You’ll learn about studio practice in our multi-cam television studio, and about production on location.  

Spring, term 2

Production and Media Cultures (continues)
Collaborative unit (20 credits)

You’ll identify, form and develop collaborative working relationships with a range of potential partners or briefs, both across the University and externally. Learn about the concept of talent, produce a treatment and proof of concept, draft a budget and production schedule, and make a competitive pitch to industry standards.

Major Project – Development and Commencement (60 credits across 3 terms)

You’ll research and develop individual pitches, proposals, treatments, business plans, budgets and proofs of concept for your Major Project. 

Summer, term 3

Major Project – Pitches, Production and Offline Post Production (continued)

Using your research in development from the Spring term, you'll develop a presentation for competitive pitching sessions where a selection panel will determine the proposals selected for full production.

You’ll then form teams to begin pre-production of your studio-/location-based Major Project television programme, before working as a production and post-production group to produce a rough cut.

Autumn, term 4

Major Project – Post Production and Reflection (continued)

In your fourth term, you’ll refine the rough cut of your Major Project and reflect on both your development portfolio and your group production: analysing the collaborative process in your team and its outcome, your own role within that, and the market value of your work.

Professional Futures (20 credits)

In this unit, you’ll be coached and mentored in your career planning through areas including: research into employment opportunities or the development of start-ups; networking and approaches to potential employers; the refinement of your CV; and the creation of a calling card portfolio. 

Learning and teaching methods

  • Lectures 
  • Seminars 
  • Technical and other workshops 
  • Supervised practice 
  • Independent group practice 
  • Close reading 
  • Critiques of practical outcomes 
  • Supervised presentations 
  • Guided student-managed learning 

Course films

Online Open Day

(Recorded March 2023)

Course Leader, Susan Shaw, gives an overview of studying MA Television at London College of Communication.

Course showreel | 2022

Course showreel | 2021

Student showreel | 2020

Student voices

Student voices | Jiafang Han

MA Television

Jiafang talks through her final year project, Psychic Gallery, work that reflects the surreal and difficult nature of the pandemic in 2021.

Student voices | Irene Villalon

MA Television

MA Television graduate Irene Villaton talks to us about her final year project, following the lives of figure skating duo Penny Coomes and Nick Buckland.

Student voices | Joana Esteves

Joana talks us through her final project on the Girl Guides.

Student voices | Henrik Bie

Hear about Henrik's experience of being a postgraduate student at UAL and what it was like to move from Norway to London.

Course stories

Facilities

  • Red light indicating recording is taking place.
    Image © Vladimir Molico

    Lens-Based and Audio-Visual

    Find out about the workspaces and studios that support Lens-Based and Audio-Visual practice.

  • Student reading a book in between two bookshelves in the Library
    Students in the Digital Space. London College of Communication, UAL. Photograph: Alys Tomlinson

    The Digital Space

    The Digital Space is an open-plan, creative hub with computers set up with specialist software.

  • A close-up of a monitor in the TV studio.
    Image © Vladimir Molico

    Film and Television

    Find out about the resources on offer to Film and Television students.

Visiting Practitioners

We have regular masterclasses with leading producers, directors and presenters of features and factual television, including:

Fees and funding

Home fee

£13,330

This fee is correct for 2024/25 entry and is subject to change for 2025/26 entry.

Tuition fees may increase in future years for new and continuing students on courses lasting more than one year. For this course, you can pay tuition fees in instalments.

Students from countries outside of the UK will generally be charged international fees. The rules are complex so read more about tuition fees and determining your fee status.

International fee

£28,570

This fee is correct for 2024/25 entry and is subject to change for 2025/26 entry.

Tuition fees may increase in future years for new and continuing students on courses lasting more than one year. For this course, you can pay tuition fees in instalments.

Students from countries outside of the UK will generally be charged international fees. The rules are complex so read more about tuition fees and determining your fee status.

Scholarship search

Entry requirements

The course team welcomes applicants from a broad range of backgrounds, from all over the world. MA Television attracts applications from graduates of a good honours degree in a relevant subject such as either film, television or related media subject. We will also consider graduates of a good honours degree in any other subjects who can demonstrate a developed interest in, and knowledge of, current television practice and output.

Such fields may include print journalism, photography, project management, business, general management and any other discipline or area which it is felt will bring a variety of experience and imagination to the course.

If you do not have the required qualifications, but do have professional experience, you may be eligible to gain credit for previous learning and experience.

The educational level may be demonstrated by:

  • Honours degree (named above);
  • Possession of equivalent qualifications;
  • Prior experiential learning, the outcome of which can be demonstrated to be equivalent to formal qualifications otherwise required, demonstrating relevant experience and an aptitude for film, television or other moving-image production subjects;
  • Or a combination of formal qualifications and experiential learning which, taken together, can be demonstrated to be equivalent to formal qualifications otherwise required.

APEL (Accreditation of Prior Learning)

Applicants who do not meet these course entry requirements may still be considered in exceptional cases. The course team will consider each application that demonstrates additional strengths and alternative evidence. This might, for example, be demonstrated by:

  • Related academic or work experience
  • The quality of the personal statement
  • A strong academic or other professional reference
  • OR a combination of these factors

Each application will be considered on its own merit but we cannot guarantee an offer in each case.

Language requirements

All classes are conducted in English. If English is not your first language, we strongly recommend you let us know your English language test score in your application. If you have booked a test or are awaiting your results, please indicate this in your application. When asked to upload a CV as part of your application, please include any information about your English test score.

  • IELTS 6.5 (or equivalent) is required, with a minimum of 5.5 in each of the four skills.
  • If your first language is not English, you can check you have achieved the correct IELTS level in English on the Language Requirements page.

For further details regarding international admissions and advice please visit the International Applications page.

Selection criteria

Offers will be made based on the following selection criteria, which applicants are expected to demonstrate:

  • Sufficient prior knowledge and experience of and/or potential in television to be able to successfully complete the programme of study and have an academic or professional background in a relevant subject
  • Knowledge and understanding as reflective viewers of the ways in which television programmes operate. (Relevant for applicants without practical experience of programme-making)

Apply now

Application deadline

Deadline

Round 1:

13 December 2023 at 1pm (UK time)

Round 2:

3 April 2024 at 1pm (UK time)

Video task deadline

Round 1:

3 January 2024

Round 2:

16 April 2024

Decision outcome

Round 1:

End of March 2024

Round 2:

End of June 2024

Round 1
Round 2
Deadline
13 December 2023 at 1pm (UK time)
3 April 2024 at 1pm (UK time)
Video task deadline
3 January 2024
22 April 2024
Decision outcome
End of March 2024
End of June 2024

All applications received by 3 April will be treated equally. If there are places available after this date, the course will remain open to applications until places have been filled.

Read more about deadlines

Apply now

Application deadline

Deadline

Round 1:

13 December 2023 at 1pm (UK time)

Round 2:

3 April 2024 at 1pm (UK time)

Video task deadline

Round 1:

16 January 2024

Round 2:

16 April 2024

Decision outcome

Round 1:

End of March 2024

Round 2:

End of June 2024

Round 1
Round 2
Deadline
13 December 2023 at 1pm (UK time)
3 April 2024 at 1pm (UK time)
Video task deadline
16 January 2024
16 April 2024
Decision outcome
End of March 2024
End of June 2024

All applications received by 3 April will be treated equally. If there are places available after this date, the course will remain open to applications until places have been filled.

Read more about deadlines

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Based across the world, our local UAL representatives can support you with your application from your home country. Check to see if there is a representative available in your country currently.

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How to apply

Follow this step-by-step guide to apply for this course

Step 1: Initial application

You will need to submit an initial application including your personal statement and CV.

Personal statement advice

Your personal statement should be maximum 500 words and include:

  • your reasons for choosing the course
  • your current creative practice and how this course will help you achieve your future plans
  • any relevant education and experience, especially if you do not have any formal academic qualifications.

Visit our personal statement page for more advice.

CV advice

Please provide a CV detailing your education, qualifications and any relevant work or voluntary experience. If you have any web projects or other media that you would like to share, please include links in your CV. If English is not your first language, please also include your most recent English language test score.

Step 2: Video task

We will review your initial application. If you have met the standard entry requirements, we will ask you to submit a video task.

You’ll need to submit this via PebblePad, our online portfolio tool.

Video task advice

We would like you to submit a 2-3 minute video to help us learn more about you. When recording your task, please face the camera and speak in English.

What to include in your video task

  • Take 90 seconds to describe the view from your window
  • Take another 90 seconds to explain how the view changes over time.

Read our guidance for how to submit your video task and which file types we accept.

Step 3: Interview

You may be invited to an interview following our review of your application. All interviews are held online and last 15 to 20 minutes.

For top tips, see our Interview advice.

You also need to know

Communicating with you

Once you have submitted your initial application, we will email you with your login details for our Applicant portal.

Requests for supplementary documents like qualifications and English language tests will be made through the applicant portal. You can also use it to ask questions regarding your application. Visit our After you apply page for more information.

Applying to more than 1 course

You can apply for more than 1 postgraduate course at UAL but we recommend that you apply for no more than 3 courses. You need to tailor your application, supporting documents and portfolio to each course, so applying for many different courses could risk the overall quality of your application. If you receive offers for multiple courses, you'll only be able to accept 1 offer. UAL doesn't accept repeat applications to the same course in the same academic year.

Visas and immigration history check

All non-UK nationals must complete an immigration history check. Your application may be considered by our course teams before this check takes place. This means that we may request your portfolio and/or video task before we identify any issues arising from your immigration history check. Sometimes your history may mean that we are not able to continue considering your application. Visit our Immigration and visas advice page for more information.

External student transfer policy

UAL accepts transfers from other institutions on a case-by-case basis. Read our Student transfer policy for more information.

Alternative offers

If your application is really strong, but we believe your strengths and skillset are better suited to a different course, we may make you an alternative offer. This means you will be offered a place on a different course or at a different UAL College.

Deferring your place

We do not accept any deferral requests for our postgraduate courses. This means that you must apply in the year that you plan to start your course and you will not be able to defer your place to start at a later date.

Application deadlines

For postgraduate courses at UAL there are 2 equal consideration deadlines to ensure fairness for all our applicants. If you apply ahead of either of these deadlines, your application will be considered on an equal basis with all other applications in that round. If there are places available after the second deadline, the course will remain open to applications until places have been filled.

Careers

As a student on MA Television you will learn the key technical skills needed to make television programmes, including camera operation, sound recording and editing. However, the course is primarily designed to prepare you for the role of:

  • Producer
  • Production Manager
  • Researcher
  • Director

You will develop an understanding of the business aspects of programme-making that will stand you in good stead to work in the independent sector and/or as freelance producer/directors. Such understanding will also be attractive to employers – broadcasters or larger production companies – who will value the commercial sense and understanding offered by graduates of MA Television.